Adverganza's Friday morning picks, 11.07.08

So where the hell was I on Thursday? On a field trip with my 10-year-old. Tried to do a post to that effect from my Treo but it didn't quite post, obviously. So, I'm back doing Friday headlines now, and hope a day off didn't ruin everything.

From Advertising Age:

--Microsoft hires ex-Time Inc. exec Robin Domeniconi as head of U.S. ad sales.
--If your brand is in "Slumdog Millionaire" you might want to rethink that.
--Watch out for Henry Waxman and regulation on DTC advertising.
--Can Burger King mandate that its franchisees stay open longer?
--Carat's Adam Cahill tells Barack Obama how "to extend the social-media foundation he built as a candidate and transform it into something even more powerful."
--3 Minute Ad Age: Getting all hyped up about the Corn Refiners Association new ad campaign about high fructose corn syrup.

From Adweek:

--Disney sets a record for its revenue, but sees dark clouds on the horizon.
--Obama win sets Election Night records: 71 million of us watched.
--Which Detroit ad agency just laid off 22 percent of its staff?
--Borrell Associates predicts local interactive advertising to grow--much less quickly.
--Do you have your Obama keepsake yet?
--News Corp. blames the ad business for its woes, which is actually accurate.
--Film at 11! DVR impact on TV viewing outpaces impact of VCRs.
--If you care, Lowe wins Outback Steakhouse.
--Ad of the Day: Havas' Arnold puts a huge pinata in Philadelphia for Carnival Cruise Lines. Don't know why, but man! The buzz!

From Brandweek:

--Blu-ray is going to spend $25 million to tell us all what the hell it is.

From Mediapost:

--October retail sales are lowest since 1969. Even Costco got hurt although, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and B.J.'s did not.
--GM to announce third quarter results today. They won't be good.
--Sears launches "Grant a Wish" campaign, as in "Don't just give a gift, grant a wish." Here's the 60-second version of the spot, via Young & Rubicam.



--Timberland admits that Mother Nature can suck. Here's a commercial from this new campaign, via Leagas Delaney.



--Time-shifted viewing of primetime this year is at 16 percent in the 18-49 demo, per Magna.
--Stephen Friedman named general manager of MTV.
--Ten percent of voters admit that "SNL" political skits influenced their voting, with six percent saying it made them pick Obama, and four percent saying it made them pick McCain. Don't know as I'd ever admit to that.
--Havas Digital's Stuart Epperson unveils ad trading system that will operate, eventually anyway, like the Wall Street futures marketplace.
--Craigslist to put limits on prostitution ads. Sorry to ruin your weekend.
--Is Facebook looking to Dubai?
--Here is Fox's Q1 2009 prime-time line-up.
--Marc Berman's Programming Insider: "Dancing with the Stars" rules.

From Mediaweek:

--Brian Lawlor named chief of E.W. Scripps' TV division.
--Adult Swim throws life preserver to "King of the Hill."

From The New York Times:

--Agency layoff round-up story. Read it if you dare.
--Money magazine managing editor Eric Schurenberg leaves as part of overall Time Inc. shakeup.

From The Wall Street Journal:

--Moscow confronting billboard pollution. Subscription required.

That's all. Have a good weekend.

More to come ...