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. ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL OK, this ad scores big on the cute meter. Hey, is there a tougher sell than flea collars? The song is a little lame, but, gosh, these puppies and kittens sure are adorable. TITLE: Kid's Song AGENCY: Bernstein-Rein, Kansas City, Mo. CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Diana Phillips ART DIRECTOR: Bill Courtney COPYWRITER: Dan Mowry AGENCY PRODUCER: Mark Schotte PRODUCTION CO.: Sandbank Films DIRECTOR: Henry Sandbank SPECIAL EFFECTS: Click 3X MUSIC: Walter Bryant Productions SOUND DESIGN: JSM THE BALTIMORE SUN Using a running analogy, this ad hits home. "Two-thirds of Baltimore-area third-graders are reading below grade level," says the voiceover. "If they fall behind now, they'll never catch up." So the Baltimore Sun started Reading by 9, a daily section in the newspaper that helps children hone their reading skills and affords parents quality time with their kids. Bravo. TITLE: Reading by 9 AGENCY: Trahan, Burden & Charles, Baltimore CD/DIRECTOR: Allan Charles ACD/ART DIRECTOR: Rob Schnapp COPYWRITER: Keith Quesenberry PRODUCTION CO.: Charles Street Films EDITOR: Kenny Klompus MUSIC: Crushing Underground CADILLAC SEVILLE STS Talk about scene stealing: Seinfeld's David Puddy blows away Gregory Hines. Playing a security guard, Puddy won't let the Seville-driving Hines pass. After a short chat in which the Pudster declares his allegiance to Jack Webb, Hines asks if he can go. "In a sec," says our hero, surveying the car. "I'm bonding." Who is this guy? TITLE: Bonding AGENCY: DMB&B, Detroit CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Gary Howell ART DIRECTOR: Alan Rado COPYWRITER: Rob Hendrickson AGENCY PRODUCER: Leslie Rose PRODUCTION CO.: Creative Film Management DIRECTOR: Matthew Penn EDITOR: Mark Goodman, Lost Planet MUSIC: Elias L.A. CALLAWAY GOLF Bill Gates has only one mission left in life--proving he's actually a human being and not an alien from a distant planet. This spot puts some flesh on him. Mr. Microsoft started playing golf five years ago, he says, and the game is "really frustrating." He takes lessons and, on the advice of his dad, uses a Callaway Big Bertha driver. Of course, one advantage to being the $50 billion man: No one's going to rat on him when he moves his golf ball from behind a tree. TITLE: Big Idea AGENCY: Dailey & Associates, Los Angeles CD/COPYWRITER: Cliff Einstein CD/ART DIRECTOR: Steve Beaumont AGENCY PRODUCER: Joe Stanley PRODUCTION CO.: Dark Light Pictures DIRECTOR: Caleb Deschanel EDITORS: Charlie Chuback, David Chessel, FilmCore COMPOSER: Martin Lund, Admusic THE DAILY SHOW (comedy central) Craig Kilborn speaks Russian in this funny promo. Via English subtitles, Kilborn says he learned the lingo to read Tolstoy, and we learn he's at least four inches taller than the Big Three news anchors. Kilborn is cool, and he made the right move leaving ESPN. But he's got to miss Bristol, Conn. TITLE: Russian AGENCY: Hungry Man, New York CD/COPYWRITER/DIRECTOR: Hank Perlman ART DIRECTOR: Mike Rosen PRODUCTION CO.: In-house EDITOR: Emily Dennis DOCKERS A woman screams--a mouse is running past her bagel. Her Dockers-wearing boyfriend speeds to the rescue, chasing and capturing the elusive foe. Upon closer inspection, though, the varmint is cute and cuddly, and it gets a death-row pardon. Best of all: ladies and gentlemen, on vocals--the great Chrissie Hynde. TITLE: Creature Comforts AGENCY: Foote, Cone & Belding, S.F.Group CD/ART DIRECTOR: Chris Shipman CD/COPYWRITER: Suzanne Finnamore AGENCY PRODUCER: Robert Gondell PRODUCTION CO.: Atherton & Associates DIRECTOR: David Deneen EDITOR: Paul Morling, FilmCore MUSIC: The Pretenders FISHER-PRICE RESCUE HEROES Best Spots loves the use of the "Macho Man" song to sell rescue-hero toys--a fireman, mountain ranger, construction worker and scuba diver. The ad says they're "tough guys who are good guys and ready to rescue the world!" Can't wait to see the "In the Navy" action figures. TITLE: Macho Man AGENCY: Young & Rubicam, New York CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Debra Stern ART DIRECTOR: Cynthia Herrli COPYWRITER: Michele Paccione EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Robin Dobson PRODUCER: Rikki Buceta MUSIC PRODUCER: Dane Gorman PRODUCTION CO.: Firehouse Films DIRECTOR: John Sturner MUSIC: Phil Ashley, Rocket Music GENERAL MOTORS With shots of kids being kids, this well-crafted spot gets it done. "They don't drive yet," says the voiceover, "but they drive nearly everything we do. Morning, noon and night, we're in constant motion--heading out, picking up, dropping off, swinging by, loading up and heading home." That's exactly why people drive cars--to move their lives forward. TITLE: Kids AGENCY: N.W. Ayer & Partners, Detroit CD/COPYWRITER: Dave Henke ART DIRECTORS: Alex Spak, Griffin Stenger COPYWRITER: Bob Waldner AGENCY PRODUCER: Elaine Dia PRODUCTION CO.: Dektor Higgins DIRECTOR: Leslie Dektor EDITOR: Charlie Bender, Homestead Editorial MUSIC: North Forty Music ISUZU AMIGO From the so-bad-it's-good file (sing to the '60s Slinky toy song): "What goes down stairs, alone or in pairs, and even goes off-road? A thing, a thing, a marvelous thing, everyone knows it's Amigo. Amigo! Amigo! For sun and love and joy. Amigo! Amigo! Fun for a girl and a boy." Of course, now you'll be singing this all day long. TITLE: Slinky AGENCY: Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco CDS: Jeff Goodby, Rich Silverstein ART DIRECTOR: Dave Gray COPYWRITER: Gerry Graf AGENCY PRODUCER: Tod Puckett PRODUCTION CO.: Partisan Films DIRECTOR: Traktor EDITOR: John Murray MUSIC: Asche & Spencer KELLOGG'S CORN FLAKES Clutching a shoebox full of receipts, a guy prepares for his audit. He fumbles and bumbles until the IRS man asks, "Did you make money last year?" "Yes," says the guy. "Did you send us most of it?" He did. Audit's over. The themeline: "Life is not complicated. Simple is good." A public-service reminder from Best Spots: April 15th is this Wednesday! TITLE: IRS AGENCY: Leo Burnett, Chicago Group CD: Phil Raskin CD/ART DIRECTOR: Bob Akers CD/COPYWRITER: Ned Crowley AGENCY PRODUCER: Bob Carney PRODUCTION CO.: House of Usher DIRECTOR: Kinka Usher EDITOR: Glenn Martin, Nomad Editing KFC Riding the bus never looked this good. Bobby, a bush-league ballplayer, keeps getting traded--from Bakersfield to Toledo to Vancouver to Stillwater to Shreveport to San Juanita to, finally, the Kinitsu Karp. KFC can be found everywhere--including the land of sushi. TITLE: Player AGENCY: Young & Rubicam, New York CDS: Chris Grabenstein, John Lucci COPYWRITER: Dave McMillan EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Sue Chiafullo PRODUCTION CO.: Backyard Productions DIRECTOR: Rob Pritts EDITOR: Madhouse KIA SPORTAGE A couple in Cajun country is looking for something to do. Zam's Swamp Tour? Sounds like fun and into the Sportage they go. "Who needs roads, baby," says Zam, his accent as hot as cayenne pepper. As the SUV flies through the air, Zam adds, "That got your mojo going, huh?" In the end, the couple is mojoing all over the place: aaaaai-yeeeeee! TITLE: Swamp Tour AGENCY: Goldberg, Moser, O'Neill, S.F. CD/ART DIRECTOR: Mike Moser CD/COPYWRITER: Dave Woodside AGENCY PRODUCER: James Horner ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Karena Dacker PRODUCTION CO.: Bednarz Films DIRECTOR: Jeff Bednarz EDITOR: Bob & Sheila's Edit World MUSIC: David Grisman NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT With a French ballad playing in the background, a pretty girl cycles past vineyards and through provincial towns. Sitting next to a vintner, she samples his wine. "C'est magnifique," she says. He replies: "What did you expect? This is New York." TITLE: Winery AGENCY: Toolbox, New York CD/ART DIRECTOR: Peter Rabot CD/COPYWRITER: Jan Zlotnick AGENCY PRODUCER: Geoff Kelly PRODUCTION CO.: Assembly Films DIRECTOR: Steve Marro EDITOR: Alan Eisenberg MUSIC: Russo/Grantham OCEAN SPRAY Mixing red supers with scenes of people at play, this ad delivers a health-affirming message: "They're trying to be the best smartest healthiest most complete selves they can be To which we say good for you." As long as you drink cranberry juice. TITLE: Live Long AGENCY: Arnold Comm., Boston CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Ron Lawner CD/COPYWRITER: Alan Marcus ART DIRECTOR: Bill Boch AGENCY PRODUCER: Paul Shannon PRODUCTION CO.: The End DIRECTOR: Anouk Besson EDITOR: Emily Dennis MUSIC: Amber Music PELLA WINDOWS In the pouring rain, a man plans to elope with his girlfriend--but she can't open the window. The hot-babe neighbor, though, owns Pella windows, which open easily. The man drops to his knees and, in his best Brando, screams "Pella! Pella!" He gets the girl, of course--the Pella girl. TITLE: The Elopement AGENCY: Young & Rubicam, New York CDS: Tom Coleman, Bob Wyatt ART DIRECTOR: Ahmer Kalam COPYWRITER: Jeff Maerov AGENCY PRODUCER: Lori Talish PRODUCTION CO.: Coppos Films DIRECTOR: Mike Bigelow EDITOR: Crew Cuts RAY-BAN As the sun rises, a bunch of Gen X-ers, all wearing sunglasses, sit and watch. A kid joins them, but his eyes are uncovered. When the sun tops the horizon, the latecomer is vaporized. "Somebody forget his Ray-Ban sunglasses?" laughs one of the kids, his smile revealing fangs. Vampires! As if being a slacker isn't enough of a problem, now they have a taste for blood. TITLE: Vampire AGENCY: Bozell, New York and Paris CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Eric Allouche ART DIRECTOR: Syleain Rollet ACD: Nik Ives ACD/COPYWRITER: Jill Danenberg ART DIRECTOR/EXEC. PROD.: Paul Gold PRODUCTION CO.: Tate & Partners DIRECTOR: Baker Smith SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN A dude runs in slow motion to the strains of "Chariots of Fire." He reaches his destination--a garbage can into which he pukes his guts. Seems barf boy is another satisfied customer of Six Flags' new Riddler's Revenge--the world's tallest stand-up roller coaster. "Got the stomach for it?" asks the VO. Best Spots sure doesn't. Can you say projectile vomiting? TITLE: Chariots AGENCY: Grey, New York GCD/ART DIRECTOR: Eric Finkelstein GCD/COPYWRITER: Robert Baiocco AGENCY PRODUCER: Ugo Pergolotti ASSISTANT PRODUCER: Jeffrey Goodnow PRODUCTION CO.: Johns + Gorman Films DIRECTOR: Jeff Gorman MUSIC: Bang SONY PLAYSTATION Most videogame ads show crazy kids doing crazy things. This raucous spot, though, has a wacko dad. He wakes his son, serves the kid coffee, then heads over to the big Playstation sale, where cyberbabe Lara Croft is signing autographs. The father fights through the crowd and gets his picture taken with Lara. "Does Mom know about this?" asks the son. "Who?" replies dear old dad. TITLE: Lara Croft AGENCY: TBWA Chiat/Day, Venice, Calif. CD/ART DIRECTOR: Jerry Gentile COPYWRITER: Bill Paul AGENCY PRODUCER: Kecia Benvenuto PRODUCTION CO.: MJZ DIRECTOR: Vadim Perelman EDITOR: Jon Hopp, Jigsaw ANIMATION/CGI: In-Sight Pix COMPOSER: Jason Johnson, Primal Scream VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE A spectacular minimalist mix of art, copy and music, this spot reinvents Beetlemania. With the car approaching in the white distance, the copy reads: "If you sold your soul in the '80s here's your chance to buy it back." The Bug lives! TITLE: Soul AGENCY: Arnold Comm., Boston CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Ron Lawner ACD/ART DIRECTOR: Alan Pafenbach ACD/COPYWRITER: Lance Jensen COPYWRITER: Josh Caplan AGENCY PRODUCER: Bill Goodell PRODUCTION CO.: Manifesto DIRECTOR: Nick Lewin EDITOR: Barney Miller, Ohio Edit MUSIC: Hurricane #1 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE In this simple, elegant ad, seven yellow Beetles form a daisy, then drive off. The copy: "Less flower. More power." It's advertising sure to impress even Paul, George and Ringo. TITLE: Flower AGENCY: Arnold Comm., Boston CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Ron Lawner ACD/ART DIRECTOR: Alan Pafenbach ACD/COPYWRITER: Lance Jensen COPYWRITER: Dana Satterwhite AGENCY PRODUCER: Bill Goodell PRODUCTION CO.: Manifesto DIRECTOR: Nick Lewin EDITOR: Barney Miller, Ohio Edit MUSIC: Stereolab

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