# Who are your favorite characters from television ad campaigns. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214 "2015-04-21T19:07:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/21 "2015-04-21T21:18:10Z")
“I don’t always like advertising spokespeople, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/22 "2015-04-21T21:18:13Z")
I always liked Erin Esurance, may she rest in peace. And “Pat” the dumbassed Toyota fanatic. He’s so earnestly clueless. I enjoy the Geico gecko, mostly. And JK Simmons as the Farmers University guy. I’ll never use any of these products (I’ve had Allstate since I learned to drive. Oh, and I like Mayhem and Dennis Haysbert, too.) Instead, I view the commercials as a TV series with very short episodes. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/23 "2015-04-21T21:24:34Z")
“Super Creepy Rob Lowe” needs his own TV show, like, _now_. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/24 "2015-04-21T21:29:37Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > “Super Creepy Rob Lowe” needs his own TV show, like, _now_. I thought about complaining that Lowe’s an endorser, not a character, and the various bad versions of him are not continuing characters, and so don’t count. But I’m not gonna, because I love those commercials. As someone wrote upthread, those commercial are basically very short TV shows–worth watching for themselves. I look forward to each new iterations. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/25 "2015-04-21T21:33:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I kind of doubt it, if she is under contract. I mean, _I_ know her by name and from Live Prude Girls, but I expect I’m the exception, and that her fame is based entirely on those commercials. If she’s still getting the $800/day I am told would have been usual, I’d not be surprised. Sadly, that does make sense. But at least she’s winning fans. That could pay off in more lucrative work, down the line. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/26 "2015-04-21T21:36:07Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Sadly, that does make sense. But at least she’s winning fans. That could pay off in more lucrative work, down the line. Hopefully she was wise enough not to sign a contract when the campaign began, giving her more leverage later on. I guess I’m hoping she’s a Don Draper fan–a very odd thing for me to write. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/27 "2015-04-21T21:45:19Z")
He _has_ sometimes given good advice, without a doubt. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/28 "2015-04-21T21:47:19Z")
Those weird rat things (spongmonkeys?) from the old Quiznos ads. Only thing that ever got me to go to Quiznos. Then the food made me turn around and leave again. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/29 "2015-04-21T21:50:14Z")
I was going to mention the Dos Equis guy, but **Wilson** beat me to it. Another was the Miller High Life delivery man; he died young a couple of months ago. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/30 "2015-04-21T21:58:44Z")
It jumped the shark hard, but the first few adverts for Compare the [del]Market[/del] Meerkat featuring [Aleksander](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OcX-yKh0-M) were very clever. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/31 "2015-04-21T22:00:26Z")
[Flat Eric](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z47KUNmmCng) - filthy beats and a chilled puppet. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/32 "2015-04-22T00:03:26Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Dating myself: > > “Where’s the beef?” > > Love that granny. [Clara Peller](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug75diEyiA0). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/33 "2015-04-22T02:45:23Z")
Another vote for Mayhem. Love him! Also, the “original” Old Spice guy (“the man your man could smell like”). I think I’ve watched his [original commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE) like 500 times. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/34 "2015-04-22T02:55:21Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > No idea what is name is (and apparently too lazy to Google it) but the “Mayhem” character from the Allstate commercials. > > _“I’m a raccoon…”_, etc. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And JK Simmons as the Farmers University guy. Well, since my first two were taken, I’ll have to nominate… > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Also, the “original” Old Spice guy (“the man your man could smell like”). I think I’ve watched his [original commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE) like 500 times. Dang it! Apparently I’m incapable of an original thought tonight. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/35 "2015-04-22T08:44:57Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Milana/Lily is my own nominee, by the way. She is mildly hot but funny as hell, and the ads are effective building brand awareness. I’ve seen the Kristen ads several times but don’t recall what the product is, but the AT&T ads stick in my mind even though I’m quite unlikely to buy their service. Mildly hot? I ought to dunk your head in a pot of boiling water. I don’t have any names that haven’t already been mentioned, but since the OP disallowed pitch(wo)men, my current/most recent Top 5 would be Lily (AT&T), The Most Interesting Man in the World (Dos Equis), The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (Old Spice), Flo (Progressive) and Mayhem (Allstate). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/36 "2015-04-22T09:08:18Z")
Has everyone forgotten Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell? Quite a career off of one meatball character. KnoWhutImean? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/37 "2015-04-22T13:36:11Z")
The [“Pizza Hut Girl”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnbNXlpWdh8) from the Pizza Hut/KFC/Taco Bell Star Wars tie-in ad campaign. An elegant character for a more civilized age…with a good blaster at her side. Along the same lines, the [unnamed woman from the animated Rally’s/Checkers commercials.](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh5LctZkZEACqTmJMiML6mn7PYURg_NS3) Designed by Peter Chung, so it’s a bit like “Aeon Flux goes Rockabilly, plugging Wendy’s.” ---
**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/38 "2015-04-22T14:18:28Z")
Mayhem (He dates Carrie in an episode of Sex in the City) and Joe Isuzu. Joe Isuzu completely caricatures ALL salemen, especially car salesmen. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/39 "2015-04-22T14:20:35Z")
I always liked the really deadpan guy who interviews a bunch of pre-schoolers around a tiny table for (I think) a cellular company. I guess his series of ads has been retired since I don’t see them anymore. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214/40 "2015-04-22T14:27:08Z")
> [@mind\_the\_gap](#): > > Mayhem (He dates Carrie in an episode of Sex in the City) and Joe Isuzu. Joe Isuzu completely caricatures ALL salemen, especially car salesmen. Mayhem is played by Dean Winters, formerly of LAW &ORDER: LET’S FETISHIZE RAPE WHILE PRETENDING TO BE ALL RIGHTEOUS AND STUFF. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-characters-from-television-ad-campaigns/718214.md?page=3)