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This week we've been chasing down information regarding TBWA\Chiat\Day's campaign work for Infinity Ward and Activision-Blizzard's latest game title, Modern Warfare 2 &#151 which, according to some predictions, could be the highest grossing entertainment release of all time. That means it would be bigger than Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Dark Knight. Word on the street is last Monday, Activision-Blizzard (the game's publisher) pulled the plug on Chiat's campaign, calling it too racy, graphic.

Various sources have confirmed the same story, both noting that an outside agency has been called in to cut together some in-game clips for the national campaign that will effectively replace Chiat's. That shop: LA based Ant Farm, we're told.

The game launches next Tuesday, November 10, and according to GameStop has the most pre-orders of any game, ever. Activision is predictably giddy as well, with Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick reiterating that it could outsell all other entertainment titles before it.

So the question arises: what kind of campaign is needed. Considering this is a holiday game, we're presuming many pre-teens will be asking for it as gifts. That means their parents probably won't but it if all they see are gory ads.

Even still, as recently as this summer, Acti-Blizzard (nickname) CEO Brad Jakeman was all about the agency's work &#151 which was handed to TBWA after a review including Razorfish and Droga5. Per AdAge: "We believe the idea that TBWA presented to us delivers on that goal," said Mr. Jakeman. "What we liked most about the TBWA campaign is that it's an idea that's big enough to be articulated in lots of different kind of media ... that is always the acid test for a great idea."

Well, not anymore. There's no verdict on exactly what lead up to Acti-Blizzard cutting the work. They have yet to respond, and from what we hear Chiat has moved on from taking our calls to calling us mean names. We miss you Chiat, can't we make amends?

The Martin Agency produced the work you've already seen (video after the jump). It targets gamers old and young by pulling on the trash talking heart-strings of humorously immature kidults who will gladly drop $60 for a taste of modern carnage.

More: "Obama's In Game Advertising"

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-Hyundai tapped Havas' MPG to handle its estimated $300 million international media planning/buying account. link

-Google advertising Droid on its homepage. link

-Agency folks do the darndest things. link

-New Zealand lets Kiwis have their say. link

-Apple will open its Upper West Side NYC store on November 14th. link

-Lookee, R/GA has a new website. link

-A federal judge in Kentucky basically said fuck you to Big Tobacco's request to block new marketing restrictions. link

-DraftFCB launched a cross-network philanthropic event today called "The Global Day of Giving". link

-When is it OK to start your holiday ad campaign? link

-NBC taps social networks to promote the 2010 Winter Olympics. link

-Marketers still believe in banner ads. link

-Arby's invades Hipsterville. link

More: "Thursday Odds and Ends"

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The first thing that came out of my mouth when I saw the latest Reebok EasyTone ad (above, semi-NSFW)"What?! No way." But I was wrong, so, way. The premise: your ass looks so good thanks to your Reebok EasyTones that your breasts are jealous. Just like a product manufacturer to play up a woman's product by showing close-ups of supple female bits.

Ladies, ladies, can't we all be happy, together? No, we can't, because all women are in competition with one another, even the chest versus the buttocks. The only ladies who aren't against eachother: the left and the right. If one of them goes down, the whole ship goes with it. This ends now.

More: "Reebok Gets in on the Butt Game"

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Tel Aviv-based agency Mizbala has launched "TubePetition", which utilizes YouTube's shared annotations technology to basically create a petition within a video that promotes climate change awareness. As dramatic music plays, you can click in the video to "sign" the petition and leave a note. While not quite as, um, eye-catching as 350.org's climate change campaign, Mizbala's effort is nevertheless intended to also reach world leaders who will be attending December's COP15 conference in Denmark.

Credits:

Creative team: Guy Dayan, Dori Ben Israel
Musical Director: Yishay Raziel (Jingles & music 4 ads)
Voice: Jeff Laurence Gill (Autumn Hill Studios, North Carolina)

More: "AKQA Brings Back JFK for Greenpeace Ad"

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The Japanese sure know how to get us in the back-to-school mood. Here's a spot featuring an enthusiastic lady who's dressed like what appears to be a Hooters server doing her best Billy Blanks/Tae-Bo impression all in the name of selling backpacks. Your move, Jansport.

Via

More: "The Passion of the Easter Specials"

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WebNewser has compiled a complete list of Twitter lists containing information regarding the Ft. Hood Attack. We share this information with you not only so you can stay informed, but also to continue our look into the way society utilizes Twitter when news breaks.

Because Lists only became available last week this is certainly a new trend. However, The Austin-American Statesman created its own Twitter feed for the account (@FtHoodShootings), as well as a list. Here are a few more from the major news providers:

&#151 New York Times: twitter.com/nytimes/fort-hood-shootings

&#151 CNN: twitter.com/cnnbrk/fort-hood

&#151 NBC's The Today Show: http://twitter.com/todayshow/forthood

&#151 Los Angeles Times: http://twitter.com/LATimes/fort-hood-shootings

&#151 Washington Post: twitter.com/washingtonpost/forthood

&#151 Dallas Morning News: twitter.com/DallasCrime/fort-hood-shootings

&#151 The Huffington Post: huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/05/fort-hood-shooting---live_n_347623.html

More: "There's a Twitter Feed for That: Ft. Hood Shootings"

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Michael Learmonth of AdAge leads a discussion on the efficacy of pre-roll ads. And here we thought they were dead or dying.

Michael Mathieu, CEO of video ad network YuMe; Rob Norman, CEO of WPP's GroupM; Robert Davis of Ogilvy; and John McCarus of Digitas join in.

Via AdPulp

More: "Super Bowl Pre-Roll: Cars.com"

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Michael Learmonth of AdAge leads a discussion on the efficacy of pre-roll ads. And here we thought they were dead or dying.

Micheal Mathieu, CEO of video ad network YuMe; Rob Norman, CEO of WPP's GroupM; Robert Davis of Ogilvy; and John McCarus of Digitas join in.

Via AdPulp

More: "Super Bowl Pre-Roll: Cars.com"

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We're not sure what to make of this latest ad for Secret, Procter & Gamble's deodorant line that hardly anyone we know uses. What genius decided to mix time-lapsing and a gal in an evening dress who likes to skateboard? Animal New York offers their take on the pitch meeting.

More: "Axe Gets Axed in India"

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Some, nay, many of you will disagree with me for saying this is the best ad I've seen in a long, long time. But it is, so there. You've seen other better stuff, fine. Not saying it's the best advertisement ever, or that it isn't. But today, right now, it's better than anything else that comes to mind. So, let it be.

Via Creativity

More: "Did Stride Gum Just Threaten Me?"

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Who knew that 2009 was going to be the year that modern art got high-profile political again? Just a few months back, we had Glenn Beck telling us about the evil communist indoctrination elements found within the exterior of Rockefeller Plaza and now we have the decision not to hang painter Alma Thomas' "Watusi (Hard Edge)" piece in Michelle Obama's office. Thomas' work had come under attack when it was mentioned that the First Lady would like to hang some of her work in the White House. According to the Washington Post, conservative sites started arguing that Thomas' work plagiarized Henri Matisse -- their point, we suppose, was that by hanging her work, Michelle Obama would therefor become pro-plagerism? Whatever the case, and not to exaggerate too much here, this is clearly the worst instance of pointless, partisan, arguing-just-to-argue ever in the history of universe. Unfortunately, the Post continues, the White House has decided to not hang the painting, claiming it just didn't work in the office after all, but perhaps they just wanted to quiet this absurdly focused pressure. And this apparently wasn't the only piece to catch heat. Does anyone have any info on obtaining Canadian citizenship? We're sick of this.

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Governor David Paterson is leading the state of New York through one of the toughest times in its history. Many have said he should step down, but he's fighting on. Here is one of his first ads for re-election.

via Gothamist

More: "Has The NY Press Gone Overboard In Covering Governor Paterson's Marriage?"

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Keeping on the music theme, burgeoning NYC/Philly-based band Cold Cave is making the most of its recent signing with stalwart label Matador Records. The band's "Life Magazine" track from its new Love Comes Close effort provides the score for a new 15-second holiday ad from Radio Shack. People are already crying sellouts but who knew the brand (or Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners?) had their fingers so firmly on the pulse of hipster nation?

Via Stereogum

More: "$100 Million Radio Shack Account Goes to Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners"

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AMC's 'Mad Men' &#151 you know and love it. But, have you ever noticed (yes, you have) that the previews for 'next week's episode' are pretty much useless? If you aren't convinced of this fact, watch this clip. We initially stuck it in the 50th episode of the 'Week in Advertising', but thought it could use some breathing room, here. Courtesy TVNewser's Kevin Allocca.

The season finale is Sunday, be sure to watch.

More: "The Week in Advertising Turns 50 Weeks Old"

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With his forever-delayed album Before I Self Destruct finally hitting shelves on November 16th, 50 Cent is celebrating by launching a new cologne called Power. Cleverly priced at $50.50, the 1.7 oz. bottle that provides the "smell of success" is sold exclusively at Macy's. As Prefix says, we're wondering how much impact his claim that "Jay-Z isn't from the hood anymore" has.

More: "Star Trek Cologne, Really?"

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Imagine for a moment you're in a prison cell. You're facing 20 years behind steel bars for killing someone with your car (or, whatever). You have little connection to the outside world and every day is a struggle to maintain your sanity, life. From the masochistic prison system including guards and wardens and inmates to the knowledge that when you get out (if you get you) nothing will be how you left it, especially your life.

You've done wrong; maybe you admit it, maybe you don't. But you have thoughts about all of this, and other things, but can't confide in anyone here. Your regular psychiatric visits seem cold and thoughtless. If only you could write to someone outside who would just read your thoughts. Even if nothing comes of it, to have someone read them and maybe help you clarify them, turn them into something useful. Wouldn't that be something? PEN America makes that happen, supporting inmates with a coaching program aimed at improving the writing skills of America's incarcerated. Today we interview Jackson Taylor, who has helped this program reach the nations many millions of forgotten inmates since the late 80s.

More: Episodes of the Menu

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Back in early October, we told you about the death of Gourmet, the smartly designed magazine that always got our mouths a-watering. It's been a strange new world without it and although we have other magazines to turn to when we're feeling those foodie urges, we certainly still miss it. We were made all the more melancholy when we found former art director Kevin Demaria's Last Days of Gourmet. It's a heartbreaking collection of photographs from those final hours while employees cleaned out their desks, everything was boxed up, and the magazine was finally shuttered. Also, in this age of constant magazine deaths, the series helps paint a good picture of the real people and places involved in these closures.

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Let's start this last day of the work week a little mean, shall we? Currently making the rounds in the ad agency world is Dan Neil's scathing review of modern ad icon Alex Bogusky's latest book (co-written with John Winsor), Baked In: Creating Products and Businesses That Market Themselves. While Neil admits there are the occasional useful thoughts in the very, very slim book, he spends most of his review tearing it apart, saying that most of it is either very obvious words of wisdom ("better products tend to sell better") or not entirely grounded in reality. He sums it all up nicely toward the beginning when he writes "perhaps Bogusky and Winsor never had an editor to challenge them on some of the most evident holes in their book." It's a great picking apart of the book (we've always been a little critical of Bogusky's literary work ourselves), but also seems to have a wide spread, speaking to the many other self/business-help books that follow that "well this is all great, but how does it apply to the real world?" model.

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The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), which is currently exhibiting the ICP's Richard Avedon restrospective as well as a survey of photos from its own collection, is housed in a glorious 1927 Beaux-Arts building that recently underwent a seven-year renovation and reinstallation. Architecture buff Jim Garrett decided to pay tribute to the Paul Philippe Cret-designed museum by recreating it in LEGOs. He describes his "brickitecture" DIA as "selectively scaled down" (a scale model would be about three times wider and longer) but didn't sacrifice detail. For dramatic effect, a Thomas Crown Affair-style art heist is in progress on the roof. Garrett's other creations include LEGO versions of the Detroit Public Library and the Sphinx, as well as an eleven-foot tall model of Detroit's Penobscot Building.

Previously on UnBeige:

"He was not a great draftsman. In terms of what it means to draw beautifully, in terms of control, I don't think he was very notable....He had an enormous sense of style, and he could bring that burnished style to a product in way that enhanced its value. That was a very substanial gift. When you gave him a shoe to draw, the shoe became more sophisticated. You got something extra.

He was really not related to the field of illustration. He was an outsider who came in and proved that you could be an enormous personality, do an individual thing, and still be used successfully in commercial art."

-Milton Glaser on Andy Warhol, who he calls "the perfect commercial artist," in Tony Scherman and David Dalton's POP: The Genius of Andy Warhol (Harper)

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