We at Underdog have each arrived back from our long weekend armed with fresh enthusiasm, renewed energy and our entries into the Underdog Creative Easter Egg Competition. The Prize? Glory. Respect. Creative Eggselence. (sorry) The rules were simple. 1) Use a hens egg. 2) It MUST have a cringeworthy pun in the name. E.g. - Yolk-o-ono. That was it. So here are the highlights from which the winner will be chosen around the 25th: [caption id="attachment_181" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Eggward the 1st By Tina"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_180" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Eggstreme Glam Rock By Viv"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_179" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="The Eggsas Chainsaw Massacre By Ken"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_178" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Eggward Scissorhands By Doug"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_177" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Eggolas the Elf By Lorn"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_176" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Albert Eggstein By Andy"][/caption]

We did it. The next Smyths Toys TV commercial was shot this week in a garden in, we're happy to say, a very sunny St Helens. In fact, the top of Doug's and Ken's heads have gone a bit red. The four children in the ad were absolutely brilliant for almost all of the time and there was hardly any crying apart from when Ken and Tina were told that they were not allowed on the trampoline. A huge thanks to The Talent - Matt, Saif, Maddie and Tilly. You are all little stars. And to everyone involved, it was a great days shoot.

Last Friday saw the official Rob Mac Racing team launch party. Underdog was invited so Ken, Viv and Doug made the journey over to Motorpoint in Derby. The whole team was there including Chris Walker, Michael Rutter, Taylor McKenzie and Dan Linfoot. The event was, of course, hosted by the one and only Rob himself with the help of commentator Fred Clarke and a special appearance by Niall McKenzie. It was a fantastic event and the Rob Mac Team clearly mean business next season. The riders looked motivated and focussed and as for the bikes, well, Viv and Doug seriously considered the consiquences of making off with one of them. Even though the public turned out in droves, we managed to get a word in with most of the team. In fact, Viv managed to corner one one of his race heroes, Mike Rutter, for quite a while and he hardly looked scared at all.

This week sees the FIFTEENTH wedding anniversary of our very own Viv Griffiths and his lovely wife Storm - pictured above. All the team at Underdog want to congratulate them both. Viv says that the best thing about the past fifteen years is the fact that they have been best mates through it all. That, and Storm's spectacular and alarming array of hairstyles. We've seen the photos on Viv's desk and we have to agree.

Pray for sun. This weekend Underdog Creative are behind the camera again filming new Smyths Toys commercials following the success of the last campaign. Sales are up 50% in some stores. Nobody do any rain dances.

This Friday sees the Rob Mac Racing Press Launch at Motorpoint in Derby. Underdog will be there drooling over next seasons bike and chin wagging with our client and the likes of Coca-Cola Zero NW200 rider Michael Rutter and Supersport star Dan Linfoot. Pics and news of the event will follow early next week.

A fact about advertising: In a study of U.S. recessions, McGraw-Hill Research analysed 600 companies from 1980-1985. The results showed that busnesses that maintained or increased their advertising expenditures during the 1981-1982 recession averaged significantly higher sales growth, both during the recession and for the following three years, than those that eliminated or decreased advertising. By 1985, sales of companies that were aggressive recession advertisers had risen 256% over those that didn’t keep up their advertising. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Monday night saw the opening night of Classic Rock's regular new club night at the Embassy club in London's Mayfair. Just Ken, Tina and Viv's scene. They were there making polite conversation with Viv's mate Krusher (organiser and DJ) as well as the likes of The Quireboys, Motorhead, Zodiac Mindwarp and Paul Di'Anno's band. Ken, Tina and Viv were already down there on business anyway so they said might as well go to this. How convenient. [caption id="attachment_26" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="Viv and Ken and a couple of freaky rockers spotted at the Embassy club Classic Rock night"][/caption]

Here's a quick look at some of the creative from Underdog last month along with a smattering of advertising industry news.