# Humorous Athlete Ads Eli Manning Channels a Bad Comedian in DirecTV's Latest Commercial By Jana Pijak | Published 2015-07-27 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/athlete-ad References: [giants](http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Eli-Manning-stars-as-Bad-Comedian-Eli-Manning-in-new-DirecTV-commercial/c81a0258-adb3-4fdf-b62e-00b75c56a32a) & [youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJiMiJcghA) [DirecTV's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mysports-directv) latest commercial is a humorous athlete ad that features [New York Giants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metlife-stadiums) quarterback Eli Manning. The sports star channels dual personalities in the TV spot that features his true self -- representative of DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket package -- and Bad Comedian Eli Manning, a fictional character who represents a low quality cable alternative. This humorous athlete ad promotes DirectTV's HD streaming qualities while comparing them to regular cable services. The fun commercial appeals to football fans and also shows viewers a famous athlete's approachable side. Manning's knack for humor is illustrated through his spot-on impression of a comedian who tries too hard to make an impression on his audience while failing to make them laugh. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.4/10 - Popularity: 9% | Activity: 25% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Humorous Athlete Ads:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in using humor to promote products and services through athlete endorsements. - **Dual Personality Marketing:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating humorous commercials that showcase both the serious and comedic sides of a brand or spokesperson. - **Celebrity Endorsements in Advertising:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in utilizing well-known athletes to engage and entertain audiences while promoting products or services. ### Who This Affects Most - **Television Broadcasting:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the television industry by producing humorous athlete ads that capture viewers' attention and promote streaming services. - **Sports Marketing:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the sports marketing industry by creating unique, entertaining ads featuring athletes that appeal to both sports enthusiasts and the general public. - **Cable and Satellite TV:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the cable and satellite TV industry by highlighting the advantages of HD streaming services over traditional cable alternatives through humorous athlete ads. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Quirky Athlete-Centric Mayo Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mayotivations-campaign.md) - [Lighthearted Football Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7-stages-of-defeat.md) - [Humorous AI-Forward Spots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/act-like-you-know.md) - [Humorous Game-Day Chocolate Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chocolate-lava.md) - [Cheeky Celeb-Inspired Fictional Characters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meal-diamond.md) - [Sports Affiliated Restaurant Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/official-grill-bar-sponsor.md) - [Athlete-Starring Footwear Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speed-shopping.md) - [Heroic Protein Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-big-hill.md) - [Celebrity Super Bowl Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skechers-no-t.md)