# Creepy commercials **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** commercials-ads\ **Created:** [April 17, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152 "2025-04-17T22:41:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/21 "2025-04-18T12:34:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The husband seems like he’s ready to flip out at any moment. The wife seems to be in fear of her life if her husband finds out the stew is from a can. The daughter looks like she’s just waiting for a bloodbath. Agreed. It’s like a surreal hostage situation. The flat affect of the dad, the mom repeatedly saying “hmm?” as if she’s in a ketamine trance, the daughter silently looking on. But those ‘Little Baby’s Ice Cream’ ads, woah. If David Lynch ever saw those, _he_ probably went “WTF was _ **that** _?” Is it weird that I now suddenly have a craving for some melty vanilla ice cream? ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/22 "2025-04-18T13:22:50Z")
I may have trouble eating vanilla for a while. What screwed up psycho came up with those? Rhetorical, seriously don’t want to know. I still don’t see the creepy factor in the stew one. Aside from the fact of the expected gender norms and behaviors of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/23 "2025-04-18T13:40:30Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > I still don’t see the creepy factor in the stew one. Aside from the fact of the expected gender norms and behaviors of the time. I think it’s the odd silences…and building tension…awaiting the inevitable explosion when the husband finds out it’s canned stew. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/24 "2025-04-18T13:49:25Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > > [@Patx2](#): > > > > Any commercial on American tv that advertises prescription drugs, and then goes off about the list of side effects. > > My favorite side effect is “death has occurred.” Mine, in a parody commercial from c. 2 decades ago, was “get the head of a Golden Retriever.” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/25 "2025-04-18T14:13:14Z")
Anything by Trolli, but this gets “honorable” mention! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WKPAgb6HoeE/maxresdefault.jpg "Trolli Bag :15 | Trolli") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKPAgb6HoeE) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/26 "2025-04-18T14:20:37Z")
I remember when that ice cream commercial was on. Definitely creepy. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/27 "2025-04-18T14:23:13Z")
The face caress. 😬 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JgSv1SKCteQ/hqdefault.jpg "Snickers Halloween Grocery Store Lady") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgSv1SKCteQ) ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/28 "2025-04-18T14:46:50Z")
It was creepy right until the reveal. I did not see that coming. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/29 "2025-04-18T15:40:40Z")
The Burger King and Jack in the Box ads featuring people dressed up like the characters were creepy. The fact that Burger King had a video game where the mascot sneaked up on people and gave them burgers was double creepy ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/30 "2025-04-18T15:59:42Z")
> [@Patx2](#): > > Any commercial on American tv that advertises prescription drugs, and then goes off about the list of side effects. That always comes after the disclaimer, if you’re allergic to drug XYZ, don’t take it. One of Dave Barry’s books, probably a good 20 years ago or so, had a bit about prescription drug ads where he says they are basically sending you two equally urgent yet conflicting messages: - You absolutely need to be taking this medication _right now!_ - This medication will probably kill you. And to this day I cannot see a prescription drug ad without that running through my head. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/31 "2025-04-18T16:12:10Z")
I didn’t notice any of the creepy things that others had mentioned about the stew commercial. What bothered me was how she got enough stew for all three of them, and be able to provide a second helping, out of what appeared to be a single 15-ounce can. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/32 "2025-04-18T16:14:46Z")
That was my first thought too, and also all the noise that can would have made being tossed in the metal garbage can. I think the mom is a bit distracted because she’s not sure which bowl has the arsenic in it. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/33 "2025-04-18T16:20:46Z")
I couldn’t figure out why a big section of that guy’s head was missing until I saw the tongue coming in at the end. Yikes! Yeah, creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/34 "2025-04-18T17:05:30Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > not sure which bowl has the arsenic in it. Reminds me of the ending of _Montenegro_ (1981). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/35 "2025-04-18T17:16:35Z")
The ice cream ads absolutely take the definition of creepy to levels beyond anything else. And it’s as awesome as hell!!! ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/36 "2025-04-18T17:42:03Z")
I know. That actor really did commit to the bit ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/37 "2025-04-18T18:33:40Z")
I love Dave Barry, and he always seems to nail the quirkiness of American society. I always thought early McDonald’s ads were creepy, too. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/38 "2025-04-18T18:55:25Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > How about Paul Lynde being snide, and a coffee pot that ejaculates three feet across the kitchen table? More funny than creepy. This one has a creepy ending- [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4-izxXJgnuQ/hqdefault.jpg "Very creepy commercial from the 70's") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-izxXJgnuQ) ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/39 "2025-04-18T19:21:27Z")
The “Johnny Smoke” anti-smoking commercials creeped me out to the point where I closed my eyes when they came on. Don’t ask me to provide a link; I don’t wanna see it. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152/40 "2025-04-18T19:38:26Z")
Oh man, I remember those from when I was a kid and yeah, they creeped me out too. But now I think I’d kinda like to see one, just to see what it was that creeped out six year old me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-commercials/1017152.md?page=3)