For better or worse, sports team mascots are in the news. Recently, for example, first baseman Randall Simon of the Pittsburgh Pirates got into legal hot water when he swung a bat and knocked over two oversized sausage mascots for the Milwaukee Brewers.
However, involving no physical injury whatsoever is this :30 for the University of Kentucky, Lexington, which offers an offbeat spin on the mascot phenomenon, albeit for collegiate athletics. The spot, titled "Mascot Pet," opens on a husband and wife seated on a couch in a suburban home. The couple responds to an off-camera interviewer.
The man relates that his kids had always wanted a cat, so when one showed up on the doorstep, the decision to keep it was easy.
His spouse then intervenes, describing the cat as being "so cute. How could you turn him away?" We then cut to a flashback, where the man opens the front door of the house and sees the pet—a guy dressed up in a cat costume, carrying a suitcase. The furry visitor—actually the University of Kentucky Wildcat mascot—wipes his feet on the doormat and walks into the home.
Next, we see the mascot in the bathroom, blow-drying his fur. "Unlike the dog, you don’t have to give him a bath," points out the husband. He adds that cats clean up after themselves, at which point we see the cat mascot putting dishes in the automatic dishwasher—and breaking a couple.
"You know," the husband continues, "the dog doesn’t bother him anymore." We see the mascot tossing the protesting family dog out the door and into the backyard.
The wife then notes another benefit of having a mascot at home. "I just love it when he crawls into bed with me when Jim’s away," she says, followed by an uncomfortable pause.
The spot then cuts to a shot of the mascot horsing around in the backyard with the kids. "And the kids love playing with him," the wife beams.
Next, we see the husband and wife on the couch, now seated alongside the mascot, who’s kicking back and chomping on some popcorn while watching football on TV. The husband concludes, "I mean, he’s become part of our family."
An end tag then appears, showing the University of Kentucky logo and a Web site address (ukathletics.com).
"Mascot Pet" was directed by David Popescu of Sparks Productions, Toronto, for Cornett Advertising, Lexington. Andy Crosbie executive produced for Sparks, with Barbara Zumer serving as producer. The spot was shot by DP Gabor Tarko.
The Cornett creative team consisted of creative director/art director Paul Blodgett and copywriter/producer Ron Gerlach.
Tim Kirkwood and Matt Dell of Flashcut, Toronto, were editor and assistant editor, respectively. Online editor was Flashcut’s John Dowding. Colorist was Kent McCormick of Notch, Toronto. Audio engineer was John "Wheels" Hurlbut of Deschamps Studios, Toronto.
Sound designer/producer was Sonny Keyes of SKA Music, Toronto.
Brad Brackenridge, Peter Nelson, Rosemary Doyle, Ely Henry, and Netta Untershats were the principal actors in this spot. The SAG/AFTRA Commercials Contract Standing Committee has granted a waiver to allow commercials to be available for viewing on SHOOTonline.com. The spots cannot be copied, downloaded or e-mailed.
