Creative: BEST SPOTS

Best Spots are selected by Adweek editors from commercials breaking on broadcast and cable television. Call Nancy Sobel at (212) 536-6453 to submit reels or to order this month's collection. The Best Spots section is compiled by Mark Lang. A1 STEAK SAUCE Grady & Son Steakhouse is a culinary hit, thanks to its tangy marinade. But Grady the Younger blows the gig--A1 is the secret--and dear old dad changes the restaurant's name to Grady & Daughter. Title: Grady & Son Agency: McCann-Erickson, New York Creative director: Jonathan Cranin Art director: Dan Miyahara Copywriter: Peter Jones Agency producer: Kathy Love Production co.: Straw Dogs Director: Jesse Dylan Editor David Koza, MacKenzie Cutler Music: Rocket Music AMERICAN EXPRESS Remember that sad day seven years ago when Magic Johnson announced he was HIV positive? Remember how advertisers dropped the guy like a hot potato? Well, he's back in a major campaign and it's about time. With home movies and video clips of Magic growing up, this spot tells how he helped transform the NBA into the national pastime. Says Johnson: "The great thing about life is, you never know what you might want to do next." Magic, may you have many more "nexts." Title: Magic Johnson Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, New York Chief creative officer: Rick Boyko Creative director: Michael Ward Art director: Rick Knief Copywriter: Jim Anderson Agency producer: Brendan O'Malley Music producer: Lisa Kirchner Production co.: Lovinger/Cohn Director: Jeff Lovinger Editor: Chris Franklin, Big Sky BUBBLE YUM This laugh-out-loud ad introduces the world to Floyd, a spiky-haired, bubble-blowing, nose-ring-wearing duck. A dancing fool, Floyd shakes his booty, moonwalks and does the funky chicken. Memo to Louie the lizard: There's a new spokesdude in town. Title: Floyd "D" Duck Agency: North Castle Partners, Stamford, Conn. Creative director: Jon Iafeliece Art director: Ed McCabe Copywriter: Doug Tenaglia Agency producer: Jack Blandford Production co.: Rhythm & Hues Director: Clark Anderson Editor: Nate Hubbard Music: Marshall Grantham, Russo Grantham BURGER KING Parodying the De Beers campaign, this spot replaces diamonds with chicken crisp sandwiches. What fast food lurks in the minds of men? Only the shadow knows. Title: Gift Agency: Ammirati Puris Lintas, New York Co-CDs: Mark Johnson, Tom Nelson GCD/art director: Clem McCarthy GCD/copywriter: Jonathan Mandell Art directors: Glenn Price, Kevin Kearns Copywriters: Tom Kraemer, Paul Spencer Agency producer: Marcy Sansolo Production co.: Steve & Linda Horn Productions Director: Steve Horn Editor: Craig Warnick, Mad House Music: Elias Associates CONTINUUM HEALTH PARTNERS In this graphic ad, a basketball player snaps her ankle, a cyclist pops a disc, a blader cracks her wrist, a weightlifter blows out his knee and a baseball player dislocates his shoulder. Cool. Title: Weekend Warriors Agency/production co.: Time Warner CityCable Advertising, New York Art director: Jeff Young Copywriter/director: Mark Clark Executive producer: Elaine Gold Editor: Joe Castellano, Creative Group Editorial Music: Chuck Lovejoy, Sacred Noise FINISH LINE Everyone has a different finish line, claims this interesting ad. "Just one goal," says a young soccer player. "College junior college," says a kid shooting hoops. "Four-minute mile," says a track star. Elite athlete or kid next door, each goal is personal--and important. Title: Different Voices Agency: The Heavyweights, Indianapolis CD/copywriter: Joseph Mahler Art director: Kelly Sherman Copywriter: Kevin Flynn Agency producer: Kent Smith Production co.: Hamad Films Director: Ron Hamad Animation: Bazooka Music: Chicago Music Works THE GAP In this kinetic spot, young people jump, jive and wail. The energy is electric, and it's hard not to watch the dancers swing to the music. Almost makes Best Spots want to hit the floor. Care to dance? Title: Khakis Swing Agency: In-house Creative director: Lisa Prisco Art director: Carl Byrd Account manager: Hillary Rush Agency producer: Leigh Donaldson Production co.: Venus/HSI Director: Pate Brothers Editor: Dustin Robertson Music: Louis Prina HOME DEPOT "There is a war going on," says the serious-sounding VO, "and the battlefield is your yard." Home Depot bails out the troops--literally. Parachuting lawn mowers, chain saws and hedge clippers float down from the sky. But where are the weed whackers? Title: Depot Drop Agency: The Richards Group, Dallas Creative director: Gary Gibson Art director: Mike Gustafson Copywriter: Mike Fisher Agency producer: Sherri Cartwright Production co.: Momentum Films Director: E.J. Foerster Editor: Chris Gernon, Mojo L.A. Music: Groove Addicts KFC In a cute role reversal, mom is playing stickball and refuses to come in for dinner. The young son has to bribe her with a bucket of KFC. "If you clean your plate," he says, "you can go out after dinner." Hope everyone had a happy Mother's Day. Title: Stickball Agency: Young & Rubicam, New York ECDs: Manny Perez, Peter Murphy CDs: Chris Grabenstein, John Lucci Art director: Richard Goldstein Copywriter: Charles Bromley Agency producers: Susan Chiafullo, Toni Lipari Music producer: Steve McCabe Production co.: Backyard Productions Director: Rob Pritts Editor: Rob Tortoriello, Mad House MILLER HIGH LIFE As a guy tapes up an old refrigerator filled with beer, the VO spouts, "The High Life man knows if the pharaohs had duct tape, the Sphinx would still have a nose." No, this is not the work of Dick. Could he have a brother named Dirk? Title: Duct Tape Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Creative directors: Dan Wieden, Susan Hoffman Art director: Jeff Williams Copywriter: Jeff Kling Agency producer: Jeff Selis Production co.: radical media Director: Errol Morris Editor: Angus Wall, Rock, Paper, Scissors NAPA Although Best Spots is Titanic'd out, this ad works. Two goofball fishermen--Deliverance wannabes--smash into an iceberg on Trophy Lake. "Need new fishing gear?" asks the voiceover. NAPA's the place. One thing's for sure: That Styrofoam ice cube didn't cost $200 million. Title: Iceberg Agency: WestWayne, Atlanta Creative director: Roy Trimble Art director: Gene Powers Copywriter: Andrew Payton Agency producer: Todd Johnson Production co.: Circus Maximus Director: Lisa Rubisch Editor: Anne Husaini, Click 3XS Music: Acoustech NIKE To kill time between flights, members of the Brazilian soccer team play keep away from airport security. The game flows through the passenger terminal and baggage claim, onto the tarmac and back into the terminal, where a player shoots for the "goal." His shot hits the "post," disappointing the gathering fans. A G-rated ad debut for action director John Woo. Title: Airport '98 Agency: Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Creative director: Dan Wieden Art director: John Boiler Copywriter: Glenn Cole Agency producer: Charles Wolford Production co.: A Band Apart.35mm Director: John Woo Editor: Russell Icke, White House Music: Ren Klyce, Mit Out Sound PAM COOKING SPRAY Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy's parents. Boy says he couldn't make the garlic-shrimp dinner without Pam. Girl's name is Jill. Uh oh. (FYI, Pam: A gay couple would have been funnier.) Title: Jill Agency: Young & Rubicam, New York GCD: James Caporimo ACD/copywriter: Kevin Browne ACD/art director: Kat Keeley Creative director: Bob Murphy Senior producer: Marlene Bartos Production co.: Celsius Films Director: Mark Tiedemann Editor: Jerry Fried, Red Car ROUNDUP "They sprayed us good, huh, Hank?" says the cuddly dandelion. But Hank has been offed, and Dandy Andy can't feel his roots. The tagline: "No mercy. No pity. No weeds." Talk about a weed whacker. Title: Wounded Weeds Agency: BBDO West, Los Angeles ACD/copywriter: John Hage Art director: Melinda Kanipe Executive producer: Jackie Vidor Producer: Kathy McGoff Production co.: The End Director: Quay Brothers Editor: Simone Laurire, Lexington Post Music: Garron Chang, Elias Music RUBBERMAID Playing ice hockey, kids fire their lunch, packed in plastic containers, at a goalie friend. First, lime jello. Then, spaghetti. Both items explode on his chest. Next, chocolate pudding. But it's in a Rubbermaid container, and the lid stays tight. Flying like a puck, the pudding beats the goalie low, on the stick side. Can you say Mike Richter of the New York Rangers? Title: Hockey Puck Agency: Martin/Williams, Minneapolis Creative director: Lyle Wedemeyer Art director: Wendy Hansen Copywriter: Jan Pettit Agency producer: Eman Zohdy Production co.: Visitor Director: Dave Merhar Editor: Scott Ferril, Chop Shop Music: Wow & Flutter SEATTLE MARINERS "The ol' Jamie Moyer changeup," says Mariners catcher Dan Wilson about the slooooooooow pitch heading to home plate. "You going to swing at it?" "I don't know," says the Indians hitter. "It looks a little high." "Looks pretty good to me. Have you tried the new seafood place downtown?" asks Wilson, taking off his mask. "Quiet, man" says the batter, "I'm trying to concentrate." "Oh, man. You gotta swing at that." He doesn't. Strike three. What a concept--baseball as fun. Title: Killer Changeup Agency: Copacino Creative, Seattle CD/copywriter: Jim Copacino Art director: Lonnie Weis Copywriter: Steve Cunetta Agency producer: Sue Mowrer Production co.: Blue Goose Director: Ron Gross Editor: Pinnacle Productions/Slice Editorial Sound: Vince Werner, Clatter & Din SNAPPLE This ad travels to a Southern schoolroom, where a student can't figure out 29 + 14. The teacher sends her to the "giant Snapple abacus," which helps the girl solve the equation. Betcha Wendy could do the math. Title: Abacus Agency: Deutsch, New York ECD: Kathy Delaney ACD/Copywriter: Cheryl Van Ooyen Senior art director: Matt Myers Agency producer: Cheri Anderson Production co.: Tate & Partners Director: Baker Smith Editor: Ian MacKenzie, MacKenzie Cutler TACO BELL "The taco rebellion is sweeping the land," says the voiceover. And the new Gorditas taco is sating the cheering masses. Finally, the "glorious leader" steps up to the microphone: "Viva Gorditas," says the chihuahua, wearing a black beret. Title: Viva Gorditas Agency: TBWA Chiat/Day, Venice, Calif. CDs: Chuck Bennett, Clay Williams Art directors: Ro Rao, Bernie O'Dowd Copywriters: Kathy Hepinstall, Chris Ribeiro Agency producers: Lora Schulson, Nancy Dickerson Assistant producer: Karen Scott Production co.: Morton Jankel Zander Director: Rocky Morton Editor: Jim Haygood, Superior Assembly Music: Elias Associates TASTER'S CHOICE Apart from having the good taste to use The Rascals' "Beautiful Morning" as background music, this ad has a splashy mosaic effect. "Taste how it all comes together," says the voiceover. After giving up coffee for Lent--after 40 days and nights of bottled water--Best Spots is proud to say: "Venti, please!" Title: Mosaic Agency: McCann-Erickson, Los Angeles CD/copywriter: Peter Serchuk Art director: Peter Kempson Copywriter: Peter Brown Agency producer: Paulette Osterhage Production co.: R/Greenberg & Associates Director: Sebastian Cramer Editor: Brendan Werner Music: The Rascals WISH-BONE With salad dressing flowing like a spring freshet, this spot is an animated marinade tutorial. Pour, cook and enjoy are the instructions, and the simple yet vibrant drawing makes the mouth water. It's good to be a carnivore. Title: Marinade Agency: Ammirati Puris Lintas, New York Co-CDs: Mark Johnson, Tom Nelson GCDs: Stan Block, Cary Lemkowitz Art director: Mark Shap Copywriter: Sam Higgins Agency producer: Ray Sader Production co.: Will Vinton Studios Director/animator: Joan Gratz Editorial: First Edition Music: Wojahn Brothers

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Creative: BEST SPOTS - APRIL

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