M&R/M&H
changes name to MRP —
receptionist celebrates.

Stamford, Connecticut, December 8, 2000 — After four years of absolute drudgery dealing with an incredibly difficult to pronounce agency name, Marquardt & Roche/Meditz & Hackett announced it is changing its name once again. As of January 1, 2001 the ad agency will be known as Marquardt & Roche and Partners, or MRP.

The agency, originally named Marquardt & Roche by its founders Jim Marquardt and Ed Roche, has been doing business in Stamford, Connecticut for over 30 years — 26 of them under its original name. "In 1997 I had a temporary lapse of sanity," said Howard Meditz, president of the agency for the past six years. "I think I'm all right now."

Meditz has reported that the agency's receptionist, Dana Meyer, has had to take inordinate amounts of time answering the phone "Marquardt & Roche/Meditz & Hackett." In addition, Meditz concedes that he was fearful that a successful lawsuit might be brought against the firm by Ms. Meyer based on injuries she suffered after developing a chronic case of carpal-tongue syndrome.

In totally insincere marketing-speak, Meditz also says that the name change will effectively position the agency through the next millennium. Those close to him, however, indicate that the decision is probably more closely related to the fact that Meditz really likes the cool new MRP logo.

In an effort to distract clients from noticing that the company has made name changes a far too frequent occurrence, the firm hired noted psychic The Amazing Kreskin to entertain them at a party held at Le Chateau, a swanky restaurant in South Salem, New York. Mr. Kreskin was in fact successful in entertaining the group, and predicted that everything would work out all right as long as his check cleared.