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Question of the Day | 11/17/2008 11:00 pm

What is the most memorable television commercial you ever saw?

© Shutterstock
Liz Smith

Liz Smith | 11/17/2008 11:00 pm

Liz Smith on What Ann Richards, Mario Cuomo Were Selling

The most memorable TV commercial I ever saw was of the former governor of Texas Ann Richards eating Doritos with former NY Gov. Mario Cuomo.  The money went to charity.

Click here on this text to read my New York Post column.

Joan Ganz Cooney

Joan Ganz Cooney | 11/17/2008 11:00 pm

Joan Ganz Cooney's Two Favorite Commercials

Some years ago, Taster’s Choice coffee ran a series of commercials on television that were a continuing story about a man and a woman falling in love. Many people I know followed the story and talked about it when together. As I recall, the series stopped rather abruptly and I never learned what happened to the couple but I also never forgot them. On radio, hands down; Bert and Harry Piel in the 1950s. Alas Piel’s beer was no good so sales shot up when the commercials started and then dropped like a stone.

Candice Bergen

Candice Bergen | 11/17/2008 11:00 pm

Candice Bergen's Favorite Commercial Is for Beer (Video)

I have no memory but my favorite recent commercial is for a beer. Maybe Anheuser-Busch? It is a sassy little piece about a (maybe it’s Budweiser!) draft horse and a Dalmatian dog and the horse is rejected for the lead position pulling the beer wagon and is very down. The Dalmatian puts him into a training schedule and it’s scored to the "Rocky" theme and the next time, our guy is chosen and it is definitely a Bud moment of triumph.

Marlo Thomas

Marlo Thomas | 11/17/2008 11:00 pm

Marlo Thomas's Picks for the Funniest and Meanest Commercials (Video)

Call me a sucker for goofy stuff, but I think those commercials with the E*Trade baby are a riot. I know, I know — putting grown-up voices in babies’ mouths is the oldest trick in the book. But that child is so damn cute — and the voice that comes out of his face is so PERFECT, I howl every time. Phil and I call each other to hurry in the room every time one comes on.


Watch an E*Trade Baby commercial below and laugh with Marlo:

The other one is the famous Lyndon Johnson ad that ran during the 1964 presidential campaign. It was the first famous attack ad, and it was supposed to scare voters into thinking that Johnson’s opponent, Barry Goldwater, was a dangerous man who would lead us into a world war. The commercial showed a little girl picking the petals off a flower and counting them, while, in the background, a voice counted down the launch of a nuclear missile. Then the screen dissolved into the image of a giant mushroom cloud. It was so horrifying that it only aired once on TV — too many people complained about it. But, the real irony is, people today would just shrug at that kind of ad. That’s how bad political advertising has become.

Watch the controversial Lyndon B. Johnson 1964 presidential campaign ad:

43 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

barrett etc
TAKE ME ALONG, IF YOU LOOOOOOOOVE ME, TAKE ME ALONG! a united airlines commercial from the 60’s………..i use to sing the song constantly, and annoy the hell out of my then husband! ;)
By barrett etc on 11/18/2008 8:45 am
Chrome Toe
I’d have to say in recent years it’s the cave man commercials. not all of them… but the one where they are in the restaraunt being wined and dined by the guy for an apology… that one just cracked us up. I like the newer one with Billy Jean King where the tennis match is a total set up sponsored by Geico… I’m surprised i even remember a SINGLE commercial as I haven’t watched a show that I didn’t tivo in years. I literally can’t sit through one. I figure i must be seeing them when my husband watches sports.
By Chrome Toe on 11/18/2008 8:52 am
JJ GB
My favorite commercials were when they were still one commercial ever 15 to 30 minutes. Now, there’s as many as 10 commercials ever 7 minutes so I intentionally turn it to “mute” and watch none of them if I can avoid them. They’re always decibels higher than the program sound, as if the loudness will glue you to the commercial-has the opposite effect on me, so this is my way of protesting.
By JJ GB on 11/18/2008 9:23 am
Kathrine Gluvna
My all time favorite commercial is the Coke commercial with Mean Joe Green. “Thanks, Mean Joe”
By Kathrine Gluvna on 11/18/2008 10:07 am
C jay
I have not watching commericals for over 5 years - I skim past them with my advance button, when I do watch the telly, so other than immediate news on the Internet, either “switch” then “fight” if I’m on a station that pounds us with imbecillic nonesense. In that regard, I have to say that the best commercials I have seen were not in the USA - those that present a message, kept one glued to the monitor, and often left one wondering what product, if at all, the graphics were presenting. I guess there are ads on PBS, but I only recall them as mentions of a show’s sponsors’ which is the way it should be. In fact, I’ve written to sponsors thanking them for their underwriting, and not! Don’t bother with me, I would never purchase any items with a product (or designer’s) name visible - I’ll do it if we enter into a contract to pay me, however. Now, COACH I do permit. ;-)) I’m still mourning the loss of my COACH eggplant sling handback that I purchased in Toledo when they first presented that prize in the mid 90s. (I have seen that “baby” and found it revolting; however, my “region” is full of those self-produced family members diatribes that are quite insulting).
By C jay on 11/18/2008 10:22 am
Ine Drage
My favourite TV commercial is the one “blindeforbundet” made a couple of years ago (the ones helping blind people and training dogs to lead them.) We meet this golden retriever puppy playing in his garden, but a big dog jumps over the fence and start bothering him. Tearing apart his toys, eating his food, and steeling his dog house when it rains. So we leave the puppy sitting in the cold rain, looking sad and heartbroken. And we hear “we’ll meet again” playing in the background… Then, after a year or so, we see the two dogs again. The rain is poring down and the “mean” dog is left standing on the street outside a diner, stopped by the “no dogs allowed” - sign. While through the window, we see people eating and having a good time. Then the Golden retriever comes along, he is now a trained dog, and leading his blind owner right into the diner, leaving the other dog outside alone… It’s a really adorable commercial, and it’s so good to see something original!!!
By Ine Drage on 11/18/2008 10:35 am
rocky rocky
Ms Cooney, your favorite brings to mind the Mariette Hartley and James Garner commercials for Polaroid cameras. Great series of commercials. Remember looking forward to seeing them! Something that doesn’t happen nowadays. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H1t7yOLl4w&feature=related Also recall a Ted Danson commercial (I think it was his first TV appearance), where he was formally dressed, had to walk toward the camera, then walk up a few steps, and dance a beautiful woman away — or something like that. He got a lot of attention, he was that good looking!
By rocky rocky on 11/18/2008 11:00 am
rocky rocky
And then there are the really great and immensely successful PSAs, like the probably first one I ever heard by Smokey the Bear (you can prevent fire fires) and how about Young & Rubicam’s “A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste.” And then there’s the one that is a play on another well known psa and I saw on a highway sign when I was a teenager and only someone as old as I would understand — “When you drive, don’t drink. Accidents cause people.” Also: crying indian http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8165024777546661764 Do you know where your children are? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wK5QAcJhRo&eurl=http://video.google.com/… This is your brain on drugs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl5gBJGnaXs&eurl=http://video.google.com/…
By rocky rocky on 11/18/2008 11:19 am
John G
… feels so soft against your skin, makes you wish you had a double-chin.” I believe they were adverting the Gillette MicroBlade, but it’s been many a year and I haven’t shaved my face since 1978…
By John G on 11/18/2008 11:25 am
phyllis Doyle Pepe
This puts me in mind of the old Burma shave signs that you would find on the sides of traveled roads. Some of you MUST remember them? They were rhyme sequences –––––I think about seven or so in a row spaced about a half mile apart; as kids my brother and I would make a game as to what the next sign would say. Great advertising!!
By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 11/18/2008 12:43 pm
Sally K
The cave man for Geico describing how he picked up his best dance moves in Prague. ‘Jazz hands, anything with jazz hands” puts me on the floor every time.
By Sally K on 11/18/2008 1:07 pm
f p
Hamms beer commercials from the 50’s 60’s: “From the land of sky blue waters…”
By f p on 11/18/2008 2:07 pm
Frannie Em
Frank Hey friend, where the heck have you been? Yes, “from the land of sky blue waters…” I can remember.
By Frannie Em on 11/18/2008 9:01 pm
Jane Goodwin
I don’t watch TV, but I occasionally watch funny commercials on YouTube. Right now, I can’t stop laughing at this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoRD1wmvwUc (language warning) And this one has been a favorite for several years now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fitxofd7kOA&NR=1 And this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtjW78IUgOQ&feature=related I’ll stop now.
By Jane Goodwin on 11/18/2008 2:28 pm
Leslie Kirschenbaum
Being in the industry I’ve the good fortune to see the Art Directors Clubs…archives of the Master of Mad-(men)ison Ave…”where’s the beef” “I’d like to teach the world to sing” addictive jingles…to today’s clever your a Mac your a PC or beauty of RL fashion to techno savy Blue Man Group…great creative keeps coming the international ones they’re fabulous…that said, MY most memorable come from cousin Jack…whose struggling acting career launched in his 60’s, when he made his a blunder on National TV. Yells went around my home…turn on channel x, it’s cousin Jack! …. There he sat in front of a hugh bowl of pasta and utter “Mama Mia, that’s a speci spicy meat ball!” success, in real, honest flubbing of your line… : )
By Leslie Kirschenbaum on 11/18/2008 3:27 pm