Creative > Ad of the Day

Ad of the Day

ESPN "Paul Revere"

Brand: ESPN Cable Sports Network
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Inc.
Review Date: August 24, 2009

ESPN pokes fun at the on-again, off-again retirement plans of Brett Favre, who is attempting a comeback with the Minnesota Vikings. This Wieden + Kennedy spot features SportsCenter anchor Steve Levy admitting he has a hard time keeping track himself and shares the network’s system for staying on top of the Favre news. One after another, employees obviously bored by the routine relay the message, "He's coming back." The chain of information ends with a mascot dressed in a Paul Revere costume holding up two blazing lanterns. Of course, the system doesn’t work. A passing newscaster looks up at the signal and asks his co-worker if one lantern or two means he’s retiring. Not the funniest SportsCenter ad ever, but a timely, amusing one that Favre followers can appreciate. --Eleftheria Parpis

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Overall rating:
(2.89 ) Good

9 Comments
  • 1. Brett Favre comments:
    September 16, 2009

    I hate him.


  • 2. Jessica Critz comments:
    September 08, 2009

    I love the approach of this commercial. It reaches its intended audience in a very fun way. The Bretr Favre topic in the NFL has brought a flood of opinions and controversy. This is a fun way to play with it. It doesn't have to be earth-shattering, world changing. ESPN just wants their ads to be fun, and this ad is just that. And I love the use of the UMass Minuteman!


  • 3. dan comments:
    September 05, 2009

    not to mention yes, this is the same old espn type of ad but still, even when it is not the best theyve done, it still reaches exactly who its aimed too.


  • 4. Dave comments:
    September 03, 2009

    It's alright. Not as good as their other work.


  • 5. hwohlbier comments:
    August 27, 2009

    they should have used Brett Arnold for the mascot.


  • 6. 1990 comments:
    August 27, 2009

    It's so 1990's. Oh, wait I should say, it's still so 1990's.


  • 7. TC comments:
    August 26, 2009

    Amusing? Hardly.


  • 8. RB from MA comments:
    August 26, 2009

    Correct - it definitely is not the most amusing of ESPN's long-time parodies of sport. But c'mon! Get your mascots right! Everyone knows every commercial features some type of mascots - not a guy in a suit that would tie back to the story! Wow - we need a proofreader here!


  • 9. Joshua comments:
    August 25, 2009

    The mascot in this commercial is not just dressed up as Paul Revere. It's Sam the Minuteman, the UMass mascot. You've made the right reference to American history, but Sam is the full time mascot, not just a stunt for the commercial.


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