Applebee’s might want to cancel those welcome back commercials...

I’m obsessed with seeing how company’s try to suit their ads to a world in a pandemic.

I think IKEA had a great one with this “Let’s get ready for what’s next” ad:

With ads like this and many others I wonder if they shot the commercial pre pandemic with different VO and then changed the VO copy during the pandemic.

This is the Applebee’s “Welcome back ad I was referring to at the top of the thread:

I think this ad is confusing and stinks.

They totally created an ad for a new product with no intention of acknowledging the pandemic.

They followed their usual formula of a hit song with the VO of the slogan at the end.

Then at some point they realized the pandemic wasn’t ending so they lazily added a title that says:

The VO at the end:
“Welcome back America. Sure is good to see you.”

Terrible.

Not because of any social responsibility. They sell shit food and they want me to eat it.

That’s fine.
They’re a business.

But how do you not try to promote more delivery service or find a way to make the ad standout but acknowledging the pandemic directly?

I know I’m advocating for them to be better at manipulating us for our money but that’s all these companies do.

I’m just surprised that Applebee’s is so bad at it.

PS.
When I was in HS I heard all the food was frozen and the kitchen is just a wall of microwaves.