80s Hoff on a billboard? Pretty cool. ALF on a billboard? Now we’re talking. Doritos leans fully into retro fandom with a wild crossover: David Hasselhoff and ALF sharing a classic-looking board to promote the 1987 Hawkins Telethon for Stranger Things.
What is the 1987 Hawkins Telethon?
Doritos opened a direct line to a fictional telethon taking place in 1987, created for the town of Hawkins from Stranger Things. The billboard features a real phone number fans can call to “chip in” and help Hawkins, blurring the line between the show’s universe and the real world.
How does the hotline bring the billboard to life?
The billboard works like a vintage TV promo in static form: once you dial the telethon number, you’re dropped into an 80s-style audio experience, complete with scripted lines, tongue-in-cheek drama, and callbacks to the series. A simple phone number turns a passive impression into an interactive moment.
Why does this work so well as OOH?
The creative is impossible to ignore: big faces, bold copy, and pure 80s nostalgia. By tapping beloved characters and giving people something to actually do (call the number), Doritos turns OOH into a storytelling entry point—not just a logo on a large format.
Doritos, fandom, and Hawkins
This campaign is more than a stunt; it’s a love letter to fans who live for deep cuts and easter eggs. The 1987 Hawkins Telethon proves how brands can use OOH and a simple mechanic like a phone number to extend screen worlds into the streets—and keep Doritos right in the middle of the action.
FAQs about this campaign
What is the Doritos 1987 Hawkins Telethon campaign?
It’s a Doritos x Stranger Things activation featuring an 80s-style billboard with David Hasselhoff and ALF, plus a real phone number fans can call to join a fictional telethon for Hawkins.
Why use Hoff and ALF on the billboard?
Both are iconic 80s personalities, perfectly matching Stranger Things’ retro universe and Doritos’ playful, pop-culture-driven tone.
What happens when you call the telethon number?
Fans are greeted with a scripted 1987-style telethon experience that invites them to ‘chip in’ and help Hawkins, deepening the story beyond the billboard.
Why is this a smart use of OOH?
The billboard grabs attention with familiar 80s faces, then the hotline turns that attention into interaction—bridging physical media and immersive storytelling.
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