Novo Nordisk has launched a new ad campaign for Ozempic starring Justin Long and John Hodgman, directly mimicking Apple's iconic "I'm a Mac" spots from 2006-2009. The ad pits Long's Ozempic against Hodgman's "Other GLP-1s for Type 2 Diabetes" in a painfully long, unfunny game show format. The campaign aims to leverage the actors' prior association with Apple's clever, effective ads.

This marks the latest in a long line of failed attempts to replicate Apple's original campaign magic, following lackluster efforts from Microsoft and Qualcomm. Novo Nordisk's version is criticized for its excessive length and lack of humor, running over three minutes with disclaimers. The pharmaceutical giant is banking on the actors' residual fame to make the campaign memorable.

While Justin Long has found success in other ads, like his 2017 Huawei spot, this campaign feels committee-driven and reliant on viewers remembering two-decade-old Apple commercials. The pharmaceutical industry typically avoids humor in marketing, making this a notable but likely ineffective departure. The campaign's success will depend on whether consumers engage with the health conversation or simply find the ad annoying.