Skip to main content
Blog

Just Ok? Well-Messaged and Funny Ads from AT&T, Part 2

By January 15, 2020No Comments
screen grab from AT&T ad, Just Ok is not Ok, two announcers sitting courtside at basketball game

This the second part of the “Just Ok? Well-Messaged and Funny Ads from AT&T” blog.

Check out the first 10 commercials, intro story, and background on the ads in part 1.

The videos below include links and descriptions below.

OK March Madness – Player

One of four ads, Player, is a play on words between the lead announcer Ken and the color commentator Phil, a former basketball pro. Ken, turns to the Phil and says, “Why don’t you give us some insights from your days as a player.” Phil, hesitatingly responds, “I’m a happily married man now Ken. I hardly think those stories would be appropriate.” Ken somewhat surprised, responds in a forceful tone, “From your days as a basketball player, Phil.”

OK MARCH MADNESS – REBOUND

Ken, the lead announcer starts, “Francis, with the rebound.” “Fantastic news Ken,” Phil responds. Continuing, “Glad is he is doing well.” Ken, a bit confused, says, “I’m sorry.” Phil continues, “It’s always nice when someone is willing to put themselves back out there. Get back in the dating scene. We’ve all been dumped. But you can’t give up on love Ken.” More dialogue follows with Ken getting more and more uncomfortable. The voice over ends the commercial with, “Just okay is not okay, whether it’s announcers or wireless networks.”

OK MARCH MADNESS – FREEBIRD

The third out of four ads for March Madness, Phil yells multiple times, “Freebird,” to the university band, as if the band is taking requests. Ken shakes his hand and Phil ends with, “Every band knows it. They’re dying to play it.”

OK MARCH MADNESS – COLOR

The last ad for March Madness has Phil actually describing the colors of the uniform. Ken says, “You know, color commentary isn’t actually commentary on what the colors are.” Phil now has a look of confusion and slight embarrassment. Nevertheless, he continues describing colors. Then the voice over ends the commercial.

OK BABYSITTER

This AT&T commercial plays on concerns and fears of parents with the potential of having an incompetent babysitter. The babysitters says, “Go and enjoy yourselves. I’m pretty ok with children.” She goes on to forget food allergies, bedtimes, and the wifi password. The latter is my favorite part. She asks, “Hey, what’s your wifi password?” One parent responds, “It’s the name of our kids.” And the babysitter shakes her negatively from side to side and says, “Well, that’s not helpful.”

BOY BAND

Here, a rock star Boy Band is on stage, starting their song, with a sea of endless adoring fans. The boys start singing and remain motionless. Fans start looking at each other with confused looks. The camera cuts to a man asking his friend, “Are we supposed to dance?” He then does a couple of moves and looks around, becoming embarrassed. Text then appears, “Boy Bands without dancing are just ok.”

OK WEDDING

You are greeted with a wedding ceremony. The couple is standing in front of their friends and family. The officiant asks Sarah if she takes Will to be her husband. She pauses for 13 seconds, which is an eternity to the attendees and most importantly, to the now very anxious Will. Finally, she smiles at him and says, “I do.” AT&T says that when it comes to response times, just okay is not okay. (some text from iSpot.tv)

Doble Quinceañera – GEORGE

Spanish:  Una mujer va con el mejor estilista de la ciudad, pero ella se entera que no está con él. En realidad, está con otro estilista que se llama George. Él dice que es más o menos pero que no se puede comparar con Jorge quien tiene el apodo, “la tijera de oro.” AT&T Wireless cree que solo ok no está OK, especialmente cuando se trata de la red. La marca declara que tiene la mejor red con 5G Evolution.

English:  A woman going to her double Quinceañera and looking for a gorgeous haircut asks the stylist if he’s the famed Jorge. The stylist admits he’s not prominent stylist she’s looking for, their names are just spelled similarly and he’s “just OK.” AT&T believes that just OK is not OK, which is why it says America’s best wireless network.

text from iSpot.tv. Also, if you want to see the same ad, spoken in English, visit iSpot.

ESCULTOR – MIGUEL ANGEL

Spanish:  Un hombre visita a un escultor para ver como va el proyecto. El escultor le dice que no será la estatua que esperaba, pero le confirma que va a quedar “Ok.” Cuando el hombre dice que mañana lo va a presentar a la prensa, el escultor le asegura que no tiene que preocuparse ya que le dicen Michelangelo. Sin embargo, no le llaman así por ser tan bueno como el artista famoso, sino porque se llama Miguel Ángel. AT&T dice que solo OK no está OK y especialmente cuando se trata de la red.

English (Google Translate):  A man visits a sculptor to see how the project is going. The sculptor tells him it will not be the statue he expected. He confirms it will be “Ok.” When the man says tomorrow he will show it to the press, the sculptor assures him he does not have to worry as Michelangelo is told. However, he is not called that because he is as good as the famous artist, and because his name is Miguel Ángel. AT&T says that only Ok is not Ok and especially when it comes to the network.

Text from iSpot.tv

LOS MEJORES PASTELES

Spanish:  Una mujer va a una pastelería donde según los comentarios en línea, es el lugar donde hacen los mejores pasteles. Para la sorpresa de la mujer, los comentarios fueron escritas por el mismo dueño del lugar y dice que sus pasteles son “OK.” Aunque la mujer quiere un pastel de tres leches, él dice que solo hay de dos, ya sea conchas o churros. AT&T cree que cuando se trata de tu red, solo OK no está OK.

English (Google Translate):  A woman goes to a bakery where, according to online comments, it is the place where they make the best cakes. To the surprise of the woman, the comments were written by the same owner of the place and says that her cakes are “OK.” Although the woman wants a three-milk cake, he says there are only two, either shells or churros. AT&T believes that when it comes to your network, only OK is not OK.

Text from iSpot.tv

Photography Source:  Screen capture from AT&T advertisement

Ira Koretsky

Ira Koretsky has built The Chief Storyteller® into one of the most recognized names in communication, especially business storytelling. He has delivered over 500 keynote presentations and workshops in nearly a dozen countries, in more than one hundred cities, across 30 plus industries. His specialties are simplifying the complex and communicating when the stakes are high. He is also an adjunct professor in public speaking and storytelling at the University of Maryland's Business School. With over 25 years of experience, he is a sought-after storytelling coach, global speaker, trainer, consultant, communication coach, and public speaking coach.