The box-office launch for Iron Man 3 is about as promising as Tony Stark's next invention. The three-quel in Disney and Marvel's series about the tech-happy superhero and his industrialist alter ego blitzed competitors with its overseas opening last weekend, taking a $195-million bow while soaring past last year's $185-million overseas debut of The Avengers.

As the movie starring Robert Downey Jr. in the returning title role prepares for its US opening this weekend, the hearty franchise is getting an assist from another returning member of the "cast": the Audi R8 sports car. The German luxury brand placed a version of its R8 in the first and second Iron Man films; this time around Stark's main drive is the all-electric R8 e-tron which has gone into only limited actual production.

"Stark and his passion for innovative technology, his sophisticated wit and his character overall are great representatives for our brand," Drew Elliott, social-media specialist for Audi of America, told brandchannel.Continue reading...

New Grownup Burger Recalls Grownup Film Moment

The words burger, Heidi Klum and bourbon aren’t generally found in the same sentence, but that’s changed now that Carl’s Jr. will become the first fast-food chain to release a burger branded by a liquor. The Jim Beam Bourbon burger will start being sold Monday night and to celebrate the moment, the chain has turned out a sexy ad featuring supermodel/businesswoman Heidi Klum reprising one of American film’s sexiest characters, The Graduate’s Mrs. Robinson.

In it, Klum seduces the camera and her naïve young male costar while chowing down on a massive Jim Beam burger. (Don’t worry, teetotalers. Unlike the famed Mrs. Robinson, the burger is alcohol-free.)Continue reading...

If Amy Sedaris pitching Downy in a perky new campaign rings a bell, it's because celebrities have been sudsing up for brands since the early days of Hollywood. Think back to the golden days of radio, when Jack Benny plugged Jello in his opening line, "Jello, everybody, this is Jack Benny," and Bob Hope promoted Pepsodent toothpaste. And in the early days of television, George Burns and Gracie Allen peddled Carnation Milk, Groucho Marx touted Prom Shampoo and Ozzie and Harriett shilled for Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix. Before he was President, Ronald Reagan stumped for Chesterfield cigarettes.

In today’s world of 24/7 social media, celebrity endorsement, backing and entrepreneurship (from Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop to Jessica Alba's Honest Company) have reached new digital platforms. This week Stamped, a mobile app and website that lets people share reviews of anything they like, announced new celebrity backers including Justin Bieber, Ryan Seacrest and Ellen DeGeneres, and investments from Columbia Records, Eric Schmidt and The New York Times Company, bringing its financing to over $3 million.Continue reading...

There are a lot of product "placements" in Contagion, logos and names that appear in passing, backgrounds and without a great degree of consequence. A crack about Taco Bell here, a Mazda, Audi, or Chevy logo there. But there are really only two or three "brands" that find themselves the focus of the film, and one of them has genuine reason to be sick about the slanderous way Contagion portrays it.

"The Minnesota Department of Health was not officially involved with the film in any way," John Stieger, the department's communications director, told brandchannel. If you've seen the new #1 movie at the US box office, that shouldn't come as a surprise.Continue reading...

British PM David Cameron tells Parliament that he now regrets hiring former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as News Corp. faces US calls for Dow Jones inquiry over phone hacking and London police say their investigation could take years. Wendi Murdoch fever also explodes on the web as her husband's media empire attempts to restore reputation.

American Express reports record cardholder spending.

American Idol co-creator Simon Fuller is suing Simon Cowell for a cut of The X Factor on FOX.

Associated Press will link to sources starting Aug. 1st.

Coach signs Gwyneth Paltrow for UK launch campaign.

Google offers credit card to advertisers, winds down Google Labs, launches Google+ iPhone app.

Intel quarterly results beats analysts' expectations.Continue reading...

Acer sees stock tumble after questionable financial audit.

Amazon rolls out Groupon rival, Amazon Local.

American Airlines and Orbitz forced to play nice.

Android assails Nokia in Europe.

Anthony Weiner's Twitter scandal continues.

Asos bottom line dinged by warehouse move.

Audi sued for allegedly using Eminem's Chrysler ad music.

Borders sees bidder emerge also with Michigan roots.Continue reading...

Air Canada launches new regional brand to replace Jazz.

Amazon vs. Apple "app store" spat continues, while Apple moves to trademark "startup."

Apple iPad 2 finally goes on sale in Japan this week, plus 11 other countries.

Barclay's posts disappointing results.

BP's Russian saga continues as net profit rises, Gulf clean-up costs continue.

Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf ace crash tests.Continue reading...

Wonder why #plannedparenthood is a trending topic today on Twitter?

It's at the heart of a stand-off, as US Republicans and Democrats debate a Republican-backed proposal to cut more than $300 million in Title X federal funding for women's health care centers, including Planned Parenthood, that may force a government shutdown (another trending topic) at midnight tonight.

That's why it's seeking support by releasing a series of celebrity spots titled "Stand With Planned Parenthood" including PSAs by Scarlett Johannson (above) and Gwyneth Paltrow (below), along with a group spot featuring comedian Sarah Silverman and actress Kathleen Turner.Continue reading...