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. BRITISH AIRWAYS With no one to hang with, a dog plays fetch the stick by himself. After a couple impressive tosses, our lonely hero barks out, "Where is everybody?" Did BA hire Astro for the VO? Title: Speaking Dog Agency: M&C Saatchi, London Creative Director: Simon Dicketts Art Director: David Graham-Dao Copywriter: Angela Jones Agency producer: Estella Alvarez Production co.: Mighty Director: Brian Griffin Editorial: Cutting Edge Music: Joe & Co. BUICK CENTURY Showing scenes of family bliss, this spot asks: "Are rich people taller than the rest of us? Are their loved ones more deserving of an air bag? Was the sun created solely for their enjoyment?" Buick says the Century, for less than 20K, is a "luxury car for everyone." Think VO guy Willem Dafoe drives one? Title: Taller Agency: McCann-Erickson, Troy, Mich. Creative director: Jonathan Cranin Art director: K.J. Bowen Copywriter: Jenny Sandbank Agency producer: Amy Wagoner Production co.: Mars Media Director: Peggy Sirota Editorial: Inside Out Editorial Music: O'Henry Studio COOL FROM NESTEA An angry skeleton walks into a convenience store and heads for the cold drinks. As he downs a Cool tea, his bones grow ice. He's a snowman! On the way out, he grabs a carrot and gives himself a nose job. Never pays the clerk a penny. Gotta love Frosty's demented twin. Title: Kwiki-Mart Agency: Fallon McElligott, Minneapolis Creative director: Dion Hughes Art director: Bobby Appleby Copywriter: Rob McPherson Agency producer: Rob Van Production co.: bolexbrothers Director/editor: Dave Borthwick CRUNCH FITNESS The Barney-like song goes: "For all we've been through. It's you for me and me for you. I'll always be your friend " All the while, two guys in animal costumes - a rabbit and penguin - proceed to whomp the tar out of each other, culminating in the bunny getting tossed off a building. As a former patron, Best Spots can confirm the gym's "No judgements" tagline. Do pierced body parts enhance aerobic performance? Title: Roof Agency: In-house/DDB Needham, N.Y. Art director: Marc Schattner Copywriters: Martin Dix, Erhan Erdem Agency producer: Candy Diepraam Production co.: Half Baked Productions Director: Kenan Moran Editor: Tom Scherma, Consulate Music: Jonathan Pointer, Songs for Cheap DAIRY MANAGEMENT (CHEESE) An elderly dude pulls out all the stops - shoeshine, tie, mouthwash, flowers - for his big date. Before long, he's making out with his soulmate: a cow. The power of cheese is undeniable, but Best Spots prefers sucking face with a half-pound bacon cheeseburger. Title: Kiss Agency: Leo Burnett, Chicago CD/copywriter: Rory Monaghan Art director: Ben Hershey Agency producer: Mike Antonucci Production co.: Propaganda Director: David Kellogg Editors: John Murray, Tom Muldoon, Glenn Martin, Jim Hutchins, Nomad DOMINO'S The evil Dr. Cravin - a toy action figure - intercepts a Domino's pizza call. Dr. C, who sounds an awful lot like The Simpsons' Mr. Burns, drives (yes, drives) to the house in the Crustmobile, calling himself "the deep-dish delinquent." Of course, doll boy is crushed in the end. But he'll be back (insert diabolical laugh). Title: Car Agency: Campbell Mithun Esty, Minneapolis Executive CD: John Hurst Creative director: Rob Wallace Copywriter/director: Trent Farr AD/director: Darryl Kluskowski Agency producer: Debra Lustig Production co.: Johnson Burnett FOOTLOCKER "Let's keep it light. Want to go for 5?" says a runner. "Would that be minutes or miles?" asks his friend. The pair go 50 yards before jogger No. 2 wimps out, complaining about his shoes. Hey, who can't relate to that? Sometimes you just can't do it. Title: Trail Run Agency: Deutsch, New York Executive CD: Kathy Delaney Art director: Craig Markus Copywriter: Bryan Black Agency producer: Randy Cohen Production co.: Hungry Man Director: John O'Hagan Editor: Mary Alice Williams, Editing: Concepts Music: Peter Lopez, corncob IBM The letterbox campaign rolls on. In this ad, two disgruntled yuppies write a we-quit email to their boss because he hasn't equipped them with Thinkpads. Just as they hit send, the tech guy arrives to set up their new laptops. Title: Flame Mail Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, New York Creative director: Chris Wall Associate CD: Dan Burrier Art director: Chris Curry Copywriter: Brendan Gibbons Executive producer: Lee Weiss Assistant producer: Oritte Bendory Production co.: Pytka Director: Joe Pytka Editor: Adam Liebowitz, Crew Cuts LEE JEANS Part of the "Buddy Lee: Man of Action" campaign, this ad portrays the doll as protector of the city. Buddy, who looks a little like Chuckie (Child's Play) after chemo, is a '60s Lee Jeans "spokesdoll" on the comeback trail in the '90s. Title: City Agency: Fallon McElligott, Minneapolis CDs: Harvey Marco, Peter McHugh Art director: Andy Azula Copywriter: Greg Hahn Agency producer: Monika Prince Production co.: Satellite Director: Spike Jonze Editor: Eric Zumbrunnen, Spot Welders Music: Elias Music MILLER LITE A bald guy in his grunders opens the fridge, takes out a cold one, puts it on a table and starts dancing. Why? 'Cause the bottle cap reads: "Twist to Open." Yo, Dick: That's not exactly the Twist he's doing. More like the Skew. Title: Weird Guy Agency: Fallon McElligott, Minneapolis Creative director: Bill Westbrook Art director: Harvey Marco Copywriter: Dean Buckhorn Agency producer: Jack Nelson Production co.: HSI Director: Gerard deThame Editor: John Murray, Nomad Music: Elias Associates NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT "Funny how some people just can't let go of their air conditioner," says the VO. It's true: A guy grills on his old AC and a woman dries her hair with hers. Why? Because they've replaced their AC with an NPPD electric heat pump. Title: New Uses Agency: Bailey Lauerman & Associates, Lincoln, Neb. Creative director: Carter Weitz Art director/producer: John Hayden Copywriter/producer: Frances Kepes Production co.: Great Plains Motion Picture Co. Director: Steve Thiesfeld OLD NAVY "Ladies and gentlemen, please fashion your seat belts," says stewardess Morgan Fairchild, as the Old Navy jet prepares to land. The fashion jokes get a little trite after 20 seconds, but Joan Collins saves the day with the immortal line: "Woof." And you thought it was hard to get into Adweek. Title: Fashion Agency: In-house Creative director: Dennis Leggett Sr. dir., copywriter: Anne Buhl Copywriter: Robbie Finnigan Producer: Francine Weiner Production co.: Original Films Director: John Huba Editor: Charley Bender Music: Pomposello Productions PARK NICOLLET CLINIC "How are you doing today?" asks the jeweler. "Really bad," says the customer. "Eyes, ears, nose, throat, all bad When I swallow, it just makes me want to cry." Then she sneezes in the guy's face. Want someone to listen to your troubles? Go to Park Nicollet. Title: Hankie Agency: Clarity Coverdale Fury, Minneapolis CD/art director: Jac Coverdale CD/copywriter Jerry Fury Broadcast production: Jenee Schmidt Production co.: Crossroads Director: Steve Eshelman Editor: Tony Fisher, Fisher Edit POWER WHEELS BY FISHER-PRICE Charlotte meets Oliver in this Dating Game parody. She likes pizza, goldfish and Power Wheels; he digs spaghetti, spiders and Fisher-Price. The kids are cuter than cute, and the drive toys look like fun. Gosh, Best Spots would love to play with the toys now. Title: Charlotte Meets Oliver Agency: Gardner, Geary, Coll & Young, S.F. CD/art director: John Coll AD/copywriter: Tom Rosenfield Copywriter: Christi Anderson Agency producer: Nikki Di Franco Production co.: Fuse Films Director: Domenic Mastrippolito Editor: Mauro Camoroda, FilmCore TACO BELL Repulsed by all things Godzilla, Best Spots still likes the little dog. In this ad, he tries to trap the lizard. Aye chihuahua! With Godzilla tanking it, the mutt should have cut a tie-in deal with Mulder and Scully. Title: Trap Agency: TBWA Chiat/Day, Venice, Calif. CDs: Chuck Bennett, Clay Williams Art director: Scott Bailey Copywriter: Brian Wimer Agency producer: Brigette Whisnant Production co.: Morton Jankel Zander Director: Rocky Morton Editor: Glenn Martin, Nomad Music: Nicholas Pike, Groove Addicts TYLENOL To stay healthy, an older woman swims in the lake every day and takes her blood-pressure medicine. The VO: "If you're taking a prescription Tylenol is least likely to have drug interaction." A smart, simple message. Title: The Lake Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi Healthcare Connection, New York CD/copywriter: Muffy Clarkson ACD/art director: Peter Bevacqua Exec. producer: Christine Cacace Music director: Eric Korte Production co.: Dektor Films Director: Leslie Dektor Editor: Keith Salmon, Lost Planet Music: Ray Foote, Big Foote U.S. POSTAL SERVICE Imitating Elvis, a groovin' cub sings "Teddy Bear." A simple idea, this spot is fun to listen to and to watch - all the while promoting the USPS' new collector series. Can't wait for the "Hunka, hunka, burning love" stamp. Title: Teddy Bear Agency: DraftWorldwide, Chicago CD/copywriter Mike Doyle Art director: Scott Peterson Agency prod.: Leslie Raugstad-Brown Production co.: Calabash/Film Workers Director: DraftWorldwide USPS Creative Team Editor: Tom Kedzuch, Red Car Music: Spank! UTZ POTATO CHIPS With extreme angst, a Frenchman repeatedly asks "Pourquoi?" Because he can't get Utz potato chips in France, that's why. Hey, anything that disses the French is aces with Best Spots. Title: France Agency: Gray Kirk/VanSant, Baltimore CD/copywriter: Jeff Millman Art director/director: Ken Dennison Prods.: Pam Poertner, Kelly Logan Production co.: Big Picture Editor: Rip Lambert, Producers Video VOLVO C-70 This visually stunning spot breathes life into billboards, print ads and mannequins. It mixes swaths of colors with black and white, and varies film speeds. A joy to watch, it's a work of art. Title: Cabriolet Agency: Messner Vetere Berger McNamee Schmetterer, New York Creative director: Ron Berger Group CD: Michael Lee Art director: Phil Silvestri Copywriter: Rich Roth Agency producer: Tom Meloth Production co.: radical media Director: Jeff Darling Editor: Simon Brewster, A52 Music: tomandandy Z-100 "Sometimes, I wake up with that not-so-fresh feeling," says a way-too-perky woman. Now, though, she uses Z-100, in original pads and new spray. No doubt the feminine-hygiene theme plays well with the Morning Zoo's prepubescent listeners. Title: Freshness Agency: Nerve Inc., Portland, Ore. Creative director: Craig Opfer Art director: Astephan Alm Copywriter: Jimmy Gilmore Agency producer: Gina Bevilacqua Production co.: Circle Productions Director: June Manton Editor: Mathew Griffiths Sound design: Dick & Rogers ZIMA With a poodle on his trail, a sweaty man escapes into a bar, where a few guys who look like products of an incestuous relationship hang out. While the running dude orders a Zima, the dog sneaks in, bites him and turns into a piece of dry ice. Chill, Fido. Title: Mad Dog Agency: Foote, Cone & Belding, San Francisco Creative director: Brian Bacino Art director: Don Creed Copywriter: Bob Dorfman Senior producer: Jim Phox Production co.: Palomar Pictures Director: Breck Eisner Editor: Hank Polonsky, Hank's Editorial Music: Elias Music Sound design: Brian Franklin, Franklin Media Sound Design Group

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Creative: BEST SPOTS - MAY

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