Think of the NCAA as a spirit squad. Which is not to be confused with a spirit animal.

One of the new 30-second spots, "Critters," is directed by Academy Award®-nominated husband-and-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who directed several previous spots for the campaign. In the spot, Professor Burke and America's finest agents demonstrate their road-kill expertise. Remarkably, the spot is completely live action, with a real deer, caribou, turtle, porcupine and other creatures appearing alongside the cast. "We actually had all of those animals in the room at the same time. Humor-wise, that's much more interesting than animatronics or CG," said Hamling.

Santa Monica, Calif., Sept. 19, 2011—Farmers Insurance is launching two new TV commercials in its successful University of Farmers® campaign developed by RPA and starring actor J.K. Simmons as Professor Nathaniel Burke. These spots, which add to a catalog released since last September, continue promoting Farmers Insurance by playfully highlighting the expert advice that its knowledgeable agents dispense after receiving in-depth training at the actual University of Farmers in Agoura Hills, Calif.

It's finally happened, this ad is one long knob gag.

Directed by the acclaimed husband-and-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris who are well-respected for their work on music videos and commercials and also received an Academy Award nomination for the film Little Miss Sunshine. Their unique vision brings to life America’s finest agents experiencing larger-than-life insurance scenarios in Professor Burke’s incredible classroom. Professor Burke is actor J.K. Simmons (Juno, Spider Man, Law & Order).

Professor Burke uses a flame-thrower and a giant lint ball to show agents the dangers of laundry-room fires.

See also Farmers Insurance print ads