Here’s a blast from the not-so-distant past: Milana Vayntrub, the actress who became ubiquitous on TV screens across America a few years ago in the role of AT&T employee Lily, is back with the brand in a pair of spots.
Still in her signature blue button-up, Lily is now, like many of us, working from home instead of an AT&T branch. In one of the ads, she’s seen talking up 5G and pondering the current sourdough bread obsession.
Despite her three-year hiatus from AT&T’s advertising, it doesn’t appear as though Lily’s quirky sense of humor has gone anywhere. In another spot, she plugs AT&T’s iPhone 11 discount before sharing her penchant for putting googly eyes on inanimate objects around her house—a topic that feels oddly familiar to SNL fans.
The ads, which are running on TV and online, were created in partnership with BBDO Los Angeles and Critical Mass. According to AT&T, Vayntrub, with the help of her boyfriend—who is an architect, not a director in real life—shot and produced the spots from home.
While she hasn’t been a fixture in AT&T’s marketing in recent years, Vayntrub starred in more than 40 spots for the brand between 2013 and 2017. In 2016, she was featured on the cover of Adweek’s Creative 100 issue.
She’s also done far more than taking on the role of a brand spokesperson throughout her career. In addition to creating a documentary called “Milana Can’t Do Nothing” about Syrian refugees, Vayntrub has also directed commercials for Cracker Barrel’s macaroni and cheese and starred in the Netflix series “Love.”
Recently, Vayntrub—who’s an Upright Citizens Brigade veteran—dropped a video sketch with fellow comedian Akilah Hughes about the “joy of having a mutual enemy” at the office. The video is part of their Comedy Central series “Making Fun with Akilah and Milana.”
CREDITS:
Agency: BBDO, Critical Mass, Hearts & Science
Client: AT&T
AT&T:
SVP, Advertising and Marketing Communication: Valarie Vargas
VP, Advertising and Social Media: Marc Burns
Director, Advertising: Dave Brown
Lead Manager, Advertising: Taylor Laughlin
Senior Manager, Advertising: Carter Crenshaw
Senior Manager, Advertising: Aaron Schwartz
Director, Diversity Advertising: Mariel Llenza
AVP, Digital Strategy and Performance: Melissa Smith
Digital Marketing Director: Masha Gaidouk
Lead Digital Marketing Manager: Tracy Threlkeld
BBDO:
Chief Creative Officer, Worldwide: David Lubars
Chief Creative Officer, Omnicom for AT&T: Matt MacDonald
Executive Creative Director: David Povill
Executive Creative Director: David Cuccinello
Creative Director: Eli Terry
Creative Director: Wendy Leicht
Creative Director: Cooper Olson
Copywriter: Ally Farrish
Art Director: Kory Brocious
Group Executive Producer: Julie Collins
Executive Producer: Andrew Tucci
Managing Director: Rachel Nairn
Account Lead AT&T: Stacia Parseghain
Senior Director: Laura Perrizo
Senior Director: Shane Chastang
Account Director: Andrea Bass
Account Director: Allie Knill
Account Executive: Claire Sommer
Head of Strategy: Tim Millar
Communications Planning Director: Mac Russell
Planning Director: Alex Morrison
Planning Director: Reza Rostampisheh
Communications Planner: Kristen Farnam
Director of Project Management: Colin Vidika
Project Manager: Kelli Szymczak
Critical Mass:
VP, Executive Creative Director: Frank Dattalo
Creative Director: Christiaan Welzel
Associate Creative Director: Kathryn Whiteside
Associate Creative Director: Eric Jorgensen
Art Director: Cam Benedict
Copywriter: Chantal Miyagishima
Designer: Taylor Lumley
Senior Producer: Sydney Woodman
EVP, Client Partner: Lisa Zandy
VP, Client Partner: Heather Livengood
Account Director: Austin Tatum
Senior Account Manager: Jack Rosenberg
Account Coordinator: Crystal Ling
VP, Group Strategy Director: Jared Folkmann
Strategist: Kelsey Chudiak
Program Director: Laurie Ma
Senior Project Manager: Sarah Dinham
Project Manager: Lina Barbon
Project Manager: Melissa Cavaliere
Hearts & Science:
President Hearts & BBDO: Ralph Pardo
Managing Executive Director: Mike Venables
Executive Director, AT&T Consumer Media: Shanae Johnson
Executive Director, Digital Strategy: Theresa Fromm
Senior Director, Strategy: Adam Block
Senior Director, Strategy: Brian Diamond
Senior Director, Strategy: Christiana Messina
Senior Director, Digital Strategy: Denise Marchitto
Director Video, Strategy: Andres Torrente
Associate Director: Jeff Fisher
Production Partners:
Production Company: Hungry Man
Director: Milana Vayntrub
DP: Corey Walter
Executive Producer: Mino Jarjoura
Line Producer: Josh Goldstein
Editorial: Cut & Run Edit
Editor: Frank Effron
Executive Producer: Amburr Farls
Producer: Jared Thomas & Scott Lilly
Telecine Company: Framestore
Telecine Artist: Beau Leon
Conform/Finish Company: Jogger
Head of Production/Executive Producer: Diana Cheng
Lead Flame Artist: Andy Brown
Audio Finishing: Lime
Executive Producer: Susie Boyajan
Mixer: Zac Fisher
Graphics: LVLY
Executive Producer: Bryce Edwards
Music Company: SOUTH
Chief Creative Director: Dan Pritikin
