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It’s becoming harder and harder to stand out in the world of TV promotions and marketing, so making a viewer stop and pay attention to a spot - maybe even laugh out loud - is an impressive feat.
Some of the spots that stood out this year were able to successfully poke fun at themselves or present scenarios so awkward or strange they became instant comedy gold. Personalities like Patton Oswalt and John Oliver channeled other TV characters for their own amusement, while brands like The League and Sharknado 2 recognized why their fans connect with them to begin with and ran with it.
Walter Levitt, CMO of Comedy Central, helped to narrow down this year’s list of spots to 10 of the greatest and knee-slapping funny videos, shared below:
Every Simpsons Ever: FXX Offers Excuses:
Some Simpsons fans needed no prodding or further convincing to tune in to FXX’s marathon of “Every.Simpsons.Ever,” but the network wanted to take no chances.
FXX provided fans with excuses to use in practically any situation (bit by a skunk, assuming the flu is coming, Krusty Pox). The random nature of such excuses is what made viewers watch each video multiple times – did he just say he was bit by a skunk?
Hulu Guru:
“‘Fear’ is just ‘Hero’ spelled backwards…”
The Hulu Guru, introduced this year, offers inaccurate and somewhat random advice, but still remains inspiring for some reason. The Guru returned through a series of spots that alluded to characters found on the Hulu platform during the fall TV season.
“You must turn your own chair around if you want others to do so.”
Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time:
Patton Oswalt, one of the stand-up comedy greats, promoted his special through some classic comedy knowledge mixed in with some True Detective rambling, inspired by Matthew McConaughey’s Rust Cohle.
“Promoting standup specials can be challenging,” said Levitt. “Just seeing someone on stage with a mic isn’t always the most compelling visual. This spot truly captures what happens when you open the aperture and let the comedian’s perspective come through in a totally different setting.”
Last Week Tonight:
Levitt says that John Oliver’s HBO promotion was brilliant in its ability to make fun of itself. In this spot, Oliver fights with his narrator over semantics.
“Take a negative, turn it into a positive, and voila – a hilarious spot that hits all the right notes,” Levitt said. “And the fact that he’s a Daily Show grad makes me love it even more.”
The Return of Coach Lasso:
Jason Sudeikis’ Coach Ted Lasso is back for NBC Sports’ Premier League coverage, and he has gotten absolutely better at coaching soccer.
The six-minute spot re-introducing Lasso has him confused at the word relegated, translating American time to British time, loving tea time and bringing back his car, Mini Bradley Cooper.
The League:
For a show based on fantasy football that really has nothing to do with sports, FXX created a series of football-themed interviews with the cast that really has nothing to do with football for this fall’s new season of The League.
HBO GO - Awkward Family Viewing:
In this series, HBO GO promotes its service through bits and pieces of its programming as viewed by a very awkward and very hilarious family. Levitt called it “laugh-out-loud funny. Simple idea, great script, perfect casting. It does a great job selling the app while never even mentioning any product benefits.”
The spot simply advises fans to get HBO GO so you can watch your shows “far, far away from your parents” – a touching and timely tribute during this holiday season.
Embracing what worked the first time around, and in true Syfy form, the network goes tongue-in-cheek for the return of the deadliest and strangest storm around: The Sharknado.
The video’s New York narrator sums it up: “Got it, genius? It’s a sharknado. If this title alone doesn’t do the trick, then there’s no hope for humanity.”
Even the title of the spot pokes fun at itself: “Sumnado of Sharknado.”
Wilfred Dog Shaming:
Piggybacking on the popular online trend known as dog shaming, FXX enlisted the most shameful dog around for a round of confessions.
It’s just that other puppies’ minor transgressions (I eat pillows, I hid meat in the couch) can’t quite stack up against Wilfred’s (I eviscerated my best friend, I drank way too much last night).
Workaholics Season 4:
Although challenging, Levitt says the fourth season Workaholics campaign is one of his favorites of the year, in part because the cast, whether in bobblehead, dog, 8-bit or puppet form, is up for anything.
“How do you continue to keep a hit franchise fresh in its fourth season? You have fun with it and celebrate the stuff fans love most. And when you have three iconic leads and a setting that’s become instantly recognizable, there’s lots of creative leeway.”
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