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Morning Update: US brewer apologises to Indians for putting Gandhi on beer labels

AdWeek: Sad the Holidays Are Over? This Verizon Ad Has the Last Laugh of the Season

For most of us—taste buds numb from eggnog, eyes bleary from festive lights—it’s merciful that the holidays have ended. But the dude in this Verizon Wireless spot from mcgarrybowen just can’t let go of the season—or bear to leave his brittle, brown-ing Christmas tree out on the curb.

Khary Payton, best known for voicing Cyborg in the Teen Titans cartoon series, turns in a likable central performance. “The good more is all the end-of-season deals on great tech stuff at Verizon,” the voiceover says, somewhat awkwardly. “The not-so-good more: having the season actually end.”

Mumbrella Asia: US brewer says sorry to Indians for putting teetotal peace icon Gandhi on beer labels

An American beer company has apologised to people of Indian descent for producing a beer it has named after teetotal peace icon Mahatma Gandhi.

New England Brewing Company placed images of Gandhi on the labels of a beer it has called Gandhi-Bot, prompting complaints from Indian groups who said that the marketing ploy trivialised Gandhi’s principles and belittled the Indo-American community and Indians in general.

AdAge: TBWA Taps Global Creative President Rob Schwartz to Lead New York Office

Omnicom’s TBWA is naming Rob Schwartz, currently the network’s global creative president, the new CEO ofTBWA/Chiat/Day New York.

Mr. Schwartz’s appointment means that Robert Harwood-Matthews, who had been president of the New York office since September 2012, will leave the agency to pursue other opportunities, according to a statement.

AdWeek: This Gay-Themed Taco Bell Ad Isn’t Real, but Taco Bell Digs It Anyway

It’s a sign of the times that some freelance directors can make a gay-themed spec ad for a major brand, and that brand not only doesn’t go ballistic and have it taken off YouTube—it goes on the record saying it rather enjoyed it.

The Merkin Bros. filmed the spot below, which has gotten a couple hundred thousand YouTube views since mid-December. The title says it’s a “leaked” ad, though of course it’s clearly spec—the production values, particularly the sound, aren’t on the same level as a real Taco Bell ad.

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