SIDE SALAD - Everything crunchy is good.

PUTTING THE PEE IN P.R.

I've seen a lot of weird press kits in my time. Even got a straightjacket with my name on it this summer.

But the one we got yesterday to promote a TV show takes the cake.

The urinal cake, that is.

It's an "Interactive Urinal Communicator" manufactured by, whom else, Wizmark.

Let me explain.

Device sits in bottom of urinal. Male subject (assuming, of course) walks up, takes down the barn door and begins his duty.

Heh. I said "doody."

Anyway, as pressure is relieved, an audio message is delivered.

Here's how the company announced it in a press release:

First-Ever Interactive Urinal Communicator Targets Men: ´Don´t Miss Outlaws on CMT´

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- "Target marketing" has taken on a whole new meaning in the first-ever viral marketing use of an interactive urinal communicator in America.

To help create buzz for its new landmark television event, CMT OUTLAWS concert and countdown specials premiering Friday, Oct. 29, CMT will target men at bathroom urinals in bars, concert venues, colleges and radio stations with the -- Wizmark(R) -- the world's first and only device of its kind. The deodorizing urinal drain filter cover - featuring a waterproof anti-glare lenticular viewing display, pre-recorded audio and flashing lights -- is motion-activated: step up to the urinal and the unit starts flashing, talking and alternating pictures. The units are designed to last more than 10,000 flushes.

"We're always looking for innovative ways of reaching viewers, in this case the male audience," says James Hitchcock, Vice President, Creative and Marketing, CMT. "The new interactive urinal communicator from Wizmark enables CMT to target a very captive and vulnerable audience with our humorous pre- recorded message -- recorded by a woman -- that commands, 'Don't miss OUTLAWS on CMT. You seem to miss everything else!'"

Ahem.

An aside: Using a female voice to get men to pay attention at a pee trough is not a bad idea, assuming of course that a heterosexual man is standing there about to "bleed the weasel."

But insulting the accuracy of the aforementioned man's urinary swordsmanship is probably a bad idea.

In unrelated potty news, I have a question maybe someone could answer:

Why did the Hilton Riverside Hotel in New Orleans fill their urinals with ice every morning?



I can report that this dissuaded me heartily from ordering margaritas on the rocks at the hotel bar.

Posted by Jeff at October 14, 2004 08:11 AM | TrackBack