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"You know, I'd be very happy if you were a lesbian."

A mother's cringe-inducing conversation starter

HBO GO, the service that allows subscribers to watch the cable network's shows online, has released a series of hilarious ads in the U.S. demonstrating the benefits of having an alternative to the family TV. The video ads, which are running online, show how awkward it can be to watch shows such as Girls, True Detective and Game of Thrones with your parents.

Avoiding the moment when your mother utters the line "27 years, and we still make love"? Now that's a powerful selling point.

"There is no Plan B."

The $35-billion (U.S.) mega-merger that would create the world's largest advertising agency holding company has hit a bit of a rough patch.

Omnicom Group Inc. and Publicis Groupe SA are waiting on their application for tax residency in the United Kingdom; without that approval, the deal could be affected.

"At this point, it's not practical to predict exactly when the transaction will close," Omnicom chief executive officer John Wren told analysts on a conference call to discuss the company's first quarter Tuesday.

The companies also need the green light from antitrust authorities in China; tax approval from France, where Publicis is currently headquartered; and finance department approval from the Netherlands, where the combined company is planning to locate its headquarters.

"There is no Plan B," Mr. Wren said.

When is a pomegranate juice not pomegranate juice?

When there is only 0.3 per cent of it. At least, that's the case that POM Wonderful made to the U.S. Supreme Court this week. POM is claiming that the labelling of Coca-Cola Co.'s juice products is misleading, citing its Minute Maid brand "pomegranate blueberry juice" that is made up of mostly apple and grape juice, with very little pomegranate and just 0.2-per-cent blueberry juice.

The ruling could have an impact on how food products are labelled in the United States. Coca-Cola pointed out that its label was in line with Food and Drug Administration rules. POM's argument is based on the Lanham Act, which concerns misleading advertising.

"I think it's relevant for us to ask whether people are cheated in buying this product," Justice Anthony Kennedy said while hearing Coke's arguments on Monday.

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Tickers mentioned in this story

Study and track financial data on any traded entity: click to open the full quote page. Data updated as of 28/03/24 0:37pm EDT.

SymbolName% changeLast
KO-N
Coca-Cola Company
+0.07%61.07
O-N
Realty Income Corp
+0.78%53.93
OMC-N
Omnicom Group Inc
+2.14%97.2

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