Illegal Advertising never ceases to come through with the coolest spots. Case in point, the above piece for the new Nokia N96 was made for audiences in Japan. However, the message travels well around the globe — playing ping pong against Bruce Lee (who uses nunchucks rather than a paddle) is not a good idea. But it certainly is fun to watch.

More: "Your Weekly Illegal Ad"

A tipster e-mailed us to say that he/she thinks the above spot for the new Blackberry Storm is just as bad if not worse than Toyota's 'Saved by Zero' ad.

Writes said spy, "The writing is so bad its embarrassing. 'I've never clicked a screen before. Is that supposed to happen?' HELL YEAH its supposed to happen. Its been happening on the iphone for a year and a half now!"

Hmm. Well, from what we know about the Storm screen, it has springs beneath it that make it feel like you're pushing a button. Compared to the iPhone (with its window-pane like screen), the Storm does have a more authentic button feel to it. Nonetheless, we'll let you decide. Poll time!

More: "When Babies Talk, I Listen"

Remember how we kept noticing that the Sprint Instinct billboard in Times Square was taking forever to be completed? Oh, well allow us to refresh your memory here and here.

Well, we hadn't walked to TS in a few days, so we can't be exactly sure when this thing was finished up. But as you'll see in the above video, it's complete. And wow, let's just say, it met our expectations (of being another pointless waste of electricity, plastics, and building space).

In the video that plays on the over-sized Instinct, the Sprint device is compared to the iPhone to see which has the strongest 3G network and which battery comes out easiest (among other things — we didn't stick around to watch the whole thing). At least now we can stop talking about it.

More: "Solar Powered Billboard"

Click play on the above video, and you'll see Jon Hamm doing for the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) what we want him to do for 'The Week in Advertising' — be awesome.

The clip is a faux MadMen scene, complete with Don Draper, Roger Sterling, some dude who represents the cable television industry, and many drinks. My kind of meeting...and it's funny, too!

We do have a qualm to mention, though; It just isn't fair. We tried to get Hamm on our wildly successful show, 'The Week in Advertising', and offered him the opportunity to develop stronger relationships with the folks who feel closest to him: advertisers, like yourselves. CTAM must have taken it one step beyond and given him...you know...money, or something. Harumph.

OK, for reals though, we like what Michael Durwin, CD at FuseIdeas did with the project. Durwin, a multi-Mark Award winner, wrote the script, edited the film and produced the motion graphics. Damn Durwin, that's a lotta hooch. Enjoy it people, it's Friday.

More: "Mad Men? You Knew It."

In a letter titled, "Urgent Message from GM", Betsy Lazar, executive director advertising and media operations at GM asked IPG leadership for a little favor; help in persuading the federal government to pass a bailout plan.

To do so, GM asked IPG to direct employees to gmfactsandfiction dot com, where they can "show (their) support and let (their) voice(s) be heard."

"We hope you will ask your legislators and other political leaders to support the U.S. auto industry..." Lazar continued.

Lazar included a copy of a study completed by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), which presents a doomsday prediction for anyone whose bread comes from some auto-related industry. The research might be more compelling if it wasn't being used as a scare tactic — so rather than regurgitate the findings, we've uploaded the document that lays it all out, after the jump. Take a look, after the jump.

You can also see the e-mail that IPG then sent to employees, after the jump.

More: "Mullen Gets Some GM Love"

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In case you missed the myriad of IMs, texts and blog posts your friends have been sending you - here's the video from Droga5 for Guitar Hero. Yahoozee! I totally dig it.

How can they be so darn hip on one hand and than total shite on the other with say things like um, Honeyshed? OOOHHH. That's right. We hear that Droga5 DOES NOT create the content for Honeyshed. They do sales and the commercial spots. Apparently, and we say apparently, that's all Smuggler creating that horrific content. Somehow, it makes the Honeyshed fiasco make total sense, right?

More: Puma Gives Droga5 $100M

Someone needs to stop Michael Phelps. He is seriously close to being what we call a spokeswhore. He's already got Speedo, Visa, AT&T, Hilton Hotels, Kellogg's, Guitar Hero, Pizza Hut and now, Subway.

Subway restaurants has "announced today a long-term partnership with world champion swimmer Michael Phelps. Mr. Phelps will be representing the brand across all marketing channels and joins an impressive list of athlete partners that have included Michael Strahan, Ryan Howard, Kimmie Meissner, Tony Parker, Laila Ali and Reggie Bush."

When is too many sponsorships bad for the brand that is Michael Phelps? Perhaps, Octagon, the agency that markets Phelps to the public, needs to take a step back and consider. Anyone recall the Phelps/Kellogg's disaster of 2008? Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

More: Nike's Sacrifice for the Country

Update: Apparently, a friend owns the villa, not the agency.

"Give us a project, we'll give you a villa."

That's the headline that accompanies Ad Store's offer to potential clients. Here's the rest;

"At The Ad Store New York, we not only show you great results, we'll also show you our appreciation. Give us a project* and we'll give you seven days/six nights for 2, free at this magnificent villa in Puglia, Italy. Don’t think of it as a bribe. The entire package can be used as a great incentive for your employees. After all, great work should reap great rewards. At least it does at The Ad Store."

Wait, is this bribery? Maybe not, but it's definitely a different approach. But um, why do they own a villa?

More: "Dell Throws a Blogger at AgencySpy and Tribble, to Dispel Jones Rumor"

Today, the Wall Street Journal's John Stoll reported from Detroit. In the video above, he explains that after two days of inquiry in Washington D.C., big 3 execs have returned home with little hope of getting any closer to the bailout they need. Hmm, maybe flying down there in private jets was a bad way to start things off.

Anyway, Stoll notes that GM in particular is running out of places to cut spending. Production is down, and other expenditures both abroad and stateside are all zipped up. However, the automakers have one thing left to get rid of; their vehicles.

Typically, a fire sale is a really bad sign, right? But if cash is what the companies need, maybe selling their cars for 20 percent less than their value should be considered.

Here's why. If the bailout comes through, each manufacturer will have a debt in the billions to pay off. And we don't know about you, but even the idea of bailing these guys out makes us squirm. So, maybe before asking Americans to pay off their debt (for awhile), they should offer awesome discounts on their product. We, for one, would be less pissed off about the situation if we had a sweet new Camaro sitting outside (especially if it came at the bargain price of $13k, for example).

Just a thought, but we wanted to throw it out to you. Use this handy poll to give us your take. Comments, as always, are welcome!

More: "What Will Happen (to the ad-world) if the Big 3 Fail?"

Don't feel like clicking "next"? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here's the stories your colleagues read most over the last week. Did you know it's Thursday? That means only one point five arduous days until you're free for the weekend. Sweet!

1. BBDO Lost Pepsi to TBWA/Chiat/Day LA

2. Rob Rasmussen Departs R/GA for BBH

3. What Will Happen (to the ad-world) if the Big 3 Fail?

4. Reader Vitriol: "Did Your Panties Get A Little Wet?"

5. GSD&M's Fight for GSD&M Lead by Spence, not Taylor

6. Scatology For Zune

7. No Wukkas — The Job Hunt (Copywriters Jumping Ship)

More: Most Popular Stories on Agency Spy From The Last 7 Days

The International Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PriceWaterhouseCoopers announced the third quarter results for internet advertising, which showed revenues up 11 percent over the same time last year at $5.9 billion. However, Q3 came in just two percent over Q2, 2008.

The IAB reports that although annual growth in the sector has been in the double digits, quarterly increases have been relatively flat.

So, now you know.

More: "U.S. Ad Agencies Ranked And Filed"

Watch more Dailymotion videos on AOL Video

It's super hooky, but you know what, by 2 minutes 32 seconds, I was almost weeping. At least someone is having a good time of it.

More: WTF Oglivy - "You Were Our David So Bold And Avid?"

Remember that little ad about how painful it can be to wear your child? You know, the one Motrin made that's got them in a heap of trouble? Seems someone thought it'd be a good idea to dump fuel on the fire. With no further adieu (this is the part where you click "play"), a faux Motrin ad for getting through the tremendous pain that comes after breast augmentation(read: boob job).

More: "The Tits Of BBDO China"

Why are all the girls so fricking dumb on Honeyshed? It's clear that a bunch of boys (we're looking at you Smuggler), created content that echoes their "idea" of women rather than how women largely operate online and as consumers. The girls on Honeyshed are shadows of women, projecting an old idea of femininty against a back drop of sex. It's as if we've stepped back in time to the Mad Men days when women subverted men with pouted lips and allusions to their sexuality. In truth, it makes me incredibly sad.

Girl one: "For all of you who don't know what rugby is..."

Girl two: "Seriously. I don't know what it is."

And then, she goes on to explain what rugby is. In detail. Like she's talking to infants. Forget stupidity. In other spots, Honeyshed goes so far as to reduce female concerns to how their boyfriends feel about what they may purchase. Products are funneled through this myopic lens depressingly and constantly.

If not stupidity and one-dimensional concerns about male approval, the selling tactic is sloppy sexual asides. In the lingerie episode, Honeyshed features a fully clothed solicitous guy standing beside three young ladies in their bra and panties. Need I point out the sexual dynamics going on here? The women then proceed to teach him and the male audience (despite this spot being for women) how to take a woman's bra off. Jesus.

Honeyshed is not for women in any way shape or form. Perhaps, this entice thirteen year olds who are curious about their sexuality, but guess what? They don't have the spending power to make Honeyshed a financial success.

Honeyshed is missing out on a few things: how women shop online; that the digital generation with the spending power to adore this site are older than 16; that if you treat women like Playboy bunnies or twits, you'll never get them get back; that you need to have women deciding how women will be portrayed on the site; that if you're going for the American Apparel, edgy sex sells thing - you are so far off the mark that I can't be bothered to correct you.

Just get rid of the ladies channel. Like now. You're embarrassing yourselves and proving the old adage true: advertising does not understand the needs, desires, thought processes or identities of women.

More: WSJ Names 50 Women to Watch in 2008

An Austin based spy informs us that Home Depot is slated to announce whoever won their business, tomorrow. Recall that McCann Erickson, Hill, Holliday, JWT, Grey Global, GSD&M and the Richards Group (incumbent) were/are all in on the review.

So spies, get excited, cuz one of the above-listed agencies is about to win $750 million. Dollars. SNAP!

More: "Home Depot Lines up the Short List"