'Whassup?' Is Now a Punchline

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Anheuser-Busch’s buzz-generating “Whassup?” campaign for Budweiser apparently has been around long enough to be ripe for at least a pair of parodies—one of which is from Bud itself; the other is from import-beer rival Heineken.

Sources said DDB in Chicago and director Charles Stone are casting for parrots and turkeys who can ef-fectively squawk the catchphrase, with the turkeys to be used in a Thanksgiving-timed execution.

Meanwhile, Heineken USA, which over the past couple of years has tweaked rivals Bud and Corona in TV commercials, is considering airing a new “Whassup?” parody as well, created by Lowe Lintas & Partners in New York as a crowd-pleasing icebreaker for ongoing regional wholesaler meetings.

Sources who have seen the spot at the meetings in Las Vegas said the parody has been greeted with enough enthusiasm to encourage Heineken to consider dialing up the Heineken brand registration and putting it on air, along with new general...





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