Business & Tech
Oak Lawn Toyota Dealership Parodies 'SNL' Skit with 'Keys in a Box' Commercial
The "Keys in a Box" video has been called "the year's most cringeworthy SNL parody," "sublime," and "the best worst Toyota dealership ad."
Screenshots via YouTube.
What began eight years ago as a not-safe-for-work skit on “Saturday Night Live” has formed the basis for arguably the most successful and slightly uncomfortable advertisement an Oak Lawn car dealership has ever created.
The “Keys in a Box” video from Oak Lawn Toyota stars two greasy smooth-talking men who have found the perfect Christmas present for that special someone — the keys to a Toyota in a box.
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As of Dec. 15, 2014, the video had more than 68,000 views on YouTube.
The original song and video by comedy troupe The Lonely Island premiered on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in Dec. 2006. It featured similarly cheesy early-‘90s-style R&B Romeos, played by Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg. Only, the original gift presented in a box wasn’t keys.
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The Oak Lawn Toyota advertisement is the handiwork of Internet sales manager Joe Mallet, who wrote, filmed and directed the video, according to the YouTube credits. The music is by Rico Vigil and Augie Rampolla, and Parker Gadbois (long hair) and Abby Urbano (woman) star in the video, alongside Mallet (pink shirt).
The Internet accolades have been rolling in. AdWeek called ”Keys in a Box” the year’s most cringeworthy SNL parody, but also “pretty well done, actually.”
Edmunds.com said “Oak Lawn Toyota’s Music Video Rocks.” FastCompany called it both “sublime” and “eight years late.” It’s also been praised as “The Funniest Commercial Ever” and “The Best Worst Toyota Dealership Ad.”
According to the Southtown Star, the idea to parody the wildly-popular “Saturday Night Live” skit came from Joe Webb, with the automotive advertising firm DealerKnow.
The owner of Oak Lawn Toyota, Ronnie Colosimo, told the Southtown Star that the Toyota corporate office in California said the video was great, and Toyota’s corporate advertising company in New York loved it as well.
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