Thursday, September 30, 2010
Say, "From Charms!"
I don't think I've ever actually had a Blow Pop. I remember having these gum-filled lolipops back in high school that were made by Tootsie, but I don't think I've ever had an authentic Blow Pop.
It's a shame, really, because this commercial makes the world of gum-filled, fruit-flavoured candy look so exciting! Look at those kids; they're so busy enjoying their Blow Pops that they can't even remember their lines!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
What ever happened to unicycle?
Hello again!
It's no secret to a lot of people that I'm a pretty big Tetris fan. My sisters and I used to have copies of Tetris for our Game Boys, and we used to play against each other. Later on, I moved on to the NES version of Tetris. I got really good at it, and it became a big part of my life. Even today, I like to think that I can stack boxes and move things into storage really well because of my Tetris-playing skillz.
I don't personally remember when this commercial first came out, but GameFaqs.com tells me that Tetris was released for the NES in November of 1989. I assume that this commercial is from around this time. I love the artwork, which was done by using chalk on black paper. I love the hard-rocking music, too. (Extra special bonus fact: this commercial was made in Canada!)
There's a couple of things that bother me, though. First of all, the cubs aren`t playing with actual Nintendo controllers. Second of all, the bears really, really suck at Tetris. Even as a child, I knew that.They're getting a little too excited over a game that they are losing. Especially that move that they make at the end. Go ahead and watch it again. I'll wait here.
All in all, though, this commerical is pretty fantastic. It kind of makes me want to hook up the ol' Nintendo and play a couple of levels before work.
It's no secret to a lot of people that I'm a pretty big Tetris fan. My sisters and I used to have copies of Tetris for our Game Boys, and we used to play against each other. Later on, I moved on to the NES version of Tetris. I got really good at it, and it became a big part of my life. Even today, I like to think that I can stack boxes and move things into storage really well because of my Tetris-playing skillz.
I don't personally remember when this commercial first came out, but GameFaqs.com tells me that Tetris was released for the NES in November of 1989. I assume that this commercial is from around this time. I love the artwork, which was done by using chalk on black paper. I love the hard-rocking music, too. (Extra special bonus fact: this commercial was made in Canada!)
There's a couple of things that bother me, though. First of all, the cubs aren`t playing with actual Nintendo controllers. Second of all, the bears really, really suck at Tetris. Even as a child, I knew that.They're getting a little too excited over a game that they are losing. Especially that move that they make at the end. Go ahead and watch it again. I'll wait here.
All in all, though, this commerical is pretty fantastic. It kind of makes me want to hook up the ol' Nintendo and play a couple of levels before work.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Nothing's over, just give me something to drink.
Hello there, friends!
Today's commercial comes to us from the good folks at Lipton Brisk Iced Tea. Let's take a trip back to 1997. I would have been in grade eight at this time. (I'm getting old!)
I love, love, love this commericial. The claymation was amazing, and I find myself randomly quoting this spot even now, thirteen years later. In fact, my coworkers and I were randomly talking about it a few weeks ago.
Plus, I think it's really cool that they got Sylvester Stalone himself to provide the voice of Rocky.
Lipton went on to do a few of these claymation ads to promote Brisk Iced Tea. I think I remember one with a whole bunch of different singers, including Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Coolio, and Elvis. It was good, I think, but it didn't have the staying power that Rocky had.
Today's commercial comes to us from the good folks at Lipton Brisk Iced Tea. Let's take a trip back to 1997. I would have been in grade eight at this time. (I'm getting old!)
I love, love, love this commericial. The claymation was amazing, and I find myself randomly quoting this spot even now, thirteen years later. In fact, my coworkers and I were randomly talking about it a few weeks ago.
Plus, I think it's really cool that they got Sylvester Stalone himself to provide the voice of Rocky.
Lipton went on to do a few of these claymation ads to promote Brisk Iced Tea. I think I remember one with a whole bunch of different singers, including Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Coolio, and Elvis. It was good, I think, but it didn't have the staying power that Rocky had.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Snap Into a Slim Jim!
Ladies, gentelmen, dear readers, welcome to my new home.
My name is Patrick, and I work as a master control operator for a television station in the Mid-West. As you may have guessed, watching television is a big part of my job.
Growing up, my sister and I used to watch a lot of pre-recorded television. We had VHS (and Beta!) tapes full of old cartoons from the mid-80's all the way up to the early 90's. We grew up watching the same old episodes of My Pet Monster, The Real Ghostbusters, Yogi Bear, and ALF. As an adult, I find myself re-watching these tapes, and it takes me back to better times.
As much as I love all my cartoons, I find that the part that excites me more is the advertising. There's something about old commercials that makes me all tingly inside. I've tried time and time again to figures out exactly what it is that I love, but I can't seem to pinpoint it.
As I mentioned earlier, I watch television professionally. I see a lot of commericals. And while there are a lot of really effective, entertaining commercials, very rarely do they capture the same spark as older ones do.
In this blog, I'll be bringing you commercials that I grew up with, commericals that interest me, and hell, maybe even modern commericals that capture my attention. I hope to update this thing at least once a week.
So, without further adu... let's bring on the commericals!
Our first commercial comes to us from the good people at Slim Jim. I remember watching wrestling when I was younger, back when it came on right before American Gladiators on Saturday mornings.
In this series of commericals, Macho Man Randy Savage would give us clear, well thought-out reasons why we should enjoy his stick-shaped meat product.
And by that, I mean he just yelled a lot.
Randy Savage was really just a more extreme version of the Kool-Aid man, busting through walls and telling us to SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM!
As entertaining at these spots were, I have to point out that my first experience with a Slim Jim was pretty disappointing. I had to learn the hard way that Slim Jims don't snap. They just kinda bend. I felt extremely let down. If I couldn't take the word of Macho Man Randy Savage, then who else could I trust? I still carry that burden to this day.
Randy Savage's days of glory, like Miss Elizabeth, have long since died. I think, though, that anytime someone is disappointed when they bite into a Slim Jim, they'll think of the Macho Man.
Until next time!
My name is Patrick, and I work as a master control operator for a television station in the Mid-West. As you may have guessed, watching television is a big part of my job.
Growing up, my sister and I used to watch a lot of pre-recorded television. We had VHS (and Beta!) tapes full of old cartoons from the mid-80's all the way up to the early 90's. We grew up watching the same old episodes of My Pet Monster, The Real Ghostbusters, Yogi Bear, and ALF. As an adult, I find myself re-watching these tapes, and it takes me back to better times.
As much as I love all my cartoons, I find that the part that excites me more is the advertising. There's something about old commercials that makes me all tingly inside. I've tried time and time again to figures out exactly what it is that I love, but I can't seem to pinpoint it.
As I mentioned earlier, I watch television professionally. I see a lot of commericals. And while there are a lot of really effective, entertaining commercials, very rarely do they capture the same spark as older ones do.
In this blog, I'll be bringing you commercials that I grew up with, commericals that interest me, and hell, maybe even modern commericals that capture my attention. I hope to update this thing at least once a week.
So, without further adu... let's bring on the commericals!
Our first commercial comes to us from the good people at Slim Jim. I remember watching wrestling when I was younger, back when it came on right before American Gladiators on Saturday mornings.
In this series of commericals, Macho Man Randy Savage would give us clear, well thought-out reasons why we should enjoy his stick-shaped meat product.
And by that, I mean he just yelled a lot.
Randy Savage was really just a more extreme version of the Kool-Aid man, busting through walls and telling us to SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM!
As entertaining at these spots were, I have to point out that my first experience with a Slim Jim was pretty disappointing. I had to learn the hard way that Slim Jims don't snap. They just kinda bend. I felt extremely let down. If I couldn't take the word of Macho Man Randy Savage, then who else could I trust? I still carry that burden to this day.
Randy Savage's days of glory, like Miss Elizabeth, have long since died. I think, though, that anytime someone is disappointed when they bite into a Slim Jim, they'll think of the Macho Man.
Until next time!