# The Cadbury's gorilla - one of the best TV ads ever made **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673 "2007-10-05T19:28:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/41 "2007-10-07T19:15:44Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] Well, they do at Easter. [/QUOTE] Am I right in guessing that they sell Creme Eggs in the US at Easter? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/42 "2007-10-07T19:15:46Z")
Another vote for being underwhelmed. For the build up that’s involved, the payoff is a dud (unless you think anything with a monkey is automatically funny). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/43 "2007-10-07T19:17:55Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] Another vote for being underwhelmed. For the build up that’s involved, the payoff is a dud (unless you think anything with a monkey is automatically funny). [/QUOTE] It’s an ape, but yes. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/44 "2007-10-07T19:25:42Z")
Just a point - I think some people are assuming this is a one-off joke, the payoff of which is that the gorilla is playing the drums. I argue that this is not so: there’s no attempt the conceal the drumkit. It’s just funny all round, IMO - most of the humor is in the gorilla’s mental and physical preparation, and the passion with which he plays. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/45 "2007-10-07T19:37:05Z")
[QUOTE=Ukulele Ike] Now, the Rolling Rock Gorilla Commercial? I didn’t get THAT. [/QUOTE] It was supposed to be a satire of Spuds McKenzie and the like. The supposed banning of the commercial was part of the humor. > [@blinkingblinking](#): > > I was hoping to find a link to an ad where a company fires hamsters out of a cannon. Any help? That ad failed in its mission- to make you remember the name. Cyberian Outpost would be weeping if it hadn’t gone out of business and been bought by Fry’s Electronics. [Here you go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzbMcsrK-tw). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/46 "2007-10-07T20:34:16Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] Am I right in guessing that they sell Creme Eggs in the US at Easter? [/QUOTE] Yes, they do. They sell other stuff, too, but the Creme Eggs are I suspect the most popular. I love them in concept but I can only stand to have one a year. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/47 "2007-10-07T21:22:44Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] Another vote for being underwhelmed. For the build up that’s involved, the payoff is a dud (unless you think anything with a monkey is automatically funny). [/QUOTE] I think it works perfectly. But you do have to be a Phil Collins fan to “get” it. 🆒 Check this out: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZInViBj-mc](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZInViBj-mc) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/48 "2007-10-07T22:27:05Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Just a point - I think some people are assuming this is a one-off joke, the payoff of which is that the gorilla is playing the drums. I argue that this is not so: there’s no attempt the conceal the drumkit. It’s just funny all round, IMO - most of the humor is in the gorilla’s mental and physical preparation, and the passion with which he plays. [/QUOTE] Is that what the gorilla was doing? I thought they were showing off their CGI work. And if there’s no attempt to conceal the drumkit, then why isn’t it shown until a second before the gorilla starts playing it? What else are they doing for the first 50 seconds if not concealing the drumkit? Either you think this is funny or you don’t, but that explanation doesn’t work for me. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/49 "2007-10-08T02:28:42Z")
[QUOTE=ASAKMOTSD] You mean that wasn’t Phil Collins? …Right - too much hair… [/QUOTE] My first thought was “wow, Phil got plugs.” Not too bad, but (IMO) too long and not nearly as funny as the Skittles “singing rabbit” or the Starburst Berries & Cream “little lad dance” ads. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/50 "2007-10-08T03:24:07Z")
Here’s where I reveal myself to be an idiot, but I have to ask: Is that a real gorilla? 'Cuz it looks kinda real to me. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2007, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/51 "2007-10-08T08:45:47Z")
If it’s musical apes you want, you can’t go wrong with the [Nairobi Trio](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uw03hS_EMY). ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/52 "2007-10-08T09:33:45Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] Here’s where I reveal myself to be an idiot, but I have to ask: Is that a real gorilla? 'Cuz it looks kinda real to me. [/QUOTE] Nope, and it’s not CGI either, which was what I thought. It’s a dude (a dude who’s spent a lot of time watching gorillas) in a gorilla suit. [Revealed: The man behind the drum-playing gorilla suit in Cadbury's ad | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=481196&in_page_id=1773) [Garon Michael is his name.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0584114/) ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/53 "2007-10-08T18:50:04Z")
Does Cabury use a gorilla in its advertising other than in this ad? If so, it makes a bit more sense. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/54 "2007-10-08T20:01:33Z")
[QUOTE=shelbo] Does Cabury use a gorilla in its advertising other than in this ad? If so, it makes a bit more sense. [/QUOTE] No, they don’t. That’s kinda the point: it’s not supposed to make sense; it’s totally random. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/55 "2007-10-08T20:10:45Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] No, they don’t. That’s kinda the point: it’s not supposed to make sense; it’s totally random. [/QUOTE] But that doesn’t make it goodadvertising. Gotta go in the camp that this isn’t one of the best TV ads ever made. It’s ok, but I don’t see why it’s a good ad. Hell, the Halmet in a Wendy’s freezer ad makes more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/56 "2007-10-08T20:16:58Z")
That is one skilled gorilla suit man. I thought it was either real or CGI. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/57 "2007-10-08T20:55:54Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] But that doesn’t make it goodadvertising. [/QUOTE] Define “good avertising”. Perhaps it’s not “good” in the formulaic, advertising-by-rote style that most companies adhere to, that I mentioned in the OP. But so many people are talking about this ad, and when they do, they’re saying “have you seen the Cadbury’s gorilla?” I guess we’ll only find out whether I’m right or not when they post the sales figures following the campaign. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/58 "2007-10-08T22:44:39Z")
I, for one, would MUCH rather see 7 minutes of ads like the Cadbury Gorilla than the swill that currently peddles Mop & Glo ™ or Pillsbury Toaster Strudel ™. I don’t currently have television service of any kind because I HATE the M&G/PTS crap-they-call-advertising. I would very possibly agree to be subject to ads of this caliber, but I choose to completely opt out of having to be subject to “conventional” ads. I don’t think I’m alone in that respect, and smart advertisers and smart companies will either adapt or risk missing out on the consumer dollars that me and my ilk have to spend. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/59 "2007-10-08T22:48:23Z")
I like Phil Collins’ music. I didn’t know that so many dislike him. Cute commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673/60 "2007-10-08T23:09:24Z")
I agree with **ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies** - there’s no reason at all why more adverts of this calibre can’t be made. Certainly, there’s no excuse for the rash of overilluminated-white-background ads for internet comparison sites, or insurance agents at the moment - like [this](http://uk.video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=886980) bloody awful thing with scary plastic CGI cheerleaders. Here’s an example of an ad I liked in the past: Levi Jeans - freedom to move: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfYmwaf89UE) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cadburys-gorilla-one-of-the-best-tv-ads-ever-made/421673.md?page=4)