You Tube Commercials

Oh hi. I've been wheeling and dealing. As a sideline gig and a break from my multi million dollar empire I decided to get into posting commercials n' stuff. I think it's fun. Here's a few of my favorites...







1970s Crest Commercial featuring Mr. Goodwin- Mr. Goodwin's a good man, a solid American if there ever was one (there's wasn't). Mr. Goodwrench  Mr. Goodwin was portrayed by character actor Arthur O' Connell. Goodwin was a fixture on mid to late '70s TV. Here's an earlier spot with O' Connell clearly feeling out this avuncular character. To be honest, Goodwin is a bit annoying here, a total busy body. I've got something to say to Mr. Goodwin: Mind your business!

Fun Fact: Arthur O' Connell filmed 326 Mr. Goodwin spots in one day. He was a warhorse.


1970's Prell Commercial- The 70s were my favorite era for commercials. In this era, Prell often have hair washing as an experience shared by couples. I haven't seen this before or since. This spot features one of my favorite actresses of the time. She (don't know her name) was also on a Clairol Frost and Tip commercial that was one YouTube for a bit. I searched and searched by alas, it's gone. I was so sad I peed my pants.

Part 2: I do have a copy of the Clairol Frost and Tip commercial but I can't use it because it's watermarked as someone else's.

Part 3: I'm a sad, sad man




1970s Dawn Commercial- You know what? I've seen a fair amount of Dawn commercials, about 50 or more and for some reason they are routinely boring, so boring. This is one exception. This commercial features actress Gail Strickland singing and dancing? Hilarious. Really it's actually kind of cool seeing her like this. Sadly the "dance" is interrupted by some crude animation of plates and grease grabbers. Damnit! It was just getting good!




1970's Air Force Commercial- Sigh, they really don't make them like this anymore. Really they stopped doing them like this by 1975 or so. I love the editing, pacing and cinematography here. This is basically a :60 recruitment spot done so well you almost forget what they're asking you to do: Hard ass work. Featured in the commercial is Diana Ross's 1970 hit "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) and it sure worked well here. The voice-over is done by Lorne Greene.


1970's Vicks NyQuil- It's very rare that I find a commercial cringe-worthy. This is one of the them and I couldn't be happier. This is from the 1970s, you'd think someone would have known better but clearly they didn't. This has two fake jazz artists "coughing/sneezing." Really there's no way this could have been done that wasn't insulting, to jazz, to head colds and to humans at large. All of these things make this a true genre classic. The genre? Horrible commercials.

Part 1: This features character actor Al Fann as the Satchmo manqué. I've seen the other guy on a 1978 Peppermint Patty commercial and after this, I'll see them both in my nightmares.

Meredith Vieira Leaves Today: A Recap

Oh hi. My staff gave me the horrible news that our friend Meredith Vieira has left Today. After alarming the flophouse with my sobs of agony, I decided to watch the episode show  that Today created to send Meredith off. I'm so sad....

 After a reflective hour of clips and whatnot, they primed the pump by having Carole King sing "You've Got a Friend." Something from Tapestry really? That's made people feel nostalgic about two weeks after its release.I'm glad they didn't get James Taylor on there, that would have really made me shit a brick. Anyway, after a few drinks, Matt Lauer led Meredith to the piana and he pretended to play and led her to the street by a bunch of NBC employees.The song they used? America's new national anthem, "Don't Stop Believin'" from Journey (rolls eyes.) Ann Curry (who should have gotten the gig six years ago) seemed to have a particularly good time sending Mer off. From Miss Ann, we got Natalie Morales. Did you know Natalie was up for Vieira's vacated spot? I bet she's not going to stay on Today too long if a better offer presents itself.

The level of NBC staff on hand was staggering. Did you see Manimal? I did. Hoda and Kathie Lee  (from Regis and Kathie Lee) was there too. I was hoping they'd all fall down. Sadly Tom Brokaw couldn't join the proceedings. He was in a makeshift study preparing for an interview with Ronald Reagan (shh, don't tell him.) Near the end, my favorite gang, Jenna Wolfe, Amy Robach and Lester Holt even stopped by to lip-synch. And about Lester Holt, out there with no rhythm at all. Shameful! Abe Vigoda was there too. Goody....

Part 2: After the party was over, Katie, Matt, Al and Ann all told Meredith how great she was. They were crying and stuff yet I was unmoved. Me? I can cry on 35 year old commercials but for this? I did not care. I think it's because Meredith has done better work elsewhere and there's probably better work ahead for her.




From The Archives- Here's a pic of most of the NBC Today gang at my blog's 5th anniversary party.