Commercial Characters you love or hate

[cjk374]

Subservient Chicken??   

Yup.  As in, "Have it Your Way."  The campaign included a web site with the submissive chicken-in-a-garter-belt (Iknowright?) character in a bland, dingy apartment that looked like it was used to shoot porn, responding to hundreds of commands a user typed.  David Lynch must have been jealous he didn't come up with it.



Don't you feel like a sandwich now?

I have never seen or heard of this character before...he gets placed in the same catagory as the plastic-headed King. 

[Pete from Boston]

Same ad agency, it turns out.  New owners of BK have sadly gone in a different direction.

[Takumi]

Also, I love Mayhem from those insurance commercials, I think they're Allstate.  Is that actor on that Grand Rapids TV show now?

That would be Dean Winters. He's been on Law & Order SVU in the past, first in season 1 (replaced by Ice-T's character), then recurring from seasons 13-15 as the same character he played before.

[bandit957]

Another one of my favorite commercial characters was Inspector 12. Inspector 12 was an old woman who inspected underwear in the Hanes underwear commersh.

When I was in high school, someone shat their briefs and deposited them on the floor of the school bus. So one of my classmates declared, "Inspector 12 is gonna be mad!" It was so funny!

[vtk]

Tom Bodett is cool too. I like how Motel 6's campaign has featured the same guy for as long as I can remember, but it's kept up with the changing times. I just looked him up to figure out the spelling, and was surprised to find out he's not as old as I thought.

[bandit957]

One of the most annoying commercial characters to me was Dusty Lenscap, the mascot of Kmart's photo processing department. I don't remember him ever being in a TV commercial, but he was in radio commercials. He also appeared as a clay-like figure on some of the photo envelopes.

He annoyed me because Kmart had a tendency to lose or ruin photos.

[roadman]

Anyone remember the Gum Fighter from the commercials for Hubba Bubba bubble gum? He was cool.

The Gum Fighter (played by Don Collier) was this big, tough cowboy in an Old West town who would always exhibit Hubba Bubba's amazing capabilities. Hubba Bubba's big selling point back then was that it didn't stick to your face when you blew bubbles, and the Gum Fighter would always blow a huge bubble to demonstrate this. Then he turned to the camera and declared, "Big bubbles, no troubles!"

This was one of the most creative advertising campaigns in the history of advertising campaigns.

Now you've got me thinking of Bill Cosby's "Buck Jones" routine.

[PHLBOS]

Now you've got me thinking of Bill Cosby's "Buck Jones" routine.

Speaking of Bill Cosby; during the 70s and 80s, he did a boatload of commercials for Jell-O (for Jell-O Pudding), Kodak Film, Ford, Texas Instruments and Coca-Cola.  With the latter, he lost all advertising credibility with the public when he did an a 1985 ad. introducing New Coke.

[nexus73]

My fave: The "mayhem" guy from Allstate.  Super stunts and funny as can be!

Honorable mention: The Most Interesting Man In The World for Dos Equis (?) beer.  The guy doing the commercial gets used a lot on retitled pix for people poking fun at others.  "I don't always throw five interceptions in a game but when I do I go to the Super Bowl!" referencing Russell Wilson was one of the latest I saw.

Most polarizing: Flo for Progressive.  She's fine by me but my ersatz stepson can't stand her.  I like the way she just sort of toodles along with all that goes on around her.

Older commercials: Jim Varney, no matter what he's selling.  Know what I mean Vern?

Rick

[Pete from Boston]

Now you've got me thinking of Bill Cosby's "Buck Jones" routine.

Speaking of Bill Cosby; during the 70s and 80s, he did a boatload of commercials for Jell-O (for Jell-O Pudding), Kodak Film, Ford, Texas Instruments and Coca-Cola.  With the latter, he lost all advertising credibility with the public when he did an a 1985 ad. introducing New Coke.

I never really connected his credibility with the failure of New Coke.  I think people still loved the guy until he a) got a reputation for being a crusty old jerk, then b) got a reputation for drugging women for sex.

[PHLBOS]

Now you've got me thinking of Bill Cosby's "Buck Jones" routine.

Speaking of Bill Cosby; during the 70s and 80s, he did a boatload of commercials for Jell-O (for Jell-O Pudding), Kodak Film, Ford, Texas Instruments and Coca-Cola.  With the latter, he lost all advertising credibility with the public when he did an a 1985 ad. introducing New Coke.

I never really connected his credibility with the failure of New Coke.  I think people still loved the guy until he a) got a reputation for being a crusty old jerk, then b) got a reputation for drugging women for sex.

Pete, I stated advertising credibility not credibility in general (see the quoted-post you copied).  Case in point: following that 1985 New Coke ad. (which was one of the worst product/marketing disasters of the 20th century), I do not believe he did any more commercials for Coca-Cola or anybody else for that matter.  If anybody can prove otherwise, feel free to post (with sources).

I'm sorry, but the timing of such was just way too coincidental. 

One needs to remember that prior to the rollout of New Coke; Cosby's previous ads promoting Coke were bashing Pepsi (remember the Pepsi-Challenge commercials that simultaneously were taking place back then?) to no end.  Many saw Cosby's New Coke ad. as a guy selling out for the (failed) product.

The public still loving the guy for decades later (until certain allegations came about) and advertising credibility shot for endorsing a product that was a major bomb are two different things.

[Big John]

^^ Cosby continued with Jello ads through the 1990s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJhjf7KUyko

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/17/bill-cosby-jell-o-togethe_n_578592.html

[Pete from Boston]

Now you've got me thinking of Bill Cosby's "Buck Jones" routine.

Speaking of Bill Cosby; during the 70s and 80s, he did a boatload of commercials for Jell-O (for Jell-O Pudding), Kodak Film, Ford, Texas Instruments and Coca-Cola.  With the latter, he lost all advertising credibility with the public when he did an a 1985 ad. introducing New Coke.

I never really connected his credibility with the failure of New Coke.  I think people still loved the guy until he a) got a reputation for being a crusty old jerk, then b) got a reputation for drugging women for sex.

Pete, I stated advertising credibility not credibility in general (see the quoted-post you copied).  Case in point: following that 1985 New Coke ad. (which was one of the worst product/marketing disasters of the 20th century), I do not believe he did any more commercials for Coca-Cola or anybody else for that matter.  If anybody can prove otherwise, feel free to post (with sources).

I'm sorry, but the timing of such was just way too coincidental. 

One needs to remember that prior to the rollout of New Coke; Cosby's previous ads promoting Coke were bashing Pepsi (remember the Pepsi-Challenge commercials that simultaneously were taking place back then?) to no end.  Many saw Cosby's New Coke ad. as a guy selling out for the (failed) product.

The public still loving the guy for decades later (until certain allegations came about) and advertising credibility shot for endorsing a product that was a major bomb are two different things.

You may have read up more than I have on his advertising caché and its ups and downs.  I would expect his personal appeal and his "advertising credibility" are inextricably linked, that the latter is (was) primarily a product of the former.  Admittedly, advertising is a funny thing that doesn't always follow logic, but I don't think folks rejected Cosby because he judged poorly the merits of New Coke any more than they initially felt he was trustworthy because he chose to endorse original Coke.

The Wikipedia article on New Coke has an unreferenced statement that "the fiasco led Bill Cosby to end his advertising for Coke, saying his commercials that praised the superiority of the new formula had hurt his credibility," implying that this was Cosby's opinion.  This makes it sound more like Cosby jumped from a sinking ship. 

It just doesn't add up that even if this was his position, that Cosby's advertising value would have dried up at a point where his popularity was in the stratosphere.  Remember that he was two years removed from a hugely popular stand-up movie, had just finished the first season of the most dominant sitcom of the decade, and was transcending mere celebrity to become a phenomenon whose every move was followed with national interest.  (After "Leonard Part Six" maybe a different case could be made.)

[roadman]

Now you've got me thinking of Bill Cosby's "Buck Jones" routine.

Speaking of Bill Cosby; during the 70s and 80s, he did a boatload of commercials for Jell-O (for Jell-O Pudding), Kodak Film, Ford, Texas Instruments and Coca-Cola.  With the latter, he lost all advertising credibility with the public when he did an a 1985 ad. introducing New Coke.

In the late 1980s, I was looking for one of Cosby's old comedy albums in an used record store.  The hand written name divider in the rack read  "Bill - I'll sell anything - Cosby".

[sbeaver44]

Gary LaPierre (a former WBZ anchor) hawking the legal services of a firm that advocates sheltering assets to avoid paying for nursing home services ("They helped me, and I'm sure they can help you.").  Every time I hear the ad, I can't help but be reminded of the WKRP episode where Herb Tarlek had the DJs run ads for "Shady Hills Rest Home" in exchange for the home continuing to care for his mother.

WTOP Radio (103.5 FM, the CBS affiliate all-news station in Washington, D.C.) runs similar ads.

1-800-KarsForKids.  A local charity that takes used cars for a tax credit (and some sort of a vacation voucher).  They have at least two versions of the ad with equally horrible jingles.  Not only that, but unlike other charities that solicit old cars (i.e. Salvation Army), the ads give absolutely no indication as to the charity's actual programs (i.e. where does the money go).

WTOP airs those as well.  Very annoying.

Annoying:

As a Mets fan, I sometimes listen the the WOR radio stream through MLB.tv.  If the Mets could score a run for every Kars for Kids commercial, I think they'd go 162-0.  If I were to donate a car, I would probably pick the Salvation Army just because they've been shown to be one of the most efficient and reputable charities.

We have a local contractor that advertises heavily on TV called West Shore Window and Door.  The man in the ads appears to be holding a coffee cup as he is talking, but he talks with his hands and moves it with little regard to the supposedly hot liquid that is inside it.  I'm pretty sure you can see the liquid is just water.  For some reason, it bothers me every time I see the commercial.

We also have local legal commercials that have an actor saying "Money doesn't solve all your problems, but it sure does help."  For some fundamental reason, that doesn't sit well with me.  I understand the point but I think it could be worded differently.

Good:

I really like the Mercedes-Benz ads with Santa.

I also find humor in the Chrysler commercial where a man keeps repeating "A car like this can only be made in Germany" in German over and over and then becomes frustrated at the end when he sees the Chrysler emblem.

Also, I generally like Flo, although some of the commercials are a little out there. 

Acura had some catchy music in their commercial I saw a few weeks ago.

Donegal car insurance had ads a while back with anthropomorphic numbers and the tagline "see what our numbers can do for you" which I thought was kinda cute.

[Ian]

I absolutely hate that stupid golden hand from those Midas commercials. At the end of this commercial he asks the man in his house to give him a high-five, and the man proceeds to do so, smacking him in the face. After he does so, the hand, in a dazed state, says "Did not see that coming." Really?? You mean to tell me that a floating hand with a face ON THE PALM (very Tim and Eric-esque, btw) didn't see the impending pain when he asked the man for a high-five? It annoys me to no end. I need coffee.

[1995hoo]

Current favorite commercial character: Barles Charkley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EegGwXF194

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X60NihKKNY

[slorydn1]

I absolutely hate that stupid golden hand from those Midas commercials. At the end of this commercial he asks the man in his house to give him a high-five, and the man proceeds to do so, smacking him in the face. After he does so, the hand, in a dazed state, says "Did not see that coming." Really?? You mean to tell me that a floating hand with a face ON THE PALM (very Tim and Eric-esque, btw) didn't see the impending pain when he asked the man for a high-five? It annoys me to no end. I need coffee.

C'mon, I'll drive...........


Annd I have no feet, I really didn't think this through. 

[Pete from Boston]

I really liked Orlando Jones in the series of 7-Up commercials he was in. It was the only time in a generation, since Sugar Ray Leonard and Tug McGraw were doing their commercials, that 7-Up felt like it was hip and relevant.

I mean,

"Make Seven
Up Yours"

is pure gold in my book.

[Ian]

I absolutely hate that stupid golden hand from those Midas commercials. At the end of this commercial he asks the man in his house to give him a high-five, and the man proceeds to do so, smacking him in the face. After he does so, the hand, in a dazed state, says "Did not see that coming." Really?? You mean to tell me that a floating hand with a face ON THE PALM (very Tim and Eric-esque, btw) didn't see the impending pain when he asked the man for a high-five? It annoys me to no end. I need coffee.

C'mon, I'll drive...........


Annd I have no feet, I really didn't think this through. 

For real though, how do you forget that you're a fcking hand? I would think that if I had movable fingers coming out of my head I'd come across thoughts, such as "Hey, may be I shouldn't let something that's my entire body size smack me directly on the face."