How — how, I ask you — is anyone supposed to eat this? (via Geeks Are Sexy)

Today is David Tennant‘s birthday! We gave Cardboard David Tennant a hat that someone sent us, but he doesn’t seem too thrilled. I guess after 900, all the birthdays start to feel the same.

An even skeevier development from the “Belvedere Vodka rapey” ad front: The woman featured in the ad, Alicyn Packard, is now suing the company for using her image. Why? Because for one thing, the image comes from a video featuring Packard that was never meant to be used for another company’s advertisement; it’s a screenshot from a sketch that appeared on Strickly Viral. For another, no one bothered to get Packard’s permission to use her image for this highly questionable ad in the first place, because it’s not as if she posed for a stock photo that could have ended up anywhere, even without her direct consent. So, let it be known: companies can go find a video online — any video — take a screenshot, put it in a horribly different context, and expect to get away with it. Well, that’s great.

O joy, ’tis a happy Monday indeed! For now we can eagerly anticipate a new step in gender equality thanks to Axe Body Spray, who has introduced Anarchy — a Spray for Ladies! And there is an ad! Gosh, I wonder if it’s going to feature a homely woman being pawed by a gaggle of sexy, sexy menfolk, just like in the corresponding ads for the boys … Oh, no, wait. She is already hot. And taking her clothes off. In the midst of a police chase and a traffic accident. Yup. Okay, never mind then. Axe remains 100 percent a men’s brand.

Wonderful news: It’s not just you! There are horrible commercials out there, and in a new poll run by Consumerist, readers have sounded off on the worst ads and advertising trends they’ve seen this year. And guess what, ad men? People are really sick of women being portrayed badly. And also: pooping contests, flash mobs, and press conferences. Take note, Don Draper et al.: your audience has evolved, and they are over the “take my wife, please” thing.

Hi there! This is the stupidest thing you’ll see today. While we are in favor of revering the powers of the mighty vagina to an extent (since we have them and all), this Summer’s Eve ad — which ran in one theater before the Harry Potter movie — is yet another case of advertising a product using sexist and phallic imagery — Well hello, two sets of guys fighting for the noble honor of the (vinegar-fresh) vadge with pointed objects! — to try and get you to stick something in your lady business that doesn’t belong there. Ancient women have been doing throughout the ages! Primitive (read “non-white”) cultures did it too! And all advertising execs know that tribal imagery will remind viewers of “herbal” or “organic” remedies and distract them from the fact that they’re selling scented vinegar wipes. (We’re looking at you, lady with her arms outstretched to the sky in the shape of a “V”!)

DC Comics‘ major reboot doesn’t just include a whole bunch of new and ending titles, but also offering digital downloads of comics the day they are released in print. Obviously this is a huge opportunity for the company to increase availability to consumers beyond independently-owned comic book stores and attract a bigger, mainstream audience. And now, to better market their titles, they are going to try advertising DC Comics with a nationwide campaign of commercials. On the tee-vee. Oh, boy.

Nokia N8 Pink – Freedom from David Wilson Creative on Vimeo.

So, Nokia isn’t even being subtle about marketing the N8 Pink (a, what else, pink version of its N8 smart phone) to ladies. And only ladies, judging by the way their official post unveiling the pink N8 phone suggests that you use the “Little Pink Diva” theme and the “Pink Neon Clock” to make your menus match, and reminds you to download the ELLE fashion app.

I would have loved to sit in on the development meeting for this one. “So, everybody likes that our phone comes in different colors (suck it, Apple) so we’ll make a pink phone. For the ladies.”

“Who are the ad wizards who came up with this one??”

In a hilariously bad move, advertising giant Clear Channel accidentally placed a billboard for AMC‘s The Walking Dead on the side of a funeral parlor. Not in the vicinity, not across the street … on it. The series recently began airing on the UK’s Channel 5, so naturally, there would be advertising for it. But apparently, someone neglected to ask The Co-operative Funeralcare in Consett, County Durham if they’d mind featuring a big poster for a series featuring zombies (to say nothing of the phrase “The Walking Dead”) on the side of their establishment. Their funereal establishment. Oops.

The ad has been replaced and Clear Channel has issued an apology.

(Top pic via North News, story via Digital Spy and Daily Mail)