Howcroft couldn't have scripted the final episode better himself. After steadily building up his stocks as Mr.Sensible while Todd & Co fought over the 'Look at Me I'm Really Creative' role, when it came to the crunch - that is, when it was revealed to Australia, who walked the walk not just talked the talk - who should be the only one with a gold at Cannes but good ol' Russ. It was like watching the ending of The Tortoise and The Hare. Well done Russell, you didn't just end up being crowned the most approachable and sensible of all the panelists, you ended up the most creative as well.

yep, i'll bet good ol' russ had heaps to do with making the schwepps spot

Told you he's worth fapping over.

You're being a bit hard on Todd. With one season under his belt I don't think he'll be so "Look at me" next year.

Like most people, I'd like to be on Telly. Pick up a lot more chicks that way. Good onya Rus, lucky bastard, nice to see fellow industry folk doing good.

Agree, 2:55. I thought at the time that it was incumbent on Big Russ to explain, as he does so well and so often about the workings of the industry, that it was not he who conceived the ad, but that he was merely MD of the agency that produced it.

But then again, why do that? Most people watching would have presumed from his eyeflutteringly modest reaction that he was the sexy superstar creative, not a suit.

Oh puhleese.

The phenomenal success of this program seems to have silenced the "old men" of Clemenger.

Their rant about preferring to be in the boardroom confirmed just about every negative perception of Clemenger that exists. I missed a few episodes but don't think I saw any Clemenger staff on the show? Surely they weren't banned?!?

Gruen was one of the freshest, and most consumer engaging things to happen in advertising this year, the numbers prove it. Unfortunately it's not totally surprising that Clemenger appeared to miss the whole point of the show.

Ah well there's always next season. Don't be scared of the new and different Clems.

Fair point 4:29. But if it hadn't been for Howcroft the old men at Clems would've been right.

It is TV,. They chose Todd and Russ to have opposing views and dynamics. And it works well I think. However, we should be congratulatory that Todd runs an agency and is passionate about the craft of creativity. I am really over this industry and its preciousness when it comes to 'who is creative and who is not'. I know a lot of people with a creative title who are less creatives than some suits and planners.

ahhh, Doctor House, what are you up to these days?

Todd's brain is buffering at 67%.

Sorry, but it was never a battle between Russel and Todd.

Sure, they offered different opinions and viewpoints. But doesn’t that happen every day in every agency? (If it’s not happening in your agency, think about what General Patton said: If everyone is thinking the same way, someone’s not thinking.)

Good advertising comes from people arguing over different ways of going. It’s about people pushing each other a little further, questioning everything, struggling to see if there are better ways.

We got an example of that every week on the Gruen Transfer. That’s good advertising. And good TV.

We need to do an industry poll to establish who has a bigger fan club, Todd or Russ.

Are you a fan of the young, edgy, unshaven, slightly out-there, funky Todd

or

Pudgy, comfy, conservative, sensible, experienced and knowledgeable Russ?

Vote now.

Nice point 11:31. It's like when Margaret and David disagree on the Movie Show. You need the Yin and the Yang.
Then again, Stadler and Waldorf used to always agree. And they're piss funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h15xIoVwWw

Actually, 4.41, I suspect Todd and Russel are about the same age.

They're just playing different characters.