Comedy figures prominently in SHOOT’s lineup of the most viewed videos in 2022.  In fact nine of the top ten went for the funny bone--although one attempt at humor didn’t stand the test of time in that it was for the since failed FTX crypto exchange. 

Getting the most looks among SHOOT videos for 2022 was a spot marking the return of Walter, the cat who acts like a dog. He and his owner head out in a Chevy Silverado Trail Boss for some epic snow day adventures. The charmingly comedic commercial was directed by Spencer Riviera of O Positive for agency Commonwealth//McCann.

Taking the second slot for most viewed was a humorous animated spot for P&G’s Gillette Venus designed to further de-stigmatize the care of pubic hair. From Grey NY, the spot debuts the song “It’s Time to Care (For Your Public Hair” featuring female rapper Princess Nokia. A worthy follow-up to 2021’s “The Pube Song”--for which BANG Music won the AMP Award for Best Original Song in a commercial directed by Sacha Beeley of animation studio Strange Beast--this latest animated film again teamed Grey NY and Beeley, with BANG as the music house.

Garnering third place in our click countdown was a Super Bowl comedy spot for FTX, the crypto exchange that has since collapsed. Titled “Don’t Miss Out,” the commercial features celeb Larry David, co-creator of Seinfeld and creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm, in his persona at his curmudgeonly nay-saying skeptical best. We see him dismissing one breakthrough after another through history--from the wheel to the Declaration of Independence, and then finally the viability of cryptocurrency. Clearly, he’s going to once again “miss out” on an opportunity. Now in retrospect, the humor rings hollow. However at the time, the message was funny. Jeff Schaffer, David’s longtime creative partner on Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, directed the spot via production house Partizan for agency dentsuMB.

Finishing fourth in the 2022 tally was Kia Sportage SUV’s “Beachcomber” directed by Nicolai Fuglsig of MJZ for agency David&Goliath. The :30 tells an endearing story of one man’s conservation effort to help save the sea turtles. Showcasing the multi-terrain AWD and class-leading horsepower of the SUV, the spot opens on a scenic beach as the Sportage’s intrepid driver retrieves a custom-made drag rake from its spacious cargo to swiftly collect the distressing amounts of trash sprawled across the beach--from plastic bottles to empty wrappers. The Sportage circles beach until every last piece of trash is retrieved for recycling. As the driver sits back and takes in the ocean and now-pristine scene, scores of sea turtles emerge from the surf, to safely nest in the sand. 

Our fifth entry in the click-worthy countdown of 2022 was Turbo Tax’s humorous “You Do Your Thing” directed by Raine Allen-Miller of Somesuch for Wieden+Kennedy. Portland, Ore. We meet a series of folks with different circumstances who qualify for certain tax breaks due to those circumstances. Whether you just started a nomadic lifestyle in a van or had a pandemic-induced career change, TurboTax live online experts can take care of tax issues related to those and all other circumstances, helping you get the maximum refund from the IRS.

The sixth slot in our 2021 countdown has been taken by a Ghostbusters parody for DIRECTV STREAM. Starring are baseball greats Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson. Jim Jenkins of O Positive directed for TBWA\Chiat\Day L.A.

Seventh place went to an Idorsia insomnia education campaign spot starring Jennifer Aniston and directed by Taika Waititi via Hungry Man for Goodby Silverstein & Partners.

Tallying enough views for eighth place was a short titled Herd Immunity which pokes fun at the crackpot COVID “cures” being bandied about. In this film from writer-director Rosie May Bird Smith, a writer and creative and Havas London, we meet a gullible 50-something Tony who hears an online news report trumpeting sheep’s wool as effective protection against the virus. Tony thus decides to throw away his mask, cancel that vaccine appointment, and buy a herd of sheep.

Settling into ninth place was another spot from Goodby Silverstein & Partners, this one for Califia Farms and directed by Harold Einstein of production house Dummy. In the campaign, unsuspecting people try Califia Farms plant milk for the first time--and their reactions are overwhelmingly positive. They are experiencing their “Calilujah” moment. This particular film shows a couple stretching--literally--their morning coffee routine with the great taste of Califia.

Rounding out the top ten was a General Motors’ Super Bowl spot starring actor/comedian Mike Myers who reprises his Austin Powers role as Dr. Evil. Directed by Tim Kirkby via Bootleg Films, London for McCann Detroit, the commercial has Dr. Evil taking over General Motors. But in order to rule the world, he first has to save the world, reducing the global carbon footprint via GM’s line of electric vehicles.

Here’s a rundown of the 25 most viewed SHOOT videos of 2021 (click on title to view):

1. Cat Enjoys Dog Days Of Winter For Chevy Silverado, Commonwealth//McCann

2. Gillette Venus, Grey NY, Director Sacha Beeley, BANG Are Back Pushing Pubic Positivity

3. Larry David, dentsuMB “Don’t Miss Out” On Super Bowl Spot For FTX

4. Kia, David&Goliath, Director Nicolai Fuglsig Go Beachcombing To Help Sea Turtles

5. W+K, Somesuch Director Raine Allen-Miller “Do Your Thing” For TurboTax

6. Top Spot of the Week: Director Jim Jenkins, TBWA\Chiat\Day LA, The Mill Bring “Ghostbusters,” MLB Together For DIRECTV STREAM

7. Taika Waititi Directs Jennifer Aniston In Idorsia Spot For Goodby Silverstein

8. The Best Work You May Never See: Rosie May Bird Smith Writes, Directs “Herd Immunity” Via Havas Studios, Havas London

9. Goodby Silverstein, Director Harold Einstein Do The “Splits” For Califia

10. Mike Myers’ Dr. Evil Is “Back For Good” In General Motors’ Super Bowl Spot From McCann Detroit

11. Sarah McLachlan Makes Spot Shift From Sadness To Laughter In PSA Spoof For Bolt From Maximum Effort

12. Director Harold Einstein Gets “Lost” For Dole Fruit Bowls, Erich & Kallman

13. McCann, MRM Debut “Premature” Super Bowl Spot For Enfamil, NICU Babies

14. Commonwealth//McCann, Director Simon McQuoid Get Maternal, Comedic For Chevy Bolt

15. Pamela Adlon Directs Thinx’s “Saved by Sister” For OBERLAND

16. Jared Malik Royal Directs Billy Dee Williams In MassMutual Spot For Grey NY

17. Top Spot of the Week: Samuel Bayer Directs Short Chronicling CORE’s Ukraine Relief Effort

18. W+K, Director Nick Ball Ensure That No Thought Is Left Behind In HP Brand Film

19. The Best Work You May Never See: Leo Burnett Germany, Directors Dorian & Daniel, The Mill Berlin Tell Spider Love Story For Samsung

20. McCann, Director Fredrik Bond Shed Light On Blind and Partially Sighted In Spot Introducing Touch Card By Mastercard

21. The Best Work You May Never See: Stop Homophobie, Pantone, TBWA\Paris Unfurl “Colors of Love” So The LGBT Rainbow Flag Can Continue To Wave

22. Director Craig Gillespie, Erich & Kallman Enter The “Situation Room” For Roomba

23. Emma Watson Makes Directorial Debut For Prada Paradoxe, McCann Paris

24. Top Spot of the Week: Pringles, Grey NY, Director Tom Kuntz Adopt Can-Do Attitude For Super Bowl

25. Top Spot of the Week: DIRECTV, TBWA\Chiat\Day LA Mesh Pro Football With Reality TV In “The Wives’ House”