Coke Zero Remakes “Mean Joe Greene” Super Bowl Ad
During the 2009 Super Bowl, featuring the Arizona Cardinals versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New Coke Zero commercial ad entitled “Mean Troy” will be aired. It is a take on the classic Mean Joe Green Coca-Cola ad which premiered back in 1980 during Super Bowl. The original was actually first shown during the baseball playoffs in ’79. The new version features Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The original commercial was one of the most admired and most celebrated ads with an N.F.L. player ever made. The 30-second stadium drama took place after a game when this little boy offers grumpy and limping Joe Greene his Coca-Cola. Joe Green was then one of the leading defensive tackles in the NFL.
the original Coca-Cola ad featured Mean Joe Green back in 1980 during the Super Bowl
In the new version, “Mean Troy” stands in for Greene and turns down a kid’s offer of a Coke Zero as he limps into the tunnel to the Heinz Field locker room. According to the New York Times “then the old premise turns to parody”. Chief Marketing Officer for Coca-Cola Katie Bayne says “We would never remake ‘Mean Joe’. There are similarities in the opening 12 seconds, but then it’s truly a Coke Zero commercial.”
the Coke Zero commercial will air during 3rd quarter of Super Bowl XLIII
It’s quite coincidental that a Pittsburgh Steeler will be playing in the Super Bowl and doing this commercial because the ad was shot back in November. Polamalu said he faced more of an acting challenge. What also makes it funny is when Greene starred in the original Pittsburgh beat the Rams in Pasadena, California.
Mean Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Coke just might face the risk of having fans compare a classic to a parody. Catch the Coke Zero remake during third quarter in Super Bowl XLIII on NBC tomorrow!