Ad of the Week: LG's "Give it a Ponder" James Lipton beard campaign
If you've ever watched "Inside the Actor's Studio" or even if you've just seen Will Farrell's parody of the show on SNL, you probably know two things about host James Lipton. One, he likes to ask questions that often cause the actors to stop and ponder. The other is that he always has a beard, which he's been known to stroke as he ponders stuff himself. Now imagine that James Lipton could take his beard off and give it to you to wear and stroke as you ponder your own stuff. That's the premise behind cell phone maker LG's "Give it a Ponder" campaign. The whole campaign is aimed at getting people, particularly teens, to stop and think before they send a nasty text message or a photo of something they really shouldn't be sending. The results are pretty weird, in a wonderful way.
The videos they've created have Lipton speaking to the camera as a teen in the scene is texting something they shouldn't. Then Lipton pulls the beard off his own face and places it on the teen. The teen, who now has a beard to stroke while they ponder, thinks better of what they were going to do and does the right thing instead. I'm not sure what's funnier, seeing the teens with the beard or Lipton without it. You can see a couple of the videos below.
But the campaign gets even better. It's multi-media campaign that also goes across several social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. All of this can be found at their site, GiveItaPonder.com, where Lipton's floating beard greets you as you navigate each part of the site. The best part is an augmented reality app that will cause Lipton's beard to grow on your face while you're having a video chat online with a friend. Unfortunately, the app is only for Mac computers now, but says a PC version is coming soon. The whole campaign is all pretty funny and has a good message, too.
LG James Lipton beard commercial - Cat Fight
LG James Lipton beard commercial - Locker Room
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Mike McClure, Exec Creative Director & Social Media Guy
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Mike, I dunno if I find this campaign as funny as you do. It relies heavily on knowing who James Lipton is, and that he strokes his beard when he ponders. If you're unfamiliar with either, as I am, then the "joke" falls flat. I admit the efx of taking off his beard and putting it on a teenager is unique. However, without the benefit of explaining who Lipton is, as you do in the beginning of your blog, then the audience might not appreciate the humor intended in this campaign. As I said; the joke falls flat for me and perhaps for others who might see it, too. Sorry.
Shev:
That's what makes our business more art than science, especially where humor is concerned. It's always subjective to your own sensibilities and sense of humor. I think the idea of having a beard so you can ponder things while stroking it works without knowing Lipton, but then I do know who he is. Some of the other elements, like the beard app and the talking floating beard on the site don't require you to know him at all. Thanks for the viewpoint.
hese parents, however, are wrong to try to prevent this lawsuit. First, these parents opposed to the suit would surely change their mind if they found that the school had been monitoring their children and themselves in their home through a web. Secondly, these parents are missing the point of a lawsuit such as this. Although the lawsuit may cost the millions of dollars, lawsuits such as this one help protect the privacy rights of the individual and also help to set a precedent. As more cameras, sound recorders, and data recorders enter our world, we have to be vigilant to fight for our privacy rights.
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Mike, I dunno if I find this campaign as funny as you do. It relies heavily on knowing who James Lipton is, and that he strokes his beard when he ponders. If you're unfamiliar with either, as I am, then the "joke" falls flat. I admit the efx of taking off his beard and putting it on a teenager is unique. However, without the benefit of explaining who Lipton is, as you do in the beginning of your blog, then the audience might not appreciate the humor intended in this campaign. As I said; the joke falls flat for me and perhaps for others who might see it, too. Sorry.
Shev
Posted by: Shev Goldstein | February 17, 2010 at 04:02 PM
Shev:
That's what makes our business more art than science, especially where humor is concerned. It's always subjective to your own sensibilities and sense of humor. I think the idea of having a beard so you can ponder things while stroking it works without knowing Lipton, but then I do know who he is. Some of the other elements, like the beard app and the talking floating beard on the site don't require you to know him at all. Thanks for the viewpoint.
Mike
Posted by: Mike McClure | February 17, 2010 at 05:07 PM
hese parents, however, are wrong to try to prevent this lawsuit. First, these parents opposed to the suit would surely change their mind if they found that the school had been monitoring their children and themselves in their home through a web. Secondly, these parents are missing the point of a lawsuit such as this. Although the lawsuit may cost the millions of dollars, lawsuits such as this one help protect the privacy rights of the individual and also help to set a precedent. As more cameras, sound recorders, and data recorders enter our world, we have to be vigilant to fight for our privacy rights.
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