Larry David Doesn’t Like Much, But He Loved This Super Bowl Cryptocurrency Ad

variety.com:

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorPret-ty, pret-ty, pret-ty….surprising.FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange, did its best to stand out in its first time advertising at the Super Bowl by tapping an actor who has never appeared in commercials before: Larry David.David, best known for his contrarian, curmudgeonly humor, took to the Super Bowl stage for FTX in a minute-long commercial that showed him turning down some of history’s best ideas, era by era.

In various historical mini-dramas, David dismisses the wheel, the fork, the toilet, the electric light bulb, the Walkman and even the notion of American independence (because “even the stupid ones” will get a chance to influence major political decisions.)He isn’t much for cryptocurrency, either.

After the comedian dismisses many of history’s greatest inventions, someone tries to interest a modern-day David in the new technology. “Nah, I don’t think so,” he says. “And I’m never wrong about this stuff.

Ever.” FTX “had the grapes to make an ad where Larry David says he won’t use the product,” says Jeff Schaffer, who directed the commercial and has worked for years with David on both “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”Embracing David’s antagonism is part of the company’s marketing strategy, notes Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX’s co-founder and CEO. “We need to meet people where they are — and that means embracing skepticism,” he says, in a statement.  “A lot of people who are now the biggest advocates of crypto once had significant reservations.”FTX will no doubt hope to have the best word about a new category of Super Bowl advertising, cryptocurrency.