I've never really gotten the Travelocity Roaming Gnome or understood the campaign's enduring popularity. Wasn't there a traveling garden gnome craze that inspired the ads, or was it vice versa? I'd Google it, but I think I'll wait for Microsoft and Yahoo! to release a new search product before I do any more research. In McKinney's latest Travelocity spot, we get to stare at the back of the gnome's head as he "watches" stock footage of travel destinations. Viewed from behind, the freakish creature looks a lot like an upside-down ice-cream cone from a Monty Python cartoon. There's a social-media tie-in that allows folks to use Twitter and Facebook to choose where the gnome should go next and upload photos to win prizes—or something. There's nothing wrong with vacationing on the cheap. But sadly, this campaign is flying coach as well.

—Posted by David Gianatasio