Brand Marketing Ad of the Day: Axe Firemen are hot, but astronauts are hotter, says the brand, which plans to send 22 people into spaceBy Emma Bazilian|January 11, 2013 Share By Emma Bazilian|January 11, 2013 Share On the list of sexy male professions, fireman is a perennial top pick. Just ask any male stripper (or the audience at Magic Mike). But according to Axe, the maker of pungent body sprays favored by junior-high boys, there's one hot-dude job that beats all the rest: astronaut. This hierarchy is deftly illustrated in Axe's latest spot from BBH London and Biscuit Filmworks director Tim Godsall, in which a handsome fireman braves a burning building to save the pretty girl trapped within. He removes his fireman's coat, wraps it around the damsel in distress (this initially appears to be a segue into a striptease routine, but alas, it's just an act of kindness) and carries her out of the building. At this point the woman appears suitably love-struck—until, that is, a fully suited astronaut approaches out of nowhere. The damsel immediately abandons her rescuer to go flirt with the man in the big white onesie, because, as Axe informs us, "Nothing beats an astronaut. Ever." So, what's an astronaut doing in an Axe commercial? Oh, just recruiting some people for the Axe Apollo Space Academy. The company this week launched a contest to gather 22 people for a trip to space—"as in, actual space," the brand says, in case you were confused. Axe even managed to get Buzz Aldrin, the legendary astronaut (and probably one of the few you can actually name), to announce the campaign. (A second spot, "Lifeguard," will launch soon and also be tagged with the invitation to space.) Go to this website to apply for the Axe Apollo program between now and Feb. 3 (when Axe will air its first Super Bowl commercial). And hope to god that in space, no one can smell your Axe. CREDITS Client: Axe Agency: BBH, London Client Credits Tomas Marcenaro – Global Brand Director Jim Brennan – Global Brand Manager Michael Coden – Global Assistant Brand Manager BBH Creative Team: Wesley Hawes and Gary McCreadie, Diego Oliveira and Caio Giannella BBH Creative Director: David Kolbusz BBH Producer: Ruben Mercadal BBH Assistant Producer: George Ancock BBH Head of Strategy: Jonathan Bottomley BBH Strategic Business Lead: Ngaio Pardon BBH Strategy Director: Tim Jones BBH Team Director: Tom Murphy BBH Team Manager: Jennifer Omran Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks Director: Tim Godsall Executive Producer: Orlando Wood Producer: Rick Jarjoura DoP: Jess Hall Post Production: Framestore Sound Design: Phaze UK / Raja Sehgal @ Grand Central Studios, London Sound Mixing / Arrangement : Raja Sehgal @ Grand Central Studios, London Music: Human (Los Angeles / New York) Adweek Adweek