No self-respecting British advertiser wants to be left behind at this time of year, since the run-up to Christmas has become known as the U.K.'s version of the Super Bowl for commercials. And Warburtons, a purveyor of baked goods, might have just surged ahead by enlisting the Muppets for a holiday musical extravaganza.
Agency WCRS London doesn't go the heart-tugging route that so many competitor ads have taken, instead letting the Muppets do what they do best—unleash some joy. There's Kermit, Fozzy, Gonzo, Beaker and the rest of the stable making merry, changing the iconic theme song to fit a new Warburton product—a giant crumpet—and tossing around references to Brit TV hit Coronation Street.
Miss Piggy puts the moves on the brand's top honcho, Jonathan Warburton, and Animal declares that he's "mad" for the new, oversized toasted cake. Statler and Waldorf get the last word, knocking their fellow Muppets' performance and saying they liked the Sylvester Stallone action-flick ad from April better. (That ad, "The Deliverer," was pretty stellar).
The Muppets, who are once again TV stars in the U.S., aren't strangers to the spokescreature role. They've shown up in Toyota ads during the Super Bowl, Lipton and Subway spots, and hybrid Audi/Emmy Awards promos. And there's an ongoing Chevy Volt integration in its current weekly ABC series.
But the Warburtons work is especially true to form, no doubt carefully monitored by Disney, and fairly irresistible. Check it out, and try to figure out the coffee mug Easter egg.