Canadian Budweiser bots greet Super Bowl 54

With American Super Bowl ads once again being blocked from airing in Canada, the territory’s brands are starting to drop their own local Big Game spots, including this gem directed by John Grammatico, through Revolver Films. 

It wasn’t the epitomy of eloquent repartee, but in the original 1999 ad, that slurred greeting shared by a bunch of beer-swilling, football-watching guys introduced an enduring catchphrase to popular culture.

Winning a host of plaudits, including the Cannes Grand Prix, Whassup, which was created by  Chicago-based ad agency DDB and based on Charles Stone III’s short film True, began a long-running campaign and also ushered in the age of viral hits.

The clever remake, Whassup Again, brings an AI update to the exchanges, with collection of bored smart home devices – from a spinning disc hoover to a self-flushing toilet – all wishing they were watching the game with a beer. They console themselves by enjoying a spot of comms comedy – exchanging their own versions of 'whassupping' that become increasingly more raucous until they nearly get caught out by their humanoid owner.

A collaboration with Uber, the spot's message is to urge fans to make smart choices about travelling to and from the Super Bowl and will offer a promo code on airing during the game on 2 Feb.