Lisa Kudrow to topline

The carmaker is launching an Internet-only branded channel Tuesday (September 23) stocked with a full slate of original programing headlined by Kudrow in a shortform comedy series in which she plays a nutty shrink.

The choice of the Emmy-winning Kudrow for the lead role in “Web Therapy” should bring attention to what Lexus is calling L Studio, available at LStudio.com.

But the creation of a marketer-branded broadband channel also is bound to get attention given its only precedent: Bud.TV, a similar venture Budweiser kicked off after the Super Bowl in 2006 only to watch it fail after a reported $30 million investment.

“We learned from some of the mistakes that they made in the beginning,” said Sandy Blanchard, owner experience manager at Lexus’ marketing division, who oversees L Studio.

Blanchard would not divulge the budget for L Studio but made clear that it is not in the ballpark of $30 million.

“We were pleasantly surprised as to what we were able to accomplish with what the budget was and the fact that we have people of the caliber of Lisa Kudrow,” she said. (more…)

Cannes and Gabbana

“Fun in Cannes,” beamed Stefano Gabbana backstage after the show, which mixed 1930s beachwear, promenade style and yachting insignia.

Call it “Nautically natty”, or “nattily nautical”, which ever you prefer. Stefano and Domenico Dolce had telegraphed their intentions with their invitation, a series of crafty jokes beneath classic naval flags.

The models sashayed out like saucy posh pirates, attired in silk blouses in rope,

sail and reef prints. Other standouts were the high-waist hot pants and trousers in denim with deckhands front bibs, jaunty jackets for a sunset cocktail and elongated cardigans.

Created largely in red, white and blue, there was a fine French, joie de vivre about every look, from the stripped pants suits to the knit ribbed bathing costumes. (more…)