We, as creatives, wait for a full year to see what the best agencies in the world are going to do for the big game. This year, just like all the others was nothing but a huge disappointment. I think the blackout, was the Ad Gods saying enough is enough, stop the horrible display of crap. Here is Adage's article on the ads, but out of all those spots, the one that disgusts me the most is the Richard's Group spot that was done for Dodge RAM. They blatantly ripped off a spot that was done by the Farms.com two years ago and a Farm Bureau video made during the same time . I mean frame for frame, same Paul Harvey speech and voice over. It's appalling and is a complete slap in the face to the original creatives that created the original spot.
With YouTube, Google and Vimeo, I find it hard to believe that the Richard's Group didn't find these videos before they even presented the idea to their client. As a creative, one of our responsibilities is to do research, like a mad scientist. We are paid to create new ideas, push our audience and solve our clients problems. What's the fun in creating something that has already been done? As a creative, I can't just blame the agency. The client also has to take responsibility for this stolen idea. As a client, you can't just sit there and believe your agency's work is fresh, creative and new. It's your responsibility to make sure they do stunning, great work. You have the same access to the internet as the agency does. Do your homework, before signing off on something that's going to make you look bad, on the biggest night in TV commercial history.
The Dodge public relation machines are spinning today and are saying this was a collaboration with Farm.com. But like Adland.tv wrote, where's the credits for the original creative team? They give credit to Paul Harvey in the beginning of the spot, couldn't they have given credit to the original creative team? It's just a shame, on the night that we're suppose to see the best and greatest spots of the year, we have to see a television commercial that ends up leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Richards Group and Dodge RAM should be ashamed of themselves.