Fails and Fixins

That meme about A&W and their 1/3rd pound burger; is it fact? Fiction? Some mix of the two? In this episode, we are looking at why McDonald's Quarter Pounder outlasted A&W's "Thirds the Word" campaign.

Let's go all the way back to 2018. It was the year every fast-food company decided sustainability was vital. White Castle and Burger King debuted plant-based burgers, but McDonald's was still winning the fast-food wars. So why did Burger King choose to grab viewers' attention with a decomposing whopper? Listen to this episode to find out why I think an award-winning ad campaign was actually a fail.

Hosted by: Dave Plough

In 1939 the Ford Automotive Company was facing a possible problem. GM was eating into their market share, and Ford believed it was because they'd not release a new line of cars in nearly 19 years. After ten years of research, over $250 million (in 1940's money) spent, and a two-year ad campaign, Ford unleashed a vehicle so notoriously awful The Simpsons parodied it 34 years later. In this episode, we are taking a look at the Ford Edsel. 

Hosted by Dave Plough

When a popular outdoors brand like The North Face makes a bad marketing decision it can affect how its perceived by loyal customers. Even worse, it can affect how potential future customers make decisions. This episode looks at a recent misstep made by Leo Burnett Tailor Made in an attempt to get The North Face on top of Google search results.

Produced by Digital Buzz

Hosted by Dave Plough

In 2013 the Fox series Kitchen Nightmares sent Gordon Ramsey to Scottsdale, Arizona. Amy's Baking Company quickly became the most infamous episode of the entire series, and the only one where Chief Ramsey walked away. The resulting press gave Amy and her husband, Sammy, a chance at financial redemption but could they keep cool long enough to cash in? Spoiler alert: No, they could not. 

Produced by Digital Buzz 

Hosted by Dave Plough

In 2006 there was a movie. One with a title so outlandish, yet so on the nose, there was no way it could ever get made. Thanks to Samuel L. Jackson, the movie was made and an internet sensation was born. This episode dives deep into Snakes on a Plane and the reason it's box office results didn't match it's hype.

Produced by Digital Buzz

Hosted by Dave Plough

When Electronic Arts began promotion for the 2010 action game "Dante's Inferno" it was natural to utilize the 9 circles of Hell. Every level of the game was based around one of the circles and so too would be every tactic in their advertising strategy. Limbo, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery all worked. But when it came to lust, EA faltered.

Produced by Digital Buzz

Hosted by Dave Plough 

We're talking the changing media landscape and what that means for production companies. Specifically, we're taking a look at how Netflix and Stranger Things season 3 resurrected New Coke. If you've not listened to our first episode, go back to take a deep dive into what really happened in the summer of 1985 when Coca-Cola ditched it's hundred year old recipe. 

Produced by Digital Buzz

Hosted by Dave Plough 

Game of Thrones has been the biggest hit on TV for years. With its end in sight, HBO tried to find a way to capitalize off of the GoT brand by tapping its show runners to create another series about an alternate reality. How could any of that go wrong? The title of this episode should tell you everything you need to know. 

Produced by Digital Buzz 

Hosted by Dave Plough