Creative > Ad of the Day

Ad of the Day

Subway "Phelps"

Brand: Subway Restaurants
Agency: MMB
Review Date: July 06, 2009

It was the bong hit heard around the world. When a picture surfaced showing U.S. swimming sensation Michael Phelps smoking marijuana endorsers like Kellogg's quickly dropped him. Subway, however, accepted Phelps' apology and in his debut spot for the sandwich chain, the Olympian thanks the chain back. You can almost hear all the blunts lighting up in support as Sly & The Family Stone's  "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" kicks in. The spot features a play-by-play comparison of the multiple-gold-medal winner's day and that of Subway's familiar pitchman Jared Fogle. One swims and the other feeds his fish, but they both end up at Subway, enjoying their favorite customized sandwiches. "You can always be yourself at Subway," promises the voiceover. While it's been months since talk of Phelps' marijuana use ignited the tabloids, the smoke from that public relations flame-out still smolders. Instead of pretending the fiasco never happened, Subway smartly (and subtly) turns it into a nonjudgmental message of individuality -- and it works.--Eleftheria Parpis
 

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Overall rating:
(2.62 ) Good

24 Comments
  • 1. COPYWRITER comments:
    September 08, 2009

    As bad as their food.


  • 2. JimY comments:
    August 11, 2009

    Sure they aren't saying "Thank U For letting me Be Mike Phelps Again"?


  • 3. 5 foot comments:
    July 16, 2009

    There are many agencies like this. Complete failures in the business as they have no experience at building brands. They are failed political hacks that were part of the reason their previous agencies failed. I see this spot and I think how sad their lives are now.


  • 4. HermesTM comments:
    July 14, 2009

    Heading for Subway now. Better for you than Pop-Tarts.


  • 5. Subgay comments:
    July 13, 2009

    Viewing commercials likes this makes me really want to take a job on Wall Street. It's just that bad.


  • 6. doodle comments:
    July 13, 2009

    Not bad.. Come on how much could you possibly do with Phelps and Jared-nerd..??


  • 7. hungry comments:
    July 13, 2009

    one of the best commercials I've ever watched. makes me want to buy more subs at Subway


  • 8. Oh man comments:
    July 10, 2009

    This is bad and it must have cost the client a lot for that pot head Phelps.


  • 9. Larry comments:
    July 10, 2009

    Almost as bad as the Subway television spot with the Mets and Yankee players.


  • 10. Spector comments:
    July 09, 2009

    They could have played it up a lot more and made it really, really funny. Even had they used more green in the shots it would have worked. I guess smoking makes you swim faster and win more gold medals than any athlete in history. How awful. Well, time for a nice footlong subway, or maybe even a nice footlong Roor....


  • 11. Cronin comments:
    July 09, 2009

    This is the agency where once talented Jerry Cronin ended up? He probably did that Met's Yankees Subway baseball promo spot. Sucks my footlong.


  • 12. AdGab comments:
    July 09, 2009

    Better than the "real-life" $5-foot-long singers. At least this one isn't annoying.


  • 13. What? comments:
    July 09, 2009

    This should be listed in a new Adweek commercial column called Badweek. It's the worst. Wait, the new NY baseball player spot is worse, so this is just awful.


  • 14. AdGuy comments:
    July 09, 2009

    Better than the $5 Footlong songs?


  • 15. AP comments:
    July 09, 2009

    Yes, MMB.


  • 16. MMB? comments:
    July 08, 2009

    What agency is this? Is it a DR agency? Must be a DR agency, because this is the worst commercial of the year. Why is it in SadWeek's "Ad Of The Day" list? Paid placement most likely. It's terrible.


  • 17. DK comments:
    July 08, 2009

    Looks just like the spot they did with the football player. And by that I mean terrible.


  • 18. buttboob comments:
    July 07, 2009

    famous athletes/entertainers get caught with marijuana all the time and after a suspension/rehab it is like it never happened. just think about josh howard admitting he smokes up all the time, 8 months later he's starting in the playoffs and no one cares


  • 19. F-H14 comments:
    July 07, 2009

    Just fantastic.


  • 20. Barack Obonga comments:
    July 07, 2009

    4:20 eat subway every day


  • 21. Cheech & Chong comments:
    July 07, 2009

    hey wow man, every time i get high i keep singing that dam* jingle man ,,,,FIVE,,,,FIVE,,,,Five dollar foot lonnnnnggggggggggg. oh wow man.


  • 22. Toke comments:
    July 07, 2009

    Great pro spot cannibis.


  • 23. TYC comments:
    July 07, 2009

    Good. It's about time we drop the faux morality about cannabis.


  • 24. VIPelle comments:
    July 07, 2009

    I can almost taste a new wave of tolerance in the U.S.


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