Coen Brothers Direct Memorable Commericial For Super Bowl XXXVI

Market Wire, 20050229

H&R Block has tapped film directors extraordinaire, the Coen brothers, along with a famous tax tune from the Beatles, to deliver a powerful message to consumers about monumental changes to the country's tax laws. The ad is the first-ever Super Bowl commercial and sponsorship for the nation's largest tax services firm.

This is also the first time the renowned Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, who have directed such box offices favorites as Raising Arizona, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, have put their creative efforts behind a Super Bowl commercial.

Adding to the excitement of the commercial is the Beatle's tune, Tax Man. In fact, H&R Block is the first company to use a song from the Fab Four in a Super Bowl advertisement and just the third to ever use a Beatles number in a television commercial.

For the 30-second commercial, shot in Los Angeles, the Coen brothers use their unique talents to bring to light the dark and confusing world of new tax laws. The ad communicates that turning to H&R Block for answers during tax time is just "plain smart."

WHAT WE HAVE: B-ROLL: Visuals of the making of the commercial and an 8-second preview of the commercial. Soundbites of David F. Byers, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at H&R Block, Inc. and Karl Ploeger, VP of Worldwide Creative Services, H&R Block.

TO RECEIVE BY SATELLITE: C-BAND Wednesday, January 30, 2001 2:01 - 2:15 p.m. EST (11:01 - 11:15 a.m. PT) Telstar 4, Transponder 11 D/L Frequency 3920 (V)

FOR MORE INFORMATION or HARD COPY, PLEASE CONTACT:

Melissa Hardy @ 1-800-325-8677 ext. 315