Weeeeell…it’s not right! They’re dating TV commercials! Although, it was fun watching Jon Hamm on the offensive, trying to win Flo’s wandering heart over dinner with his insurance crew! There’s something about that sly Jon Hamm. Known to many as Don Draper, his character from Crazy man. Love him or hate him, there are many ways this character has captivated us over the years Crazy manSeven seasons that ran from 2007 to 2015. While the show may be long gone, it’s undeniably a TV franchise with staying power.
Hamm, a Missouri-born actor who has won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe, has been featured in several movies and TV shows since Mad Men ended. This includes City, Minions, Baby Driverand The unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. But lately, there’s one place where you might see it more than any other. Yes, I’m talking about the ad for Progressive insurance.
Jon Hamm + Progressive Insurance
It’s common for famous actors to take on advertising gigs when they’re between TV shows or movies. Some of the most famous examples of celebrity commercial campaigns (also called endorsements) include Rihanna for CoverGirl, Jennifer Aniston for Smart Water and Jamie Lee Curtis for Activia…I could go on. Jon Hamm’s encounter with Progressive Insurance begins in May 2022. In a hilarious storyline, he plays himself and serves as a love interest for Flo. Flo, of course, became a prominent Progressive spokesperson for many years.
The ad that Jon Hamm appeared in for Progressive goes like this:
- Old Flame: in which Hamm drives up to Flo talking to her friends and claims to know her from a “blind date” from “years ago.” They both set a dinner date. The catch is that even though Hamm’s character wants it to be romantic, Flo is convinced that the two are only meeting so he can teach her about the potential savings with Progressive.
- Table for Two: Hamm, Flo, and many other Progressive workers meet for a dinner “date.” Hamm continues his romantic advances, but Flo is still focused on Progressive
- Bundle/hand songs: in this short ad, the two characters stare into each other’s eyes. As viewers, we see Flo singing the Progressive jingle in her head, and Hamm wonders whether or not this is the right time to reach for his hand.
- Jamie’s advice: in this video, Jamie, another Progressive employee, gives Hamm advice for his date with Flo.
- Hammergency: Hamm makes a leak in his house to find an excuse to visit Flo. When he shows up and realizes that the scene was a fake, Flo tells Hamm that she can’t continue things with him because she’s “already in love with insurance.”
Working with Progressive is not the first time Jon Hamm has used his talents in the world of advertising. In 2010, Jon Hamm became the official voice actor of Mercedes-Benz. Also in the 2010s, he appeared in commercials for tax preparer H&R Block. Recently, he appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for AppleTV+.
Flo From Progressive: A Quick Comeback Story
In the age of the internet, it is difficult for companies to create charming advertising characters or mascots that are memorable and noteworthy. Not only does it need the right idea, but it also needs the right voice actor (or actors) to pull it off. Some of the most famous advertising campaign characters in recent memory include:
- Gecko Geico, originally voiced by Kelsey Grammar but now features English comic Jake Wood as his voice actor
- Mr. Peanut (he’s been around since the early 1900s but has featured the voice acting talents of Keith Ferguson since 2020)
- The Kool-Aid Man, famous for his “oh yeah!” phrase and has been voiced by several different voice actors over the years, including Seth McFarlane
- Mucinex Mr. Mucus is voiced by funnyman actor and regular voice actor Jason Mantzoukas.
Flo, unlike the characters above, is a human mascot & spokesperson. She has been featured in more than 100 commercials for Progressive Insurance since its creation in 2008. Flo has gained an online following due to her cheerful personality and retro-inspired look. Actress Stephanie Courtney, who portrays Flo, has publicly referenced the overzealous “schtick” her character exhibits.
No matter what words you use to describe Flo (and words like “sweet,” “naive” and even “offensive” wouldn’t be out of the question), you can’t deny that she’s an icon.
The Surprising Relationship Between Flo and Jon Hamm
If this article seems random to you so far, don’t worry. I will tie it all together.
If you thought Jon Hamm and Flo had great chemistry, then it probably won’t surprise you to learn that this isn’t the first time the two have appeared on screen.
Stephanie Courtney was actually in five episodes in total Crazy man. A minor character, Marge, is a switchboard operator at Sterling Cooper, the advertising agency where the TV show is based.
So What Does All This Mean?
There are several points to be made by the success of this strange yet delightful advertising campaign. One is that we still really love Jon Hamm and Crazy man. Two is that when it comes to advertising, company decisions still matter.
True, the audience has become more discerning. But there’s still a lot of potential to make something great that resonates with audiences and makes them laugh and follow along. Often, it’s just a matter of the right casting.
Maria Pendolino is an award-winning voice actress and writer from Buffalo, New York. His voice performances have been heard in TV and radio commercials, documentaries, cartoons, video games and more. He is interested in pop culture, advertising, theater, comedy and music. You can follow the antics of his four tuxedo rescue cats on Instagram.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
