Fruitopia: The Final Word

[Steve Berlin <stev0@chaco.com>]

Well, Spy Magazine has just put out their annual list of The
100 Most Annoying Things of The Year.

Fruitopia came in at a dismal 25, with 347.74 "annoyance points"
(Just behind John Wayne Bobbitt, at 352.25 points, and ABOVE
the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers at only 338.25 points).

Text of piece:
-----------------------------------
Inherent loathsomeness:  9
Misdeeds:

The name Fruitopia was created for Coca-Cola by a group of students
at Miami University in Ohio in 1991, as part of a project whose
objective was to "come up with a complete marketing plan - from
product name to advertising and promotions - for a sparkling
water and juice drink in development under the Minute Maid brand
at Coca-Cola Foods Canada."  in 1994, Coca-Cola spent $30 million
launching Fruitopia - less than $20,000 was given to the students
in 1991.  Said a Coca-Cola spokesperson: "Our marketing group,
working independently with Chiat/Day [an ad agency], came up with
the name Fruitopia."  But according to Carrington Powers, creative
director of the student team, "They told me that they liked the
design concept of my label and that they really might use it."
(8 points)

Mitigating factors:  The drink tastes awful no matter what they
call it (2 points)

Cultural saturation:  8 points

Bonus points:  For their effors, members of the Miami U. team
were also awarded paper certificates and Coca-Cola pens.
(8 points)
-------------------------------------------------------

Unanswered question, then:  Who thought of using Kate for the
teevee ads?  My guess in the University Students (since more
college students than Marketing droids like Kate).  And how
much DID she get paid?

- Stev0 the neutopian

1:  Gump Mania (566.67 annoyance points)
2.  Newt Gingrich (560.00 points)
3.  Whitewater:  The Little Scandle that Couldn't (553.33 points)

Bonus O.J. Simpson section (off the scale)

         - Spy