Applebee’s Neighbourhood Grill has a history of commercials using famous songs. Apart from Doja Cat’s Say So in 2021, the reasoning for which is a mystery, the songs are emotion-triggers that also underline their commercials brilliantly – the theme from Welcome Back Kotter in July 2020 and Barry White’s Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Baby in 2021, for example.
The ads and their songs are middle America to a T. So is the restaurant chain with its 1,600 locations.
Late last year, the chain made a song by previously little-known country singer, Walker Hayes, go viral. Fancy Like became a TikTok sensation and even made it to the top layers of the Australian music charts.
Grey New York’s 2022 commercial continues to build the brand’s ad heritage. The new commercial is underscored by the very famous theme to Cheers. The new campaign is the first from the casual-dining chain that does not feature menu or special deals. The campaign will run during the NFL playoffs this month and on prime-time programming.
Here is the new feel-good spot, a celebration of Applebee’s regulars:
Credits:
Client: Applebee’s
President: John Cywinski
Chief Marketing Officer: Joel Yashinsky
Director, Advertising and Partnerships: Heather Boyer
Creative Agency: Grey New York
Worldwide Chief Creative Officer: John Patroulis
Chief Creative Officer: Justine Armour
Executive Creative Director: Lance Parrish
Creative Directors: Mike Latshaw & Talia Bradicich
Associate Creative Directors: Talia Rapp & Jessica Bass
EVP, Account Director: Nadine Falco
VPs, Account Directors: Ilyssa Harbatkin & Lucie Kittel
Account Supervisor: Ariana Tsapralis
Senior Account Executive: Mary Jane Fischer
Executive Strategy Director: Tony Lederer
Planning Director: Lauren Friezo
Senior Brand Planner: Taylor McLean
Brand Planner: Estie Wassner
Project Director: Arie Andrews
Executive Production: Townhouse
Chief Production Officer: James McPherson
Director of Production: Kim Kietz
Executive Producers: Peri Brand & Liat Ebersohl
Music Producer: Leland Drake
SVP, Director of Business Affairs: Stephen Bernstein
VP, Head of Talent: Natasha Howell
Business Manager: Lisa Johnson
Production Company: Smuggler
Director: Henry-Alex Rubin
Co-Founders: Patrick Milling-Smith & Brian Carmody
Executive Producer: Drew Santarsiero
Chief Operating Officer: Andrew Colon
Head of Production: Alex Hughes
Producer: Leah Allina
Editing & Post-Production: Cartel
Executive Producer & Managing Director: Lauren Bleiweiss
Heads of Production: Meagen Carroll & Vietan Nguyen
Colour: Company 3 LA
Senior Colourist: Dave Hussey
Assistant Colourist: James Harmon
Senior Producer: Mario Castro
SVP Short Form: Ashley McKim
Audio Post: Heard City
Managing Partner: Gloria Pitagorsky
Mixers: Eric Warzecha, Phil Loeb & Evan Anderson
Executive Producers: Jackie James & Sasha Awn
Senior Producer: Liana Rosenberg
Assistant Producer: Nick Duvarney
Assistant Mixers: Ronnie Stapleton, Seth Brogdon, Virginia Wright, Zoltan Monori & Chenoa Tarin
PR: Current
Media: Initiative
