State Farm and DDB Chicago have released a "gem of a 60-second spot featuring comedy legends" Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon reviving their Hans and Franz "SNL" characters alongside Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, according to Alfred Maskeroni of ADWEEK. In a spot "perfectly synced to the start of the NFL season, they team up" with Rodgers "and repay him for saving them money on insurance" (
ADWEEK.com, 9/4). In Chicago, Lewis Lazare wrote the spot, called "Trainers," is "perhaps the wackiest of any State Farm work Rodgers has done." Hans and Franz "show up at the gym where Rodgers is working out to tell him they want to repay the favor of having their wallets pumped up because of the State Farm 'Discount Double Check' that Rodgers has been promoting." They "help pump up" Rodgers with a "series of increasingly crazy vignettes." The spot will "definitely appeal to those who like their advertising heavy on the cornball stuff," but Rodgers and his "particular style of deadpan charm get a little lost amid all the zaniness around him" (
BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/4). In Milwaukee, Sharif Durhams noted the campaign’s focus is on the "broader general market, while continuing to appeal to the football/sports audience as well" (
JSONLINE.com, 9/4). ESPN's Kevin Negandhi during Thursday's Packers-Seahawks game wrote, "Maybe Rodgers should ask Hanz and Franz if they can block for him" (
TWITTER.com, 9/4).
HEY, ICKEY YOU'RE SO FINE: In Cincinnati, Ben Goldschmidt noted former NFLer Ickey Woods appears in a new
Geico spot that debuted Thursday night in which he performs "the famous Ickey Shuffle" after "learning he is next at the deli counter." Continuing the insurance company's series of "15 minutes could save you 15 percent or more" commercials, the spot asks, "Did you know that former NFL player Ickey Woods will celebrate almost anything?" (
CINCINNATI.com, 9/4). USA TODAY's Chris Chase noted the ad "stole the show" during Thursday's broadcast. Chase: "'Gonna get some cold cuts today' is going to be the new 'discount double-check. ... Though the Super Bowl is five months away, it’s hard to imagine any commercial on that night being better than this one" (
USATODAY.com, 9/4).
