On October 15th, Stephen Colbert and his team of mayo-defenders took a few minutes to lambaste a campaign for Miracle Whip, created by McGarryBowen. The tête of the tête à tête plays out in the video below.
In it Colbert takes to the campaign to task for alleging that Miracle Whip makes you cool, especially if you’re an otherwise uncool teen. Not a company to back down from a food fight (har har), Miracle Whip, via McGB (we’re pretty sure), pushed back.
The agency placed this ad in a bunch of newspapers today, which says things like; “Mr. Colbert, we found your attacks a little harsh, occasionally funny, and at times wholly inaccurate (for the record, our target is 18-35, not 34). But unlike most advertisers who are so mayo, who would back down at the slightest whiff of controversy, and pull their advertising from not just your show but from your network and all its sister entities — we intend to do the opposite.”
So, what’s it all mean? The evil Miracle Whip empire will strike back using the most powerful tool in the galaxy, the prime-time ad buy. “With every commercial break (ed’s note: tonight, November 12), your viewers will be exposed to hardcore Miracle Whip attitude and revelry. You will see our legion of (as you call them) ‘mayonay-sayers’ snarfing (ed’s note: wtf?) sandwiches…They will be in your face and massively dope…Think about it, Mr. Colbert, in a sense we will own you.”
Indeed they will, and well played, McGB (or whoever you are). As an ever-loving-something-blue-blooded-flannel-wearing-American who loves mayo, Colbert has, at least this time, seemingly been beat. Alas, it’s a win-win, since the show may see some increased ratings and McGB walks away with a great integrated media buy topped with maybe higher-than-average ratings. Hell, we may have to tune in just to see how it plays out.