# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/81 "2009-01-31T16:56:05Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I like the ad where the Dad brings home a phone plan and the whole family comments on it. “You can call that lady at my soccer games you always stare at.” He rocks the red tie and sport-coat. You missed the best part, said to his teenage daughter: “Derek with the mustache and the Mustang Derek?..Yeah, it’s weird, there’s a ‘No Derek’s with mustaches’ clause, it’s in the fine print. Aw what a drag, duuude.” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/muRMsfrbc10/hqdefault.jpg "t mobile derek mustang") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muRMsfrbc10) ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/82 "2009-01-31T21:22:18Z")
Alex. from Stroh’s. And I don’t even drink. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/83 "2009-01-31T22:07:18Z")
I think I get to be the first to mention [Geoffrey Holder for 7-Up](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN_Py2W2tac). Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!! ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/84 "2009-01-31T22:19:42Z")
Anyone remember that annoying Canadian Tire guy, and his wife and kid? He was always showing off his new Canadian Tire stuff to his neighbours and generally being kind of a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/85 "2009-01-31T22:25:04Z")
Anthony Stewart Head and his wonderful [coffee](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoCv6_5JZHU) commercials. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/86 "2009-02-01T04:14:12Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > [Actually, she advertised for Macs.](http://macenstein.com/default/archives/509) Well, that’s a relief. My searching skills aren’t dying, it’s my memory. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/87 "2009-02-01T04:32:33Z")
> [@rivulus](#): > > Wow. I can’t believe this thread got all the way to post #37 before someone mentioned the Maytag repair man! We’re all still angry with him for diddling Dudley. > [@jayjay](#): > > [Crazy Eddie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yYGoO5imyY). He’s INSAAAAAAANE! Look what I found–[Crazy Eddie Outtakes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFMDka79Ts&NR=1)! ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/88 "2009-02-01T09:19:27Z")
Remember when all the coffee was “hand-picked by Juan Valdez”? When I was a kid I thought poor Juan had to be the busiest s.o.b. on the planet, based solely on my mother’s coffee consumption. ---
**Author:** ![Madgolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Madgolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madgolf)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/89 "2009-02-01T09:39:28Z")
The Jack Klugmanesque victim of the Hawaiian Punch commercials always made violence totally acceptable to my generation. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/86IpU3g-S8Q/hqdefault.jpg "Hawaiian Punch Commercial 1960's-70's") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86IpU3g-S8Q) Couple that with the perfect woman who cooks, provides for the family, AND satisfies her man: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4X4MwbVf5OA/hqdefault.jpg "Retro Enjoli commercial") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X4MwbVf5OA) and I call the 1970’s is what screwed up the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/90 "2009-02-01T09:48:14Z")
> [@longPath](#): > > The [Progressive.com](http://Progressive.com) girl is really cute. I hope we see more of her. That brings to mind the pink-haired secret agent from the eSurance commercials. Also, does the lady in the Progressive commercials sorta remind anyone else of Kari Byron? Some others: The Hamburger Helper Helping Hand. The Whopper and the stress he deals with raising Junior. [Nipper and Chipper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipper). The Coca-Cola bears (and, having said that, Santa Claus). Chad from Alltell and the Sprint, T-mobile, etc. guys with their unrequited crush on him. 😛 The Budweiser frogs. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/91 "2009-02-01T16:03:14Z")
> [@longPath](#): > > The [Progressive.com](http://Progressive.com) girl is really cute. I hope we see more of her. She had a small roll on “The United States of Tara” last week. > [@Khan](#): > > Also, does the lady in the Progressive commercials sorta remind anyone else of Kari Byron? She looks quiet a bit different without the dramatic makeup they have on her. I think she’s just sort of average on the looks scale. Having said that, I think she’s quite a bit better looking than Kari Byron. I’ve never gotten _that_ particular attraction. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/92 "2009-02-01T19:47:16Z")
> [@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 the waitress, of course. She was played by Nancy Walker, who was famous as Rhoda Morgenstern’s mother, Ida, and as Commissioner and Mrs. MacMillan’s maid, Mildred. Since Ralph from the Alka-Seltzer commercials and Alex the dog were both mentioned, I have to come up with something else. [Cora](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1smEagY12m8) from the Maxwell House commercials, who was played by Margaret Hamilton, the famous Witch of the West from the _Wizard of Oz_. I also remember a struggling young actor named Dustin Hoffman, who did commercials for [Volkswagen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3RD-hG4nbc) in the late 60’s. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/93 "2009-02-01T19:49:04Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > [Cora](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1smEagY12m8) from the Maxwell House commercials, who was played by Margaret Hamilton, the famous Witch of the West from the _Wizard of Oz_. Oh, my god…the husband in that commercial is an ASSHOLE! There’s also the other side of the Great Old Coffee Lady War of the 1970s: [Mrs. Olsen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrGgg6r9YyI) for Folger’s. And I’m beginning to detect a pattern, because THIS husband is an asshole, too… ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/94 "2009-02-01T21:09:41Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > 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. The original Ronald had an interesting vibe: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krXP\_TUZqsk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krXP_TUZqsk) Then there’s the androgynous clown pulling a hamburger out of his ass: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6n9JBlebFw&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6n9JBlebFw&feature=related) The Mr. Whipple Charmin ads used to disturb me. Who are these women who find squeezing toilet paper to be such a sensual delight, and why is Mr. Whipple obsessed with denying them pleasure? But they weren’t nearly as disgusting as Charmin’s current ads with the Buttwhipe Bears. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/95 "2009-02-02T06:04:29Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > The original Ronald had an interesting vibe: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krXP\_TUZqsk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krXP_TUZqsk) Ronald was played in that commercial by none other than the happy 100th birthday-wishing weatherman on NBC’s Today Show, [Willard Scott](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Mcdonald#Willard_Scott), who claims to have created the character. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/96 "2009-02-02T11:10:22Z")
What about that old person who played a payphone like an accordian for 1-800-CALL COLLECT? ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/97 "2009-02-02T13:22:46Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > The “dude, you’re getting a Dell” guy from the 90s. Seems like it should be '90s, but I think those ads didn’t start until 2000. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514/98 "2009-02-02T13:31:41Z")
> [@Dijon\_Warlock](#): > > I also remember from my youth the “Hi, guy!” guy from the old Right Guard commercials. Those used to creep me out as a kid. How would YOU like to look in the mirror, and not only see someone else who talks to you, but _reaches through the mirror_ to snatch your pitstick? > > That would freak me right the hell out. I think you might be misremembering the ads (from the late '60s, I guess). If I recall, the premise was that the protagonist opened his medicine cabinet in the bathroom, only to find that it had no back, and instead went straight through to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom of the adjoining apartment. The “Hi, guy!” neighbor would then reach through and borrow his Right Guard (spray, not stick). The hapless protagonist would call to his wife: “Mona!” Anybody remember Cal Worthington’s car ads? I lived in the Mojave in 1976, and we got LA tv stations. Worthington used an earworm jingle and each ad featured “my dog Spot”, which was never a dog; might be an ostrich or a hippo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorable-characters-in-tv-ads/468514.md?page=4)