Ad of the Day: Old Navy Just Made Its Best TV Commercial in a Long Time

Old Navy had a long and largely fruitful relationship with Crispin Porter + Bogusky. But the retailer seems reinvigorated creatively since splitting from CP+B last summer.

Part of the problem was that the CP+B work was so fully realized—and in such a particular style—that it became limiting. The ads, from the SuperModelquins to the Funnovations, were always recognizable and well crafted, but they became a bit suffocating.

Lately, though, freed from those constraints, Old Navy has done some irresistible commercials. First, Melissa McCarthy hilariously hammed her way through a game-show parody for Black Friday—in an ad by Chandelier in New York and director Roman Coppola.

Now, the same agency and director have teamed up for a spring 2014 spot starring another comic, Debra Wilson, who plays a TSA agent bowled over by a passenger's $19 Old Navy jeans.

Wilson, an original MADtv cast member, is hilarious in the role. And Coppola again displays a deft touch for comedy—and for madcap scenes of pandemonium. As the passengers absurdly flee for the exits in this ad, falling over each other in the process, it recalls one of Coppola's other recent outings—the Windows Phone ad with the melee between Apple and Samsung users at a wedding.

It's helpful for any clothing retailer to have a range of styles, in its clothes and its advertising. And Chandelier is certainly giving Old Navy new looks.

The spot will also run as a :30. A Spanish-language version will star actress Dascha Polanco, aka Daya from Orange Is the New Black.

CREDITS

Client: Old Navy

Agency: Chandelier Creative

Creative Director: Richard Christiansen

Associate Creative Director: Lena Kuffner

Managing Director: Sara Fisher

Art Director: Michael Scanlon

Producer: Jill Andresevic

Production Company: The Director's Bureau

Director: Roman Coppola

Executive Producers: Lisa Margulis, Elizabeth Minzes

Line Producer: Eric Sedorovitz

DP: Matthew Libatique

Editorial: Rock Paper Scissors

Editor: Carlos Arias 

Assistant Editor: Lauren Dellara

Executive Producer:  Eve Kornblum & Carol Lynn Weaver

Head of Production: Justin Kumpata & Angela Dorian

Post Producer: Lisa Barnable & Shada Shariatzadeh

Telecine: Company 3 LA

Colorist: Sean Coleman

Music Supervisor: John Bissell, Mothlight Music

Mixer: Rohan Young at Lime Studios

Assistant Mixer: Jeff Malen

Post Production

Design Studio: Elastic

Art Director: Lisha Tan

Designer(s): Lyn Cho

Producer:  Michelle Machado

Executive Producer:  Jennifer Sofio Hall

VFX Studio: A52

2D VFX Artist(s):  Dan Ellis, Matt Sousa, Gabe Sanchez

Producer:  Michelle Machado

Executive Producer:  Megan Meloth