# What happened to comapny spokespeople? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 27, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002 "2003-08-27T16:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/1 "2003-08-27T16:26:46Z")
This was our dinner conversation last night: In the 70’s and 80’s, spokespeople were all the rage. It seemed like any product had someone (or something) as its spokesperson. Exmples: Sunkist Tuna- Charlie Tuna (sorry Charlie!) Mr Clean - duh, Mr Clean (who’s name is Maestro Limpio in Spanish, IIRC) Charmin- Mr Whipple (don’t squeeze the Charmin, lady!) Polmolive - Madge the manicurist (was it Madge?) Bounty had both the lumberjack and Rhoda’s mom, the lady with a helmet of red hair (The quicker picker upper!) Dow- Scrubble Bubbles Mr. Bubble - Mr. Bubble! Hamburger Helper - The Helpin’ Hand The list can go on and on, as you can see. You will notice, however, that there are almost none in this pantheon that are modern. Even the hateful Snuggle bear is from the late 80’s. Can you think of any new spokes people that have consistantly been used by the brand? I would say the 7 up yours guy, but alas, he seems to not have lasted very long. Here are the only ones I can think of: Serta - those adorable sheep from the Wallace and Grommit Guy. Arby’s - Oven Mitt guy Add to my list of post 1990 spokespeople! ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/2 "2003-08-27T16:38:15Z")
Just about anybody from those damn cellphone ads: Carrot Top, that freaking angel, etc. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/3 "2003-08-27T17:55:56Z")
Actually, I just saw a 7-Up Guy commercial last night. How about the dude dancing around in his Joe Boxers? ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/4 "2003-08-27T18:12:27Z")
Wilfred Brimley and his diabetes supplies. Also, some other commercials geared towards older people have one. Sam Waterson from Law & Order does commercials for some insurance company. For some reason, only the ads that seem to be aimed at the elderly say “COMPENSATED ENDORSER” on the bottom of the screen. I wonder what’s up with that. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/5 "2003-08-27T18:21:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slortar \* > \*\*Just about anybody from those damn cellphone ads: Carrot Top, that freaking angel, etc. \*\* See, I don’t know that you can count them. For starters, none of them remain in that position for very long. Didn’t Carrot-top replace David Arquette? Secondly, they usually just play themselves as a spokes person. I want to hear about characters like the Maytag man. With Maytag, it’s not so much who the guy is, but rather that his is, indeed, ‘Mr Maytag’. The same is true of Mr Whipple. You’d never say “oh, that’s Dick Wilson, the actor”. You’d say “Oh wow, that’s MR WHIPPLE”. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/6 "2003-08-27T18:49:11Z")
Actually, you have a point. I think most of the spokespeople have very short life spans these days. I mean, Steve, the Dell Guy, was one of the most popular and _he_ only lasted a few years. How about the Energizer Bunny? That lasted well into the 90’s. I think the Geiko Gecko would also count–he’s been around quite a while by now. ---
**Author:** ![Giggle\_Gaggle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@Giggle\_Gaggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giggle_Gaggle)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/7 "2003-08-27T23:32:50Z")
Steve the Dell Guy was caught in possession of marijuhana whereupon Dell promptly dropped him. Otherwise he might have lasted a while. ---
**Author:** ![Laurasia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@Laurasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laurasia)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/8 "2003-08-28T05:54:17Z")
Jack from Jack in the box is still around…but he’s old isn’t he? I guess the frogs from Budwiser didn’t last long enough, did they? Does that guy who ate nothing but Subway and lost weight count? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/9 "2003-08-28T12:02:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\*Sam Waterson from Law & Order does commercials for some insurance company. For some reason, only the ads that seem to be aimed at the elderly say “COMPENSATED ENDORSER” on the bottom of the screen. I wonder what’s up with that. \*\* Ah, yes. Old Glory Insurance. For when the robots attack. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/10 "2003-08-28T13:10:53Z")
How about Jared doing all those Subway ads? (I see Laurasia mentioned this one) We also had the Taco Bell chihuahua (sp?) for awhile. And who was that lady who did the Snapple commercials? They should have kept her on since the product seemed to lose its popularity after she was gone. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/11 "2003-08-28T13:28:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > \*\*Ah, yes. Old Glory Insurance. For when the robots attack. \*\* :smack: Okay, I’m just going to go off in a corner now and avoid posting anything else potentially embarrassing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/12 "2003-08-28T15:06:06Z")
I dunno about Jared. To me, he’s just Jared, the guy who is annoying and eats at subway. It’s not like he’s…_Mr. Subway_ or something! It’s just odd how some icons can last for decades and decades (That Helpin’ hand is a good 25 years old, isn’t he?) while new ones just last for a year or so. Even ol’ Jared is being phased out. Here are some more comforting faces in my pantry: Aunt Jemimia - Even though she’s changed her appearance. Betty Crocker - see above. Uncle Ben - He rocks. Him and… The Cream of Wheat Chef. The Quacker Oats Man - I always thought he was Ben Franklin when I was little. Then we have our gang of cereal icons: Tony the Tiger Snap Crackle and Pop Trix Sonny the Cuckoo bird Now cereals just name themselves after some lame movie. Man, if I worked on Madison Ave, heads would roll, I tell you. ROLL. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/13 "2003-08-28T15:08:11Z")
oh, and the Energizer Bunny doesn’t count. He was born in 1989. He juuuuuuuuust eeks in as an ‘old school’ icon. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/14 "2003-08-28T15:16:52Z")
What’s this? No mention of Maytag’s lonely repairman? The actor’s changed (Jesse White gave way to Gordon Jump) and he’s acquired a hot young assistant, but he’s been around forever. Me I keep hoping they bring back the Calgon “ancient Chinese secret, huh?” lady. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/15 "2003-08-28T15:25:25Z")
I always thought it was funny that The guy from WKRP found a job as the Maytag man. But, I’m looking for post 1990 spokes people. P.s. I loved that Ancient Chinese secret lady. My mom still says that to this day. “Mom, what is your recipe for this?” “Ancient Chinese secret” Which is even funnier, because my mom is Mexican. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-comapny-spokespeople/198002/16 "2003-08-28T16:53:24Z")
I think ad agencies right now are just too obsessed with computer-generated 3D graphics and “extreme” effects. So fewer spokespeople.