The second round of Packers QB Aaron Rodgers' "public affairs commercials sponsored by Gruber Law Offices during the current NFL season has hit the airwaves," this time supporting Milwaukee-based nonprofit charity
IndependenceFirst, according to Rich Kirchen of the MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL. The video, which debuted last night, shows Rodgers visiting "with a 13-year-old girl named Kelly who has spina bifida and has used the services of IndependenceFirst." The TV spots, digital billboards and other media "promote a link to longer-format videos." Like previous commercials in the campaign, Rodgers "surprises a young person and then visits with him or her and learns more about how the young person has been helped by a nonprofit" (
BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/4). Rodgers' new ad for State Farm debuted last night during ESPN's Bears-Packers "MNF" telecast. In Milwaukee, Don Walker noted the ad, "called 'State of Turbulence II,' gets a little strange as Rodgers becomes a 'Super Fan'" (
JSONLINE.com, 11/4).
ROCK AND A 'HARB' PLACE: In S.F., Eric Branch notes 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who "plays the role of an unhinged pee-wee football coach" in a Visa commercial airing this season, last week was "part of a Visa promotion to bring the ad to life" at Townsend Field in Santa Clara, Calif. Harbaugh "led a 45-minute clinic for about 50 youth football players from Santa Clara at the team’s facility" during the 49ers' bye week on Wednesday. Harbaugh as part of his deal with Visa "had to perform what, for him, was a rather odious task before the clinic: two hours of interviews with local and national media." Part of the clinic itself also "was open to the media." Harbaugh during the clinic "was engaged, but was the antithesis of the slightly crazed coach in the commercial" (SFGATE.com, 11/4).
