This Sunday, February 7, the Kansas City Chiefs take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. But let’s be honest, who cares about football? It’s all abut the half-time performance and big-budget commercials.
This year, John Travolta is one of the famous faces popping up in between plays. In an ad for Scotts Miracle-Gro, the beloved actor is reliving his Grease days and he’s not doing it alone. In the 45-second spot, the 66-year-old actor attempts to film what looks like a TikTok video of his legendary Danny Zuko dance moves — hand-jive and all — alongside his real-life daughter, Ella.
“Super Bowl for me is a major yearly celebration,” Travolta noted in a statement. “When Scotts Miracle-Gro asked me to do an ad for the Super Bowl with my daughter I was thrilled, especially since we were asked to dance together. We had a blast honoring the backyard along with all of these wonderful people, in our “Sunday Best” for Super Bowl Sunday.”
Ella, who is the daughter of Travolta and the late Kelly Preston, who died in July 2020 at the age of 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer, said she always looks forward to watching the Super Bowl, particularly “the great commercials.”
“When Scotts Miracle-Gro offered my dad and I this opportunity, I was overjoyed to share this amazing experience — not to mention dance together!” the 20-year-old chimed in. “We are so excited to pay homage to the backyard along with all of these incredible people and are “feeling good” spending time outside on this Super Bowl Sunday,” she concluded.
The ad also features The Office star, Leslie Baker, The Mandalorian actor, Carl Weathers, NASCAR driver, Kyle Busch, health and wellness expert, Emma Lovewell, and none other than Martha Stewart, who takes the words right out of our mouths.
“He’s still got it,” she exclaims.
According to AdWeek, Scotts Miracle-Gro purchased the ad slot in mid-January for $5.5 million. To be included as an advertiser in CBS’ live stream of the Super Bowl, companies had to pay an additional $300,000. Travolta likely scored a hefty paycheck as well. The NY Post reports Arnold Schwarzenegger made an estimated $3 million alone from his 2014 Bud Light spot and in one of the most famous Super spots, Brad Pitt reportedly collected more than $4 million for Heineken — and the ad only aired a single time in 2005.
Travolta memorably starred as a member of the slick move T-Birds at Rydell High, alongside Olivia Newton-John, in the 1978 musical Grease. The actress appeared on the podcast A Life of Greatness earlier this week, and responded to people who have criticized her popular film for being sexist, calling the comments “kind of silly.”
“I think in this particular instance, it’s kind of silly because the movie was made in the 70s about the 50s. It was a stage play, it’s a musical, it’s fun. It’s a fun movie musical and not [meant] to be taken so seriously,” the 72-year-old told host, Sarah Grynberg. “I think everyone’s taking everything so seriously,” the actress added. “I think we need to relax a little bit and just enjoy things for what they are and I didn’t see it like that at all, I think it’s just a fun movie that entertains people. That’s all.”
