It’s a little-known fact that there is a lot more television time than there is television programming to fill said time. Thus, some years ago, someone (who is going to go to hell) invented the infomercial, essentialy just a 30 minute commercial for whichever product someone wants to shill, usually hosted by some eclipsed “star” of years past, like the kid who played Chuck Cunningham or Marcy D’Arcy’s first husband. Of course, actors and athletes shilling for various business concerns is a time-tested tradition, a way to both bolster sales and allow the personalities in question to maintain some level of relevance in the industry. I, myself, plan to do commercials for plus-size adult diapers, and if you’re all lucky, I may even wait until I’m old enough to need such things before I start recording.
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) wonders whatcha gonna do, brother, asking:
Who’s your favorite celebrity corporate shill, spokesperson or paid sponsorship?
9 Comments
Hogan’s newest one: Spokesman for a “male enhancement” testosterone replacement supplement, “Ageless Male”. The ultimate ironic commercial for any long-time wrestling fan.
I can’t help but snicker in a juvenile fashion when I see Jimmy Johnson shilling Extenze.
Mark Martin driving the Viagra car was interesting as well.
Stewie Griffin for “Hwheat Thins”.Mick Foley as Mankind for Chef Boyardee (back around the same time as “The Scorpion King” movie), the old Marvel Hostess pie ads and Jerry Springer for a local car dealership (It amuses me).
Wilford Brimley.
Diabeetus.
‘Nuff said!
Lucille Ball pitching Vitameatavegamin.
Good old George Foreman. I can remember, back when I was a child, being surprised to learn that the guy selling grills on tv used to be a boxer. Also, the George Foreman Grill is actually a fine product that I still use to this day.
My second pick would be Jerry Lawler, who used to do (and last I checked still does) commercials for a used auto lot back home in Memphis. I’m pretty sure Jimmy Hart has done some commercials for that same lot as well.
If I’m not completely mistaken, I think I might recall some of those Jerry Lawler commercials from when I used to go to St. Jude quite regularly. It has been a while since I’ve been there so I’d completely forgotten them until you mentioned them.
Gotta go George Foreman. I actually use that grill quite a bit. If you were a watcher of Hogan Knows Best, the Hulkster was almost the spokesman for that product instead of George.