Jimmy Fallon jabs South Dakota's Mars campaign

Jimmy Fallon has joined the crowd marveling at South Dakota's humorous marketing campaign selling the state as better than Mars.

It was launched to get the state more attention and was tied to a trending idea that people could volunteer to spend the rest of their days on Mars.

Jodi Schwan reported on the new advertising campaign here and here.

Fallon played the commercial on his late-night talk show Wednesday with the preface of, "This is real, by the way. We didn't make this up."

"Mars," the commercial begins. "The air: not breathable. The surface: cold and barren. But thousands are lining up for a chance to go and never come back."

Cut to images of South Dakota as the narrator continues:

"South Dakota. Progressive. Productive. And abundant in oxygen. Why die on Mars when you can live in South Dakota?"

The final graphic reads: "South Dakota. Plenty of jobs. Plenty of air."

"What?!" Fallon said. "You know you're struggling when the best slogan is "Slightly better than dead."

Watch the video here.