The gaming of the ads on Mad Men is getting out of hand. Yeah, yeah…they did the job because I’m blogging about it. But there were three different ads that were “gaming” the DVR crowd by presenting their ads in the motif of the actual show so that viewers will stop fast forwarding the DVR at what they think is the end of the ad pod. Klondike had two guys in 1960 era suits pitching a new campaign for the brand. Clorox and Hotels.com then led their pedestrian ads with the animated building and red/black lettering so clearly associated with the show itself. The clear irony here is that these advertisers are holding on with their fingernails to the very interruptive, 1960′s era marketing model that is the central focus of the Mad Men show itself.

Here’s an interesting item from of all places, The Weather Channel. It appears that TWC is putting QR Codes on the TV screen during weather broadcasts, inviting Android users to scan the code to get their Android app. I’ve heard of people using the codes on outdoor advertising but having a broadcast network using them is a pretty interesting move for networks and for advertisers. Next step is obviously a TV spot with the QR code that delivers a coupon for that item to the user’s mobile device.

The Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld ad from Microsoft is just terrible. I’ve read that it was developed “to make people talk” and start the conversation. Well, people are talking and I think the word of the day is confusion and a yawn. This is such a typical Microsoft-like response to Apple’s innovation. Two years late and not nearly as good.

This is a great local NY spot by Avis, tapping into the Yankees – Red Sox rivalry. It would be great if Avis did one from the Red Sox perspective to counter this one.

I’ve been talking about it for years. Blimp Advertising…it’s such an untapped market. :-)

And finally, leave it to Presidential candidate Ron Paul to take advantage of this highly effective marketing opportunity.

As of this post, they have generated $300K towards the $350K goal to make this a reality. Lets hope that they don’t go Hindenburg on us.

I am really sick of the Sprint ad campaign that is out there these days, especially the ad with the dork sitting at the diner bar who is wearing some kind of sandwich all over his face and is getting his picture taken with a Sprint PCS camera phone by some moderately attractive blonde woman. Its just annoying. As is the guy in the black coat.