Who is in the new Kohl’s commercial with Giannis?
Behind the scenes of Kohl’s holiday spot featuring two unexpected stars
(By Carmichael Phillip)
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Meet the stars: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ellie Kemper
In the new holiday campaign from Kohl’s, the two headline talents are Giannis Antetokounmpo — superstar forward for the Milwaukee Bucks — and actress Ellie Kemper, who plays the beloved “Kohl’s Mom” in the retailer’s seasonal spots. According to company press releases and news outlets, the pairing marks the first time Kohl’s has featured a Milwaukee athlete in a national campaign, and the choice of Kemper leans into a warm, comedic, family-friendly tone.
Giannis brings his on-court star power and hometown roots, while Kemper reprises her role as the face of Kohl’s Mom — the woman who guides families through holiday gift dilemmas.
What the commercial is about
This year’s Kohl’s holiday campaign — described by the retailer as featuring “present predicaments” — positions Giannis in typical festive-shopping situations where he relies on Kohl’s Mom (Kemper) to help him navigate gift buying, wrapping and holiday stress.
For example, in one spot titled “Present Predicaments,” Giannis is stumped about finding the right gifts for his kids, while Kemper offers buildable toy sets and other solution-oriented gifts to save the day.
The campaign runs across broadcast TV (it premiered during a major sports telecast), social media and in-store activations (including live events during the Bucks’ holiday game).
Why Kohl’s chose these two personalities
There are a few strategic reasons behind the casting of Giannis and Kemper together for this campaign:
Giannis gives Kohl’s a credible connection to Milwaukee and sport — which is especially meaningful since Kohl’s is headquartered in Wisconsin, and this is the retailer’s first national campaign featuring a Milwaukee athlete.
Ellie Kemper’s “Kohl’s Mom” persona has become established — she offers humor, warmth and approachability, which helps humanize the brand during the holiday season.
Their tandem allows Kohl’s to appeal to both the sporty/celebrity-fan audience (Giannis) and the family/shopping audience (Kemper). The campaign also builds on the idea that holiday gift-shopping can be fun, stress-free and solution-driven — not just chaotic.
The campaign’s tone (gift dilemmas, wrapping challenges, light-hearted competition) aligns with the broader trend of holiday retail advertising that leans into humorous, relatable scenarios.
What’s in the ad: key moments and themes
Here are some of the standout moments and themes from the commercial campaign:
The ad opens with Giannis looking unsure about what to gift his children or loved ones — perhaps dresses, toys, clothing — the usual “what do you get the superstar dad” angle.
Kemper, as Kohl’s Mom, appears and surveys the situation with a knowing smile, ready to deploy a solution from the extensive assortment at Kohl’s.
There’s a comedic bit where Giannis tries to speak “the elf word” (a line referenced in press coverage) and stumbles, while Kemper effortlessly glides through the scenario.
In one spin, the spot shows “Gift Wrap Gauntlet,” in which Giannis and Kohl’s Mom face off in a contest of best gift-wrapper — highlighting the fun and interactive nature of the campaign.
The commercial emphasizes value, selection and the joy of gifting — Kohl’s is positioned as the go-to for big holiday moments, not just last-minute scramble.
On the activation side, Kohl’s will be sponsoring the Bucks’ Holiday Game and bringing to life in-arena photo-ops with life-size versions of Giannis and Kohl’s Mom, a hot-chocolate bar and wrapping-paper giveaways.
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What this means for shoppers and families
For consumers — especially families and gift-buyers — the campaign offers a few takeaways:
If even a high-profile athlete like Giannis is portrayed as needing help finding the right gifts, then it’s relatable: holiday shopping can be tricky, and the right store helps.
Kohl’s is showcasing itself not just as a retailer of apparel or accessories, but as a destination for “holiday solutions” — toys, wrapping, gifts for kids and adults alike.
The presence of Kemper’s Kohl’s Mom emphasizes the value of guidance, ease and fun in the shopping journey — transforming what might be chore into narrative.
For parents especially, the underlying message is: we’ve got your back. Whether you’re buying for your kids, spouse, your sporty-dad friend, or yourself, Kohl’s wants to be the place you turn.
From a marketing-perspective, pairing a sports star with a family-friendly comedian/actress balances appeal across demographics: sport-fans, holiday-shoppers, value-seekers.
The live event component (in-arena during the Bucks game) ties the campaign to physical experience — making it more than just a TV spot.
Final thoughts: What to watch for
As the campaign rolls out over the holiday period, here are things to keep an eye on:
Additional variations of the commercial will likely appear — for example, the 15-second version titled “Dollhouse” focuses squarely on Giannis hunting for the right toy.
Social-media activations featuring Kemper’s “Hot Takes with Kohl’s Mom” (where she sips a seasonal beverage and comments on holiday traditions) will drive further engagement.
The in-store and live experiences (wrapping stations, photo-ops) may be indicators of how Kohl’s uses experiential marketing to reinforce the campaign message.
From a shopper’s perspective, the campaign suggests that Kohl’s holiday merchandising will lean into “problem/solution” framing — e.g., “What do I get Dad who has everything?” or “How do I wrap quickly?”
For Giannis fans, the spot provides a peek into his off-court persona — approachable, humorous, navigating everyday tasks (even if it’s for a commercial) rather than elite-athlete only.
Finally, if the campaign resonates, we might see similar pairings in future seasons: major sports figures plus established brand celebrities to drive multi-audience appeal.
In summary: If you saw the new Kohl’s holiday commercial and wondered “who’s in it?” — the stars are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ellie Kemper (as Kohl’s Mom). Together, they anchor a playfully warm holiday campaign that positions Kohl’s as not just a store, but a partner in the gifting journey. With humor, charm and star power, the ad aims to make holiday shopping feel a little less daunting and a lot more fun.
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