Turning Bisquick into Pop Culture Gold with Pereira O'Dell
When Fargo Featured Bisquick, This Agency Made It a Moment
Picture this.
You are watching the season finale of Fargo. A box of Bisquick sits at the center of the plot. Most brands would do nothing. Pereira O'Dell saw an opportunity.
They quickly designed a special Bisquick box inspired by the show’s main character. They released it in a small Midwest store. It was social-first. It tapped into culture. It got people talking.
Jason Apaliski, Chief Creative Officer at Pereira O'Dell, shared this story on the Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast. For him, it shows how creative work thrives at the intersection of advertising, technology, and entertainment.
Why This Approach Matters
For anyone working in advertising, or hoping to, this way of thinking is essential.
People do not want ads that interrupt their lives. They want ideas that feel connected to culture. The best agencies understand this. They do not just sell products. They create moments people want to share.
Pereira O'Dell has built its reputation on this approach. They look for cultural moments. They move quickly. They help brands become part of the story instead of staying on the sidelines.
This article explores how they do it and shares lessons you can use in your own work.
Blending Advertising, Technology and Entertainment
Jason Apaliski says the agency is at its best where these three worlds meet:
Advertising: Work that solves real business problems.
Technology: Tools and channels that make new ideas possible.
Entertainment: Stories and culture people care about.
Pereira O'Dell does not pick one lane. They combine them. The goal is to create work that feels alive, modern, and culturally relevant.
This mindset sets them apart from agencies that rely on formulas or slow, predictable cycles.
Nimble, Social-First Ideas
The Bisquick x Fargo project was not months in the making. It was fast and nimble.
When the team noticed Bisquick was featured in the Fargo finale, they reacted. They designed a custom box and released it in-store. The idea was made to be shared on social, talked about, and remembered.
Jason Apaliski says this kind of work only happens when teams are:
Paying close attention to culture
Empowered to act quickly
Willing to try new things without fear
If you are working in a creative team or want to, ask yourself: Are you ready to move that fast?
Entertainment Is Essential
Pereira O'Dell does not see entertainment as an extra. It is central to how they connect brands with people.
Instead of interrupting what audiences love, they aim to become part of it.
Jason Apaliski believes tapping into shows, music, movies, and pop culture helps create emotional connections. Work becomes memorable, sharable, and more effective.
For any creative, this is an important lesson. Great advertising today often looks less like an ad and more like culture itself.
What Aspiring Creatives Can Learn
For anyone starting out or looking to level up, Pereira O'Dell’s approach offers clear lessons:
Embrace intersections. Look for ideas where advertising, tech, and entertainment overlap.
Move quickly. Cultural moments do not wait. Be ready to act.
Stay curious. Know what people care about.
Make work people want to share. Do not settle for checking boxes.
Jason Apaliski says this way of thinking is why Pereira O'Dell stands out. It is also why young creatives who think this way get noticed.
Want to Learn More?
Check out Jason Apaliski’s full interview on the Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast.
He shares:
His journey from art teacher dreams to Chief Creative Officer
How Pereira O'Dell works with the global Serviceplan network while staying independent
Why mentoring the next generation matters so much
Advice for building a portfolio that stands out
If you want to grow as a creative or break in for the first time, this episode is filled with insights you will not want to miss.
Listen now!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx35Zp-LmbQ&ab_channel=Breaking%26EnteringAdvertising
Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1VnfWmE4q1TOSpRgxeyUnZ?si=VHg0ld6dSkOguj0DPmA5_g
Leave a review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-and-entering-advertising-podcast/id1506434104
