MLB Network and The Collective @ LAIR joined forces to produce a new promo featuring the stars of MLB Network’s award-winning signature show MLB Tonight. Set to REO Speedwagon’s infectious classic ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling,’ the spot cleverly uses super slow motion to capture the analysts’ passion (and some flying food) while watching pennant chase baseball.
Featuring MLB Network analysts Mark DeRosa, Cliff Floyd, Al Leiter, Kevin Millar, Dan Plesac, Harold Reynolds and Bill Ripken, who have a combined 19 Postseason appearances, the spot relays to viewers that when it comes to the best baseball coverage, these former players can’t fight the excitement and neither should we.
Director Thor Raxlen incorporated super-slow motion with the use of a Phantom Flex to capture every ecstatic facial expression, overflowing torrent of iced tea and overturned plate of BBQ as the guys watched a walk-off home run call by Cleveland Indians radio play-by-play broadcaster Matt Underwood. ‘It’s hard to settle on who deserves the Oscar for this performance,’ Raxlen joked, ‘between the flying hot dogs, Al Leiter’s hair, or Bill Ripken's socks in this one.’
MLB Network and The Collective @ LAIR conceived, produced and directed this promo on the tail of winning Promax Bronze for their 2016 collaboration on “Mookie and Buckner in ‘Catching Up,’” a spot featuring former Major Leaguers Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner marking the 30-year anniversary of the classic Game Six of the 1986 World Series.
Known for their integrated creative and production capabilities, The Collective @ LAIR’s previous clients include Bentley, Bose, History Channel, Discovery, RAM, McDonald's and more.
CREDITS
Client: MLB Network
Production Company: The Collective @ LAIR
MLB Network Credits:
Senior Vice President, Marketing & Promotions: Mary Beck
Vice President, Marketing & Promotions: Steve Miller
Writer/Producer/Sr. Director, Marketing & Promotions: Christopher Impomeni
Writer/Producer/Editor: Rich Baron
Senior Designer: Jeff Clark
Production Manager: Dan Pericone
The Collective @ LAIR Credits
Director: Thor Raxlen
Director of Photography: Ben Dolphin
Executive Producer: Mark Aji
Editor: Julio Alvia