Three new TV spots for Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” have found their way online and feature a plethora of previously unseen footage.
The first spot, titled ‘Wish I Was There Again,’ focuses on the character of Ira Wright, played by Seth Rogen, and his relationship with George Simmons (Adam Sandler). Cameos in the clip include Jason Schwartzmann, Jonah Hill and Leslie Mann, who plays Simmon’s old flame Laura Anderson.
The second spot is titled ‘Funny Things’ and focuses on Sandler’s Simmons, particularly his relationship with Mann’s Anderson and her husband Clarke, played by Eric Bana. The spot also features Simmon’s meta-film “Redux” which is described as “17 Again” meets “Little Man.” Justin Long cameos in that particular segment.
The last spot is titled ‘New Cast’ and, first of all, introduces the character of Chuck, played by former Wu-Tang Clan member RZA. The rest of the clip plays out like an introduction to the main protagonists with features on Sandler as Simmons, Rogen as Wright, Mann and Bana as the Andersons, as well as Schwartzmann and Hill as Leo Fawcett and Mark Devito respectively.
“Funny People” is out July 31st.
UPDATE: An anonymous commenter asked us if we could identify some of the music from these new TV ads. At The Playlist we aim to please – when capable. The first TV ad again uses Wilco’s “Nothing’severgonnastandinmyway(again)” from their Summerteeth album. The second ad features the Adam Sandler cover of Ringo Starr’s “Photograph,” which then segues into said original song. As for the rest of the music? Beats us. Our guess is that the instrumental music that kicks of the second ad likely came from Schwartzman since he’s involved with the soundtrack (though it isn’t from either of his already-released Coconut Records-monikered albums).
In lieu of concretely answering which songs were performed by which artists in the trailer, we will offer you another cool music-related easter egg: the Beirut shirt that Jonah Hill sports in the 1st TV ad was designed by Jason Munn as part of a collection of limited-edition t-shirts, hoodies and posters called the Insound 20 that gives proceeds from sales to 826 NYC, one of Dave Eggers’ writing-related non-profit workshops. The yellow shirt that Jonah wears in other ads? Yup – that’s also a Jason Munn creation (for the band Grizzly Bear). Check out the rest of Munn’s fantastic work at his website, The Small Stakes.