Dr Pepper Kicks Off 125th Anniversary Year, Tackles First-Ever Super Bowl Ad

PLANO, Texas, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Pepper, the oldest major soft drink in the U.S., is teaming up with legendary rockers KISS as a first-time advertiser during Super Bowl XLIV. The ad will air in the second quarter of the big game and feature Gene Simmons returning as "Dr. Love" in the next evolution of the brand's "Trust Me, I'm a Dr" campaign. Paul Stanley and the entire KISS lineup will join Simmons to describe Dr Pepper Cherry's uniquely smooth taste - achieved with a "kiss" of cherry flavor.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100105/NY32107)

Throughout its 125-year history, Dr Pepper has created some of the most iconic ad campaigns in America, including "I'm a Pepper," "Be You" and "Just What the Doctor Ordered." AOL.com ranked the 1970s' "I'm a Pepper" ad among the "10 Commercial Jingles We Can't Forget." The new ad is just one element of Dr Pepper's year-long celebration of its 125th Anniversary which kicks off Jan. 25, 2010.

"Being a part of the big game gives us access to nearly 100 million viewers. We're taking this opportunity to reach as many fans as possible to promote our innovative Dr Pepper Cherry flavor and celebrate our 125th Anniversary. This is just the right ad at just the right time," said Tony Jacobs, vice president of marketing for Dr Pepper.

Created by Deutsch LA, the new spot is an extension of the "Trust Me, I'm a Dr" campaign that features notable pop culture "doctors" including Kelsey Grammer (a.k.a. Dr. Frasier Crane), Dr. Dre and Julius Erving (a.k.a. Dr. J). Simmons is the first doctor to be featured a second time.

"When Gene Simmons recruited his band mates to join him in the campaign, we knew it was a perfect combination for a Super Bowl ad - a flavorful new product and flavorful characters," said Jacobs.

For more information on Dr Pepper, visit www.DrPepper.com.

About Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper, a brand of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, is the oldest major soft drink in the United States. Since 1885, the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper have earned legions of fans that enjoy its unique, refreshing taste. The brand is available in Regular, Diet, Caffeine Free and Cherry varieties. DPS is a leading producer of flavored soft drinks, marketing Dr Pepper and 50-plus other beverage brands across North America and the Caribbean. For more information on Dr Pepper, visit www.drpepper.com or www.drpeppersnapple.com.

SOURCE Dr Pepper