Ninja vs. Penguin and Alien vs. Predator

On the lighter side of things, check out Ninja vs. Penguin for some awesome creative work and fun commentary.

Loved finding this older series of ads for Alien vs. Predator, mostly because it reminds me of the last time I watched the movie with my dad and he felt the need to explain all of the intricacies of the plotline even after I told him I had already seen the movie. Sigh.

Anycrap, they're pretty amusing:

(courtesy of Ninja vs. Penguin)

Jon & Kate Plus Ad Dollars?

The Discovery Communications family of networks has been cashing in lately on ad sales due to diverse and popular programming like Deadliest Catch on Discovery and Jon & Kate Plus 8 on TLC.

As you may have noticed in a previous post, I'm a big J&KP8 fan. In my own life it's always been a "family first" mentality, so I always appreciated their commitment to the kids and keeping the family together. With Jon & Kate's recent marital troubles, though, the increased press has put a huge strain on the family.

That's not to say the show itself has suffered - in fact, the season 5 premiere in May was the most-watched program on TLC....ever.

Even with record-breaking numbers, it's still unclear whether the show will return for additional seasons. While I'd miss the weekly episodes and seeing the adorable kids grow up, it's important they do what's best for them right now. Whether it's continuing the show, ending the marriage, only filming a couple times a year for some one-hour specials, etc., I don't really care as long as they pull through and make it work for their family.

With that said, imagine my extreme distaste when I read the following comment from Joe Abruzzese in the June 15 edition of Broadcasting & Cable Magazine:

As for the publicity surrounding Jon & Kate, the Discovery reality show about a couple with eight children—the couple's marriage problems are all over the tabloids—he is sanguine about the benefits of such exposure.

“The good thing is, we've got great sampling; it will be a disappointment if they don't come back,” he says. “The fear is, what's the show going to be? That's on everyone's mind. It may not be the show it was. We need to find out what the show will become and sell its value.”

Excuse me? I thought the fear was that a family would be torn apart by the constant media scrutiny and end up suffering in the long-term. While Discovery is obviously happy that the current media exposure is allowing them to rake in the advertising dollars, I don't think it's fair for Mr. Abruzzese to be so openly blasé when he's talking about real people's lives here. Sure, it may help business, but remember that in the end these people aren't TV show characters and their lives are affected by everything that goes on around them.

I don't know, I guess I'm not old and jaded enough by the advertising business to understand Mr. Abruzzese's point of view. Actually, I kind of hope I never do.




(Courtesy of broadcastingcable.com and hollywoodinsider.ew.com)

Bain Capital managing partner emerges as potential buyer of Boston newspaper

A managing partner at Bain Capital is among three parties interested in buying the Boston Globe newspaper, according to Financial Times.

Bain’s Stephen Pagliuca, who co-owns the Boston Celtics basketball team, has emerged as a potential buyer of the daily newspaper, which is being sold by the New York Times Company.

The Times Company is reportedly seeking a buyer for the Boston newspaper after cutting Globe employees’ pay by 23 percent. The Globe is said to be on track to lose $85m this year.

The newspaper’s management is currently in negotiations with Boston Newspaper Guild over cost-cutting measures, but the union is said to be hopeful of a settlement soon.

Pagliuca is apparently willing to discuss working with union leaders, according to the FT.

Other potential buyers include former advertising executive Jack Connors and Stephen Taylor, a former executive at the Globe and a member of the family that controlled it until its sale to the Times Company in 1993.



(Courtesy of altassets.com)

N.Y. Times Co. Shops The Boston Globe

CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

And according to WCVB out of Boston, the New York Times Company "reversed course Tuesday and said there were no plans to close the paper."

Full Story Here

(Courtesy of upi.com and thebostonchannel.com)

Boston Globe Union Rejects Cuts, Times To Slash Pay

CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

I wanted to post the full article here but my computer thinks it's smarter than me and I'm not willing to fight that battle right now...



(Courtesy Rock102.com, Story Copyright 2009, Reuters)

The Making of the Prius "Harmony" TV Commercial

So, originally I was just going to post the video and blather about how much I love this spot....

But this is better - A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the commercial!



(If you only want to see the actual commercial, skip ahead to about 4:08)




(Courtesy of Toyota)