MLB Network Stars Just ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’ In Hilarious Spot by The Collective @ LAIR

MLB Network and The Collective @ LAIR joined forces to produce a new promo featuring the stars of MLB Network’s award-winning signature show MLB Tonight. Set to REO Speedwagon’s infectious classic ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling,’ the spot cleverly uses super slow motion to capture the analysts’ passion (and some flying food) while watching pennant chase baseball.

Featuring MLB Network analysts Mark DeRosa, Cliff Floyd, Al Leiter, Kevin Millar, Dan Plesac, Harold Reynolds and Bill Ripken, who have a combined 19 Postseason appearances, the spot relays to viewers that when it comes to the best baseball coverage, these former players can’t fight the excitement and neither should we.

Director Thor Raxlen incorporated super-slow motion with the use of a Phantom Flex to capture every ecstatic facial expression, overflowing torrent of iced tea and overturne​d ​​plate of BBQ as the guys watched a walk-off home run call by Cleveland Indians radio​ ​play-by-play broadcaster Matt Underwood. ‘It’s hard to settle on who deserves the Oscar​ ​for this performance,’ Raxlen joked, ‘between the flying hot dogs, Al Leiter’s hair, or​ ​Bill Ripken's socks in this one.’

MLB Network and The Collective @ LAIR conceived, produced and directed this promo on the tail of winning Promax Bronze for their 2016 collaboration on “Mookie and Buckner in ‘Catching Up,’” a spot featuring former Major Leaguers Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner marking the 30-year anniversary of the classic Game Six of the 1986 World Series.

Known for their integrated creative and production capabilities, The Collective @ LAIR’s previous clients include Bentley, Bose, History Channel, Discovery, RAM, McDonald's and more. 

CREDITS

Client: MLB Network

Production Company: The Collective @ LAIR

MLB Network Credits:

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Promotions: Mary Beck

Vice President, Marketing & Promotions: Steve Miller

Writer/Producer/Sr. Director, Marketing & Promotions: Christopher Impomeni

Writer/Producer/Editor: Rich Baron

Senior Designer: Jeff Clark

Production Manager: Dan Pericone

The Collective @ LAIR Credits

Director: Thor Raxlen

Director of Photography: Ben Dolphin

Executive Producer: Mark Aji

Editor: Julio Alvia