Friends Cashes In on 25th Anniversary; Lifetime Starts X-Mas Programming: Thursday’s First Things First
Plus, Wunderman Thompson and Droga5 name new CCOs
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Friends’ No-Holds-Barred Anniversary Celebration Isn’t Slowing Down Anytime Soon
25 years after its debut, Friends fans are still as passionate as ever about the show, and Warner Bros. is cashing in with Friends paraphernalia. Consumer demand has been “record breaking” with fanatics buying out everything from a line of home goods from Pottery Barns to a thousand-piece Central Perk Lego set. The promotions don’t stop there. The anniversary has included theater screenings of select episodes, re-recordings of the show’s theme song and several installations in Las Vegas.
Read more: Streaming editor Kelsey Sutton takes an in-depth look at Warner Bros.’ masterclass of marketing for the show.
Wunderman Thompson and Droga5 Name New Chief Creatives
After Nike, Under Armour and Tommy Hilfiger made major moves on Tuesday, it was the ad agency world’s turn yesterday. Wunderman Thompson snagged a new chief creative officer for North America, luring Taras Wayner, the creative leader who may be best known for his contributions to R/GA’s “Love Has No Labels,” away from Saatchi & Saatchi. Droga5 promoted three of its top creative chiefs—Neil Heymann takes on the global chief creative role while Tim Gordon and Felix Richter will replace him as co-CCOs in New York.
Read more: Droga5 looks like its ready to expand after Accenture Interactive acquired the shop earlier this year.
The Female Quotient CEO Won’t Quit Until There’s True Equality in the Workplace
We still have a ways to go when it comes to closing the gender equality gap in the workplace, but one CEO says she just won’t quit until we’ve closed it. In the latest episode of Top of Mind, Nadine Dietz checks in with Shelley Zalis, The Female Quotient CEO, to talk about why it will take all of us to create real change.
Read more: Be a change agent, says The Female Quotient CEO
Christmas Comes Early for Lifetime, Which Shifts to 24/7 Holiday Movies on Friday
As Smash Mouth famously said, “Well, the [holidays] start coming and they don’t stop coming.” It started with Cost Plus getting a jump on holiday advertising, and now Lifetime is encouraging viewers to pull out stockings and eggnog as it shifts to 24/7 holiday movies. Even as the network pulls out all the holiday stops, can it go toe-to-toe with Hallmark’s event this year?
Read more: Why Lifetime is firing the opening salvo in cable TV’s hottest battleground.
Just Briefly: The Rest of Today’s Top News and Insights
- TikTok Releases a New Set of Safety Videos Featuring Popular Creators
- 97% of National Political Tweets Come From Just 10% of U.S. Users
- Facebook Pledges $1 Billion Toward Affordable Housing Initiatives
- Why 2020 Will Be a Big Year for CBS All Access
Ad of the Day: Playing Video Games Is Like Pursuing Enlightenment in HP Omen’s New Ads
Scientists have found gaming can have increasingly positive effects on memory, accuracy and problem-solving.
To highlight these largely unsung benefits, gaming PC maker HP Omen and creative agency Wieden + Kennedy Shanghai created a demonstration using a tool called The Gamewaves Scanner at ChinaJoy, China’s largest digital entertainment expo.
What Should Mentees Keep in Mind?
Sandy Rubinstein, CEO, DXagency
Remember this is a two-way street that only works if you are both able to talk candidly, openly and honestly. And sometimes you may receive feedback that is difficult to take. Know that feedback is coming from a good place, and you mentor is telling you the honest truth.
Courtney Jones, manager, business development, 22squared
There are so many people whom you may admire and who inspire you, and there’s a common tendency to just start with “Hey, will you be my mentor?” But one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to mentorship. It’s always important to have a clear purpose and ask. Find your own board of directors. Select a few people and identify the areas in which you’re seeking mentorship in—professional growth, navigating agency politics, getting you through the tough conversations—the list goes on and on.
