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AdCouncil: Asterisk, 2

AdCouncil: Asterisk, 2
Your rating: None Average: 4.3 (12 votes)

When you take steroids, there’s no hiding it. Eventually everyone will see you for what you really are. A fake. A fraud. An asterisk.

Advertising Agency: TBWA\Chiat\Day\NY, USA
Creative Director: Gary Scheiner
Associate Creative Director / Art Director: Ron Castaldo
Associate Creative Director / Copywriter: Jared Rubin
Photographer: Tim Tadder
Published: September 2008

Comments

apseudobeing's picture 495 pencils

I like the positioning 'Dont be an asterix'.

Everything else is epic fail.

TJAY's picture 64 pencils

I think the positioning is an epic fail. "Ooooh, he's such an asterisk" "Oh no, everyone things I'm an astericks".

Nup, doesn't have anywhere near as much as he's a cheat, or a liar or anything else. Even the website says it's a footnote. Exactly how much power of persuasion do you think a footnote has?

virtualplaydoh's picture 234 pencils

Thing is kids don't care if they cheat or not. They cheat all the time. On tests. Girls. That's why this works. It's being labeled that kids can't handle. Especially in sports. When your life revolves around what your team and school thinks.

stitchy's picture 515 pencils

this s awful...

Neil Levy's picture 316 pencils

it's a little tough to know who the audience is. with a usa olympic logo, the implication is that it's directed toward us athletes. why would the ad council do that? i think it's a big issue in terms of how well the ad communicates. don't be an asterisk america? is that the meaning?

neil levy

virtualplaydoh's picture 234 pencils

Feels like the asterisk is an American sports blemish. With tainted records because of steroid use. But you're right, it's probably bigger than that. But it looks like it's geared toward US high school kids. Maybe college. There's a spot too on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI6SzrjO1w4&feature=related

virtualplaydoh's picture 234 pencils

Really depends on if it only runs in the US. Which I bet it does since it's sponsored by the US olympic committee. Don't think you'd ever say, Hey America to America. Is AdCouncil even world wide?

TJAY's picture 64 pencils

virtualplaydoh, do you honestly think a kid is going to give a toss if he's labeled an asterick?

virtualplaydoh's picture 234 pencils

i honestly think it's the only thing a kid might care about. You're in HS, or College. A star on your team. You get caught taking steroids and then you get thrown off the team and everyone sees you as a fake. You lose everything. Obviously everyone knows the risks with taking steroids from a medical standpoint. But they continue to take them. It's a fear thing (which I don't love) but I do think it is one of the only ways to make a kid think twice. If someone is still willing to risk their reputation, then there's no ad that will convince them otherwise.

Guest's picture

This is similar and maybe done first http://www.gumas.com/skins.cfm

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