Partridge Returns

I've just read some fantastic news for anyone like me who is a fan of Alan Partridge. Apparently the Fosters Company are funding the production of 12, 11 minute long episodes as part of a new comedy based initiative to promote the brand.
For anyone who doesn't know who Alan Partridge is, he is a fictional character played by Steve Coogan that has appeared in various series of episodes from the beginning of the early 90's up until 2002. Alan started off as a television presenter on The Day Today, and the series that follow document the trials and tribulations of his hilarious, pompous and sometimes sad existence.
The new set of short episodes, (written by Armando Iannucci) will see Partridge played by Coogan and feature him presenting his new programme called "Mid Morning Matters". The episodes will maintain the Foster's branding throughout and will be produced by Naked Communications. They start on the 5th of November and I for one cannot wait to see what they are like, and I don't care how sad that sounds!
I've posted a link to give you all an essence of the Partridge phenomenon....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW4yAPpEwT0

Favourite Adverts

This set of ads from a few years ago are some of of my favourite ever. They use a really simple senseof humour and aren't difficult to get your head around, which I suppose is the essence of this particular campaign. It worked well for them aswell because they used Peter Kay just as he was getting big in the U.K, and appearing in them didn't do him any harm either... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFSLUJ8SIbc

Top Bombing!

 

Lazy People

Just seen an advert for a self-stirring mug in the paper. This is a mug, that stirs itself. I mean I can see how it would be quite handy and have it's purpose in life, but it just got me asking one simple question (which I'm not too proud to admit I find myself asking a little too often in life)- Why? Where does the line get drawn between a labour-saving device, and just sheer bloody bone-idleness? I fear that within this modern fast food culture where everything is becoming on demand and is all about making life easier for ourselves, we are getting to a stage where we are losing basic skills that have been so vital in the past: cooking, cleaning, washing up are but a few rudimentary arts that so many of us just don't really have to deal with so directly anymore. One of my friends the other night asked me if he could make some beans on toast for himself, and being the hugely generous chap I am I obliged. However, I will never forget the sheer look of bewilderment on his face when he realised that he would have to open the tin manually, and without the use of an electric tin opener. We all found it hilarious at the time watching him wrestle with my rather crap tin opener, but it does highlight the fact that we really take for granted a lot of the technology we have around us. I can't begin to imagine how hard it must've been for Captain Cook to find his way back to Hawaii all those times without his GPS tracking system; and how Heathcliff and Catherine managed to meet up without mobile phones is beyond me. I think it is important to remember how many luxuries we have around us these days, and we can function by doing things for ourselves if we really want to. . . there was civilisation before Facebook!

Billboard Family

I've just read a relatively short but interesting article about a family in America, who plan to make a bit of extra cash for themselves by advertising companies who are willing to pay them. They say they charge $2 (£1.26) per day for wearing t-shirts with the company's logo on and also advertise them on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Youtube.
My initial reaction was that it was a ridiculous idea  and was just another eccentric American family just hungry for a bit of media attention. But then as I read it again and considered it, it actually appears to be quite a unique and enterprising concept. Think about it: these people are offering to potentially travel round the USA, simply to promote and spread awareness of your brand or company. Not only this but they will also advertise you on the social beacons that are Facebook and Youtube...just for $2 per day! Don't get me wrong, they're not amongst the most visually appealing campaigns that a company could wish for, nor do they have any back catalogue of satisfied clients to show off; but for $14 a week, you've got to imagine that there are a good few companies out there who would be willing to take this very small gamble. In an age where advertising is at the forefront of many marketing strategies, I can see this possibly making a small fortune for the family form Missouri. Even if they're quirky business isn't a roaring success, I think it is still always refreshing to see someone working with a unique idea they have had.
I'm not sure how it will work for them, but I would like to wish them good luck. Don't they say there's no such thing as bad publicity?

Heres the link to the article:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8033456/Billboard-Family-to-advertise-for-companies.html

First blog

Never really been interested in blogging but might as well embrace it now. Not really up to much, just had some pies and trying to get my head around some research surrounding the wedgwood museum. Stumbled across an interesting exhibition at the National Museum in the Prague about Beatlemania. Seems a bit different, using 2 parallel storylines which document the rise and time of the Beatles and the swinging 60's, alongside what was going on in the Czech Republic at that very influential time in history e.g Jan Palach. Was planning a trip there around christmas until work put up a ban on holidays in December. Oh well, heres a link to the exhibition......click here