Martin Short Gets Stuck With Steve Martin’s Bill in Wells Fargo Campaign

Longtime friends and collaborators Martin Short and Steve Martin have earned multiple Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards nominations for playing perpetually bickering friends in Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. Now the duo brings the same dynamic to the first commercial work they’ve done together, in agency BBDO New York’s debut campaign for Wells Fargo consumer credit cards.

The spots emphasize the benefits of Wells Fargo’s Active Cash Credit Card, as Short repeatedly winds up paying for Martin and enjoying the 2% cashback rewards, even as he gets stuck with the bill. Short talks up the perk as Martin makes excuses that he only has Euros while they shop for books that he plans to use as paperweights.

When buying candles that Short hopes will cover up the overpowering smell of Martin’s cologne, the latter reveals that he’s only carrying nickels. After gorging on lobster and oysters, Martin runs off to the bathroom as soon as the check arrives.

The films are filled with self-deprecating jokes and gentle barbs at each other’s expense, like Martin explaining that it takes a lot of calories to be funny, which is why Short only eats salads.

Wells Fargo enlisted the duo because the brand wanted likeable, down-to-earth characters who could help position the credit card as a solution for smart, pragmatic people.

“The thing that most impressed us about Steve Martin and Martin Short was how much they cared about the creative,” BBDO senior creative directors Randy van Kleeck and Mike Tunney told ADWEEK. “They wanted the commercials to be good, so they engaged in multiple writing sessions, wrote tons of jokes and even pitched scripts to our clients on a Zoom call. I guess that comedic work ethic is why their careers have lasted so long.”

The “Be a 2%er” campaign will run across TV, online video, digital, social and owned properties. The goal is to create an ongoing partnership with the comedians that Wells Fargo can continue to build on.

CREDITS

Creative agency: BBDO New YorkChief creative officer of the Americas: Chris Beresford-HillCCO, BBDO NY: Matt MacDonaldExecutive creative directors: Greg Ketchum, Marc KleinSenior creative directors: Randy van Kleeck, Mike TunneyExecutive vice president, director of content production: Alex GianniExecutive producer: Tara ToliverSenior music producer: Melissa ChesterSenior account director: Kristen RocheAccount director: Elizabeth MainiAccount manager: Alyssa ScheibleSenior group strategy director: Shireen JiwanSenior connections planner: Carly DurisBusiness affairs manager: Nancy EspinalAssociate talent director: Pamela SmithProject management director: Nick Vitale

Production company: Biscuit FilmworksDirector: Aaron StollerFounding partner: Shawn LacyHead of production: Sean MoodyDirector of production: Corey WalterExecutive producers: Andrew Travelstead, Holly VegaLine producer: Mala VasanProduction designer: Anthony Gasparro

Editorial company: ArcadeEditor: Jeff FerruzzoAssistant editor: Laurel MetzlerExecutive producer/partner: Sila SoyerSenior post producer: Andrew Cravotta

Celebrity talent management: The Marketing ArmSenior vp, celebrity and influencer: Matt Fleming

Color correct: Coffee + TVColorist: Paul HarrisonCo-founder/executive producer: Chris Chard

Celebrity writing consultantWriter: Matt Roberts

Music: StorefrontComposers: John “Scrapper” Sneider, Adam ElkExecutive producer: Kristen MessierMusic producer: Katie Theobalds

Audio: Sound LoungeAudio engineer: Tom JucaroneExecutive producer: Dana Villarreal

VFX/finishing: Fancy House of VFXExecutive creative director, founder: Randie SwanbergCreative director, owner: Mario CasertaExecutive producer, head of production: Alex TracySenior producer: Janine ConwayLead flame artist: Mark WoitFlame artist: Jared PollackMotion graphics designer: Apollo BaldozVFX tech operations manager: Andrew SantanastasoTech operations: Hope Bankert