Johnny Football Becomes 'Johnny JamBoogie' In New SNICKERS® Ad

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Move over, Johnny Football. Meet "Johnny JamBoogie."

Highly touted rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel is known for his elusive moves on the football field. But today, just in time for the start of the NFL season, Mars Chocolate North America released a humorous new commercial for the SNICKERS® Brand which shows a spandex-sporting Manziel displaying a whole new set of skills that includes aerobics, arm circles and dance steps.

The humorous :30-second TV spot, created by BBDO New York, is the latest satisfying addition to the brand's award-winning "You're Not You When You're Hungry" campaign. It begins, somewhat inexplicably, with Manziel enthusiastically leading a musical aerobics class. Only when a fellow Cleveland Browns player enters the dance studio do we realize "Johnny Football" is not acting like himself due to hunger – a problem that's easily solved with the combination of roasted peanuts, nougat, caramel and milk chocolate found in a SNICKERS® Bar.

"Johnny Manziel is literally synonymous with the sport of football due to his eponymous nickname, so fans everywhere should get a kick out of how hunger makes him take on a totally new persona," said Roy Benin, Chief Consumer Officer, Mars Chocolate North America. "We think this is a hilarious way to reinforce our role as an official NFL sponsor and showcase how SNICKERS satisfies hunger."

"I've always been a fan of SNICKERS, and it was a thrill to star in my own 'You're Not You When You're Hungry' commercial because it allowed me to play some funny version of myself that I might become when I'm hungry," said Manziel, who was drafted in the first round of this year's NFL Draft by Cleveland. "I hope people have as much fun watching the ad as we did filming it."

The commercial debuts today and will air nationally the night of the 2014 NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, Sept. 4. The spot's debut marks the start of an integrated digital and social media campaign that will highlight many more ways Johnny Football isn't himself when he's hungry.

To see the latest addition to the "You're Not You When You're Hungry" campaign starring Manziel, visit the SNICKERS Brand Facebook page at www.facebook.com/snickers or www.snickers.com.  

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints.  Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.  Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated