Wisconsin new summer tourism ad focuses on fun. The new summer spot from the Department of Tourism is the work of David Zucker, a Wisconsin native and UW grad who directed the 1980 comedy classic Airplane! “There is something fun about Wisconsin,” said Zucker. “I know because I grew up here.”
The star of the 30 second spot is Robert Hays, perhaps best know for his role in Airplane!. “I didn’t know anything about it, but I just knew it would be fun working with David again,” Hays said.
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:65)
The slapstick spot was shot last summer on Plum Lake in Sayner, and begins airing in May in a variety of Midwest markets. Zucker created the popular winter ad which featured members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra having a snowball fight. “We wanted to do a commercial that made people laugh,” he said.
Zucker will also direct a third Wisconsin commercial, one which will put Hays back in the cockpit for a zany flyover of the state. That ad is tentatively scheduled to start airing in winter 2014.