TV Commercial Review
weird ad
Pringles brand released its fourth consecutive Big Game spot. Fans were given a SNEAK PEEK via the Pringles social channels, and the brand is now debuting the full spot Pringles Super Bowl 2021.
After last year’s ad featuring the animated duo Rick and Morty, the Pringles 2021 spot further propels viewers into the world of Flavor Stacking, which encourages fans to unlock new flavor combinations by stacking different crisps on top of each other. After tuning in, fans will have a better understanding of the unexpected and hilarious consequences that can ensue when they get too distracted by endless flavor exploration.
The ad, titled “Space Return“, opens with a pair of astronauts who have made a successful water landing and are looking confused when there isn’t a rescue boat to greet them. The spot then cuts to mission control – a team known for genius – so enthralled and consumed by Pringles Flavor Stacking that they forget about their responsibilities. The stacking-fueled hilarity continues when a fishing boat passes by the spacecraft but is also too busy stacking to notice the stranded heroes. Pringles Flavor Stacking presents a galaxy of endless combinations that can be quite… distracting.
“Coming off a huge year for Pringles, with a new look for the brand and the introduction of our new Scorchin’ line, it’s great to bring a taste of Pringles’ fun and unnecessary genius to the Big Game again,” said Gareth Maguire, senior director of marketing for Pringles. “With literally thousands of different Flavor Stacks to experiment with, you can easily get distracted from other responsibilities.”
The Pringles’ spot was brought to life by the Grey Group and will air at the end of the first quarter of the game. The ad also features the recently unveiled new Pringles can design and will be supported by a fully integrated marketing campaign including PR, digital and social media.
While the Big Game will create the flurry of excitement and attention seen in years past, 2021 will look different as more football fans enjoy the game from home. However, nearly 50% of consumers indicated they would be watching the game with close friends and family in 2020, proving 2021 will be just as big of a snacking day as people enjoy the event.
To get in on the stacking action and build the flavors featured in the spot, visit your local retailer and pick-up Pringles Original, Barbecue and Pizza to recreate your own “BBQ Pizza Stack” or Pringles Jalapeno, Cheddar Cheese and Ranch for the “Spicy Cheese Stack.”
This is one of my favorites this year. I’m not bothered by the fact that Pringles is still “stacking” to get my attention. In fact, the lack of novelty in the action itself is almost comforting, like a warm-carbohydrate-high in a year with too many lows to count.
They take us back in time to the warm, fuzzy, legendary triumphs of the Gemini-capsule and insert their most modern, ingenious stacking conglomerations while Leopold Essence of HBO’s the New Pope (J.David Hinze) stacks as Flight Director in Houston. Our hopes are raised that our heroes will be rescued by the passing ship only to commiserate with the space-crew as the Scandinavian ship crew wildly celebrates their own stacking discoveries, oblivious to all else.
Let’s just all stack chips together and try to forget the worst of 2020, at least for a few hours.