Moon High halftime action appears in Applebee's commercial

MOON TWP. — Western Pennsylvania high school football conveys a sense of community spirit that Applebee's wanted to associate its restaurant chain with in a new television commercial.

When it came time to pick a school for that high-profile ad, that TV commercial's makers chose Moon Area High School.

If you're among the millions of people who have watched the National Football League playoffs the past few weeks, you've likely seen the Applebee's commercial.

The 60-second spot, titled "Here's To The Regulars," begins with the iconic theme from NBC's 1980s sitcom "Cheers," as words flash on the screen saying "every place depends on its Regulars: Meet some of ours." Viewers next see firefighters, a bustling hair salon, a military veteran, a home supplies store where a clerk greets a family as friends, and a girls' softball team headed to Applebee's. This all happens as the "Cheers" theme continues on toward its big lyrical payoff — "sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name."

At the 34-second mark comes a close-up of the Moon Tiger mascot and cheering fans at packed Moon Stadium for the Oct. 1 homecoming game versus South Fayette. Viewers then see the Moon High cheerleaders rooting on the crowning of Moon Homecoming Queen Chloe Kemp.

"That was very interesting and super surprising," Kemp said. "There's still a lot of excitement here about it."

Ron Ledbetter, the athletic director at Moon High, said one of the school district's parents does location scouting for TV projects and was the person who recommended the commercial's film crew consider Moon.

Moon and South Fayette officials first had to grant permission for filming. Afterward, producers reached out to Ledbetter to identify and get individual clearances from students clearly visible in the commercial like Kemp and fellow Homecoming Court member Richard Mills.

But nobody from the school district knew exactly what footage the commercial would use, or when the commercial would air until it suddenly debuted a few weeks ago.

"The kids were amazed at seeing themselves in a national TV ad," Ledbetter said. "It's been really cool to see all the reaction from the community."

Kemp's phone immediately lit up with excited "did-you-see-it?" well-wishes from friends and family, including her grandfather who had been surprised while watching the NFL playoffs,

"That was extremely cool," Kemp said.

Positive reaction has spread beyond Moon.

"Teddy (Tolliver) The Tiger and the homecoming queen Chloe Kemp are some of our favorite customers," Norm Ely, owner-operator at the Bruster's Real Ice Cream in Hopewell Township posted on Facebook with a video of the commercial.

Ledbetter said the commercial's film crew numbered 40 people and six trucks.

"All that for less than 20 seconds of footage," Ledbetter said. "I was kind of surprised they didn't show more of the football game."

Though he's happy for the students who appear in the commercial, and for the way the community has responded.

"It's a fabulous representation of who we are, filled with Tiger Pride."

In front of a full stadium, Moon's football team won that homecoming game, by a 28-13 margin, en route to reaching the WPIAL Class-5A championship game at Heinz Field.

The commercial, set to run throughout the NFL playoffs and in prime time, earned praise from Muse By Clio, a premier news site covering the advertising industry.

"Director Henry-Alex Rubin serves up a thick slice of comforting American pie, which feels in step with the times, as folks yearn for simple pre-pandemic pleasures like dining out with friends," the site said. "Applebee's same-store sales rose nearly 30 percent during the third quarter of 2021, so the spot represents an effort to maintain momentum amid the Omicron surge."

The commercial might increase Applebee's patronage from Moon area residents, maybe to the neighboring Applebee's in Robinson.

"I can't remember the last time I was at one, but I'll have to be sure to visit Applebee's," Kemp said.

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Scott Tady is the local Entertainment Reporter for The Beaver County Times and Ellwood City Ledger. He's easy to reach at stady@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @scotttady.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Applebee's showcases Moon High halftime action in new commercial