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Midas Selects 4 Finalists CHICAGO--Contenders for Midas International's $25 million national ad account are Euro RSCG Tatham; Cramer-Krasselt; Foote, Cone & Belding; and DDB Needham, all in Chicago, according to sources. Midas officials confirmed there were four finalists, but declined to identify those involved. A decision is expected in mid-August. J. Walter Thompson in Chicago resigned the account in May, citing a conflict with its Ford business. McCann, CME Will Pitch Penske DETROIT--Penske Auto Center in Troy, Mich., will hear presentations from McCann-Erickson, also in Troy, and Campbell Mithun Esty in Minneapolis for its $15-22 million account. Harris, Baio & McCullough in Philadelphia was Penske's previous agency. A decision is expected by the end of July. Western Wireless Launches Review LOS ANGELES--Western Wireless Corp., a leading provider of communications services in the Western U.S., has put its $15-20 million account into review. The Issaquah, Wash.-based company has engaged Mike Agate of Select Resources International to conduct the search. Incumbent Borders, Perrin and Norrander's Portland, Ore., office has been invited to defend the business, according to Western officials. A decision is expected by September. Kraft Assigns Web Work to Modem Media BOSTON--Kraft Foods has assigned a media banner buying project to Modem Media in Westport, Conn., following a review. The shop will create Web banners that direct consumers to the Kraft Kitchen site created and maintained by Bronner Slosberg Humphrey's Strategic Interactive Group, said Bronner Slosberg president Steve Humphrey. The assignment does not affect SIG's relationship with Modem Media, Humphrey said. Buscemi Directs Nike Spots LOS ANGELES--Actor/director Steve Buscemi, who signed with A Band Apart Commercials in Los Angeles earlier this year, is making his directorial ad debut. He recently directed 10 spots for Nike. The ads, touting Nike's co-sponsorship of the Women's National Basketball Association, are scheduled to break this week during WNBA broadcasts. Silicon Graphics Expected to Select CKS SAN FRANCISCO--Computer workstation marketer Silicon Graphics in Mountain View, Calif., is expected this week to award its $15-30 million account to CKS Partners in Cupertino, Calif. "We're finalizing this arrangement [with CKS] right now," said SG representative Roger Siminoff. Incumbent: Cole & Weber in Seattle. Richards, GSD&M Vie for Power Computing DALLAS--The Richards Group here and GSD&M in Austin, Texas, have emerged as competitors for the $15 million advertising account of Macintosh clone manufacturer Power Computing. The Round Rock, Texas-based company launched a review after parting with Austin incumbent Bam! in April. Executives at Richards and GSD&M declined comment. Fallon McElligott in Minneapolis was contacted early on in the review, but an agency representative said the shop is not participating. No other agencies are believed to be competing. A decision could come as early as this week. Bay Networks Taps Search Consultant BOSTON--Bay Networks in Santa Clara, Calif., has selected Effective Marketing Strategies in Marina del Rey, Calif., to oversee the review for its estimated $10-12 million ad account. Michael Marsak, EMS president, will handle the search. Euro RSCG Dahlin Smith White in Salt Lake City, which handled creative chores, has declined to participate. Freeman Associates in Wellesley, Mass., will defend its standing as Bay Networks' media buying agency. Bay Networks announced a creative review last year, but scuttled the process and returned its account to Dahlin Smith White. Euro RSCG Tatham Wins Red Lobster CHICAGO--Euro RSCG Tatham here was awarded the creative and media planning portions of Orlando, Fla.-based Red Lobster's $90 million account last week. Media buying remains at Zenith Media USA in New York. One aspect of its winning creative strategy, expected to debut early this fall, is to cast Red Lobster as a welcome, "wet break" in an otherwise dry world, according to sources. A second theme, which will not be used, played off the "For the seafood lover in you" tagline last seen several years ago, these sources said. Other finalists for the account were incumbent Grey Advertising and Deutsch, both in New York. Newswire Roundup Pagano, Schenck & Kay in Boston and New York's Mad Dogs & Englishmen were named finalists in the review for Kobrand's $2 million ad account, according to Kobrand representative Beth Cox. Eliminated from contention was Earle Palmer Brown in New York. . . Blum/Herbstreith in New York has been named agency of record for Crain's New York Business. The shop defeated New York-based finalists Grace & Rothschild, Hampel/Stefanides and DeVito/Verdi for the account, which bills less than $1 million. Last year, incumbent Goldsmith/Jeffrey was merged into Lowe & Partner/SMS and did not participate in the review. . . GAB Robins in Parsippany, N.J., a claims administration company, has awarded its new $3 million account to Margeotes/Fertitta + Partners in New York. . . Borders Books & Music in Ann Arbor, Mich., assigned creative duties for its $5-10 million account to Butler, Shine & Stern in Sausalito, Calif. Media planning and buying had been assigned to Carat North America, New York. Perich + Partners, Ann Arbor, had handled creative and media chores. . . Lowe & Partners/SMS, New York, has formed an interactive entity with new media company Critical Mass, Calgary, Canada.

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