# 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:** 3
**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 20, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/41 "2008-10-20T02:29:17Z")
Going back to the '80s, [Homer and J.R. the Miller’s Outpost cowboys](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXouxXOom2g). I remember their first commercials were better. They had one where Homer gives J.R. a puppy for Christmas that was really sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/42 "2008-10-20T04:22:51Z")
> [@HelloKitty](#): > > The “Can you hear me now” Guy from Verizon The “dude, you’re getting a Dell” guy from the 90s. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/43 "2008-10-20T04:45:23Z")
Maybe I wouldn’t be such a filthy slob today if I hadn’t been frightened by [Mr. Clean](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrz5wI1MVs4&feature=related). Why won’t he talk? He just keeps posing! ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/44 "2008-10-20T04:50:00Z")
Seconding the old lady from “Where’s the beef??” and throwing in Herb from the Burger King commercials. Also the Bartles and Jaymes guys. And who could forget the scary-ass huge pitcher of Kool-Ade who would break through the wall and cause all kinds of property damage in order to sugarize your kids into diabetic comas? ---
**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 20, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/45 "2008-10-20T04:56:49Z")
After watching the Amazing Race tonight, I want to add: the Roaming Gnome of Travelocity. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/46 "2008-10-20T06:26:59Z")
Since no one else mentioned it that I noticed - Ronald McDonald. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/47 "2008-10-20T09:40:28Z")
My present favorite- the eTrade Stock baby “You just saw me buy stock! _BLECH_ Whoa…” ---
**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 20, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/48 "2008-10-20T17:02:45Z")
> [@PastAllReason](#): > > Since no one else mentioned it that I noticed - Ronald McDonald. I think the Burger King is even more memorable - in a “check under your bed and closet to make sure that creepy freak isn’t there before going to bed” way. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/49 "2008-10-20T18:07:49Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > After watching the Amazing Race tonight, I want to add: the Roaming Gnome of Travelocity. I had no idea where he came from until I rented _Amelie_. **Friar Ted** , I love that baby! The new one where he talks to his girlfriend on his Blackberry – “Bad girl!” – is a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/50 "2008-10-20T18:24:56Z")
I find the Quaker Oat guy to be as creepy as the Burger King guy ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/51 "2008-10-20T18:26:30Z")
The Burger King actually makes me angry. That probably says something about me and not something good, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/52 "2008-10-20T18:28:58Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > The Burger King actually makes me angry. That probably says something about me and not something good, but there it is. It only says that you own a tv, have a working brain, eyes, and ears, and are not an idiot. Only one of those is even remotely bad. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/53 "2008-10-21T00:54:59Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > I find the Quaker Oat guy to be as creepy as the Burger King guy Are you Chuckie Finster? ---
**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 21, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/54 "2008-10-21T01:20:10Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I had no idea where he came from until I rented _Amelie_. Actually, it pre-dates _Amelie_. I first heard of it in the '80s. [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling_gnome_prank) finds the first citation in 1986. ---
**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 21, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/55 "2008-10-21T01:43:15Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > I find the Quaker Oat guy to be as creepy as the Burger King guy Is that the guy on the canister, or Wilford Brimley, who used to do their commercials? ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/56 "2008-10-21T01:46:55Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > The Maytag repairman. Wow. I can’t believe this thread got all the way to post #37 before someone mentioned the Maytag repair man! Huh… maybe he’s not that memorable…? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/57 "2008-10-21T02:12:16Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > The Swedish lady hawking Folgers way back when…“It’s mountain grown coffee, the richest kind.” That’s actress Virginia Christine, who was a suspicious townsperson (and early victim) in the original _Invasion of the Body Snatchers._ Which may explain why I never did develop a taste for coffee:eek: ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/58 "2008-10-21T02:12:35Z")
Madge the manicurist, Josephine the plumber, and What’s-her-name the waitress (who wiped everyone’s mess up with Bounty paper towels). ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/59 "2008-10-21T09:12:26Z")
> [@DLuxN8R-13](#): > > Madge the manicurist, Josephine the plumber, and What’s-her-name the waitress (who wiped everyone’s mess up with Bounty paper towels). Rosie? Played by Nancy…uh. She was in that awful short-lived show that I loved when I was around ten or so, “Blansky’s Beauties.” LoriBeth from “Happy Days” was also in it. Nancy Walker! Add Scott Baio and Eddie Mekka…there’s a show, my friends! AND Pat Morita…! ---
**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 21, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/60 "2008-10-21T11:56:36Z")
She was also Rhoda’s mother, Ida Morgenstern. And the original Hildy in the virgin production of “On The Town”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514.md?page=4)