Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

As a Blogger, I see Microsoft’s gifting of their Acer Ferrari laptop complete with Windows Vista to select Bloggers just another day in the world of “Review me” and word of mouth advertising in the blogosphere. Many don’t feel the same way, stating that it is outright bribery. The laptops received came during the height of the Holiday season and many Bloggers feel that these “gifts” are unethical. As I’m sure you know from my previous posts on this topic, I completely disagree.

As, LongZheng, one of the Blogger’s on the receiving end noted, “Windows Vista is launching in 30 days.” My question is, why wouldn’t Microsoft want to create a buzz about a brand new product and operating system soon to launch among tech Bloggers? I understand why Microsoft did it, as I received Max Factor’s Volume Couture Mascara a few weeks ago. It is a product that is only available come January. My job was to test it out and write a review. Obviously the company that sent it was hoping for a good review and to help generate the buzz about it prior to launch. The difference in the price tag of a bottle of mascara and a laptop is quite large, but it still doesn’t take away from the fact that companies want to find new ways of creating product buzz prior to and after a product is out on the market. By sending the laptop to only a select few Bloggers, generates even more buzz and you get the various views on how the system works from real people, not advertisers, using the product. Is it because this product to review had a high-end price tag? If Microsoft sent a $20 product, would those tech Bloggers still feel it was a case of bribery?

Once considered the sexiest man alive, Patrick Swayze has fallen off the radar since his huge success with Dirty Dancing and Ghost, opting for smaller roles in such cult films as Donnie Darko (2001). Now revving up for a comeback with films like Keeping Mum and Fox & the Hound II, with Reba McEntire, Swayze is going back to his Dirty Dancing roots by returning to the studio to record a rap song. According to New York Post’s Page Six, Swayze reportedly told website allhiphop.com he is working on a track that will show that "rap rhythms are an emotional undercurrent for ballads." And while I’d gladly call him “Diddy” any night, I think his musical antics are more in tune with a Mariah-meltdown (no offense to Mariah…the new album is probably her best yet). I’m sure like me, everyone else is curious to see what the follow-up to She’s Like the Wind will be. I personally would rather listen to Reba. But hey, "No one can put Swayze in a corner."

Spokesmen for L'Oreal USA announced this week the new face of their 2006 campaign, young starlet Scarlett Johansson. This partnership marks the 21-year-old's first endorsement and what a choice! This Emmy nominated actress has such an old Hollywood glamour that has somehow been lost between teen trendsetters Mary Kate Olsen and Mischa Barton. Insiders report that the over $4 million dollar massive multimedia campaign will definitely shine Scarlett Johansson in a new light. “You can expert to see Scarlett trying out a lot of different hair colours and not just her trademark platinum blonde look,” says a L’Oreal USA insider.

Following in the steps of bombshell Beyonce Knowles will give Johansson a great guide, but I know everyone is dying to see what hair color she will make popular for 2006’s young starlets. I’d personally like to see red hair big for the Spring. Since curls are definitely the must style of the moment, imagine a full head of cascading red curls — and Johansson is one style maker that could really pull it off.

Not only with Johansson be the new face of one of L’Oreal’s various color lines, she will also be the face of the new color line: HIP High Intensity Pigments. According to our L’Oreal insider, the company hopes to generate at least $50 million of sales in the first year.

“It’s wonderful to be working with L’Oreal, a company that has celebrated independent women for years,” says Johansson. “I’m very excited to be part of this campaign, which is modern and fashion forward.”

Even though she tried out for The Parent Trap in 1998 and didn’t make the cut (the role was won by Hollywood’s “It” Girl Lindsay Lohan), Johansson has definitely proved that she is not only a Golden Globe nominated acclaimed actress (The Girl with the Pearl Earring, Woody Allen’s Match Point, Island, In Good Company) but she’s gorgeous as well (Ranked #9 in FHM's 2005 100 Sexiest Women in the World, Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton 2004 campaigns). Well done Scarlet! We can’t wait to hear your sultry version of “I’m Worth It.”

When Jordane Crantelle arrived backstage at Chanel’s spring 2006 Ready To Wear show, she was totally prepared to perform the normal duties expected of an intern: help dress models, run errands, fetch water and coffee, etc. However, when a model called in sick a few minutes before show time, Karl Lagerfeld called upon the 21 year old to, as they say, take one for the team. Before she could bat a beautiful eyelid, her look went from intern-incognito to runway-ready. Then it was a quick walking lesson from the pros, a prayer to the runway deities that she wouldn’t embarrass herself, and the young Parisian was on her way. As payment for her pounding the “pavement”, she was allowed to select a bag of swag straight from the runway. Talk about a fantasy come true, a living fairy tale, and a severe case of being in the right place at the right time, all wrapped up in one! But before you launch into a chorus of “If You Believe in Magic,” get a load of this.

But Anderson isn't hosting the Oscars this year. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has asked comedian Jon Stewart to host this years Academy Awards. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have my celebrity crush hosting this event. I have been a fan of Jon Stewart since “The Jon Stewart Show” in the 90’s. His talent and sense of humor will bring new vigor and energy to the Oscars, which has run through their usual staid rotation of hosts: Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock.

It’s almost like the story of the three bears, but in this case five bears. Billy Crystal is Grandpa Bear and should be put to pasture because we’re tired of the same old jokes. Steve Martin is Suburban Tract Home Daddy Bear and he’s too old school to appeal to the younger audiences. Whoopi Goldberg is Big Mama Bear and is too warm and fuzzy, plus sometimes we just don’t get her. Chris Rock is Bad News Bear who is too irreverent and alienates older viewers. And that leaves the very funny, always debonair, exceptionally handsome and my personal comic hero Jon Stewart as the Da Bear to host the Oscars.

Jon Stewart “Da Bear” has a wry sense of humor that will appeal to the older audience but with timely material and a youthful exuberance that appeals to younger viewers. Plus, I know of plenty of viewers who will be watching just because of their celebrity crush on him, including myself.

Anderson, this changes nothing about my crush on you. You're still my favorite CNN reporter ever.

Unlike other New Yorkers who start their mornings off with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and a bagel with smear, I wakeup each morning to the sound of Craig, Sukanya, Linda, Julie, Larry and Jill’s voice on the Emmy Award winning news program – The WB11 Morning Show. The thing I love the most, aside from the energetic anchors, is the fact that the segments are so eclectic. This morning’s show was no exception. After guessing the correct answer to the Church Challenge (Q: What year was the first Friday the 13th film released? A: 1980), a segment regarding JELLO came on. And what could be better than JELLO? Apparently Agar is.

According to Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia, “Agar is a galactose polymer (or agarose) obtained from the cell walls of some species of red algae or seaweed (Sphaerococcus euchema) and species of Gelidium, chiefly from eastern Asia and California.” In simple English, it is a great substitute for gelatin, which is derived from animals, making Agar very popular with vegetarians. Now it is becoming a huge cash cow (pardon the pun) for the weight loss industry.

Evidently Agar expands to three times its size in the stomach. What that does is trick the body into thinking it is full when in fact, the one doing the eating as consumed a lot less. So in retrospect, at least when it comes to agar, there really isn’t always room for JELLO.

Arguably the greatest leader in all of sports, Mark Messier had his #11 retired last night at Madison Square Garden. This night will go down as one of the most momentous occasions ever in New York Rangers history and quite possibly in MSG history as well.

Teri Hatcher step back…the real Lois Lane is a true fashionista. She’s not desperate, not a housewife and by the way she’s Black! If McDonald’s can share Black History 365 days a year, than I can certainly blog about it once a week! So, I’m preparing for NY Fashion Week ALREADY and decided to see if there were any new urban designers on the forefront; anyone that I should have my eye on as I am, indeed a “new business pitching machine”. I instead came across a bit of history that epitomizes the spirit of the beauty of the African- American woman.

When Avril Levigne hit the scene in 2002, she was the antithesis of everything glamorous. In heavily lined eyes and baggy fatigue pants, she poked her tongue out at mainstream notions of beauty and flipped a bird to the TRL cookie-cutter for pop star images. She told teens it was ok to be different, rockerish, and roguish even. Her music, her style and her attitude represented the restlessness felt by her generation and refused to conform the way many of her peers did. When she released “I’m With You,” grown-ups listened to it and paid attention. Her attitude had captured the youth, but it was her voice- strong, versatile, and beautiful- that garnered the respect of older listeners. Then she disappeared from the radar. But she’s back, grown up and all dolled up- on the pages of the February issue of Harper’s Bazaar, no less!

My love for beauty products started when I was 13 and had cystic acne. Before being put on antibiotics (tetracycline), my mother would sit with me in the mirror and paint my face with green makeup to cover the redness before heading to school. I then would follow it up with a tinted layer of Oxy to keep fighting the acne (that stuff would sting). When my brother and I would come inside after playing in the yard she would often chase us around the house sprtizing us with cologne before having company over so we would smell clean. After all it was my mom who taught me about deodorant and how to shave. I think my dad was at work at the time. Aren't all of our mothers makeup artists and stylists in some way?

When I go home to visit my parents I often “clean house” on my mothers beauty closet. Finding cosmetics that are expired, bad colors or that I know she won’t use. My mother’s favorite line Jane Iredale Cosmetics. Other brands that I often find her using are; Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown and Almay. My mother is 60, she shops at Neiman Marcus, Publix, Target, the dermatologist office and her local spa for her cosmetics. A varied mix if you will. But when asked if she has used or would use Revlon, her botox brow poped up. After taking a look at the new Vital Radiance I would say yes. Could my mom be like Sandra Gray? (why didn't they use Susan Sarandon for this campaign?)

In a very suave move on Revlon's part, the ad campaign created shows real women, age 50+ with real lives. Not models. Do you think its a rip on Dove? Who will be showing their new TV commercials during the Superbowl. It seems like a softer sell, dosent it? I think my favorite profile out of the three this month is Maye Musk a grandmother of four.

I think I stand alone in thinking that Dove sales might not go up after the launch of their ‘girl scout’ commercials during Superbowl. Though Ogilvy & Mather without question created an amazing ad. And again, they will get credit for it. It will be viewed as ‘art’ in broadcast world. But the bottom line is just that, the bottom line, will it drive women to purchase Dove? Where do I think their commercials should be played repetitively, Lifetime TV, Oxygen Network and of course Nickelodeon. Maybe I am thinking too much inside the box of sales. Many of my lady friends have said in defense that they watch the superbowl. But honestly and I know I am going to get a ton of slack for saying this, they are usually in the kitchen cleaning, serving drinks or chasing the kids around the house.

The ad will run February 5th and hit an estimated 90 million viewers. Unilever the parent company of Dove paid a reported $2.4 million each for 60 half-minute ad slots. The good news is that the campaign will draw awareness to their self proclaimed charity; Dove’s Self Esteem Fund that already has 3 million in the bank. This is a multi-year effort for real beauty. I wonder, wouldn’t viewers rather see Miss Jackson’s nipple all over again? I do applaud this entire campaign, don't get me wrong. The not so perfect women in the ads, the charity, the multi-cultural outlook, the real people, etc. It's puling at my heart strings every time my eyes catch a glipse. But when I buy my soap, I guess I want to escape and feel like a Dior girl, not a housewife. That's just me though. Time will tell, if their soap sales go up. My favorite commercial by far is the Gwyneth Paltrow look a-likes wearing wigs and then ripping them off to buy Dove shampoo. (do you think Estee Lauder got that one? They still boast her in those Pleasure ads)

Keep in mind that I think alone. The Pierce Mattians at this agency during our morning meeting voiced a different opinion. You will hear from them shortly.

Thank the Lord for Brad's Blog yesterday as he tailgates video of Bush with his foot in his mouth on movies at a univeristy QnA.

College Student asked:
You're a rancher. A lot of us here in Kansas are ranchers. I just wanted to get your opinion on Brokeback Mountain and if you had seen it yet... You would love it. You should check it out.

Presdient replied:
Bush: I hadn't seen it. I would be glad to talk about ranchin' but I haven't seen the movie... I've heard about it... I hope you go.. you know.. heh, heh.. I hope you go back to the ranch and the farm is what I was going to say... I hadn't seen it.

You can watch the video here

Louis Vuitton's signature luggage is made of leather, the kind of skin you expect to see in one of their stores. However, at the recently opened emporium on the Champs Elysees in Paris, you can now see a different kind of skin - naked human skin.

The Espace Louis Vuitton, a separate area for contemporary art and culture, was inaugurated this month with a photograph exhibition called Alphabet Concept, by Vannessa Beecroft, a New York photographer. The 13 pictures portray nude women wearing clown wigs and with their bodies entwined, shaping the letter of Louis Vuitton's name.

Blood stains, skeletons at dramatic Dior collection with John Galliano who sent out his models in skirts splashed with fake blood and painted skeletons, with crosses round their necks, to the sound of whips and clanking chains in a dramatic opening to Paris fashion week.

"Red is the new libertine ... Dior is the new erotica", read the blood-red information sheet handed out at Christian Dior's spring-summer 2006 haute couture collection.

The models had bleached white hair and dark rims painted round their eyes.

One had 1789 tattooed on her neck, the year of the French revolution. Another wore a dress with a huge skirt stamped with the revolutionary slogan "liberte, egalite and fraternite".

The British designer appeared at the end of the show, set in a tent bathed in red at the Paris polo club, dressed in black leather and brandishing a fencing sword.

While Galliano's dramatic haute couture creations may be worn less by red-carpet clients than those of some other designers, his ideas are seen as trend-setters and are at the cutting edge of fashion.

Several outfits were see-through or revealing to show off the structure of the dresses and the detailed embroidery which take skilled French fashion workers days to sew and stitch.

The drama of Dior contrasted with the red carpet glamour at Giorgio Armani's Prive collection, the first show of the day.

"What I wanted to do was make women beautiful in front of a mirror," Armani told Reuters after the show.

Few know this but early childhood for me was spent in the steel city of Pittsburgh. Going to catholic school it was common for me and the gang to head to a Steelers, Pirates or Penguin's game on the weekends. I personally have not followed the Steelers in years. That is until this past weekend.

What a PR spin this has become... The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it to the Superbowl. Why hadn't anyone expected it? Why were we looking at the Colts. Is it because the town of Pittsburgh is so small? Or the coach; Bill Cowher is not PR worthy? And Colt's Peyton Manning is? A few of us in athletic PR would say yes. Peyton is handsome charming and a PR machine. Does the media and PR generated have more to do with the players and characters playing the game then how they game is played? You bet!

Their PR saving grace a quarterback named; Ben Roethlisberger. This is something Burt Lauten , Public Relations/Media Manager of the team has found as a new glory.

This video is a saving grace for them! Take a peek and as one person put it who sent it to me, you will get the chills. NFL veterans are banking that in months to come Ben will be signing several new consumer goods contracts to come. Right Guard deodorant would be a good fit!

Mario Lemieux, one of the greatest hockey players to ever lace up a pair of skates has bid his final farewell today, and this time it’s for good. Walking away from the game that has given him such great success and hardships, Mario is retiring due to health reasons. Over the past 17 seasons, Lemieux has been plagued with cancer, back problems, major hip problems, and the latest, heart complications.

As the spa lifestyle is woven more prominently into mainstream culture, several newsworthy trends are actually becoming expectations for spa-goers. As the respected voice of the spa industry, the International SPA Association keeps a pulse on current and future trends through its network of 2,500 members in 73 countries.

“As the spa industry is the fourth largest leisure industry in the United States, the spa experience is increasingly being highlighted in movies, television shows, ads and numerous articles,” said ISPA President Lynne Walker McNees. “The attention that’s being paid to the benefits of the spa experience is helping consumers incorporate spa into their everyday lives.”

Key Spa Industry Trends:
Spa at home – From cooking classes, to lessons on balance and managing stress, lifestyle classes at spas teach guests how to take the healthy lessons of the spa home with them. Additionally – spa décor – including tubs, showers, products and massage tables as well as clothing and candles is mainstream. Plus, home spa parties are popular for bridal/baby showers and birthday celebrations.

As a publicist, I often find myself in need of new clothing so that my style (if you can call it that) constantly looks fresh. Unfortunately, student loans and credit card bills leave little in my budget to replace my wardrobe each season. Fortunately, being on the cutting edge doesn’t necessarily have to cost me a lot of money. According to my friends at GQ, updating my attire may be as simple as rummaging through my closet to find the frayed treasures that hang within. Who new fashion could be so easy?

In the February issue, Candice Rainey, associate editor, says, “This season’s washed-out, worn-in versions [of the crisp, freshly pressed polos], complete with frayed collars, are made to look like they’ve taken a trip to the beach rather than to the dry cleaner.” Even Ralph Lauren is reinventing his classic Polo with a new Vintage Style Polo. Too bad it’s not en vogue to have worn in shoes because I can go through a pair in under three months.

For more style tips and a full guide on how your clothes should fit, check out the February issue of GQ, on newsstands now.

Oprah has helped dozens of authors turn their literary products into bestsellers in a matter of an hour. Through her legendary Book Club, Oprah has brought her loyal viewers to a literary high with tear-jerkers, enlightening and memoirs. Her latest addition to the Oprah Book Club, “A Million Little Pieces” is a memoir of author James Frey’s addition and recovery. After being well embraced on Oprah, Frey divulged the audience in his bodily addictions and his eventual emotional ride to recovery.

Frey received raves about the book and a few questioned the validity. As a guest on “Larry King Live,” Frey was questioned about the extreme cases of addition and survival. As a saving angel, Oprah telephoned into the station to support him and labeled the alleged embellishments as “much ado about nothing.”

Stunning audiences worldwide, Oprah once again invited Frey to her daytime show. Moved to tears and overall disgusted, Oprah seemed hurt that he not only “duped” her but also her viewers who she refers to as her family in believing in him. "I feel duped," Winfrey told Frey on her talk show. "But more importantly, I feel that you betrayed millions of readers."

Frey’s response: “In order to get through the experience of the addition, I thought of myself as being tougher than I was and badder than I was, and it helped me cope,” commented Frey. “And when I was writing the book, instead of being as introspective as I should have been, I clung to that image.”

What does this mean for Frey? Don’t lie – especially to Oprah Winfrey! Duh! The future of his career seems tough but his book sales have not suffered as of writing. His book, selling over 1 million copies (Thank You Ms. Winfrey!) is still in the top five selling books for Amazon.com. Frey has recently signed a two-book contract with Riverhead Books for a novel about contemporary Los Angeles in 2007. All in all – Frey is making money and has received so much press in the last few weeks that this little fictional memoir seems like it was worth the embellishments. Haven’t we all “embellished” a little? Bottom line – I’m more interested in this memoir than I was after Oprah’s first discussion.

Why dedicate time to in-house ads when it could be sold to actual advertisers for big bucks? I’m thinking that must have been the question on the minds of the string-pullers at NBC when thinking about the promotional strategy for the Jamie Foxx Unpredictable special that aired last week. Instead of airing promotional, some crafty individual sent out a mass email encouraging all African Americans to neglect American Idol for a night and tune in. In this email, said mastermind divulged that “NBC is not doing any marketing & publicity on Jamie's Music Special on NBC because he stood his ground and wouldn't have any white guest as they requested.” As an African-American, I know that there’s no better way to mobilize my community than to say someone has wronged another member for “standing by his own.” And if this email is true, a few people have some serious ‘splaining to do. However, as a publicist, I also realize that emotion is one of the strongest promotional tools and that propaganda comes in all forms. Therefore, if this email was a publicist’s ploy, I applaud him or her for using the growing medium of Viral Marketing to combat Idol Fever.