LOS ANGELES, (October 5, 2009) – A nutty new national advertising campaign, launching today, is challenging Americans to pick up their pistachios and “Get Crackin.'” The $15 million Wonderful Pistachios campaign is the first campaign for the category and features eight celebrity figures demonstrating how they crack open a pistachio, each in their own unique, light-hearted way, through a series of commercials airing on national prime-time programming.
Featured celebrities include Olympic swimmer and record-setting medalist Dara Torres; Brady Bunch alum Christopher Knight and America’s Next Top Model wife Adrianne Curry; Jackass prankster Wee-Man; The Sopranos actor Vincent Pastore; former Miss South Carolina Teen USA Lauren Caitlin Upton; the Denny quintuplets; father of Sarah Palin’s grandchild, Levi Johnston; and a real-life dominatrix. The commercials will air on top-rated shows including Monday Night Football, Saturday Night Live and The Office.
“We want to remind America, in a light-hearted way, that pistachios are a unique, fun and healthy snack,” said Dominic Engels, vice president of global marketing, Paramount Farms, producer of Wonderful Pistachios. “The experience of cracking open a pistachio is unlike any other and we’re using a humorous, tongue-in-cheek approach, and a wide range of celebrity figures, to remind people of that. We feel confident that our irreverent approach will help break through the marketing clutter and make people feel good about pistachios.”
The series of eight “Get Crackin'” commercials feature:
- Now, Levi Johnston Does it with Protection. As Levi and his bodyguard Tank make a Hollywood-style entrance complete with paparazzi, Tank assesses the situation and surroundings. Tank then motions for Levi that it’s safe for him to do his thing – crack open a pistachio and flash the cameras a winning smile.
- Mobsters Do it with Muscle. Vincent Pastore plays the mobster part like a virtuoso. Decked in a sweat suit and popping his knuckles, he cracks his pistachio open by slamming the head of a thug on a table.
- Newlyweds Do it Five Times a Day. Chris Knight and Adrianne Curry are caught on an electric green chaise in a post-coital embrace with nothing on but a bed sheet and a smile. As they giggle in newlywed bliss, he lovingly cracks open pistachios and feeds her.
- Dara Torres Does it in Record Time. Approaching the starting block like an Olympic pro, Dara steps up to the edge to reveal not only her green toes, but a beautiful pistachio. When the buzzer rings, she picks up the pistachio and cracks it. . . in record time, of course.
- Beauty Queens Do it Without a Clue. Lauren Caitlin Upton is resplendent in all her pageant glory, complete with a “Miss Wonderful” sash across her shoulder. She answers the question in a comically nonsensical way – and with a wink – that shows she’s not just poking fun at herself, she’s enjoying her pistachio.
- Wee-Man does it Dangerously. Taking it to the extreme is part of Wee-Man’s DNA. And, when a green baseball shoots out of a machine, it smacks him dead-center in the forehead – crackin’ the nut, but not his noggin.
- Quintuplets do it with Bounce. For once, five five-year-olds were encouraged to “bounce off the walls” – well, bounce around a set full of pistachios. Their method to the cracking is giant green bouncy balls. . . and lots of giggles!
- A Dominatrix Does it on Command. A sexy dominatrix gingerly enters the scene and places a helpless pistachio on a black cabaret chair. With the snap of her 10-foot-long bull whip, she cracks the pistachio open on command. And, there were no special effects used in this spot!
“Get Crackin'” America, and Win $25,000
Wonderful Pistachios encourages Americans to “Get Crackin'” with a video submission contest that asks nut lovers to develop their own video commercial for a chance to win $25,000 and an airing on national television.
“We recognize that there are hundreds – if not thousands – of original ways to crack open a pistachio,” said Engels. “We challenge Americans to get creative and submit their own innovative take on our campaign.”
Video submissions will be aired on the “Get Crackin'” YouTube channel beginning on October 5 and accepted until November 30, 2009. For complete rules and guidelines, please go to www.YouTube.com/WonderfulPistachios. A winning video will be selected on or about December 15, 2009.
Pistachios: The Skinny Nut
Pistachios have a number of important health benefits to offer and are one of the lowest-calorie, lowest-fat nuts. A 30-gram serving of pistachios, with 49 kernels and 170 calories, provides more than 30 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Pistachios are an excellent source of vitamin B6, copper and manganese; and a good source of protein, fiber, thiamin and phosphorus. Known as the “Skinny Nut,” pistachios offering the most nut per 1oz serving; 30 kernels make a satisfying, delicious snack for about 100 calories.
“Pistachios aren’t just fun and social, they’re ‘skinny’ too,” added Engels. “Consumers love the wonderful taste of pistachios, but need to be educated and enlightened about their unique health benefits.”
Source: Paramount Farms
