The Cranky Creative, Author at The Cranky Creative Blog

robot from the movie terminator 2 attacking humans (and taking their jobs?)

June 7, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Is AI coming to take your job? Yeah, it probably is.

The explosive growth of generative AI (artificial intelligence) programs such as ChatGPT and Midjourney is about to change the world — and put a metric shit-ton of people, including marketing

In 1957, researchers experimented to see if subliminal messages could be used to increase sales of popcorn and Coca-Cola

May 8, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Subliminal messages in advertising … and Disney cartoons?

A phallic shadow. The word “SEX” etched in ice. The American public has been bombarded with subliminal messages for decades, and the practice continues to this day. In 1957, researchers

April 11, 2023 The Cranky Creative

This is why companies are pushing LGBTQ+

Everywhere you look, brands are pushing LGBTQ+ messaging. Think they’re just virtue signaling? No — they are being financially incentivized by the country’s top three investment companies — BlackRock, Vanguard,

Bud Light partners with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney to promote March Madness contest and celebrate 365 days of being a girl

April 7, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Did Bud Light just commit brand suicide?

No, it’s not a joke. On April 1, trans TikTok “star” Dylan Mulvaney posted an Instagram video announcing a partnership with Anheuser-Busch to promote the company’s March Madness contest. In

March 30, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Cranky Case File: When management trips balls

The first Cranky Case File recounts a true-life story of management groupthink and how it backfired with hilarious results. Once upon a time, as an in-house copywriter for a public

Hershey's Canada hires trans-rights activist to celebrate International Women's Day

March 5, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Candy culture wars: Hershey’s hires trans-rights activist for International Women’s Day

Another day, another candy company melts down in the culture war. This time it’s Hershey’s Canada, who has hired a trans-rights activist to celebrate International Women’s Day. The new “HER

Today's blog post talks about the top 10 reasons why people hate TV commercials

February 28, 2023 The Cranky Creative

The real reasons people hate TV commercials

Oh, advertisers. It didn’t have to be this way. Once upon a time, consumers might have liked to hear from you. They might have eagerly awaited your TV commercials to

How I got scammed out of $75 and a free 30-day trial from Vidgo

February 22, 2023 The Cranky Creative

For live TV streaming, don’t go Vidgo

Consumer alert: Are you a cable TV cord-cutter looking for a reliable and affordable live TV streaming service? After getting scammed out of $75 and a free 30-day trial, I

LIVE-BLOG: Super Bowl LVII TV Commercials

February 8, 2023 The Cranky Creative

LIVE-BLOG: Super Bowl LVII commercials

Tune in TONIGHT at 6 p.m. ET as The Cranky Creative live-blogs all of the commercials from Super Bowl LVII! There’ll be thrills, chills, and no doubt some spills as

Mars candy company is retiring its cast of M&M's spokescandies

January 24, 2023 The Cranky Creative

M&M’s retires woke ‘spokescandies’ amid consumer backlash

Weeks after launching its latest campaign to attach social causes to its candy, M&M’s has pulled its cartoon candy characters indefinitely. Yesterday, the company took to Twitter to admit that

J&B whisky ad for modern audiences featuring a grandfather and his transgender grandson

January 2, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Woke capitalism and the myth of the ‘modern audience’

As brand after brand sacrifices its reputation and sales revenue in the relentless pursuit of “modern, progressive audiences,” one has to wonder: Is it worth it? And do these modern