# Memorable characters in TV ads **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514 "2008-10-18T11:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/21 "2008-10-18T20:45:39Z")
[Crazy Eddie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yYGoO5imyY). He’s INSAAAAAAANE! We got WPIX and WOR on our cable system in the 80s and I probably saw more New York City local commercials than the average non-New-Yorker. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/22 "2008-10-18T21:01:02Z")
Jerry Carroll was “Crazy Eddie” in the famous TV ads. There really was a Crazy Eddie, [whose accounting practices were insane!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Eddie) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/23 "2008-10-18T21:04:08Z")
Mariette Hartley with James Garner for Polaroid cameras. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/24 "2008-10-18T21:08:12Z")
[Molson’s beer “I Am Canadian” ad.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnpVH7kIb_8) This commercial was (arguably) the first time Canadians had stirrings of national identity (and yes, we are aware of how sad that is 😃 ). ETA: I forgot to add how how irritated I am by all the women lying and trying to hide ingredients in food ads. Does anybody actually DO that in real life? ---
**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:** [October 18, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/25 "2008-10-18T21:10:06Z")
What was that one commercial? ‘I’m Rula Lenska. My friends are traveling from Europe.’ ---
**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:** [October 18, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/26 "2008-10-18T21:11:28Z")
Anyone remember [Man from Glad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYkm7ts62VM)? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/27 "2008-10-18T21:14:20Z")
[Terry Tate, Office Linebacker](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=terry+tate+office+linebacker&search_type=&aq=f) – “Da pain train coming! WOOO WOOOOO!!!” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/28 "2008-10-18T21:18:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > What was that one commercial? ‘I’m Rula Lenska. My friends are traveling from Europe.’ That was an Alberto VO5 ad. I used to get her and Lola Falana mixed up because they were both in cosmetics ads at roughly the same time. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/29 "2008-10-18T22:28:37Z")
The romantic instant coffee (Folger’s Crystals?) ads with Giles from Buffy and some woman. He was hot. Don’t remember a thing about her. We never did find out who the cute blonde gangster was in a Verizon ad from a few years back. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/30 "2008-10-19T00:48:40Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > The romantic instant coffee (Folger’s Crystals?) ads with Giles from Buffy and some woman. He was hot. Don’t remember a thing about her. Gold Blend from Nescafe, and Sharon Maughan. I thought of them as soon as I saw the thread title. Also Lynda Bellingham as the OXO mum, and Leonard Rossiter spilling Campari on Joan Collins. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/31 "2008-10-19T02:12:49Z")
> [@3acresandatruck](#): > > That’s probably Thom Sharp, who also played Tim Taylor’s brother Jeff on _Home Improvement_. Southwest Bank in St. Louis has apparently [just hired him](http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/09/22/story11.html) to do some commercials. Yeah, I ran across his name when I was trying to find a clip to link to. It’s funny and kind of sad that he’s still known as “The Boatmen’s Guy” even though those ads (and that bank) haven’t been around for over a decade. ---
**Author:** ![vintageloveletter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@vintageloveletter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vintageloveletter)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/32 "2008-10-19T04:39:24Z")
Wendy, the Snapple Lady and Jared from Subway. Also, there is a commercial for U.S. Window Factory with a guy putting on a horrible Australian accent. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/33 "2008-10-19T16:28:57Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Mariette Hartley with James Garner for Polaroid cameras. OMG, I had completely forgotten about those! Pure **GOLD**! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/34 "2008-10-19T16:48:18Z")
I like the current Geiko commercials with the gecko being stalked by a animal documentary type guy. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/35 "2008-10-19T17:24:33Z")
“Cheeks” (the woman who puffs her cheeks out) in the early Lever 2000 commercials. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/36 "2008-10-19T17:35:13Z")
Madge – “You’re soaking in it!” – for a dishwashing liquid. Palmolive? She reminded me a bit of Nancy Walker, who did ads for Bounty paper towels. The early Netflix ads were fun, the ones where characters from the movies appeared in your living room. The “You’re all for me?” look on that woman’s face when the guy bowed and called her “Milady” – priceless. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/37 "2008-10-19T18:15:52Z")
The Maytag repairman. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/38 "2008-10-19T22:33:12Z")
The “I love you, man” guy from Bud Light commercials in the mid 90’s. He used this line to try to get some of his friend’s Bud Light. One of these commercials featured Charlton Heston teaching the guy how to say the line right. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/39 "2008-10-20T00:27:11Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > The romantic instant coffee (Folger’s Crystals?) ads with Giles from Buffy and some woman. He was hot. Don’t remember a thing about her. Yeah. Whatever happened to them? There was a whole soap opera-ish storyline and I don’t know if they ever wrapped it up. The Swedish lady hawking Folgers way back when…“It’s mountain grown coffee, the richest kind.” So you freeze dry it and grind it up into some nasty-tasting crap? Oh, and _Where’s the Beef_? ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/40 "2008-10-20T00:40:25Z")
Enzyte fucking Bob. Pretty much the last person in the universe I’d want as a cellmate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514.md?page=3)