Those of us who were exposed to American commercials over the past few years remember the AT&T Man, I’m sure. He was a loud, dopey guy who tried to be hip in all kinds of settings and failed constantly, never seeming to notice what a dork he is. Lately, his contract seems to have expired, or maybe he’s working on a sit-com or something—who knows?
Anyhow, they’ve got the stand-up comic Carrot-Top doing these ads now. I’ve never liked him. What’s weird (and surely a personality flaw) is that I actually liked AT&T Man. I think I might like crack, too, if I’d only try it. I miss AT&T Man.
So, the latest poll is on: AT&T Man or Carrot-Top? It doesn’t have to be sexual (it’s not in my case), but if any of you are turned on by either of them, well, go ahead and talk about it. Don’t worry—I won’t judge you. Much.
I may not be the first person to make this observation, but I have noticed that commercials regarding any sort of phone service (long distance, collect, whatever) have a unique property that sucks all the comedy out of whatever celebrity is doing them. Remember George Carlin’s phone commercial? Dennis Miller’s? Two of (IMO) the funniest comics working today, and their commercials couldn’t elicit so much as a smirk from me. I think that’s why they went with Carrot Top. If it’s not going to be funny anyway, wh shell out bucks for an actual commedian?
Those 1-800-COLLECT and 1-800-CALL-ATT commercials are all so similar that I can’t tell one from the other. You’d think if they really wanted someone to use their service, they’d make their commercial LESS like the competition’s…
The whole famous personality/long distance (cell phone) phone shill connection is a mystery to me. It’s as if the famous person has decided, “Hey, let me throw my career in the crapper by being as annoying as possible as often as possible for a product almost no one cares much about.”
Candice Bergen, Jamie-Lee Curtis, James Earl Jones. These are all people who had steady work. They must have had some serious money in the bank. What the hell were they thinking?
“Carrot Top” must go. We all know it. He should be captured and sent to work on a squid cannery ship for a decade or two for his crimes against humanity.
I like Carrot Top. He’s harmless. I’ve seen him on Politically Incorrect, and he made fun of himself in a way that I find really appealing. He knows he looks goofy, he knows he’s a prop comic, and he’s okay with that. “Comics” like, say, Pauly Shore, who’s just out-and-out creepy, or even Adam Sandler, whom I suspect has talent and is a nice guy but keeps doing all these unbelievably stupid movies playing really stupid, creepy characters…
Mr. Rilch worked on Carrot Top’s movie “Chairman of the Board”. He said CT was very low-key, polite and no attitude. So the character sucks, but I don’t wish any harm on the person.
WHEN did they change from the Burrowing Owls to the Fighting Owls?!?! Jeez, is nothing sacred any more?
And are they still planning to build the new stadium on top of the Burrowing Owl colony? The one that’s been there for years and gave the school its mascot? Last I heard they were going to wipe out the area for the stadium and parking lot.
And by the way, Temple University also has an owl (generic) for a mascot.