# Favorite commercials (and why) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568 "2008-05-01T04:40:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/21 "2008-05-01T21:56:42Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] What commercials do you just really love? I will start with [Nestle Alpine White](http://youtube.com/watch?v=xRBpLL1H3jw) from the 80s… gorgeous song. How many of you 80s kids have been singing this in your heads for the last 20 years? [/QUOTE] Oh, my – thanks for posting that, **Opal**. It has indeed been running through my head for the last two decades. I remember being shocked – SHOCKED – that I didn’t really like white chocolate, since I loved – LOVED – that commercial. The imagery and the song were both very appealing to me; too bad the product wasn’t. I’m not a big fan of appropriating established songs for commercials, but Honda’s use of ELO’s _Hold on Tight_ for its [Accord commercials](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYhrYCBdFp0) was okay by me: the imagery behind the car, coupled with the kick-butt song, made for what I thought was a very successful series of commercials. (Didn’t actually \*buy \* an Accord, but …) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/22 "2008-05-01T21:58:19Z")
This [M&M commercial](http://youtube.com/watch?v=ERMHbCZkVX8) has always been my favorite. I love Patrick Warburton’s deadpan delivery. ---
**Author:** ![mshar253](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@mshar253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mshar253)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/23 "2008-05-01T22:01:36Z")
Somehow I never managed to see [this E\*Trade commercial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-QU3fFvMj4), with the talking baby and the clown, until like 15 minutes ago. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/24 "2008-05-01T22:14:26Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] What commercials do you just really love? I will start with [Nestle Alpine White](http://youtube.com/watch?v=xRBpLL1H3jw) from the 80s… gorgeous song. How many of you 80s kids have been singing this in your heads for the last 20 years? [/QUOTE] Damn! Talk about being hit upside the head by a blast from the past! I forgot that even existed. Let’s home it doesn’t spend the next twenty years in my head… ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/25 "2008-05-01T23:02:16Z")
Oh wow, I’d totally forgotten that M&Ms commercial! And I’d never seen that e-trade one, but it’s hilarious! 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/26 "2008-05-01T23:16:50Z")
Another favorite. This [Sprint/Nextell ad](http://www.funny-commercials.net/watchCommercial.php?funnyCommercial=sprintnextell-ooh-baby-baby). ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/27 "2008-05-02T01:38:24Z")
Two Levis commercials that rock: [Tainted Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ne4X6ucn_Q) (who hasn’t burst into song upon hearing those opening beeps? come on!) [Flat Eric dancing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64KzKcPsHcA) (video isn’t good quality, sorry. I remember crying with laughter the first time I saw this. There are other Flat Eric Levis ads on YouTube, but that one’s my favorite.) ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/28 "2008-05-02T03:30:47Z")
…and speaking of amazing Levis commercials, it would be a shame not to mention [this classic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wxiggZ2JRQ). Si senor! Oh, and [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBEAenjsgOc) too! ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/29 "2008-05-02T03:42:11Z")
I’ve been telling people about this one for years, but I can’t find a video of it anywhere. A guy is warming up at one end of a tennis court. He looks across the court and sees that his opponent is…God. White robe, flowing beard, you name it. God unzips his racket and you see that the head is exactly the size of a tennis ball. But the dude has some new racket or shoes (I honestly don’t remember what the commercial was even for) and after a hard fought battle, God (who has rushed the net) dives to his left but misses a passing shot, giving the guy the victory. Here’s the kicker. As the winner comes to the net to shake hands with God and tell him “Good game,” God turns his back on him and says “yeah, right.”… …and the guy falls over dead. It was totally awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/30 "2008-05-02T03:50:06Z")
In a blast from the past, the all time great one was Stan Freberg’s [Jeno’s Pizza Roll](http://youtube.com/watch?v=SE-NdrzfFOo) ad, with Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels as the Lone Ranger and Tonto. For you youngin’s, the first guy who complained about the music was the star of a Lark’s cigarette commercial that this was a takeoff of - among other things. Good enough to be shown on Johnny Carson as part of the program. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/31 "2008-05-02T12:45:30Z")
Two Super Bowl favorites: [Terry Tate Office Linebacker](http://youtube.com/watch?v=tbSpAsJSZPc) [Apple Macintosh 1984](http://youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8) ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/32 "2008-05-02T13:07:17Z")
[Wall’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgIB1FH5-0s) [Sausages](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa5XlWWPSmU). I liked the idea that the sausages were so good the family dog would fight its owners for them. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/33 "2008-05-02T13:13:12Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Another favorite. This [Sprint/Nextell ad](http://www.funny-commercials.net/watchCommercial.php?funnyCommercial=sprintnextell-ooh-baby-baby). [/QUOTE] I can’t view videos at work. Is this the one in which the girl gets a pony for Christmas? Because that one is hilarious. It’s all in the pony-girl’s delivery. Two other favorites of mine: IKEA’s ‘Do you feel sorry for the lamp? That is because you are crazy!’ one and the reality show parody Tiny House. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/34 "2008-05-02T13:58:13Z")
I think this one was from the late 70s. A Xerox commercial. A Monk acting as a scribe was writing a very elaborate calligraphy like document. His superior says he needs 500 of of them by 5 PM, the monk pondering what to do goes to XEROX for his copies. When the superior sees them he can’t believe it and claims a miracle occurred. The Monk rolls his eyes to heaven and thanks XEROX. I like the juxtaposition of the Monk in medieval garb talking to a 20th century office worker about “modern” machinery. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/35 "2008-05-02T14:17:42Z")
Discovery Channel’s [Boomdiada.](http://youtube.com/watch?v=hhk1EF18akQ) ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/36 "2008-05-02T14:53:05Z")
My favorite commercial ever was for the NYNEX Yellow Pages, back in the 80s. Why? Just because I thought it was clever. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOPHKkBbhzA) It was part of a series, which included similar play on terms such as “furniture stripping” and “vanity cases” ETA: Thanks **Opal** ; I would have never thought to look for it on youtube if it wasn’t for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/37 "2008-05-02T15:37:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Another favorite. This Sprint/Nextell ad. > [@](#): > > I can’t view videos at work. Is this the one in which the girl gets a pony for Christmas? Because that one is hilarious. It’s all in the pony-girl’s delivery. No, it’s the one where three guys are goofing off in their office (dancing to a boom box playing “Oooh Baby Baby”). Another bursts in and tells them about all these crises that are supposedly going on. The guys pause their boom box, whip out their cell phones and laptops, and show that they’re already on top of everything. Then they unpause the boom box and go back to dancing. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/38 "2008-05-02T15:43:15Z")
Haha! Here is the [furniture stripping](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQG-6RbDg-k) one (love the spinning tassels) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/39 "2008-05-02T16:34:31Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] The Coors beer commercial, which I can’t find. “Alex, you better be drinking your water!” Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] Try searching for Stroh’s, not Coors. ---
**Author:** ![lilflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@lilflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilflower)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568/40 "2008-05-02T16:38:03Z")
This is my favorite right now: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJJUGJZxpU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJJUGJZxpU) Edited to add: I forgot to say why I like this. Something about the adults using the childish insults just cracks me up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-commercials-and-why/447568.md?page=3)