That's right. We are lost in the wash of "me-too" ads. Whenever a new client approaches me with their AI story, I simply ask "What do you do that nobody else can do." I get a lot of throat-clearing noises. If you have an AI story that can start with the headline "No other AI can adequately answer this question," then give me a call. I'd love to do some open-field running with you. Sincerely Yours, Rick Bennett Ad Hit Man
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
This would have been a GREAT scene in a movie from my novel DESTROYING ANGEL. I could even have been a Broadway stage masterpiece.
From the beginning, I wrote my novels to be made into movies. DESTROYING ANGEL could also have been a Broadway musical. Here's a scene in which BJ, who doesn't yet know he's being groom to become the real Destroying Angel, has a meeting with John the Old Testament Revelation prophet atop 727 flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The plane is flying at 30,000 feet. Obviously, only two immortal beings could be in this place at this altitude.
To do this cover shot, that's me in the white suit. And that's the REAL BJ (Brian Johnson) who I've been trying to relocate after lo these 26 years.
Sincerely Yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Here's a link to the scene. Enjoy! http://rickbennett.com/BJatopA727.pdf
Monday, April 27, 2026
Does anybody know where BJ (Brian Johnson) is? The last address I have for him is on Potrero Hill across the street from the Anchor Steam brewery in San Francisco.
Back around 1982, Brian Johnson (aka BJ) was a tekkie at Synapse Computer. He was bigger than life, and I ended up putting a BJ-like character in my first novel: DESTROYING ANGEL. BJ once laid a slick with his Harley in front of Synapse president Mark Leslie's office, which damn near got him fired. But when the carpet guys came to replace the carpet and heard the story, they replaced the carpet free. Seems the carpet guys were also bikers. I have lost track of BJ and had no luck finding him. Help! You can't lose track of old friends. The last time I saw him was in 2000 when I had dinner at his house with he and Carla Perumian. Sincerely yours, Rick Bennett Ad Hit Man
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Darth Vader in Exile, a movie I made with some Boy Scouts one summer.
I had to get a license from not only Star Wars Corporation, but a music license from the Bee Gees and Abba, all on the condition that this movie would never be used commercailly.
Yeah, I took a summer off and then ran for congress. Luckily I lost and had to go into guerrilla warfare. Had I won, I wouldn't have met Tony Schwartz (his Daisy commercial ran one time on one network and destroyed Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign). Tony taught me real GUERRILLA WARFARE.
Sincerley yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Thursday, April 23, 2026
The second-best logo ever created. #1 goes to Sun Microsystems
I designed this logo for my first novel: DESTROYING ANGEL. I've owned the .com URL for over 25 years, and worn the logo on my black shirts for as long. But I must say, the Sun logo, made up of "U" creatively, is IMHO the best ever. Sincerely yours, Rick Bennett Ad Hit Man
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Remembering Frank Herbert (author of DUNE and co-founder of EARTH DAY) on EARTH DAY.
Frank and I became friends back in my media superstar days, when I mentioned that DUNE was the "greatest science fiction novel ever written." He called and said that since I'd used his name "in vain" we should get to know each other. Over the next few months, he promoted me to run for Congress in the state of Washington. I won his district (Port Townsend) but lost the race. He held an environmentalist rally for me near his home, and I confess my desire to save the planet with hydrogen-based technology and solid-state batteries has only grown over the years. Here's thinking of you, Frank. Sincerely yours, Rick Bennett Ad Hit Man
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
My appearance on NBC's TOMORROW with Tom Snyder
Amazing. Sixteen minutes on national television. The interesting part? The previous week we had a church "slave auction" to raise money for charity. I offered to mention you, your family, or your family business, during my upcoming appearance on the TOMORROW show. Toward the end, see how I delivered on that promise, promoting Pick's restaurant in Issaquah, Washington. Yeah, I crack myself up.
By the way, Pick's restaurant paid $50 to the slave auction.
Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Monday, April 20, 2026
My TODAY SHOW appearance 48 years ago.
I think I came up with a great one-liner when I talked about my Hagoth voice stress analyzer's potential effect on society: "Either there will be an emphasis on telling the truth in your conversations, or there will be a renaissance in letter writing."
I guess I was into guerrilla warfare my whole life?
Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Saturday, April 18, 2026
My appearance on GOOD MORNING AMERICA 48 years ago
Entrepreneurs need to find what I call a "media anomaly," or a media platform that all the network TV assignment editors use to get unique stories to air. I found one in a now-defunct magazine called THE NEW TIMES. I flew to NYC and dropped in to their offices to personally deliver a press release. A few weeks later, a short blurb appeared in NEW TIMES, after which I started getting calls from all the network television shows. Here's my appearance on GOOD MORNING AMERICA with David Hartman.
If you have a unique story (unlike all the AI-wannabes who say the same old thing), find today's media anomalies (yes, Grasshopper, there are some). Get them to cover your nobody-else-can-do-this story, and you too can become a star.
Caveat: I don't recommend you believe your own PR. I believed mine and sold the company to run for the U.S. Congress that very year. Of course, I'm glad I lost the election. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten into guerrilla warfare.
Here's the YouTube link to my GOOD MORNING AMERICA stint:
Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Friday, April 17, 2026
In 2017 I played that song with the Murray Symphony that I wrote at 17 for my future wife, Rita.
After the concert, one of my buddies came up to me and said I'd raised the bar too high for the rest of the guys.
Yeah, I'm a hopeless Romantic. We've been married 60 years.
Below is a link to the performance. Enjoy.
Thursday, April 16, 2026
I met this future movie star at a Dominican Republic orphanage
Three decades ago, I arranged to pay off the mortgage of an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. I found out about this from my next door neighbor's father. Missionaries Tyler Engar (pictured Left) and his companion Kirby Heyborne (right) donated a day a week at Casa Lubian, a sad place where people from the DR left their retarded, ill, or deformed children.
In later years, Kirby starred in several movies and numerous television commercials. He's now host of the Emmy-nominated BYUTV show MAKING GOOD. He's also currently serving as a bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I predict you'll see more of this genuinely nice guy.
Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
My best bike trip ever: Sporting my USA jersey in Paris
For those of you who think Paris is a hotbed of anti-American sentiment, my experience in Paris doesn't fit that narrative. On April 30, 1999, I snagged a hotel room with my #2 son Matthew, and just paid for the round-trip airfare. While he attended meetings, I rode my bike around Paris. I didn't meet a single rude Frenchman (or woman).
In fact, I inadvertently sailed onto the JFK Expressway in Paris, missing the no-bicycles sign. It quickly became apparent that I'd blundered into freeway traffic. In my helmet-mounted mirror, I could see an ocean of cars coming toward me. Peddling as hard as I could, I heard the beep-beep of a Taxi to my right. The driver motioned me in front of him, offering to block me from certain death. But moments later, a furniture truck passed us and I quickly drafted onto him, quickly accelerating to freeway speeds. Shortly thereafter, I spotted my off-ramp to salvation.
As I blew off the Paris JFK exit ramp, a group of French bicyclists parked nearby gave me a round of applause.
I have nothing but fond memories of my two cycling trips to France. But this trip happened to be the greatest bicycling trip ever.
Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Springtime at the Pirate Cottage
(L to R) Plumb, Kwanza Cherry, and Choke Cherry Trees bring the promise of a great new year. Happy Spring, one and all. Sincerely yours, Rick Bennett Ad Hit Man
Friday, April 10, 2026
The Greatest SOUTH PARK episode ever? I played this at a Sunday church meeting and brought down the house.
Of course, nobody was a SOUTH PARK fan and they thought I created this myself. I had to disabuse them of this, as they gave me far more credit than I deserved. Sincerely yours, Rick Bennett Ad Hit Man
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Why do I try to use humor in my guerrilla warfare? Here's the greatest episode of TAXI in history.
BTW, I had a buddy who was a neighbor of Christopher Lloyd. Lloyd wanted a "TAXI" license plate on both of his cars. My buddy, Dave Ledeen, told him to make one "TAX1". Dave was very smart. Sincerely yours, Rick Bennett Ad Hit Man
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
GREAT Glenn Frey (Eagles founder) clip from Miami Vice
There are several all-time-great clips I've collected over the years. Here's Eagles founder Glenn Frey in a guest appearance on MIAMI VICE. Sincerely yours, Rick Bennett Ad Hit Man
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
One five-star review for my 3rd novel: THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF HARLEY AND HIS DOG
5.0 out of 5 stars
So good.
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Awesome, could not put this story down. Exactly what I was wanting to read. Great story. Believable characters. Funny humor, talking dogs. Yeah. Was sorry it came to an end. 🥰
Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Monday, April 6, 2026
Great review from filmmaker Jeff Hays. for my 2nd novel, DADDY'S LITTLE FELONS.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great readReviewed in the United States on August 9, 2013
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I was familiar with Rick Bennett's advertising writing, which mixes intelligence, wit, and "stick your finger in the eye of the biggest guy on the field" ballsy-ness. So, I hoped his fiction would live up to his 9 to 5 writing. With Daddy's Little Felons, Bennett delivers. I like my heroes a little larger than life, (think Jack Reacher) and DLF's protagonist satisfies. As a documentary filmmaker, I'm never asked about casting decision in narratives (their loss!) but it's easy to see Jason Stratham in the lead role. A fast paced page turner, kudos to Rick Bennett on his new book.
Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
Ad Hit Man
Sunday, April 5, 2026
The closest thing I've come to a sermon in my advertising.
Happy Easter!
Sincerely yours,
Rick Bennett
God's Ad Hit Man

