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2011-11-07 / 1390 / Post

Practice What You Pitch

Some agencies deserve a big ‘ol spanking (or at least tiny a slap on the wrist) for selling themselves via Choddy. This is how creativity abuse gets perpetuated. A Choddy infused business pitch can only realistically lead to one thing, MORE CHODDIES. Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons why promoting your agency with a Choddy really isn’t your best bet.

1.) Wining a client à la Choddy sets a dangerous precedence for your working relationship. Like spoiled children, if you have a Choddy they’re going to want one for themselves.
2.) Actions speak louder than words. If you want prospective clients to believe you offer something special show, it in your work reel.
3.) If you do speak, choose your words wisely. Remember to avoid humdrum phrases like, “We do the best work and we’re fun to work with.”
4.) Don’t make promises you can’t keep. A sixteen-year-old girl could call herself a social-media expert, and even an intern can write a blog post (cough, cough). Unless you can qualify your claim, can it.
5.) Timing is everything. With today’s attention spans, a five-minute Youtube video is like watching Gone With The Wind (ESPECIALLY if it’s a Choddy). Don’t be afraid to chop off fodder (e.g. “I own five Nerf guns.”)

Remember, fellow advertisers, if you want your agency to stand out, don’t film the employees sitting in front of a green screen.
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2011-06-23 / 1372 / Post

Jon Stewart is finishing our sentences!

Making fun of Sarah Palin is part of the Daily Show’s daily routine, but during the 6/13/11 episode Stewart simultaneously insulted the former VP wannabe and mocked one of our favorite Choddy characteristics, finishing each others’ sentences. Skip to the 2:00 mark to see the hilarity.

Should Jon Stewart be the new Stop The Choddy spokesman? Go to The Daily Show’s Facebook page and let it be known or leave your comments here.

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2011-04-01 / 1350 / Post

Stop 'Stop The Choddy'?

Here at Stop The Choddy, we were dealt a serious blow this morning. The possibility of such things was always in the back of our minds, but we never thought it would actually happen.

This morning, Whoopi Goldberg’s lawyers informed us that we must cease and desist the use of her likeness, or prepare for litigation.

We believe our use of her likeness is crucial to the STC movement, and are reluctant to give in to Goldberg’s intimidation tactics. We are a non-profit organization, so we are not profiting from her likeness, which will help us in court (if it comes to that).

We will not cease. We will not desist. Bring it, Oda Mae.

Yes, Whoopsi Fools.

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2011-03-31 / 1349 / Post

JF - Our New BFF

Early this morning, the Choddy Hotline rang. Lo and behold, it was the voice of creative legend, Jim Ferguson. Former President and CCO of Young & Rubicam North America, Chairman of TM in Dallas, Chairman of DDB Dallas and the mastermind behind such campaigns as “You can learn a lot from a dummy.” Few other guys in this industry have as many accolades as this guy. He called to speak with ‘the person behind the Choddy’. Our highly-trained Choddy recovery specialist immediately transferred him to the Chodfather.

Jim said he just wanted to talk to the guys that created this. This is the “funniest f*ing sh* I’ve seen in a long time.” He asked about the origins of the Choddy and wanted to know more. His recent Facebook post about STC says “This has got to be the best site on the www.”

He also made us aware of a term he was a founder of, “whistlers.” The kind of commercial you whistle after seeing it – and not a good whistle. The kinda whistle you make after someone says you’re fired. And adopted.

So, all Choddies are Whistlers, but not all Whistlers are Choddies. Maybe our next movement can be StopTheWhistlers.org.

So, a special re-tweet phone like friend blog shout out to a man who gets advertising and gets the Choddy. He also confessed a Choddy or two he has made and will be ‘confessing’ them soon on our site. He said his Choddy may be the first ever made. So who better to be a super StopTheChoddy enthusiast than a recovered Choddy Pioneer?

Thanks Jim. We’ll txt you later.
 

Jim is now co-founder of Jake:Ferguson, a new ad agency in Dallas, TX.
http://www.jakeferguson.com
 

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2011-03-23 / 1341 / Post

Chod By ChodWest

StopTheChoddy had a huge presence at this year’s SXSW Interactive Conference. We hit the streets of downtown Austin, home of STC’s headquarters, and took over a corner of the dirtiest and most trafficked area at South By – 6th Street. Chod Squad members drew the attention of thousands with protest signs, a team of “Choddy Hotties” with iPad 2s getting hundreds to sign our petition, and even had a walking, talking Choddy sporting a mullet.

We chatted with advertisers, marketers, and consumers, all of whom were just as fed up with the Choddy as we are. We gave out Whoopi fans, tons of chod-chke and had a video booth set up where Anti-Choddy enthusiasts could star in a Choddy themselves, but not like one of those vile videos we’ve captured on this site. Instead they agreed to participate in our ‘Choddy To End All Choddies,’ expressing their disdain for the formulaic commercial on camera. The footage will be compiled to make a self-referencing Choddy that will put an end to the Choddy’s pervasiveness. We’ll let you know when it hits theaters later this spring.

 

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2011-02-17 / 1310 / Post

Chomedies

There actually is a form of Choddy we like to see, the Choddy Parody. This Choddy mockery is an exceptional way to put these promotions in their place. However, if you’re going to walk the tight rope between making a funny and making a Choddy, it best be LOL worthy. And not in the, “I’m typing ‘LOL’ but my face is stiffer than Botox,” sort of way. We mean that genuine, from the diaphragm kind of laughter that would make Whoopi Goldberg blush. Otherwise, you’ve just made a Choddy.

Take a look at this University of Phoenix parody. The Creator, Sean Scarlett, went beyond the fairy-tale success stories UoP was trying to sling and highlighted more believable alums of online universities.

Have you seen any Choddy Parodies lately? Humor us by posting them in the comment section below.
 

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2011-02-02 / 1228 / Post

Casting Is Key

For Choddies to try to be even remotely effective, they have to contain believable spokespeople. In The “Drop Kick Domestic Violence” Choddy, we have our doubts about the speaker at the :35 mark. With a roid-voice like that we’re quite certain he’s seen a fair share of domestic violence, from a first person perspective.

As it turns out, we weren’t the only ones who found his contribution off-putting. Check out this behind the scenes take of his PSA taping.

How many women do you think Bart has beaten? Let us know in the comment section (especially if you’re one of his victims).
 

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2011-02-01 / 1259 / Post

Resisting Choddy Temptation

This spot exhibits some Choddistic attributes – a philanthropic message, a white background, the floating torso of a handsome celebrity spokesperson, and the locked gaze of said spokesperson that you can’t escape. So why are you not screaming in agony or searching for the nearest makeshift eye-gouging utensil? It’s because Growing Voices recognized the trite and torturous nature of the Choddy and overcame its thoughtless grasp by:

  • Enlisting a comedian with indie cred over a 'Friends' cast member or a “popular” musician in the Adult Contemporary genre.
  • Applying a function to the simple background by making it a familiar whiteboard canvas for Zach Galifianakis’ doodles.
  • Not repeating the name of the organization or what it does over and over, because they know you have a brain. 
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2011-01-22 / 1230 / Post

Choddy Hypocrisy

Isn’t there something a little strange about über rich celebrities asking everyday people to donate their hard earned money to a charity? Take this UNICEF PSA for example. Specifically, Sarah Jessica Parker. One second she’s asking us to share our hard earned incomes with starving children, and the next she and her Sex In The City sisters are pushing Prada pumps like Detroit drug dealers. Are celebrities really the right people to ask us “normal” folk to spare some change?

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2011-01-22 / 1229 / Post

Keep It Casual: The Unsung Choddy Criterion

As our thorough research continues we have come to realize another commonality between Choddies, casual attire. This is further proof that Choddies require the least amount of effort possible. Take this NOH8 Choddy for example.

Everyone is wearing an undershirt. Just a plain, white, 10 for $10 undershirt. We commend them for convincing Tila Tequila to actually wear clothes for once, but where’s the originality? This ad is all about fighting for gay rights, yet they have stripped these homosexual superstars of their right to look “faaabuloous”.

Can you think of any other Choddy commonalities? Add them to the comment section.
 

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