# Will Ferrell's Viral Campaigns Semi-Pro Fake Ads & "Let's Get Sweaty" Cards By Bianca | Published 2008-02-21 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/will-ferrell-semi-pro References: [dailybiz.wordpress](http://dailybiz.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/ferrells-campaign-for-real-beauty/) & [semipromovie](http://www.semipromovie.com/) To promote his latest movie, Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell dressed up as his character, Jackie Moon to create this viral campaign which is disturbing, yet a tactic his fans will find hilarious. The movie doesn't hit theaters until February 29, but already it's created quite a buzz. The trailer is embedded above. He posed for Valentine's Day cards to support the movie. The outside said, "Let's get sweaty," and the inside featured a less-than-flattering image of the actor wearing nothing but a fro, hiding behind a basketball as he gives the camera a seductive look, hands twirling his chest hair. Ughh. For Semi-Pro, Ferrell also created a series of eight [fake commercials to promote deodorant](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-sweat-predictor): He's also launched the viral Semi-Pro Contest, "Love Me Sexy" which asks fans to create their own videos. Here's one submission: They also launched a series of [official Super Bowl ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7-stages-of-defeat): Bud Light: Bud Light II: Ferrell isn't a afraid of putting himself into unflattering roles. In fact, it's what makes him so appealing to a lot of people. He's been experimenting with different viral tactics, including the launch of self-made [YouTube](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mint-mobile-mintfomercial) videos and online contests. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 27% | Activity: 80% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Viral Campaigns:** There is an opportunity for businesses to create unique and engaging viral campaigns to promote their products or services. - **Viral Contests:** Organizing viral contests can be an effective way for businesses to generate user-generated content and increase brand engagement. - **Unconventional Marketing:** Taking a bold and unconventional approach to marketing, like Will Ferrell's viral tactics, can help businesses stand out from the competition. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Film Industry:** The film industry can explore innovative promotional methods, like viral campaigns and contests, to generate buzz and increase ticket sales. - **Advertising Industry:** The advertising industry can benefit from incorporating viral campaigns and unconventional marketing strategies to create memorable and impactful brand experiences. - **Entertainment Industry:** The entertainment industry can leverage viral campaigns and contests to engage with fans and create a buzz around new releases. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Humorous Star-Studded Chip Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/call-of-the-mustaches.md) - [Viral Slogan-Inspired Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/manscaped1.md) - [Comedic Groundhog Day Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lays-for-days.md) - [Pop Culture-Inspired Beverage Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/travis-kelce1.md) - [Humorous Natural Deodorant Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/every-man-jack-still-smell-good.md) - [Humorous Mens Fragrance Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/axe-campaign.md) - [Meat Sweat Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meat-sweat-defense-kit-1.md) - [Cheeky Snack Chip Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doritos-a-spicy-but-not-too-spicy-plumber.md) - [Nostalgic Long-Form Infomercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mint-mobile-mintfomercial.md)