They did — but with a little ‘movie magic.’
Eli Manning and Odell Beckham aren’t just one of the better quarterback-receiver combos in today’s NFL. As the Louisiana natives proved in a now-famous commercial for the league that aired during Super Bowl LII — in which they re-created the iconic “leap” from the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing” as part of a faux touchdown celebration — they’ve also got some impressive dance moves.
But as well as that Super Bowl ad was received, how did the New York Giants teammates (and former Isidore Newman School standouts) pull it off? And, more to the point, did Eli really hoist Odell over his head, a la Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey?
Let’s take the second question first. According to Cam Miller, creative director for the advertising agency hired by the NFL to produce the spot — which was, for the record, titled “Touchdown Celebrations to Come” — Eli did, indeed, hoist the 200-pound Odell over his head. Kind of.
“He’s holding him in every take,” Miller said in a post-game interview with Newsday. Miller then added a crucial detail: “There was some help to take a little bit of the weight off. But it’s still work for him.”
Translation: There was some kind of harness involved, which was then “erased” digitally in post-production.
“We kept it as minimal as we possibly could,” Miller said. “We all definitely think they could do that without any help, but I think asking them to do it take after take would be a bit much.”
Mike Cicale, Miller’s fellow creative director, added: “We want to make these guys’ lives a little easier. We also don’t want to injure any players. Let’s just say it was a little movie magic. They do the job and we take extra caution to make sure that they are safe and that it’s not stressful on their bodies.”
But while the leap is easily the highlight of the ad, it’s preceded by some pretty fancy footwork from both Manning and Beckham, courtesy of choreographer Stephanie Klemons, whose day job is associate choreographer on the Broadway smash “Hamilton.” To live up to her standards, the two did something they’re used to in their football lives: practice, practice.
According to Chris Brockman of “The Rich Eisen Show,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that to prepare for the spot — which was filmed two weeks before the big game — Manning hired a ballroom dance coach to get his hips swiveling just right.
With that foundation taken care of, it then came down that singular work ethic that has made the Manning name synonymous with NFL quarterbacking excellence.
“What you saw on set with Eli was sort of what a starting quarterback in the NFL is supposed to do,” Cicale said. “He was there the day before for three hours rehearsing. He was there all day long on the shooting day. He was super-dedicated. That’s why he is who he is.”
Also key: more than a little athletic grace from Beckham, who nailed the lift on the first take.
The result is a commercial that is universally being hailed as one of the best to air during the 2018 Super Bowl. (As of Wednesday morning, it had more than 2 million views on YouTube.) It also inarguably beats retired Manning sibling Peyton Manning’s competing 2018 Super Bowl ad for Universal Studios, which was cute but which hardly generated the kind of post-game buzz as Eli and Odell’s ad.
Because, I suppose, nobody puts Eli in a corner.
“As an artist all you ever want to do is work on something that makes people smile,” choreographer Klemons told Newsday. “And I think this commercial was the laugh that America needed right now, so I’m glad I could be a part of it.”
