DDB Chicago was the overall winner in the television competition at the inaugural Windy Awards—formerly known as the Addy Awards—which was sponsored by the Chicago Ad Federation (CAF).
DDB won the Best of Show trophy in television for the Anheuser-Busch Budweiser spot "Whassup/True," directed by Charles Stone of New York-based C&C Films and its newly launched division Storm, at the March 2 awards ceremony held at the Hotel Inter-Continental, Chicago. DDB also took Best of Show in the print and radio categories.
The popular "Whassup/True" is based on Stone’s two-minute short True, which he wrote and directed. It garnered attention at the Music Video Production Association (MVPA) Director’s Cuts Film Festival in Los Angeles in ’98. Stone also appears in the spot in which he and his friends greet each other with "Whaassuuuup!" The line is repeatedly and enthusiastically exchanged among them—on the phone, in person, through an apartment intercom—to the point of absurdity.
"Whassup/True" also earned a Windy in the regional/national, single consumer products/alcoholic beverage category, as did the spots "Whassup/Call Waiting" and "Whassup/Pizza Guy" (regional/national campaign, consumer products). DDB also won a Windy for the Bud Light spot "Rough Choice" (regional/national, single consumer products/alcoholic beverages), and for the Pep Boys spot called "Weekend Plans" (regional/national, single consumer outlets/retail dealers).
Leo Burnett Co., Chicago, picked up Windy awards for its Kellogg spots "Pacific & Marsupials" (regional/national, single consumer products, food) and "Gramps" (regional/national, single consumer products, food). It also won a Windy for the Toys R Us spot "Rain Check" (regional/national, single consumer outlets, retail stores).
Other winners for TV include Young & Rubicam/Chicago, which won three Windy awards for its H&R Block spots "Dog" (local/single :30), "Worried About Bill" (local/single :60), "Please Be Quiet/BBQ," "W-2/Another Baby," and "Dad, Can I Have Some Money?" (local/campaign).
Lowe Lintas & Partners, Chicago, won a Windy for its Ameritech spot "Saturday Snooze" (regional/national, single consumer services, communications). Publicis & Hal Riney, Chicago, won a Windy for the Serta spot "Sweetheart" (regional/national, single consumer services, retail products).
The show’s judges were Brian Murphy, art director at Minneapolis-based Fallon McElligott; Robert Giaimo, creative director at Grey Advertising, Los Angeles; John Schofield, associate creative director at Seattle-based WongDoody; Bob Thacker, president/CEO at BBDO Minneapolis; Walt Burns, associate creative director at Portland, Ore.-based Cole & Weber; Bob Moore, creative director at Portland-based Wieden & Kennedy; Mike Connell, co-creative director at Boston-based CGN Marketing and Creative Services; and Yvonne Durant, a New York-based consultant.
There has been a contentious dispute over the past few months between the CAF—which was granted the rights to the Addys name—and Chicago’s Art Directors and Copywriters Club (ADCC), which has traditionally hosted the Addys/The Chicago Show. Reportedly at issue were the control of the selection of judges and the amount of money CAF was willing to share from the show. The ADCC initially refused to co-sponsor the Windy Awards, but the two groups have since settled their differences and plan to collaborate on the show next year.
