OCTOBER 17, 1990

Full News Archive

• Headline: Leadership Changes at BBDO Chicago. Impact: William R. Kelly's rise to power at BBDO set off a chain reaction leading to an explosion of mediocre ads featuring overly enthusiastic voiceovers and stock photos of smiling families that still haunt us today.. Fact: Fun fact: For every ad agency president, there are at least 50 people whose job is to pretend that they care about the latest trends in advertising. Spoiler: they don't..
• Headline: Advertising Account Changes in Media Business. Impact: When NBC entrusted its pay-per-view account to DMB&B, it inadvertently paved the way for future generations to binge-watch reality TV—because nothing says 'quality entertainment' like watching people cry over bad decisions.. Fact: Did you know that the first pay-per-view event was a boxing match? Because nothing screams 'I’d rather pay to watch this than eat dinner' like two sweaty men punching each other..
• Headline: New Luxury Resorts in San Diego Area. Impact: The resurgence of the luxury resort market in San Diego led to a boom in sunscreen sales, resulting in the creation of a whole new genre of sunscreen advertisements that make you question your life choices.. Fact: Here’s a shocking revelation: People love to spend money on overpriced vacations in the hope of escaping their lives, only to return with sunburns and regret..
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING - ADDENDA; Ray Charles Stars As Blackglama Legend. Impact: Ray Charles endorsing Blackglama fur made fur coats the must-have item for the elite, indirectly leading to numerous 'fur vs. faux' debates that would eventually cause more drama than a soap opera.. Fact: Ray Charles once said, 'I don’t see what the big deal is about fur.' Well, Ray, neither do we, but apparently, it looks great with a side of controversy..
• Headline: Review/Film; Exploring the Underside of the Upper Class. Impact: The Claus von Bulow case opened the floodgates for a whole genre of true crime documentaries, ensuring that future generations would never run out of ways to be horrified by rich people's problems.. Fact: It's fascinating how rich people have the means to try to kill each other in style. Meanwhile, the rest of us are just trying to keep our plants alive..
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; The Man Behind the Voice of Commercials. Impact: Thom Sharp's voice became a staple in commercials, eventually leading to an era where people would recognize voices more than faces—because who needs to know what someone looks like when you can sell them soap with a smooth baritone?. Fact: The average person hears about 4,000 ads a day. So if you feel like you’re being sold something every second, congratulations, you're absolutely correct..
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING - ADDENDA; Miscellany. Impact: The opening of Ogilvy & Mather Direct's new offices in Coral Gables and Seattle made it possible for future interns to endure endless coffee runs and meetings that could have been emails, all while dreaming of actual career fulfillment.. Fact: Opening a new office is basically corporate speak for 'Let’s pretend we’re expanding while we’re really just moving more chairs around.'.