PHILADELPHIA, PA – It’s the holiday season in Pennsylvania, and like every other season for the past thirty years, the Pennsylvania Lottery is airing its twelve days of Christmas commercial again. Even though you may think you have been watching this commercial since you were a child in the 1990s, you haven’t.
The commercial that airs today is not the same one you grew up watching.
The Pennsylvania Lottery’s well-known holiday commercial, a staple since 1992, underwent a high-definition remake in 2012, unbeknownst to many of its viewers. The ad, featuring “Joe,” a character delivering lottery tickets in a snowy neighborhood while carolers sing, was originally shot in Philadelphia and later in Pittsburgh.
The 2012 remake aimed to preserve the original’s essence while adapting to modern televisions’ high-definition and widescreen formats. Despite being a shot-for-shot match of the 1992 version, many viewers remained unaware of the change.
Connie Bloss, who worked on both versions of the ad, emphasized the importance of staying true to the original. The team meticulously matched details from the outfits to the props to maintain the ad’s nostalgic charm. Bloss, serving as the Pennsylvania Lottery’s marketing director in 2012 and an account executive in 1992, recognized the original ad’s beloved status and sought to honor it without significant alterations.
The makeover, while technically updated, sparked mixed reactions among Pennsylvanians, with some feeling a sense of loss for their traditional Christmas viewing experience. The Pennsylvania Lottery, however, remains committed to its original concept, bridging past and present through this enduring holiday advertisement.