Purty pictures, music makers
In the fight for eyeballs (on TV, that is, not in, say, some zombie kinda way) the Recording Academy decided this year to hire an ad agency for the first time to promote the Grammy telecast on Feb. 10. That job in the past was always handled by CBS, whose marketers might be a little tied up these days hyping the arrival of mass murdering "Dexter." Get it? Sure you do.
Since it's the 50th anniversary and all, the folks behind the Grammys wanted to give it that extra bit of juice. They might be in for a windfall, billboards and print ads notwithstanding, because of the dearth of star-laden extravaganzas so far this awards season.
The striking, black-and-white work is from ad agency TBWA/Chiat/Day. Will it make you watch the show? You know you want to see Amy Winehouse do whatever it is she might do (if she even makes it to the Kodak), and ditto for Kanye. Controversy -- please!
See more of the ads on the jump.
The point was to mix classic and contemporary images (artists allowed their likenesses to be used for free and, hey, that never happens -- they must like the Grammys a lot!). Previous page, in case you need help, is Jimi Hendrix and Slash, and Tammy Wynette and Carrie Underwood. Below, a couple guys who don't really need an introduction.
There's also a series of ads running in pubs like "Entertainment Weekly" and "People" that aim for an up-close-and-personal look at some hitmakers like Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.
Long-term effect? Unknown. But for today, we like looking at the purty pictures.
Mmmmm, chocolate Oscar. Not every star will walk away from the 81st annual Academy Awards with a trophy, but if they hit the high-profile Governor's Ball they can have pastry chef Sherry Yard's gold-dusted candy version. Also on the menu from celeb chef Wolfgang Puck is tuna tartare in sesame miso cones, chopped Chino Farms vegetable salad with ginger soy vinaigrette, Maine lobster and caviar. Serve it up! (Getty Images)
Dave Grohl is the cat's pajamas (learned that bit of snazzy dialogue from our BFF, Diablo Cody) but WHO THE HELL WATCHES OR CARES ABOUT THE GRAMMYS??? Other than Kanye West?
And um, blasphemy to compare Justin Timberlake to Frank Sinatra, or Carrie Underwood to Tammy W. for that matter. That's like having a black and white shot of Diablo Cody next to Jean-Paul Sartre.
Posted by: KT | February 05, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Cats Wear Pajamas? Daiblo Cody's A Stripper?
Posted by: Joey Nader | February 05, 2008 at 10:32 AM
What?? Diablo Cody was a stripper?? Next thing you're gonna tell me is that she was also a phone sex operator. And that she has tattoos and a Bettie Page haircut.
Posted by: KT | February 05, 2008 at 12:15 PM