# AT&T's "Remember when you were 5" commercial ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572 "2010-06-01T23:41:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/1 "2010-06-01T23:41:54Z")
… specifically, the guy at the end. Is he supposed to be someone? My girlfriend thought maybe he was Charlie from the original Willy Wonka movie, but a quick Google search ruled that out. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/2 "2010-06-02T12:51:43Z")
I think it’s just a guy. Incidentally, it took about 3 or 4 viewings of that commercial for me to figure out just what the heck they were trying to sell. It’s fun to watch, but not very effective advertising, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/3 "2010-06-02T13:33:57Z")
I like the little smiley face arms and legs man. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/4 "2010-06-02T14:02:42Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > … specifically, the guy at the end. Is he supposed to be someone? Is this the commercial with the paper cutouts having a parade? If you think the guy at the end looks familiar, it might be because, imho, he looks a bitt like the [guy who played Boromir](http://aidanmoher.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Boromir_cool_2.jpg) in the first LOTR movie. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/5 "2010-06-02T14:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > If you think the guy at the end looks familiar, it might be because, imho, he looks a bitt like the guy who played Boromir in the first LOTR movie. Naahhhh – he doesn’t look that sharpe. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/6 "2010-06-02T14:30:20Z")
I did think he bore a resemblance to Bud Cort, but he’s obviously much too young. Glad to see there aren’t a hundred replies here to the effect “You moron, if you don’t recognized _so-and-so_, you’re too stupid to live.” ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/7 "2010-06-02T14:46:46Z")
I hate that commercial! I had to find out what that song was–it makes me gag every time! (no–I never saw “Willie Wonka”.):D. If I had AT&T, I’d cancel it! ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/8 "2010-06-02T16:23:43Z")
The actor is [Dean Chekvala](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dean-Chekvala/212257409112). Oh, that’s weird. The Facebook site apparently belongs to a fan of Mr. Chekvala. There’s another [fan site](http://www.deanfans.co.uk/) for him that lists the commercial. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/9 "2010-06-02T16:29:17Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I think it’s just a guy. > > Incidentally, it took about 3 or 4 viewings of that commercial for me to figure out just what the heck they were trying to sell. It’s fun to watch, but not very effective advertising, IMO. It’s perfect advertising. It conveys the message that AT&T wants to treat us like 5-year-olds. (Plus, for many customers, they could change it to, “Remember when you were 5 years old … and AT&T was the only phone company?”). ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/10 "2010-06-02T16:33:46Z")
Barf. Gene Wilder would be turning over in his grave, if he weren’t still alive. I only hope he’s getting residuals. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/11 "2010-06-02T16:35:45Z")
Hit redial and bring a better cite… [More info]([http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bEYD4aD9d04J:www.shootonline.com/go/index.php%3Fname%3DArticles%26op%3Daction\_print%26id%3Drs-web2-5159982-1273081878-2+](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bEYD4aD9d04J:www.shootonline.com/go/index.php%3Fname%3DArticles%26op%3Daction_print%26id%3Drs-web2-5159982-1273081878-2+)“Dean Chekvala”&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) on the ad, which was created by advertising giant BBDO. Fun note: The characters were created by the production designer’s 5 year old son. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/12 "2010-06-02T16:36:44Z")
I hate that commercial. I just… don’t get it. Why do I want technology made for a five year old? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/13 "2010-06-02T16:43:08Z")
I think it’s saying that their tech is fun not that it’s designed by or for 5 year olds. And thanks to Family Guy I hear the song as “Pure Inebriation”. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/14 "2010-06-02T18:32:25Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Incidentally, it took about 3 or 4 viewings of that commercial for me to figure out just what the heck they were trying to sell. It’s fun to watch, but not very effective advertising, IMO. I still don’t know what they are selling. I didn’t even know it was AT&T until this thread. That’s pretty piss-poor advertising considering that I’ve heard the commercial now about a bazillion times or so. On the other hand, I recognized the commerical immediately from the description, and now I **do** know it’s AT&T, and here we are discussing it… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/15 "2010-06-02T18:41:21Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > If you think the guy at the end looks familiar, it might be because, imho, he looks a bitt like the [guy who played Boromir](http://aidanmoher.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Boromir_cool_2.jpg) in the first LOTR movie. I thought the same thing. Although I think he looks like 006 with a beard. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/16 "2010-06-02T20:18:35Z")
What interests me about that commercial is the difference between the UK and US versions. The UK ad begins with the song’s real intro, that vaguely ominous trio of xylophone-y notes, after which Gene Wilder’s voice slides in. The US version cuts those notes out and starts right at Wilder’s voice and the more orchestral, sunnier accompaniment. A small change but kinda typical of how we Americans are supposed to view childhood. The British get an eerier, almost mystical POV; we get cheery and wondrous. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/17 "2010-06-02T20:39:44Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I did think he bore a resemblance to Bud Cort, but he’s obviously much too young. > > Glad to see there aren’t a hundred replies here to the effect “You moron, if you don’t recognized _so-and-so_, you’re too stupid to live.” It’s “Be Nice to People Too Stupid To Live Day”. Consider yourself forwarned. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/18 "2010-06-02T20:40:51Z")
> [@choie](#): > > What interests me about that commercial is the difference between the UK and US versions. The UK ad begins with the song’s real intro, that vaguely ominous trio of xylophone-y notes, after which Gene Wilder’s voice slides in. The US version cuts those notes out and starts right at Wilder’s voice and the more orchestral, sunnier accompaniment. > > A small change but kinda typical of how we Americans are supposed to view childhood. The British get an eerier, almost mystical POV; we get cheery and wondrous. I remember the commercial with the trio of notes playing, can’t recall if it’s at the end or the beginning however… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/19 "2010-06-03T00:00:43Z")
> [@choie](#): > > What interests me about that commercial is the difference between the UK and US versions. The UK ad begins with the song’s real intro, that vaguely ominous trio of xylophone-y notes, after which Gene Wilder’s voice slides in. The US version cuts those notes out and starts right at Wilder’s voice and the more orchestral, sunnier accompaniment. There’s a shorter version without the ominous notes and a longer version with them included. I’d say that’s more typical of America. ---
**Author:** ![BaconAndEggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@BaconAndEggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaconAndEggs)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572/20 "2010-06-03T00:54:30Z")
I just like the purple alien guy being chased by the bus. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-ts-remember-when-you-were-5-commercial/541572.md?page=2)