21
Nov
2011
Tony Scheffler didn’t get the update that the Flash Mob had been pushed back (VIDEO)
(Image via Sportsgrid.com)
During the 3rd quarter of their impressive comeback win against the Panthers, after scoring the game-tying touchdown, Lions TE Tony Scheffler turned in the most intricate endzone celebration of the weekend – if not the season – with this tribute to ubiquitous the AT&T Flash Mob commercial.
Apparently, thanks to his shoddy cell phone service, Tony didn’t get the text that the flash mob had been moved to next weekend … oops:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
22
Jun
2011
Eli & Peyton Manning in “Football Cops” (VIDEO)
(Image via DirecTV.com)
With the lockout giving NFL athletes even more time than usual to hawk products for huge endorsement deals, it should come as no surprise that two of the game’s most prolific pitchmen – the Manning brothers – are taking things to the next level with their new promotion. Football Cops is being presented as a new original drama from DirecTV, featuring Peyton and Eli as Mike Tahoe and C.J Hunter, two mustachioed partners who use their rocket arms as crime-fighting weapons.
And despite the fact that DirecTV is playing this up as a real new series, and even has 3 “episodes” listed on the website, its hard to believe that this will actually be a recurring full-length television program. If anything, it’s far more likely to become an unavoidable marketing onslaught of commercials and short-format viral videos that we’ll have to endure over and over (and over) this Fall, until the very sound of the theme music makes our ears bleed.
But before it gets to that point, enjoy the official trailer for Football Cops:
Yeah … as much as we love the Fu Manchu mustache on Eli (let’s face it, anything that helps butch him up a bit is a good thing), and seeing Archie getting into the act as defense attorney Orlando Midnight, we’re going to reserve judgement about this “show”. There’s a pretty good chance we’ll grow to hate it in time.
28
Jan
2011
NFLPA Super Bowl Ad: “Let Us Play” (VIDEO)
(Image: NFLLockout.com)
UPDATE: CBS has refused to air the NFLPA’s ad, obviously taking sides with their television partner (the NFL) in the labor dispute. Can anyone say conflict of interest?
________________________________
What can I say, it’s a video kind of Friday.
This is the commercial that the NFL Players Association produced for the Super Bowl, in an effort to win public sentiment in the current labor negotiations between players and NFL owners. With a potential lockout looming, the players’ union is taking to social media to spread their message, and encouraging fans to sign a petition showing their support. From NFLLockout.com:
Players: “Let Us Play” Fans: “Let Them Play” Here we are, Super Bowl, the biggest event in sports, and an NFL Lockout looms very large. As the NFL celebrates its most successful season ever, NFL owners are preparing to lock out players and fans from their game starting in March. Owners have not opened their books or offered justification for this threat. The players want to play and the fans want to see them play. So, why won’t the Owners take a Lockout off the table? Do your part as a fan and help Block the Lockout.
I’m not sure who they think they’re kidding with the petition, but garnering public support and painting the owners as the big bad meanies in this whole debacle can certainly go a long way toward getting the owners to cave in negotiations down the stretch. Watch for yourself and decide if this commercial does enough to tug at your football heartstrings:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
20
Jan
2011
VIDEO: Brett Favre asks “What Should I Do?”
So the big news (at least at ESPN) this week is that Brett Favre officially filed his retirement papers … again. We didn’t just fall off the turnip truck, so although we may have been fooled 2-3 times in the past, we’re simply not buying it this time. Let’s wait until about Week 12 of next season (assuming there is a season), and see if Favre hasn’t yet been tempted to return for one final run at the Super Bowl. Then we’ll talk.
In the mean time, making fun of Favre will be our modus operandi around these parts. Let’s face it, you’ll be getting more than your share of genuine Favre hysterics/worship elsewhere over the next 6 months. And fortunately for us, someone went out and made this parody of the famous LeBron James “What Should I Do?” Nike commercial, featuring a pretty good Favre doppelganger. It covers all the basics, from dong shots to the retirement fake-outs, along with this mantra from the ole gunslinger: ”completions are way more awesome when you force ‘em through triple coverage! Remember that!”.
16
Dec
2010
VIDEO: Michael Vick spoofs The Office in “The Showroom”
Eagles QB Michael Vick is already the comeback story of the 2010 NFL season, and now it looks like he’s mounting his comeback on Madison Avenue. This is Vick’s first commercial since his release from prison almost two years ago … and it’s nice to see that Mike held out for the right, big-time endorsement deal that could help rebuild his image. Yep, it’s Woodbury Nissan in beautiful Woodbury, NJ (located in the Philly suburbs)!
The ad itself is a pretty decent spoof of “The Office”, with Vick as the newest member of the car dealership’s staff … so there’s a subtle tip of the cap to Terry Tate, “office linebacker“ in there as well. And although the dealership’s GM was initially hesitant about casting a former dog murderer in the spot, so far the response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive.
Watch for yourself, and be on the lookout for a DeSean Jackson cameo:
Too bad they couldn’t get Tashard Choice to come in and ask for an autograph, huh? Oh, and although decent, this video still isn’t nearly as good as the Office spoof the Kansas City Chiefs did last year.
For what it’s worth, USA Today reports that Vick wasn’t paid for the gig, but “he does get the free use of a customized Nissan Armada worth $54,000″.
17
Aug
2010
VIDEO: Vitamin Water gets weird with Gary Busey, Adrian Peterson & Shaq
Here’s the latest commercial from the ad wizards at Vitmain Water, featuring everyone’s favorite nutbar, Gary Busey, as Fantasy Football Attorney Norman Tugwater.
Adrian Peterson and Shaquille O’Neal are in there too … words don’t really do it justice, so just watch for yourselves:
I just can’t help but enjoy anything with Busey in it … he’s so fascinating to watch, and you know he could go postal at any moment. Fortunately, the director on this ad did a superb job of capturing Busey’s bubbling insanity in all it’s natural glory.
Of course, I’m not sure what any of this has to do with energy drinks, but its still good stuff.
1
Jun
2010
VIDEO: Dennis Hopper, Crazed Referee
As we all know by now, one of the great actors of our generation, Dennis Hopper passed away over the weekend due to complications from prostate cancer. He was 74 years old, and Hollywood isn’t likely to see another talent of his kind any time soon.
Best known for his roles in Easy Rider, Blue Velvet, Apocalypse Now, and Hoosiers, Hopper also made his mark on the NFL with a series of Nike Commercials in the mid-90′s, playing the role of the “Crazed Referee”. The Bruce Smith commercial above might be the most iconic of the series, but do you remember this classic with Sterling Sharpe?
“Choo-Choo! Choo-Choo Baby!”
2
Feb
2010
It’s Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawny Polamalu saw his sha … GAAAHHH! KILL IT! KILL IT!!! (video)
This is apparently an ad which is set to air during the Super Bowl on Sunday, promoting TruTV’s new series, NFL Full Contact. And while the idea of “six more weeks of football” seems like a fantastic idea on the surface, I gotta say, this image of a freaky miniature Troy Polamalu scares the ever-loving crap out of me. Watch at your own risk:
And with that, Polamalu has officially become my least favorite NFL pitch man of all time. Between this and those awful Head & Shoulders commercials, I’d be cool with never seeing ol’ Troy in an advertisement ever again.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to undergo some hypnotherapy to try and drive that image out of my brain forever.
4
Nov
2009
San Diego loves it when Raiders fans come to town
This commercial from King Stahlman Bail Bonds ran last week in the San Diego area, in anticipation of the Chargers home game on Sunday against the hated Oakland Raiders. And it probably encapsulates how many communities feel when Tom Cable and Raider Nation comes-a-callin’.
