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Olive Garden
The setup
The funny people
Meet the cast. 5
Say it with us
Highly quotable.
It's advertising 101. Trust me. You're killing it.
Oh, my God, this woman's an Amazon.
But Olive Garden customers would.
The premise
Here’s the bit.
On the set of an Olive Garden ad, a chipper director tells four diners to look thrilled to be there. The takes pile up: huge nods over the menu, a forced laugh, kisses swapped between neighbors to suit different markets, and a pasta delivery that leaves one actor with his face in the bowl. Each direction is more demeaning than the last, the actors nervously question whether any of it will make the cut, and the director cheerfully insists that advertising only works when people act as if they have never seen food before. He ends by dangling a possible print campaign.
Script
Automatically generated script; wording may contain errors. Speaker labels are inferred.
- 00:00
Director
Okay, my lovely featured background. We are about ready to go for a take. And all you guys have seen Olive Garden ads, so you know the deal, fun, casual. We really want to give the viewers that vibe that you're excited to be here.
- 00:14
Sweater Guy
Well, I actually love Olive Garden, so I won't even have to act at all.
- 00:18
Director
Ha! That's what I like to hear. Okay, so I'll call out direction from the monitor right over here, and let's see if we can capture some magic, all right? Here we go.
- 00:27
Director
And action. Okay, that looks great. We're chatting, we're chatting. Hey, sweater guy, check out the restaurant.
- 00:36
Sweater Guy
This place is nice.
- 00:40
Director
Even more impressed.
- 00:43
Sweater Guy
Am I in a palace?
- 00:47
Director
Yes. Okay, now, blond hair, why don't you find something you want on the menu? And you nod and smile. Smile. All right. Bigger nod.
- 00:59
Director
This all looks yummy. Really go for it, blond hair. Big ol' smile.
- 01:07
Director
Amazing. Love that. Now, blue shirt, someone just said something funny. Big laugh. And even funnier, you're about to pee yourself.
- 01:21
Blue Shirt
I'm peeing, I'm peeing, I'm peeing.
- 01:25
Director
Fantastic. Great, great, great. Okay, now, Yellowtop, you're looking at the menu, and you really want that chicken cialbella. Oh, you want it really bad.
- 01:38
Director
You're looking at that pasta going, Oh, Lordy, I must be in heaven! Okay, let's call that cut. Wow. Fantastic work, guys. I think we got it.
- 01:50
Sweater Guy
Are you sure those reactions weren't too big?
- 01:53
Blue Shirt
Yeah, I felt like I looked a little stupid.
- 01:55
Yellow Top
Maybe and I didn't like that voice you did
- 02:00
Director
I'm not quite sure what you're talking about But as far as reactions go you guys have seen Olive Garden ads the people act like they've never seen a restaurant or eaten food before Then the yo-yos at home think Olive Garden is this magical place. It's advertising 101. Trust me. You're killing it Okay. Now we just need to get some alts for some different markets that we're gonna air this ad in.
- 02:22
Director
All right, here we go guys and And...action. Okay. Let's start by laughing. We're laughing. We're having fun. Good. Now, for the small town's blue shirt, give blonde hair a little kiss on the cheek.
- 02:38
Director
Great, great, great. And for the urban markets, can I get sweater guy giving yellow top a smooch? And for one neighborhood in Atlanta, let me see yellow top plant one on blonde hair. And And lips, please.
- 03:03
Yellow Top
Oh, child, what has gotten into me?
- 03:05
Director
Okay, Great. Okay, now, um, I just want to get some options, stuff they might want. So let's fly in some pasta, please. Thank you very much. All right, here comes the pasta. Pasta, pasta, pasta. So, Sweater Guy, you ordered that shrimp terragiorno, and it smells amazing. Great. Yes, yes. Got that. We got that. Now, just go ahead and put your face right in the pasta bowl.
- 03:36
Sweater Guy
Really? I mean, would Olive Garden even use that in the ad?
- 03:39
Director
Just looking for options. So plop that face in there.
- 03:46
Director
Great. Yes. Yes. Sweater guy, this is really good. Okay, blue shirt and blond hair. Imagine there's a waitress there, and you're listening to her, so let's look up and nod.
- 03:59
Director
She's a little taller than that, so bring that eye line up a bit. And even taller. Oh, my God, this woman's an Amazon. Yeah, perfect. Just like that. And just so we have it, give me one where the waitress is two feet tall.
- 04:15
Director
There she is. There she is. Perfect. And she's leaving, and you're both trying not to laugh.
- 04:24
Blue Shirt
Oh, I wouldn't laugh at a little person's...
- 04:27
Director
But Olive Garden customers would. Nailed it. There it is.
- 04:37
Sweater Guy
Uh, sir, can I take my face after pasta now?
- 04:41
Director
Not just yet, sweater guy. I really want to make sure we have this. Now, yellow tie.
- 04:46
Yellow Top
-"I'm not putting my head in no pasta."
- 04:50
Director
-"Of course not. Just enjoy the taste of the pasta." Yes! Yes. That's great. That's great. And you're chewing, you're tasting, and you just had a big ol' orgasm.
- 05:03
Director
Amazing. That's it. Yeah. Love those eyes. Love that. Look at those. Great. Yes.
- 05:12
Director
That's great. Now, now, blonde hair... Yeah, can I see that from you, blonde hair?
- 05:26
Director
Yes. Yes, yes, great with the lip. Yes, that's great. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Okay, now, blue shirt, you're up, bud. Amazing, Amazing, amazing, the veal cremerini is pushing all your buttons. Yeah, there it is.
- 05:49
Director
And, yeah, yeah, great. And now, Sweater Guy, take your face out of the pasta, and let's see that from you as well.
- 06:00
Director
Yeah, you're really loving it. Yeah, that's perfect. Now, just put your face back in the bowl of pasta.
- 06:07
Sweater Guy
Well, I really would rather not.
- 06:09
Director
And go. Okay, now, Yellow Top, look at Sweater Guy like, like, Lottie, give me the strength and cuts. Yes, perfect.
- 06:22
Director
Guys, really wonderful. I think I've got everything I need. And no promises, but I hear they may use some of you guys in their print campaign, too.
The rabbit hole continues
One more couldn’t hurt.
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