Sunday, April 28, 2019

Still Hearing it Through the Grapevine -- The California Raisins



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I learned today



I learned today, courtesy of the New York Times Magazine, that the California Dancing Raisins are still in the news. Sort of.

In an article entitled The Raisin Situation (online) and Raisin Noir (in print), the Times describes the animosity and rancor that is the raisin industry, based in and around Fresno, California.      https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/27/style/sun-maid-raisin-industry.html

As the article suggests, that enmity existed even back in the day when there was “a reluctance to work together on raisin advertising, which is especially strange given that the raisin industry commissioned and paid for one of the world’s most recognizable advertising campaigns,” the California Dancing Raisins.

As the individual responsible for supervising the California Raisin Advisory Board (CALRAB) account at the advertising agency Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) that created the Dancing Raisins, I thought it might make sense to provide a little back story on that legendary campaign.

FCB was responsible for the CALRAB account for many years. Over those years the agency produced numerous TV advertising campaigns for the client…campaigns that were written against different marketing strategies all designed to stimulate raisin consumption.

There was the “Nature’s Candy” campaign which suggested to consumers that 100% natural raisins were indeed “candy from nature,” a wholesome, healthful snack to give to your children. The most notable spot in this campaign was called “Baby Sitter” which featured a very young, pre-Breakfast Club, Molly Ringwald playing a baby sitter extolling the virtues of giving raisins to her charges.

There was the “How They Make Them” campaign which, in one spot, showed kids loving their raisins but wondering how they were made…with the payoff – they weren’t made, they were 100% natural snacks, “made” by simply being dried in the California sun.  

Another wonderful spot in this campaign was the animated (not Claymation) “Factory” spot which whimsically demonstrated the raisin “factory assembly line”…raisins being picked, dried naturally in the sun and then packed.

But, despite these great ads, raisin sales remained flat.

So, a new strategy was developed, leaving snacking behind and emphasizing raisins’ versatility as an ingredient in a wide variety of recipes and dishes. The spot we ran, “Rondo” was simply beautiful, showing raisins falling in extreme slow-motion, into a variety of dishes with Mozart’s "Turkish Rondo" as the background music. This spot was so successful creatively, it won a Clio, at the time the advertising industry’s Oscar equivalent.

But raisin sales didn’t budge.

So back to the drawing board. And, what do advertising agencies do when they go back to the drawing board? Do research. Find out what the issues are. Determine what might trigger consumers into consuming more. And that we did.

The results of this research: consumers knew, after all those previous campaigns, all they needed to know about raisins – natural, wholesome, great for kids, great for snacking, great as an ingredient. But they didn’t think of them and when/if they did, they were kind of boring and old-fashioned.

Eureka! Let’s make raisins fun and hip and exciting. Let’s bring raisins, a product everyone knows, from the back of the mind to the front.

Armed with this insight we went back and developed a spot – young hip folks, enjoying raisins against a high-tempo, energetic sound track (I think we even had some fireworks for good measure). The client bought it, we developed a test “animatic” (a rough animation) which tested well. Production was scheduled a few months later.

My client at the time was Bob Phinney, CALRAB’s marketing director. Bob and I were on a European business trip promoting California raisin sales against our arch enemy, Turkish sultanas. 

Walking back to our Copenhagen hotel after a distributor’s dinner on a cold, snowy December night I confessed to Bob that I thought the spot we presented to CALRAB was OK, but not great. And since we had several months before we had to produce, would he let us try one more time to get to “great.” Bob, who was the best client I ever had, said, not surprisingly, “I’m with you…I’m not in love that spot either. Just tell me what it will cost.” I told Bob, “$20,000, the cost of another animatic.” His response, “Go for it. I’ll take care of the internal politics.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Back in San Francisco I got Seth Werner, a great creative, assigned to the account. Seth came up with the idea of dancing raisins, and importantly, the stroke of genius to use the heretofore little known Will Vinton and his Claymation technique, to produce it.

The animatic was produced. It tested through the roof and my team and I, with Bob’s support, recommended full production to the CALRAB marketing committee. There was only one roadblock. Sun Maid’s representative on the committee raised his hand and asked, “We already have a spot that tested well. I like that one. Why are we doing this?” To which I responded, “Because it’s better!”

As the Times article says, raisin sales spiked…but truth be told…Dancing Raisin merchandise and tchotchkes sales soared! 

At the time, Advertising Age, the industry trade bible, published a monthly survey listing the most remembered advertising during the previous month. The top 5 always included advertisers like Coke, Pepsi, McDonalds, each of whom spent upwards of $200 million on their TV campaigns. And California Raisins? Either number one, two or three in the survey. At a spend level of around $8 million.

Ah, the power of a great idea!


Saturday, April 27, 2019

We shall overcome Trump. We have survived worse.



AROUND THE BLOCK

I learned today


I learned today from a heartfelt column by the Washington Post's Dana Milbank and quotes from Civil Rights icon, Representative John Lewis, that despite Trump's excesses, lies and overall bad governance and despite how appalling we believe things are in Trump’s America, “As bad as things are now, we’ve gone through much worse.”


Dana Milbank: "We hear in Trump a refined version of (Birmingham Sheriff Bull) Connor and (Selma Sheriff Jim) Clark and (Alabama Governor) George Wallace as he exploits racial fears that have always been with us." 

John Lewis: “Whatever he tries to do, he cannot take us back. During the next few weeks and months and next year, there will be some setbacks. But the American people are not going back.”

Reason for hope? Let’s hope!


Thursday, April 25, 2019

Putin/Kim Summit -- What happened to the translators' note...and the translators?



AROUND THE BLOCK

I learned today


I learned today that Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korean “dear leader” Kim Jung Un held a summit meeting today in the Russian Pacific port city of Vladivostok.

According to reporting from the Associated Press, the two dictators had high hopes for their first one-on-one meeting, which came amid deadlocked global diplomacy over the North Korean leader’s nuclear program.

It was Kim’s first visit to Russia as North Korean leader; his late father, Kim Jong Il, visited Russia in 2011. The North Korean leader evoked his father’s “great love for Russia” and said that he intends to strengthen ties between the two countries.

The summit follows two meetings between Kim and U.S. president Donald Trump. Those meetings resulted in the North Koreans being increasingly frustrated at the deadlocked negotiations. Last week, North Korea tested a new weapon and demanded that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo be removed from the nuclear talks.

CNN reported that Putin said he was “pleased” with the outcome of the meeting saying, “We are all pleased with the outcome of the talks -- both I and my colleagues,” the Russian leader said. 

“Chairman Kim Jong Un is a fairly open person, leading a free discussion on all issues that were on the agenda.”

But, what was on the agenda?

Since neither Putin nor Kim speaks the other's language, translators were employed. 

Inside sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to talk, said that following the precedent set by Trump, translators’ notes were destroyed immediately following the meeting.

To ensure complete confidentiality however, Kim proposed, and Putin enthusiastically agreed, that not only should the notes be destroyed but that the translators be “eliminated.” It is not clear whether the dictators called on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (aka MBS-BAAS) to carry out the elimination.

Upon hearing on how Putin and Kim took care of the messy translator notes problem, Trump tweeted, “Heard my dear frends (sic) Vladimir and Kim have great way to eliminate leaks to the fake media. Why didn’t I think of that?!?!”


In a rare instance of Trump’s advisors exercising some restraint on their boss, staffers immediately pulled the post down.

When questioned about the incident, White House press secretary and senior flak, Sarah Huckabee “Colonel” Sanders told the press, “What tweet? Once again disreputable news outlets like Around the Block are promoting fake news.”





Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Name a Trumpster Contest -- Bill Barr Edition: Results Are In!



AROUND THE BLOCK

The results are in…



The results of the first "Name a Trumpster Contest" are in. Thank you, dear readers, for the creative and inspired submissions.

https://tedblocksblog.blogspot.com/2019/04/trump-sycophants-deserve-nicknames-too.html 

So, without further ado, here are the 10 finalists: 
  • William “Babble Boy” Barr
  • William “Smelly Kelly” Barr
  • William “Lower the Bar” Barr
  • William “Tell-a-Lie” Barr
  • William “Ballsy” Barr
  • William “Big Cajones” Barr
  • William “What a Set Of” Barr
  • William “What Reputation?” Barr
  • William “What Me Worry?” Barr
  • William “Attorney Private” Barr

 And the winner (drum roll please):

William “Lower the Bar” Barr
The Hon. William "Lower the Bar" Barr lying er, testifying before Congress

With that, in any further references to our so-called attorney general (and let’s hope after this latest “mishegoss” there won’t be many more references to this “mashugana”) he will be known as William "Lower the Bar" Barr.

Wait, how about William “Mashugana” Barr? 

Oops, too late!






Friday, April 19, 2019

Trump sycophants deserve nicknames too!



AROUND THE BLOCK

It strikes me…


It strikes me that while Donald Trump has given mockingly sarcastic nicknames to his political enemies, he rarely, if ever, nicknames his political sycophants.

If, for some reason you don’t know about Trump’s nicknames, here’s a partial list:
  • Joe Biden = “Sleepy Joe”
  • Michael Bloomberg = “Little Michael”
  • Richard Blumenthal = “The Dick”
  • Jerry Brown = “Governor Moonbeam”
  • Jeb Bush = “Low Energy Jeb”
  • Hillary Clinton = “Crooked Hillary”
  • James Comey = “Leakin James Comey”
  • Bob Corker = “Liddle Bob Corker”
  • Ted Cruz = “Lyin’ Ted”
  • Diane Feinstein = “Leaking Diane”
  • Al Franken = “Al Frankenstein”
  • Robert Mueller = “Highly Conflicted Bob Mueller”
  • Jerry Nadler = “Fat Jerry”
  • Nancy Pelosi = “Nancy”
  • Rod Rosenstein = “Mr. Peepers”
  • Marco Rubio = “Little Marco”
  • Bernie Sanders = “Crazy Bernie”
  • Adam Schiff = “Pencil Neck”
  • Chuck Schumer = “Fake Tears Chuck”
  • Jeff Sessions = “Mr. Magoo”
  • Rex Tillerson = “Dumb as a Rock”
  • Elizabeth Warren = “Pocahontas”
  • Maxine Waters = “Low-IQ Maxine”

But, where are the nicknames for his followers, his sycophants, his fawners, his flunkeys, his kowtowers, his obsequious yes-men? There aren’t any.

So, following the release of the redacted Mueller report by Sycophant-In-Chief, (AKA Attorney General), William Barr, what better time than to assist Trump by providing names for some of the people he likes?

And what better person to start with than the aforementioned William Barr?

So today, I’m announcing the first “Name a Trumpster Contest” by asking you, my dear readers, to submit your nicknames for William Barr. Place your entry (or entries if you really think you have some good ones) in the Comments link at the bottom of Around the Block

To assist you and to get your creative juices going, let me remind you that I too sometimes use nicknames, Sarah Huckabee “Colonel” Sanders being one of my favorites. 

In the unlikely event that anyone (that is, anyone) participates in this contest, I’ll send the entries to be certified by the international accounting firm, Dewey, Cheatem & Howe, who will keep them under lock and key until the winner is announced a subsequent Around the Block. 

By the way, if there are any other Trump toadies you’d like to nickname, please enter them as well. If we’re going to be creative, let's be creative and have some fun in the process.

Happy naming!!!


Thursday, April 18, 2019

Trump has one of the greatest memories - Not!



AROUND THE BLOCK

I learned today…



I learned today that, when it matters, Donald Trump’s memory is not as good as he says it is.

Trump has claimed that he has “one of the greatest memories of all time.” 

However, in the redacted Mueller report released today, it was revealed that Trump answered dozens of questions put to him by the special counsel but that his memory failed him 34 times in 33 paragraphs of answers.

According to an accounting by the Los Angeles Times, Trump’s lapses of memory were varied: “Do not recall” — 14 times; “No recollection” — 9; “Do not remember” — 6; “No independent recollection” — 2; “Nor do I recall” — 2; “Nor do I remember” — 1.

This is not a good look for the self-proclaimed “greatest rememberer of all time.” (Truth be told, there is no good look when it comes to Donald Trump). But just in case some might believe this is simply a one-time anomaly, it isn’t.

According to a compilation by the Huffington Post, Trump uttered the phrase “I don’t remember” 35 times in testimony last year while he was being deposed for a lawsuit concerning Trump University. And, during a 2012 deposition as part of a separate lawsuit over Trump University, he reportedly said “I don’t remember” another 24 times.

I know you’re all shocked to hear that Trump’s braggadocio is simply, well, braggadocio. 

But, his great memory claim is just one in a litany of over-the-top boasts, including, but not limited to, "I have the best words”; “Nobody has been tougher on Russia than I have;” “I am the least anti-Semitic person that you’ve ever seen in your entire life;” “I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed;” “Nobody knows more about trade than me;”  “Nobody respects women more than I do;” and “Nobody loves the Bible more than I do.”

Whew!

Given all this, it’s probably about time for the ultimate one: “I am the biggest liar in the history of the world. Nobody lies better than I do.” With which he might follow up, “But I’m still the president of the United States.” 

God help us! 

Friday, April 12, 2019

Ivanka is "very good with numbers"



AROUND THE BLOCK

I learned today…


I learned today that Donald Trump considered nominating his daughter Ivanka to be president of the World Bank…because “she’s very good with numbers.”

In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump also suggested she would be suitable for other administration positions, including U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

“She’s a natural diplomat,” Trump said. “She would’ve been great at the United Nations, as an example.”

Asked why he didn’t nominate her, Trump replied: “If I did, they’d say nepotism, when it would’ve had nothing to do with nepotism. But she would’ve been incredible.”

Remember, this is the same Donald Trump who, in a 2006 appearance on the TV talk show The View, discussed the possibility of Ivanka’s posing for Playboy magazine 

“It would be really disappointing — not really — but it would depend on what’s inside the magazine. I don’t think Ivanka would do that, although she does have a very nice figure. I’ve said if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.” 

Ah, the Trump gene pool – Ivanka is very good with numbers. Donald knows words; he has the best words.

Imagine, if you will this, family dinner discussion:
Donald: "I know words"
Ivanka: I'm very good at numbers.
Eric: Hey, why don't we start a university? 
Don Jr.: Yeah, with a university we can dupe thousands of dummies out there into giving us their money for phony, useless diplomas.
Tiffany: And I can finally get a job. I can be a professor.
Donald: Ivanka, why don't we go out to La Grenouille to discuss the idea. People say it's the most romantic restaurant in New York
Ivanka: Oh, daddy. You're so great! 
Jared: Can I come too? 
Barron: I want my ice cream. Now!
Nuff said!




Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Bibi Trump and Donald Netanyahu



AROUND THE BLOCK

I learned today…

Two Peas in a Pod - שני אפונים בתרמיל
I learned today, courtesy of Thomas Friedman, that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are essentially the same person. Which is why Friedman now refers to them as Bibi Trump and Donald Netanyahu.

I actually didn’t really learn this today; I’ve always known it. But Friedman’s Times’ column today provides the particulars behind the contention.


And here are some key takeaways: 

  • They are both men utterly without shame, backed by parties utterly without spine, protected by big media outlets utterly without integrity.
  • They are both funded by a Las Vegas casino magnate, Sheldon Adelson.
  • They are both making support for Israel a “Republicanʼʼ cause — no longer a bipartisan one. 
  • Netanyahu has openly embraced a racist, anti-Arab Israeli party and racist, anti-Arab rhetoric, unlike any previous Israeli prime minister.
  • Trump is increasingly turning America into a banana republic, firing cabinet officials and senior bureaucrats who refuse to carry out his impulsive orders, which are often illegal and mostly related to preventing legal and illegal immigration or asylum requests along the Mexico-United States border.
  • Both Trump and Netanyahu are being investigated for serious financial improprieties. 
  • Neither man is interested in being a leader for all their people. Each has chosen to rule by dividing his people, not uniting them.
  • Bibiʼs strategy was to demonize Israeli Arabs, and Trumpʼs was to demonize Muslims and Mexicans and immigrants from what he called “shitholeʼʼ countries.
  • Both Trump and Bibi worship only one thing — raw, naked power, and they are not afraid to exercise it. 

Sadly, there’s more, so I urge you to read the column in its entirety.

As of this writing, Netanyahu has apparently won enough votes to form a coalition that will ensure another term as prime minister, even if that coalition had to include a small, racist, anti-Arab Israeli party — "a party so vile that the Israeli Supreme Court barred its leader from running." 

Will Trump win re-election in 2020 by, among other things, continuing his unfettered indulgence of white supremacists?

Too early to tell. But, as Friedman concludes, "Four more years of Netanyahu and six more years of Trump wonʼt just change America and Israel. It will change the world — and not for the better."