Over the years, the folks at Madison Avenue have come up with numerous advertising campaigns that may not have made you try the product they were pushing, but at least were memorable. Below, in alphabetical order, are 13 of my favorite advertising characters that have been used to sell everything from cheesy flavored confections to cream filled sponge cakes.
1. Chester Cheetah (Cheetos)
2. Dig 'Em Frog (Sugar Smacks)
3. Flo, the cashier (Progressive Insurance)
4. Fred the Baker (Dunkin Donuts)
5. The Great Root Bear (A&W Root Beer)
6. Messy Marvin (Hershey's Chocoloate Syrup)
7. The Most Interesting Man In the World (Dos Equis Beer)
8. Poppin' Fresh (aka The Pillsbury Doughboy)
9. Punchy (Hawaiian Punch)
10. Rosie the waitress (Bounty paper towels)
11. The Rubberband Man (Office Max)
12. The Scrubbing Bubbles (Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner)
13. Twinkie the Kid (Twinkies snack cakes)
Who are your favorite advertising characters?
Who are your favorite advertising characters?
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When my children were babies and I had to get up in the middle of the night to get their bottles, I would often mutter, "time to make the doughnuts" Funny how advertisements stay with you and reappear out of your subconscious at the weirdest times. Good list!
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with most of them, but here in our country, we also have The Great Root Bear and Pillsbury Doughboy ; ) Great list! Mine's up at http://jengspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/06/thursday-thirteen-13-positives-about.html
ReplyDeleteLoved Fred & Rosie :-) And mmmm, Sugar Smacks, haven't had those in years! Great list :-)
ReplyDeleteYou picked some interesting characters. Some of them, I don't even notice, even though I use the product. As much as I love Twinkies, I don't think I've ever looked twice at Twinkie the Kid. LOL
ReplyDeleteNow that Poppin' Fresh guy, love him!
The California Raisins.
ReplyDeleteAwesome picks all around, as always. And it's good to see you again! It's been too long.
a very interesting post!!
ReplyDeleteSugar Frog is on point, but no Tony the Tiger? He's always felt so paternal to me.
ReplyDeleteI love Poppin' Fresh! So cute. I also have a soft spot for Mr. Clean. The old version, not the new one.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites is Rodney Allen Ripey, who was in Burger King commercials. This is a fun list!
ReplyDeleteI love Flo too!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut, but....what about ?????
Guess I'll do MY list of favorites next week. LOL
My Thirteen is posted...a message to all cats/dogs AND their owners. All in fun! Happy day wishes to you....
they surely are fun to see on a list, and not from advertising. the only ad that somehow remains on my mind nowadays is the marlboro man as i wrote a required paper on advertising class (100) years ago :) very interesting list. mine is up as well. happy TT.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous I didn't think of this idea myself. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteHubby & I both have a crush on Flo -- and I wrote about Messy Marvin not too long ago too (at the other blog, Kitsch Slapped).
...I may still steal this idea myself (I'll credit you, of course lol)
Flo has a name? Who knew?
ReplyDeletehttp://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/06/lovin-thursday.html
I love it!!! There were lots of fun childhood flashbacks in looking through the list. ;) I love Root Bear most!!!
ReplyDeleteFun T13! My favorite is the Rubberband Man. Love those commercials. My son does an awesome "Most Interesting Man In the World" imitation.
ReplyDeletehey hey!!!
ReplyDeletewow
being an advertising junkie this appealed to me loads :D
chk mine at
http://2short2sweet.blogspot.com/2009/06/yes-to-power-13.html
Oh my ...
ReplyDeleteI've always thought advertising is totally wasted on me. I'll walk through a store humming and jingle about the wrong product. Honestly the only one I recognize is the Dough Boy and the only one I can think of as I type is the adorable puppy that looked like Molly in a TP commercial.
Hugs and blessings,
Umm Tony the Tiger (Frosted Flakes)
ReplyDeleteYou know, Rubberband Man looks remarkably like Crab Man from My Name is Earl. Hmmm ...
ReplyDeletePunchy, and a little Hawaiian PUNCH -- now those were good commercials!
ReplyDeleteLove the Pillsbury Dough Boy! I also like Ronald McDonald and Mr. Clean.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten about the rootbeer bear - that made me chuckle!
Great list idea.
Kristen: Thanks for stopping by and sharing your "time to make the doughnuts" story.
ReplyDeleteJeng: I had no idea that the Great Root Bear was known outside the U.S.
Janet: I love the "Gimme a smack and I'll smack you back" song from Sugar Smacks.
Lori: It's probably cliché, but I always wanted to poke the Pillsbury Doughboy in his belly.
Susan: Yes, it has been awhile. I'm trying to get more consistent with blogging and commenting on the blogs of others.
Chris: Thanks
Thembi: Tony the Tiger is a good one. Maybe I'll include him on the sequel to this list (that is if the studio gives it the greenlight).
Rachael: Mr. Clean is a good one. I prefer the older one myself.
Carleen: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Hootin' Anni: Flo the cashier would be a lot of fun to hang with... she has that rare mix of femininity and a "one of the guys" quality about her.
Hazel: 100 years ago? I didn't realize the Marlboro Man had been around that long. :-)
Deanna: I'm flattered. I look forward to seeing your list of fave advertising characters.
I Am Harriet: Flo sure does have a name. You can see it on her "tricked out" name tag.
Smittenly Written: I wish I could find the commercial with the animated A&W Root Bear. I can't believe it's not on You Tube.
Jil Conyers: Wow, I wish I could hear your son's MIMITW imitation.
AD: Given that you're an advertising junkie, your username is perfect!
Happily Retired Gal: I vaguely remember that TP commercial that you mentioned. I can't recall the brand though.
Sarah: Good call on Tony the Tiger
Book Mama: Yup, the Rubberband Man and Crab Man are one in the same. I bet you knew that already didn't you?
CTG: I just learned that the guy that Punchy used to punch has a name... Opie.
Debbie: Ronald McDonald was this close to making my list... thanks for visiting.