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The Wait Is Over

Entered in Food & Beverage

Objective

Close to 130 million people watched the Super Bowl, making it the single most viewed event in the US. And, considering an estimated 1.5 billion wings were consumed during the game, what better time and place to launch our wings? We crafted a spot meant to make people laugh and then to make them think “Hey, maybe I could have gotten better wings for this party.”

Strategy

Popeyes new wings are worth the wait. And it’s a good thing because one wing fan in particular waited fifty years for this moment. Our wing lover from yesteryear, empathetically portrayed by Ken Jeong, asked to be awakened from a cryogenic deep freeze only when a better chicken wing was invented. Popeyes wings fit the bill, and he loves them. He loves them so much he brings them with him on his journey to learn all about this wonderful new world. We tag along on his wide-eyed journey to discover self-driving cars, labradoodles, and drones. And all the while, he loves those chicken wings from Popeyes.

Results

The Eyes

The :30 version ran during the Super Bowl to the tune of 130 million viewers and amassed 6,469,248,087 impressions, reported ABMC PR. Ken Jeong teased the spot to fans on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon – a top-rated late night show in the US. 

The Love

iSpot’s Ace Metrix ranked “The Wait is Over” as the #7 most likable ad of the Super Bowl and it was covered on AdAge, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times.

USA Today and The Washington Post Online picked up the :60 version, which garnered 3.9 million views on YouTube to date.

The Record-breaking Sales

Sales were up 30% from norm on Super Bowl Sunday.

Product awareness grew from 36% to 41% among wing eaters (Morning Consult). Popeyes became the #3 QSR wings seller nationwide in less than three months from launch.

Media

Video for The Wait Is Over

Entrant Company / Organization Name

McKinney, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Entry Credits