The Office broadcast its last episode more than a decade ago. But its satirical take on white-collar humor continues to inform marketing and culture.

Which brings us to the :90 below from Italian coffee brand Lavazza. Set to “Que Sera, Sera,” the scenario stars Luigi the corporate robot.

Luigi serves coffee. And he yearns to try a cup, to see what all the fuss is about.

Once he imbibes, well … stuff happens. Amusing stuff. Kinda trippy. Not super HAHA, but worth a watch and well realized.

Steve Carell and John Krasinski, who anchored the U.S. version of The Office, show up near the end.

We’re sure that’s just coffee? Better stick to lithium-ion stimulation, robo-dude.

Funny thing is, if The Office ever makes a comeback, it would surely deal with AI and such. Which makes Lavazza’s approach feel in step with the times and true to the tone of the series. (Dwight would’ve bonded with the bot. He was such a tinpot dictator.)

Developed with VML Italy, the Lavazza initiative launches this week. Look for more installments soon.

The post Carell, Krasinski Star With an Office Robot for Lavazza first appeared on Muse by Clios.

What’s making such a racket on the roof!? Is San Francisco 49ers tight-end George Kittle and his famously flowing locks up there?

George makes a diverting DirecTV pitch via TBWA\Chiat\Day L.A.—sporting a chrome-dome with silky, shaggy sides—to trumpet the service’s dish-free options for NFL and college football.

“George was really kind and fun to work with,” recalls agency senior art director Laurie Dickey. “He easily leaned into the role and hammed it up. His personality naturally lent itself to the dramatic poses and silliness we were looking for.”

He looks kind of like Fabio. An oddly balding Fabio. You rock, DTV!

“After the shoot, he was going out in Nashville, and asked if he could keep the look on,” adds senior copywriter Lex Singer. “But the makeup artist said it would be a nightmare for him to take off by himself. So he opted not to wear it out on the town.”

Maybe next time, Big Guy.

The push follows DTV ads with Deion Sanders, Henry Winkler and Steve Buscemi voicing pigeons, plus a baseball-themed outing with MLB Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.

Those are fun. But Kittle’s commercial scores equally well, with ArtClass director Vince Peone displaying a keen eye for hirsute absurdity.

The post NFL’s George Kittle Rocks a New Hairdo for DirecTV first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Beetlejuice runs a used-car dealership now. That beats the icy clutch of the grave. Probably.

The Martin Agency’s new :90 for CarMax deftly ties in with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the highly-anticipated sequel that opens on Sept. 6.

It’s dripping in spooky-campy atmosphere, with nods to Tim Burton’s beloved 1988 classic—including a spoofy “Day-O” song. (“We can’t give you CarMax piece of mind. But we’ll give you an actual piece of mind.” Heh.)

Directed in superbly silly style by commercial ace Ulf Johansson, it’s entertaining for hardcore fans and newbies alike.

Actually, we’ve encountered worse car salesmen. Juicy seems less pushy. Say “CarMax” three times. That should boost the brand proposition.

“Beetlejuice is among Warner Bros. most beloved franchises and continues to be sought out by audiences of all ages,” says Dana Nussbaum, EVP of worldwide marketing for the studio. “Theatrical partnerships with brands like CarMax and their BeetleMax campaign are exciting because they allow us to extend the cinematic world for moviegoers and offer an enhanced entertainment experience.”

Both brand and agency view the campaign as an extension of the franchise and strove for authentic connections.

“We even shot on the same studio lot as the new film,” Martin creative director Lindsey King tells Muse. “The model town in our teaser film and seen within the main spot was a 30ft x 30ft replica of the Beetlejuice model town, including the iconic Beetlejuice house, even though you only see a small portion of it.”

What’s more, Neal Scanlan, Tim Burton’s “head of creatures,” worked with the team “to oversee the removing of a Shrinker’s head featured in our spot, to maintain character consistency,” Martin says.

“The snake-man character is the same actor as the one in the new film, because he is the only one who can fit the costume. We really wanted to honor the film and get fans excited.”

The post Would You Buy a Used Car From Beetlejuice? first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Here are some trailers that caught our eye this week…

Azrael
IFC Films
Trailer Agency: AV Squad

Are you in the market for a new cult classic from director E.L. Katz (Cheap Thrills)? The trailer hypes a disturbing, action-packed tale of a silent, devout community on the hunt for an escapee (Samara Weaving from Ready or Not). Experience it in theaters on Sept. 27.

Outlast, Season 2
Netflix
Trailer Agency: Open Road

Who can last until the very end? Season 2 of the reality survival series transports us to the bitter, brutal Alaskan wilderness where new contestants must work together to win $1 million. Watch the first episode on Sept. 4.

The Piano Lesson
Netflix
Trailer Agency: AV Squad

Set in 1930s Pittsburgh, we follow a family through the emotional aftermath of an explosion that destroys their beloved piano. Based on August Wilson’s play, the drama arrives on Nov. 22.

Secret Level
Prime Video
Trailer Agency: TRANSIT

Gamers, this one’s for you! From the creative team of Love Death + Robots, the animated series for adults tells 15 original stories inspired by video games. Go to the next level on Dec. 10.

Y2K
A24
Trailer Agency: Grandson Creative

A horror-comedy from Kyle Mooney (SNL) in his directorial debut. A teenage New Year’s party in 1999 goes very wrong. Keep an eye out for this one on Dec. 6.

The post Trailers of the Week: Secret Level, Outlast, The Piano Lesson first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Everyone can agree that Sundays come to a halt for NFL action … especially the mascots! And for the most part, they all get along. Well, maybe not the falcon and cardinal. YouTube TV created “The Magic of Sunday” in-house, with sweet visual effects provided by The Mill.

The work promotes NFL Sunday Ticket, where fans can watch their fave teams on a single platform. In that spirit, the spot gets the mascots together, under one roof, to peep some games.

We get a ram, lion, bear, falcon, jaguar, cardinal, giant, cowboy, buccaneer and Viking. (Wouldn’t wanna clean up the room after that.)

Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., the ad is set to the soft sound of Velvet Underground’s “Sunday Morning.” It’s Muse’s Ad of the Week!

Meanwhile, the NFL itself and 72AndSunny launched “Football Country,” full of cameos from players and other celebs. There’s high school athletes, flag football star Makena Cook, YouTube content creator Deestroying—and Haley Van Voorhis, the first woman to play a position other than kicker in an NCAA gridiron game. Stefon Diggs, Myles Garrett, DeMarcus Lawrence, plus Jason and Kylie Kelce rep the league.

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Finally, If you’re a betting person, DraftKings’ NFL ad has Kevin Hart and LeBron James. Hart roasts James’ age when he believes James wants to suit up for the NFL. “They want someone that can run a 40, not someone that IS 40.” “How are you gonna celebrate a win? You gonna give everyone butterscotch candy?” LeBron laughed, and we did, too.

The post YouTube, NFL and DraftKings Get Ready for Some Football first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Back in the day—say, from 1975 until the early-’90s—sunny, happy commercials with jaunty jingles were all too common across our great nation’s analog TVs.

Irony didn’t enter into it. This was simply the stylistic lingua franca of the times. Breakfast cereals provided particularly fertile ground for such excursions.

Which brings us to Dentsu Creative’s latest work for Totino’s pizza rolls.

Here, self-conscious irony emerges from the oven piping hot. Spots drip with faux-happy imagery and touches of strange, employing comic-book absurdity to cast Totino’s as “Wakey Wakey” A.M. food for teens.

Check out the mutant freezer arm, mom’s pizza-roll mustache, a malevolent rising sun and more:

Such inspired stupidity’s the way to start the day!

The boffo-banal theme song—”Their tasty and they’re great. Check out the morning news update!”—seals the deal.

Nostalgia’s always in. Just ask McDonald’s. But Totino’s transcends the throwback trend. This stuff evokes Reagan-Bush era tropes, then amps up the silliness while maintaining a firm brand focus throughout. Plus, the wacky approach works even if you’re too young to recall commercials of yore.

Well played, saucy morsels!

Now, keep Mr. Sun the hell away from me. Mom, too…

The post Totino’s Rolls With Throwback Breakfast Ad Spoofs. Things Get Silly first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Here are some trailers that caught our eye this week…

Adam Sandler: Love You
Netflix
Trailer Agency: GrandSon Creative

Adam Sandler is back with a new comedy special. As always, Adam delivers observations humor with a potent touch of strange. Laugh it up on Aug. 27.

The Monkey
NEON
Trailer Agency: AV Squad

Horror maestro Stephen King provided the story. Set to the tune of eerie circus music, the teaser announces Osgood Perkins and James Wan spearheading an unsettling tale starring Theo James. Hits theaters in February.

Only Murders in the Building, Season 4
Hulu
Trailer Agency: Create

Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short return. They move across the country in the midst of … wait for it … another murder! Watch the first episode on Aug. 27.

Presence
NEON

Trailer Agency: Grandson Creative

From director Steven Soderbergh and writer David Koepp. An eerie buzz sets the tone, but you won’t want to hum along. Find out more in January.

Skeleton Crew
Disney+
Trailer Agency: TRANSIT

This fresh entry in the Star Wars saga follows a group of kids who experience galactic adventure and intrigue. The first of six episodes drops on Dec. 3.

The post Trailers of the Week: The Monkey, Presence, Skeleton Crew first appeared on Muse by Clios.

The dream team you didn’t know you needed just dropped a collaboration that’s pure marketing magic. Ms. Rachel, the queen of toddler tunes, has partnered with the iconic, giggle-inducing Elmo for a new series. This dynamic duo is launching the first of three music videos, perfectly timed for the back-to-school season.

Reviving a Classic

To kick off the series, the first release offers an updated spin on the classic “This is the Way” melody. This refreshed version takes viewers on a cheerful, animated journey through the morning routine of getting ready for school.

Cuteness Overload

Just when you think it couldn’t get any cuter, our musical friends treat viewers to a sweet bus-stop goodbye. The moment is complete with a big Elmo hug and Ms. Rachel wishing all the little ones a fantastic day at school. Cue the collective “aww!”

The full episode is packed with over 60 minutes of energetic and educational moments, making it perfect for toddlers. Following this, two more videos drop, featuring Ms. Rachel alongside other beloved characters from the Sesame Street universe, including Cookie Monster and Abby.

Fan Frenzy

Parents, kids and Muppet fans of all ages were clearly thrilled about the launch. This excitement is no surprise, given that both Elmo and Ms. Rachel are big deals. On Instagram alone, they have a combined following of more than 3 million.

As expected, love has been pouring in from all corners of the internet in response to this viral-worthy partnership. Brands from Merriam-Webster to LeapFrog have jumped in, with some even claiming that this collaboration is bigger than Deadpool and Wolverine. Ouch, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

It’s worth noting that nearly 330,000 viewers flocked to the launch video within the first four hours of its release.

Sesame Street’s Winning Streak

For marketers, this collaboration is a textbook example of how to drive engagement and loyalty through thoughtful partnerships. By aligning the beloved characters of Elmo and Ms. Rachel, Sesame Street not only expanded its reach but also deepened the emotional connection with its existing fanbase.

This isn’t the first time that the “sunny days” brand has hit a home run by leveraging one of its popular characters. In 2023, the Count teamed up with NerdWallet to make numbers a little less scary.

Ultimately, this latest collaboration feels authentic, with both Sesame Street and Ms. Rachel maintaining their core values while delivering a unified message that resonates with parents and children alike.

When it comes to marketing, even child’s play can be pure genius.

The post Elmo, Ms. Rachel and the Back-to-School Series Taking Social Media by Storm first appeared on Muse by Clios.

They play a high-stakes poker game with some twisty wordplay. “They say a man’s poker face is not his real face, but a face he uses to hide the face that he’s afraid to face,” Victoria purrs at one point.

LeBron’s suitably suave. And he shows off his physical comedy chops in a cute bit with the waiter.

He likes his limes “sliced, not squeezed.” Heh.

Just call him LeBond. Then again, don’t.

In 1962, Dr. No famously introduced Sean Connery’s 007 in a ritzy gambling scene. And then there’s Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale. This tribute puts a slick modern spin on such classic tropes.

“We approached this campaign with the intention of creating something entertaining, but also culturally relevant,” says Diego Osorio, Lobos founder and CCO. “Working with LeBron James and Victoria Justice was incredible, and I loved how they truly embodied their characters.” (Osorio himself embodies the part of the bartender.)

Oh, and everyone keeps their pants on. Unlike some tequila touters we could name.

Mssngpeces’ Marta Cunningham directed the :90, developed with Rosewood Creative.

The post LeBron James Spoofs 007 Flicks for Lobos 1707 Tequila first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Tori Spelling ditches her stabby letter opener and unwinds at the beach with Kristin Cavallari in a pleasingly self-aware turn for Kind Bars.

Spelling’s antics and travails are getting lots of media play these days, so interest in this back-to-school campaign is running high.

Here, the former Beverly Hills, 90210 star seems to enjoy sending up her flaky persona. Touches like a graduation cap and CGI eye-twinkle are worth the price of admission.

Cavallari rocks, too, at one point taking a wicked frisbee shot to the face. This naturally triggers a flashback, complete with auto-tuned ambiance. Later, in a nod to her role on Laguna Beach, she moans “The car is dunzo!” when her engine overheats.

This approach works because the talent are so clearly in on the joke. They’re moms now, pining for their carefree past, much like a significant portion of the target audience. This makes the pitch feel fun and relatable. Smart, Tori. You go to the head of the class.

“Parents tell us all the time how stressful the back-to-school season is,” says Kind CMO Osher Hoberman. “Finding a school-friendly snack kids love, and that parents feel good about packing in their kids’ lunchboxes, should not be hard.”

With that in mind, the brand hopes its new Kind Kid bars “make back-to-school season and all future snack planning easier—not to mention more delicious and nutritious.”

Chess Club Films’ Alex Gorosh directs with a deft comic touch.

As for that scene with Cavallari in an uncooperative Isuzu truck, “Kristin hadn’t recreated the moment for her TikTok yet, so it was great to go down memory lane,” Kind senior director of integrated communications Suejin Kim tells Muse.

She promises behind-the-scenes footage soon. So we’re not dunzo after all.

Other rad millennial plays in a similar vein include a return to The O.C. with 21Seeds (and Rachel Bilson!), along with various ads from Paris Hilton, who always brings the sardonic hotness.

The post Tori Spelling, Kristin Cavallari Hit the Beach for Kind Snacks first appeared on Muse by Clios.