Yahoo! signs up Ben Stiller’s parents to front web videos
CANNES: Yahoo! is producing a series of web videos featuring the actor Ben Stiller’s parents, comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.
The web company made the announcement at the Cannes Lions 2010 International Advertising Festival today (Tuesday), in a presentation by Yahoo! chief marketing officer Elisa Steele, Stiller himself and Goodby Silverstein’s creative director Jeff Goodby.
Yahoo!’s videos will feature Stiller’s parents discussing news headlines and events in a comedic, unscripted way.
The videos form part of Yahoo!’s foray into branded online content, a major theme for brands and agencies in Cannes this week.
Yahoo is also supporting Stiller’s charity ’Stillerstrong’, which spoofs the cyclist Lance Armstrong. They are aiming to raise $50k (£34k) to build a school in Haiti.
Stiller told the audience: “The bar is pretty high in the expectation of humour in advertising. A project like this is perfect for the web. You might even get to hear my mum’s views on BP and Tony Hayward.”
