# The Gap Commercials. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 28, 2001, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664 "2001-11-28T05:11:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/21 "2001-11-28T17:34:59Z")
Oops, just checked GQ, where this topic is discussed. I was wrong about the last guy. It is Johnny, the lead singer from the Goo Goo Dolls. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=101342](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=101342) ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/22 "2001-11-28T17:41:55Z")
Ask and ye shall recieve… ["Give a Little Bit](http://onlinepressroom.net/gappr/pressreleases.asp) (you need to click on the third one). The women are Sheryl Crow, India Arie, Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez, and Liz Phair The men are Dwight Yoakum, Robbie Robertson, Trent Rzeznik, and Shaggy They mention a third which I have not seen which will feature Alannis Morisette, Seal and Macy Gray. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/23 "2001-11-28T17:47:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Why A Duck \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by clayton\_e \* > > \*\*That old lady that used to advertise for them, the one with the big glasses, you know, the annoying as hell spawn of satan one? She used to live up here in Lake Placid NY. Pointless fact for you all. She died a couple months ago, i think… \*\* > > Do you mean Carrie Donovan, who used to advertise for _Old Navy_? (yes, it’s a nit, but my life would be meaningless apart from this) > > Here’s her [obit](http://www.arrangeonline.com/notablePersons/notable.asp?ObituaryID=64374672). \*\* Cripes! She’s a _real_ person? I always thought that was Cybil Shepard in some rediculously cruel makeup and glasses. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/24 "2001-11-28T17:50:33Z")
The annoying old lady from the Old Navy commercials was indeed Carrie Donovan, who prior to that was a very famous annoying fashion editor: "NOVEMBER 13, 2001—Carrie Donovan, longtime fashion and style editor of The New York Times, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and iconic figure for Old Navy’s advertising . . . passed away in Manhattan at the age of 73 on Nov. 12. A compatriot of the infamous Diana Vreeland, the two were a force in the fashion industry for many years. Born in Lake Placid, New York, Donovan studied dressmaking at Parson’s School of Design, then went on to a career in fashion editorial, with a keen nose for sniffing out design talent and promotion. She was one of the first to spot Donna Karan, Perry Ellis, Elsa Perretti and Paloma Picasso, and she worked to hook up talented designers with retailers like Tiffany’s and Bloomingdale’s. She came out of semi-retirement in 1997 to play a major role as a spokesperson for Old Navy, appearing in many TV ads as the flamboyant person she actually was and advising Old Navy on fashion trends." ---
**Author:** ![Shadowfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shadowfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfox)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/25 "2001-11-28T17:56:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tretiak \* > \*\*The men are Dwight Yoakum, Robbie Robertson, Trent Rzeznik, and Shaggy. \*\* Actually, the third guy is John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls. He was the only one I recognized when I saw the commercial a couple of days ago. I think you got John Rzeznik mixed up with Trent Reznor from NIN. ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/26 "2001-11-28T21:04:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > I think at least one of the womyn of color is Lauryn Hill. No way. I’d recognize Lauryn blindfolded. As someone said, apparently it’s India Arie, whoever the hell she is. At least I was right on the TLC chick. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/27 "2001-11-29T23:07:27Z")
I love the male Gap commercial. Any commercial that has Dwight Yoakum and Johnny Rzeznik is a good commericial in my book. There’s also another one that just as Dwight Yoakum singing. (_swoon_) Sorry, I’ve always had a thing for him. ---
**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/28 "2001-11-30T00:08:32Z")
Perhaps the commercials are not as good as some of you may think. News out today is that the Gap needs a corporate makeover to avoid going bankrupt. Hmmmmmm . . . maybe they _should_ mention clothes in their ads. ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/29 "2001-11-30T03:07:26Z")
> [@](#): > > No way. I’d recognize Lauryn blindfolded. As someone said, apparently it’s India Arie, whoever the hell she is. At least I was right on the TLC chick. India.Arie (that’s how she spells her name on her CD, with the period) is awesome. I’m surprised more people haven’t heard of her. Her first CD, _Acoustic Soul_, is the best album I’ve bought all year. Her big first single was “Video,” an anthem for self-love and confidence: > [@](#): > > I’m not the average girl from your video > My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes > I’ve learned to love myself unconditionally > Because I am a queen… My favorite line is, “My mama said it ain’t what you wear but what you know.” Her CD is kickass, in the spirit of Me’Shell Ndegeocello and Lauryn Hill (no rap, but great lyrics and a beautiful voice, plus super cool guitars played by India herself). She has one GAP ad all by herself, which makes me very happy. I like GAP clothes - I can always get great-fitting pants there, and basics like white blouses and black tees for a decent price. And the clothes last forever for me. If they go out of business I will ber very sad, because Old Navy is too cheap quality-wise and Banana is too expensive. I absolutely adore their ads. I loved the Swing dancing one years ago and I’ve loved them all ever since. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/30 "2001-11-30T03:14:31Z")
Ot The India.Arie/John Mellancamp duet “A Peaceful World” is just fabulous. It’s on his newest album, can’t remember the name right now. Love that song and video though. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/31 "2001-11-30T03:18:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shadowfox \* > \*\*Actually, the third guy is John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls. He was the only one I recognized when I saw the commercial a couple of days ago. I think you got John Rzeznik mixed up with Trent Reznor from NIN. \*\* I thought the last guy was Ryan Adams (the guy who filmed his video on Sept. 7, which prominently features the twin towers). But there are so many versions of the ad that I could be thinking of a different one. He and Johnny Rzeznik look a lot alike. ---
**Author:** ![pusher123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pusher123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pusher123)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/32 "2010-12-23T08:42:44Z")
I stumbled upon this on Youtube and it is hilarious:p: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6Aq6r_D81x0/hqdefault.jpg "The Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy Conspiracy of Mockery") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Aq6r_D81x0) ---
**Author:** ![pusher123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pusher123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pusher123)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664/33 "2010-12-23T08:44:00Z")
Here is another really funny one: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/B7S_tzkLMjY/hqdefault.jpg "LIL WAYNE AND ZOMBIES") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7S_tzkLMjY) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gap-commercials/95664.md?page=1)