H&R Block ads: Starring George Takei, scripted by the tax code

H&R Block Inc. has rolled out new commercials for the final push to the April 15 tax filing deadline. These star actor George Takei and were scripted by the U.S. tax code.

The “Odes from the Code” spots have Takei sunbathing, celebrating his 70 1/2 birthday, explaining taxidermy and, in one ad, holding his arms out in disbelief over what the tax code says.

“There are over 4 million words in the United States tax code. We know them all,” Takei says in each ad as an image of Block taxman-pitchman Richard Gartland appears.

Here’s the ad featuring a rabbit’s foot keychain and the code explaining that it ain’t taxidermy for tax purposes unless it uses “a part of the body of the dead animal.”

H&R Block has been running various marketing pushes during the tax season. Early spots continued its Get Your Billions Back campaign from last year and a more recent promotion launched a half-price offer for filers who switch from another preparer.

The website Marketing Land noted that Block’s Takei campaign has a social media element to it with the former Star Trek actor and Block tweeting about the ads.

And others are adding to the traffic.

This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM with the headline "H&R Block ads: Starring George Takei, scripted by the tax code."