_Editorial

By Heather Taylor Welcome to the Starlite Lounge! Take off your coat, order a Manhattan, sit back, and stay awhile. Tonight’s talent hails all the way from the creatives at Arnold Worldwide. Please put your hands together for the musical styling of… The Progressive Box, one of the many icons representing car insurance company Progressive! ‘Lounge Act’ “Lounge Act” features…

By Heather Taylor Last year, Paper & Packaging debuted two new animated characters in their “How Life Unfolds” consumer campaign. The campaign, which launched in 2015 about the staying power and relevance of paper and packaging products, did not feature celebrities or influencers. Created by ad agency Cramer-Krasselt, the campaign’s stars were a humble cardboard Box and a simple stack…

By Heather Taylor Upon first glance watching this commercial, it’s easy to assume you’re watching an ad for another fast food chain. There’s twangy guitar strings plucking in the background and a guy getting dressed up in a white suit. Oh, and the voiceover is about chicken. “When we’re talking about flame grilling chicken, there’s only one way to go,”…

By Heather Taylor Which GEICO commercial is the greatest of all time? Is it one of the spots featuring the Caveman? How about an ad starring Maxwell the Pig? Or, should the accolades go to the ubiquitous Gecko? After 25 years of debate, GEICO has settled the score with “The Best Of GEICO” collection of their greatest advertising hits. This…

By Heather Taylor We’ve shared oral history articles on PopIcon before, but this oral history on toothpaste mascots takes it to the next level. Brace yourselves. From Bucky Beaver’s beloved “brusha brusha brusha!” 1950s jingle to Japan’s runaway fan favorite Mr. T Stain, we’re showcasing five of our favorite toothpaste icons over the decades. Tuffy Tooth | Colgate Tuffy Tooth…

By Heather Taylor Two icons are coming together this Valentine’s Day to dish out love advice. One is Dr. Ruth Westheimer, famed media personality and love and relationship expert. The other is a 103-year-old nut professional… Mr. Peanut, is that you? Mr. Peanut & Dr. Ruth: Relationship Q&A Experts Yep, it’s the face of Planters teaming up with Dr. Ruth…

By Heather Taylor Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day for fans of Carvel Ice Cream’s Fudgie the Whale and Cookie Puss! Now through February 15th, Carvel has whipped up LTO take-home ice cream pints inspired by the two icons. Available only through delivery (like DoorDash and UberEats), it’s impossible not to fall head over heels for the sweet…

By Heather Taylor Grab a bag of Utz potato chips and you’ll see an adorable little girl grinning on the packaging. Her hair is in a bob with a bright red bow, and she has rosy cheeks and bright eyes. Much like chip/crisp fans are reaching for their own Utz bag, she’s also got her hand extending to mischievously reach…

By Heather Taylor Have you ever wished that someone could tell you what life would be like 10 minutes into the future? There’s a spokesguy for that. Small business funding company Kabbage recently launched their first national TV campaign in partnership with ad agency Eleven. The spot stars actor Gary Cole (Veep, Office Space, Kim Possible, yeah that last credit…

By Heather Taylor Elsie the Cow has been the iconic face of Borden Dairy since 1936. In recent decades, however, fans haven’t seen much of this bright-eyed bovine. Where’s Elsie? Borden fans are about to be over the moon with excitement. Tony Sarsam, CEO at Borden, promises that a preview of Elsie’s new look is coming later in Q1 (by…

By Heather Taylor For seven years, Larry Moon worked as a Kellogg’s group TV producer at Leo Burnett. Moon had the privilege of working on the Frosted Flakes account with the iconic Tony the Tiger. This “Gr-r-reat!” duo brought some of Tony’s most iconic, and active, commercials to life. Ever wonder what it takes to animate a spot for this…

By Heather Taylor If one of your goals for 2019 was to start planning for retirement, you’re in luck! The AARP and Ad Council are simplifying the process at AceYourRetirement.org, and they’re getting help from the world’s first mascot for saving for retirement — Avo. Who Is Avo? Avo is a joint creation between the Ad Council, AARP, and their…

By Heather Taylor In 1999, a hiker stumbled across a cottage in the European countryside. Curious, he peeked in the window to see a sweet world unfolding before his eyes. Chocolate was being made here, specifically chocolate confections from the Milka brand, and a marmot wrapped each bar in foil. Not surprisingly, nobody in the outside world could believe the…

By Heather Taylor Happy New Year’s Eve! Tonight, December 31st at 5:15 PM, a giant, illuminated PEEPS Chick will descend in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to ring in the New Year. The PEEPS Chick Drop 2018 marks the 10th Annual PEEPS Chick Drop, one of the many celebratory highlights at PEEPSFEST. This two-day festival is a long-standing tradition for families in Bethlehem, home…

By Heather Taylor Twas the night before Christmas… which just got crunk in 2k18. Oh yeah! I don’t know what I was expecting when I sat down to watch Lil Jon’s single “All I Really Want For Christmas” featuring the Kool-Aid Man. I went in completely blind for the video created by mcgarrybowen Chicago. And, I am glad I did…

By Heather Taylor In 1993, the world watched as a group of furry polar bears gathered together to watch the Northern Lights. Enthralled by the stunning skies, the bears each took a sip from the glass Coca-Cola bottles clutched in their paws. As it turned out, the world was watching a new Coca-Cola commercial. Their stars were CGI animated polar…

By Heather Taylor What has no snow, but can conjure up a winter wonderland with the help of a snowflake and a catchy singalong? Why, it’s Ronald McDonald! The beloved clown used a pinch of magic to get the McDonaldland crew to sleigh ride down to McDonald’s for the 1983 holiday season. Let’s sleigh ride down memory lane with former…

By Heather Taylor Look closely at J.J. Sedelmaier’s company logo. It might take you a moment to recall where you’ve seen it before, but I can assure you that you have seen it before. This logo appeared on a title card at the end of The Ambiguously Gay Duo. These sketches were part of the Saturday Night Live TV Funhouse…

By Heather Taylor Ho, ho, ho, and hoo, hoo, hoo! For the first time ever, Pillsbury is debuting two Ugly Christmas Sweaters for the 2018 holiday season starring their iconic mascot, the Pillsbury Doughboy. How can I call these sweaters “ugly” when they’re actually a-dough-able? (It doesn’t have the same ring to it, but I digress.) Doughboy fans and foodies…

By Heather Taylor Ho, ho, ho, and hoo, hoo, hoo! For the first time ever, Pillsbury is debuting two Ugly Christmas Sweaters for the 2018 holiday season starring their iconic mascot, the Pillsbury Doughboy. How can I call these sweaters “ugly” when they’re actually a-dough-able? (It doesn’t have the same ring to it, but I digress.) Doughboy fans and foodies…