RATT Problem: Six Years Later — The Commercial That Brought Laughs During The Covid Lockdown
- TFE
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
In April 2020, as the world entered what felt like the 97th month of the Covid lockdown (even though it had technically only been about eight weeks), Geico absolutely hit the ball out of the park with its comedic masterpiece: “RATT Problem.”
What nobody realized at the time was that this commercial would become a full-blown cultural timestamp — and the blueprint countless commercials would later imitate. Suddenly, 1980s glam rock came crashing back into suburban living rooms everywhere, usually through the lens of confused homeowners, insurance commercials, and over-the-top nostalgia.
The ‘80s were officially back with a vengeance.
Only this time… they came back with a sense of humor.
The era that once took itself so seriously was now joyfully laughing at its own excess — the hairspray, the leather, the volume, the drama, the unapologetic rock-star indulgence of it all.
Geico’s brilliantly named “RATT Problem” featured Stephen Pearcy and the band RATT essentially invading the peaceful home of an unsuspecting suburban couple who simply wanted to enjoy the rewards of homeownership and their excellent choice of Geico insurance.
Unfortunately, the house came with one major issue:
RATTs.
Need something from the refrigerator? Too bad — RATT is rehearsing in the kitchen.
Trying to brush your teeth before bed? Sorry — Stephen Pearcy has somehow taken over the bathroom too.
And just when Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner think things couldn’t possibly get any more absurd, Stephen himself appears at the mirror, fluffing his iconic black hair before casually yelling:
“Jen… we’re out of hairspray!”
Peak 1980s rock-star emergency.
What makes the commercial even funnier in hindsight is that it was filmed in November 2019 — before anyone had the slightest clue what 2020 was about to become. By the time it aired in April, the entire world had changed. Back then, we had blissfully booked a Live Nation Summer Tour for 2020 (cancelled by May 2020), of which most people still believed we were only enduring a “two-week shutdown to flatten the curve.” Eight weeks later, everyone was still sitting at home in sweatpants disinfecting groceries and wondering what day it was.
And right in the middle of all that uncertainty came this completely ridiculous, perfectly timed commercial that somehow made everyone laugh.
That’s why “RATT Problem” became more than just a funny insurance ad.
It became a bridge between two worlds:
the world before 2020… and the world after it. Even Variety took notice of the brilliance behind the campaign.
A reminder of the final era when life still felt normal, carefree, loud, and slightly ridiculous before everything shifted overnight.
But most importantly, the commercial captured something we all needed at the time:
Proof that even in the middle of chaos, people could still laugh.
And honestly, if you can still laugh while Stephen Pearcy is primping his hair in your bathroom while RATT rehearses in your kitchen…
maybe everything really is going to be okay after all.
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