We catch Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love and NBA commentator Mike Breen in medias res, driving through some nondescript green chunk of Basketballville in the latest NBA on ESPN RV spot from W+K New York. With Breen’s steady hand at the wheel, Love turns to the passenger side window and notices a large billboard featuring his sultry face and a phone hotline called The Love Dial. They drive a bit farther and pass a second billboard. Love has no idea who’s behind this, so like any great detective, he decides to call the number. Another man picks up – it’s Love’s teammate/on-court soulmate Ricky Rubio, moonlighting as a sex-hotline entrepreneur in a dingy room that also has a video camera set-up to film something. I guess there isn’t much to do in Minnesota.
“Billboard” may not be as funny as a few of the more recent RV spots ESPN uses to promote its NBA coverage, but the clip has some edgy subject matter compared to the usually benign hijinks. The network probably won’t push the envelope any more than this, but this 30-second ad is an interesting sidestep in the NBA on ESPN commercial canon. Credits after the jump.
Creative Directors Brandon Henderson / Stuart Jennings/Gary Van Dzura
Copywriter Scott Mahoney
Art Director Craig Evans/Dan Oliva
Executive Producer Temma Shoaf
Producer Luiza Naritomi
Account Team Brandon Pracht /Casey Bernard/ Brian Racis/ Jonathan Chu
Executive Creative Directors Ian Reichenthal/Scott Vitrone
Head of Content Production Lora Schulson
PRODUCTION
Production Company O Positive
Director David Shane
Executive Producers Marc Grill
Line Producer Ken Licata
Director of Photography Marc Laliberte Else
EDITORIAL
Editorial Company Mackenzie Cutller
Editor Dave Anderson
Post Producer Evan Meeker
Post Executive Producer Sasha Hirschfeld
VFX Company The Mill/Scmigital
Flame Artist Bruno Delacalva/ Jimmy Hayhow
VFX Producer Juan Handal
Mix Company Heard City
Mixer Cory Melious