Look. It’s been a rough week. Here at Mercury HQ, we got a paper out on the streets—but we’ll admit, it was a challenge to do so. Creativity-wise, this week just wasn’t a real high point for us.
What makes that fact even harder to admit, though, is this: Apparently, across town at Willamette Week HQ, they went above and beyond their usual routine and had a super creative week!
Long story short: It was a bad week for us, it was a good week for them, and before we knew what was even happening, OUR TWO PAPERS ENDED UP WITH EERILY SIMILAR PLACARDS. Both use the tired phrase “when animals attack” to tout our respective papers’ movie reviews of Birdemic: Shock and Terror and Furry Vengeance. Behold:
- This week’s placards: EERILY SIMILAR.
Now, before Ben Waterhouse starts accusing us of placard plagiarism, we’d like to get one thing on the record: We did not steal the idea for our placard from the Willamette Week. This is a matter of coincidence, and nothing more. And let’s be honest: The idea for both placards? Pretty goddamn unoriginal. We could’ve done better and they could’ve done worse—but what’s done is done, and now the streets of Portland are blighted with an unfortunate coincidence.
HOWEVER! Just because this is a coincidence doesn’t mean it can’t also be a contest! So, a question: Which “when animals attack” placard is less unoriginal? Here are closer looks at each—study them carefully, Blogtown denizens, then cast your vote. Voting ends at noon tomorrow!
- Willamette Week placard: Features birds attacking a gas station.
- Portland Mercury placard: Features birds attacking Brendan Fraser.
WHICH “WHEN ANIMALS ATTACK” PLACARD IS LESS UNORIGINAL?
I voted for Portland Mercury because the Willamette Week fucked up by writing “When Animals Attack” instead of “When BIRDS Attack” and… wait. We did too?
Crap.
Can I change my vote?
I voted for the SFWeekly BUT I DID NOT WANT TO*.
*hidden subtext comment
Font choices for the Willy are really uninspired. Woo… Sans Sarif with an outline. Whoop-de-fucking-doo.
But they both suck. As newspaper. And all their employees too. And what else?
Just kidding. I love you all equally. Except for Steve. I love Steve more.
It’s also note worthy that both papers were 64 pages. Although, The Mercury has more ads. Because it’s better.
Yours is funnier. No surprise.
BUT they do have an “article” on Furry Vengeance page 53. I’ll just say both fail with equal aplomb.
Why doesn’t theirs have an exclamation point? Is a deadly animal attack not that important?
They have one of the most memorable covers of the year this week with a naked Tom Hughes. That earns their unrelated “animals attack” flyer 10 bonus points. Unless your cover really brings its A game tomorrow, I think you lose this one.
Blabby, it looks from here like the Merc’s cover features some sort of crazy building.
Erik, you should have spiced up that tired phrase by turning it into a question. And then answering it.
“When do animals attack? RIGHT NOW!”
WW ftw since they used a period instead of the obvious exclamation and didn’t pander to people who don’t know it’s a movie review
I voted for the Mercury only due to WW’s blatant omission of Brendan Frasier
I’m with Beer Batter on this one.
I most protest the lack of stingrays attacking Brendan Fraser who is obviously channeling Steve Irwin
I wouldn’t not say the Mercury cover isn’t less original, but I wouldn’t not say it’s not not more original either.
However, the Mercury placard has an eagle, which is the symbol of democracy.
I didn’t vote.
I think that WW box has gang affiliation.
Oh, dangit – I missed the double negative. “LESS unoriginal.” Now I’ve wasted my vote.
Can someone explain the Mercury cover? What is that thing?