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The only scene HBO asked David Chase to change in The Sopranos
You may remember the episode. It's called "College," from season one.
Under the Influence |

Dolly Parton entered a Dolly Parton look-alike contest. And lost.
Dolly Parton – there's no one like her. Well, almost no one.
Under the Influence |

How one carmaker used tiny billboards to get inside its competitors' vehicles
Billboards are one of the biggest creative challenges in the marketing world. But not all billboards are gigantic, some brands choose to go tiny.
Under the Influence |
This brand made a fortune blowing bubbles for 75 years
The company started selling single pieces of bubble gum for a penny and created a character for its accompanying comic strips. Little did they now, the product would go on to span seven decades.
Under the Influence |

Goodyear once believed its blimps could be sold as "air yachts."
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company had big hopes for its blimps a century ago. Including regattas and overseas travel.
Under the Influence |

This Michigan couple spotted a lucrative lottery loophole
64-year-old Jerry Selbee had a bachelor's degree in math, and he used it to take the luck out of the lottery.
Under the Influence |

That time the Saskatchewan Roughriders played the Ottawa Rough Riders
There aren’t many examples of two teams, in the same country, in the same sport, in the same league, with the same names, but the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Saskatchewan Roughriders were brand twins for decades. In one of the great Canadian sports anomalies of all time.
Under the Influence |
This New Zealand ad agency is fighting gender inequality one Google search at a time
It's no surprise the internet is chock full of misinformation. But did you know individuals have the power to change that misinformation?
Under the Influence |

The Red Cross produced a horror commercial for blood donations
The commercial was titled “A Bloody Nightmare" and had a specific message for viewers during the pandemic.
Under the Influence |

This chill movie theatre wants you to keep your phone on
An East Village movie theatre gave New Yorkers a much-needed break from the summer heat. But, the film it played featured no actors, the popcorn was free and patrons were encouraged to use their cell phones.
Under the Influence |

How a chimpanzee brought Xerox to the masses
Duplicating paper so easy, a monkey could do it. That is, with the approval of the FCC.
Under the Influence |

How spinach became Popeye's secret weapon
Spinach was Popeye's secret weapon – even giving the character the power to turn into a human rocket. But the reason illustrator E.C. Seegar chose spinach as Popeye's superpower-in-a-can may surprise you.
Under the Influence |

IKEA recruits employees using 'inside the box' thinking
IKEA Australia was looking to hire employees for its latest mega-store, and the furniture company attracted over 4,000 applicants — without spending a single media dollar.
Under the Influence |
Thou shall change church signs during Covid -Hygenesis 24:7
When the pandemic hit, churches closed their doors in order to contain the spread of the virus. And because people weren't coming to weekly services, church signs became even more important as a way to communicate.
Under the Influence |

L'Oreal changed its slogan for the first time since 1971
The growing market for men's makeup made cosmetics brand L'Oreal take a second look at its long-standing slogan.
Under the Influence |

The real reason Charlie became Willy Wonka
When Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was adapted into a movie, its name changed. All thanks to a food company.
Under the Influence |

The four-word code that signalled the end of a long reign
When Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, one brief, simple phrase set off a monumental chain of events across Britain and the world.
Under the Influence |

How many French fries did the boy in the 1987 McCain ad really have to eat?
It’s remarkable how well-remembered that commercial still is to this day, considering it's 35 years old. The story behind it may surprise you.
Under the Influence |

Burger King found a way to offer Whoppers at McDonald's
McDonald’s is the 800-pound gorilla in the fast-food category, and Burger King is particularly ingenious when it comes to sniping at McDonald’s.
Under the Influence |

This 1960s toy brand set a record year for sales in 2018
Hot Wheels is one of the best-selling toys in the world. Over six billion have sold since the company was founded over 50 years ago. And even in today's digital age, the brand manages to reach new heights.
Under the Influence |

How a waffle iron inspired the Nike shoe
Ever notice the grid-like pattern on the outer soles of running shoes? Turns out, there's a very interesting story behind it, and it all began with waffles.
Under the Influence |

This burger chain showed mouldy food in its advertising
The campaign broke all the cardinal rules of advertising. But for one fast food company, it paid off.
Under the Influence |

Why plain old vanilla is the world's favourite ice cream flavour
The term “vanilla” is synonymous with boring, dull or bland. Yet a scoop of vanilla is the number one choice across the globe.
Under the Influence |

Inmates in a Brazil prison shorten their sentences by writing book reviews
Those reviews turned out to be remarkable and insightful. So much so, they were turned into an advertising campaign.
Under the Influence |

Walt Disney was told Snow White would be a costly mistake
In the 1930s, the Disney studio was the leader in animated short films, but had never attempted a full-length film. So when Disney came up with the 80-minute Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hollywood was skeptical.
Under the Influence |