Happy go lucky spots

In advertising there is a certain snobbish quality about our opinions. We cherish our "award-winning" work and give little credit to anything that doesn't bring home a Clio or Addy or Cannes Lion.

I may be taking a step on the plank here, but I'd like to submit two ads that I really like, but will never win any awards. One is for Diet Coke entitled 'Roller Girl' and the other is from Old Navy called 'Madras.' Both of them are simply fun spots that entertain with some pretty good and carefree music.

Both have really nice moments of editing... 'Roller Girl' has this stellar moment when the lead character is swinging with a guy and the camera moves from right to left. It's simply a nice cinematic effect as their motions counter the motion of the camera. In 'Madras' there is a bunch of that corny Old Navy dancing, but for some reason this spot comes across with more genuine moments intermingled with the choreography (we catch a little girl tossing her hair.)



I think the other thing that makes it easy to like these spots is a well-cast blonde woman whose gestures are entirely inviting and pleasant. In fact, I ask if anyone knows if, by chance, these two women are the same?

This TV matching game may become habit.