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Adweek's Top 5 Commercials of the Week: Jan. 24-31

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 15:40

It's been an incredible week for new creative, with dozens of Super Bowl teasers and full ads released and other commercials elbowing their way for attention. Budweiser, Newcastle and Guinness all rolled out spots that went viral, while JCPenney got a head start on the Olympics and Cheerios unveiled a sequel to a notorious ad from last year. Watch our picks for the week's five best spots below, and vote for your favorite. If your favorite isn't shown here, tell us in the comments.

GoPro's Super Bowl Ad Looks a Lot Like Red Bull, Circa 2012

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 14:45

When we heard GoPro was going to be a Super Bowl advertiser again this year, we were prepared for something epic. And while the event the camera brand chose to feature is definitely a monumental moment, it's also ... kinda old. GoPro today unveiled its 30-second Super Bowl spot, which shows the first moments of skydiver Felix Baumgartner's 24-mile plunge to the earth way back in October 2012.

Ad of the Day: Finally, an AAA Commercial You Wouldn't Want Towed Away

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 13:58

Who knew an ad about an automobile club could be graceful and stylish? The Richards Group's latest commercial for The Auto Club Group (the second-largest AAA club in North America) uses frozen moments in time through the years and a little heartstring tugging to great effect. In short, it makes mundane acts like insuring a car or booking a trip feel naturally part of a family's story. In a series of flashbacks, the ad, "Emma," depicts moments in the life of a father's daughter—from her wedding day back to her birth.

Russell Wilson Isn't Peyton Manning. And to the Companies He Endorses, That's Just Fine

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 13:37

Peyton Manning is one of the top 10 commercials endorsers of all time in the sports world. But what about the other quarterback starting on Sunday? Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has only a few contracts, but one advertiser who had faith in him early on—American Family Insurance—is celebrating his trip to the Super Bowl with a grand new commercial from Ogilvy & Mather in Chicago that will during the game in 66 markets on Sunday. Set in an empty stadium on Super Bowl morning, the spot was filmed months ago, just in case the Seahawks all the way. Well, here we are.

T-Mobile Teams With Tim Tebow in Super Bowl Surprise

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 13:35

T-Mobile, the self-proclaimed "Uncarrier," is taking a contrarian approach to its Super Bowl marketing, too, waiting until the big weekend to reveal its commercials featuring Tim Tebow. The wireless carrier revealed two of its three spots on Friday morning after keeping them under wraps while many other advertisers, from Jaguar to Budweiser, were generating buzz on YouTube for much of this week.

Olive Garden Offers to Pick Up the Babysitting Tab for Date Night

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 13:05

A common lament among parents is the expense of going out after having children. Beyond shelling out the cost for dinner, there's usually also a hefty price of paying someone to tuck your kids into bed and then sit on the couch, watching The Bachelor until you come home. So Olive Garden, known for its widely loved breadsticks and somewhat-Italian food, has come up with an ingenious campaign to get parents into their restaurant: The chain is covering your babysitting tab.

GoldieBlox Wins a Spot in Sunday's Super Bowl

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 12:33

Two years ago, GoldieBlox didn't exist. This Sunday, the fledgling game company will be a national Super Bowl advertiser, rubbing shoulders with behemoth brands like Coca-Cola, Budweiser and Toyota. It's been a strange and occasionally quite bumpy road to the big game, but the journey has clearly paid off with the news that GoldieBlox won Intuit's fan-voting contest to receive a free 30-second ad in the Super Bowl.

ADT Provides Peace of Mind in New Ads From Arnold

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 11:00

It's probably inevitable that ads about home security systems these days show how technology (read: your cell phone) connects you to your home. That's an element in a BBDO ad for AT&T Digital Life and now, a new ad for ADT from Arnold. But where the BBDO ad, "Cabin," illustrates convenience, the Arnold spot, "Mind's Eye: Burglary," depicts relief.

NBA Star Creates Buzz With His Popular Twitter Scavenger Hunts

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 04:15

Specs Who Harrison Barnes Age 21 Accomplishments NBA player (small forward with the Golden State Warriors); former UNC Tar Heel; 2011 ACC Rookie of Year Base Oakland, Calif. What’s the first information you consume in the morning? The first thing I do after I turn off my alarm is look at my text messages, then check my Twitter feed. I mainly check it to see what my friends are up to, but obviously I follow news outlets as well.