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
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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
Continue readingThe myth of the ‘modern audience’ is ruining advertising
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
Continue readingChewy sets the example for brands by connecting with customers
As the world burns and the rotting edifice of civilized society starts to fall in around our ears, let us celebrate pet-product online retailer Chewy for its exceptional and heartfelt
Continue readingWhy is modern advertising so terrible? A comparison of ads, past and present
The advertising industry has lost its way. It’s obvious every time we turn on the TV or open the mailbox. But what makes today’s ads so bad? Recently, advertising industry
Continue readingNo, consumers don’t care about your brand’s stand on social issues
We hear it all the time: “Brands need to take a stand on social issues.” “The public demands to know where your brand stands on social issues.” But is it
Continue readingLIVE-BLOG: Super Bowl LVI commercials
Heads up, Cranky readers! Tune in at 6 p.m. Eastern Time as I live-blog all of the commercials from Super Bowl LVI. Watch the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los
Continue readingLet’s talk about forced diversity in TV commercials
If you only watched TV, you might think that white people (including fumbling, bumbling white males) are a minority in the United States. Depending on the commercial break, you might
Continue readingA series of unfortunate logo designs
A logo is a symbol or other design created to visually represent a company or organization. It is a key part of any brand as it’s meant to communicate the
Continue readingMy top 3 TV commercials of all time
A Cranky reader named Brian wrote in to ask, “What are your top three favorite TV commercials?” Honestly, the question caught me off guard — I don’t like many commercials,
Continue readingThe Cranky Creative blog turns three
In 2011, a manager asked me if I had a blog, or if I’d ever considered writing one. “No,” I snorted dismissively. “I don’t have anything to say.” My, how
Continue readingBrands have no business pushing COVID vaccines
Whether you are looking to inform a loved one about the dangers of COVID-19 “vaccines” or you have just started to ask questions yourself, welcome. This page will be an
Continue readingYes, the Gillette Venus Pubic Hair and Skin razor ad goes (down) there
Would you ever knock on a stranger’s door and, upon being allowed to enter, strip down and start shaving your pubes? That’s precisely what Gillette and model Nicole R. Rasenti
Continue readingSuper Bowl LV commercials: The Cranky Ad Review verdict
Really, what did everyone expect? Smarter and funnier than most TV commercials aired during Super Bowl LV, the 1999 Mike Judge film Idiocracy was sadly prescient. So let’s watch a
Continue readingBook Review: Bob Garfield’s ‘And Now a Few Words from Me’
Readers of this blog often ask me to recommend good books on advertising. If you have even a passing interest in the ad world, then you need to put Bob
Continue reading‘Adapt or die’: the advertising industry faces painful change
Posh parties. Black-tie award shows. First-class flights and three-martini lunches. As ad budgets shrink, brands move capabilities in-house, and more people realize that the emperor has no clothes, advertising agencies
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