What's up with this M&Ms commercial?
March 3, 2020 9:31 AM Subscribe
OK, last year M&Ms ran an ad during the SuperBowl introducing their new bar, with a commercial starring Christina Applegate. The last few months I've noticed the same commercial, only with a different actress, and I thought I was going nuts. Same script, same footage, same animations, just different actress for no apparent reason. Searches online turned up nothing, which is weird because I figured somebody would have wondered about the switch and mentioned it.
I finally found proof I'm not crazy. I found the commercial in question with the new actress online - except it's in Spanish. I still can't find an English version of this commercial online.
I'm guessing they only paid Applegate for a limited run of the commercial, and are now using a less expensive actress? Does that make sense?
Best answer: Here's the advertisement in English, with the same actress as the Spanish version, Erika Soto
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:30 AM on March 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:30 AM on March 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Crap, hit post too early, but as that article explains, this English version was adapted for the UK. so, it looks like they used Applegate for the rollout for US audiences, and then Soto speaking Spanish and English for South American and UK audiences, respectively. No idea why they stopped using Applegate, but at least there's proof you're not crazy
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:34 AM on March 3, 2020
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:34 AM on March 3, 2020
Celebrities in Super Bowl ads are often hired just for that one airing, plus (very) limited internet rights. This is partly to save the client money, and partly to make it into a more exclusive performance, so they can get higher-marquee celebrities who wouldn't consider doing commercials otherwise. So they could have swapped out Applegate because they were contractually obliged to (and would have shot the other actress at the same time).
The other possibility is something came up about Applegate that made them feel they shouldn't continue associating with her, and this was their solution. But I think that's less likely.
posted by Mchelly at 2:11 PM on March 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
The other possibility is something came up about Applegate that made them feel they shouldn't continue associating with her, and this was their solution. But I think that's less likely.
posted by Mchelly at 2:11 PM on March 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Excellent! Thanks.
Funny that they've used Applegate in Canada for a year, then switched over to Soto, so we got both.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 2:28 PM on March 3, 2020
Funny that they've used Applegate in Canada for a year, then switched over to Soto, so we got both.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 2:28 PM on March 3, 2020
Hired for the Super Bowl promotion, not an extended campaign; the 2018 M&M SB ad starred Danny DeVito.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:33 PM on March 3, 2020
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:33 PM on March 3, 2020
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posted by vacapinta at 9:42 AM on March 3, 2020 [2 favorites]