NBA Superstars are in a March Madness Frenzy

This spot for Capital One credit cards is titled “Bracket Buddy.” It features Samuel Jackson, Spike Lee and Charles Barkley check into a hotel. Sir Charles is seen carrying a parrot named Larry “Bird” who will guide his bracket through the March Madness tournament. Larry the bird also serves as Sir Charles’s good luck charm. What is supposed to make the spot really funny is that a few seconds later the real “Larry Bird” walks in with a good luck parrot named Charles Barkley. All three superstars laugh at the irony of the whole situation.

Missing Superstar

The whole thing is funny but I think it would have been even funnier with Ervin “Magic” Johnson. Let me explain why. Magic actually had an ongoing rivalry with Larry Bird in college and in the pros. Therefore, a superstitious rivalry in the commercial would be viewed as a continuation of their story only in a comic way. They could have even made their pets rivals. Each parrot could have supported a different team and their human following their advice. Having banter between the parrots would have also added to the comedy in the spot.

The Agency

The agency behind the spot is DDB. And apparently, the agency has created several sports-related spots for Capital One, their main client. The agency has used the idea of superstitions in several commercials for Capital One.

Basball

Here is a creative execution where baseball is the focus of the commercial. Also, remember superstition is still a central theme in the spot.

Conclusion

Capital One and their agency are certainly successful at being funny. What I don’t think they were successful at, is getting more sign-ups to their cards. What do you guys think out there on the Interwebs? I had an old professor that used to say, “An ad can be funny but if it does not sell the product, it isn’t successful.