The "Most Interesting Man in the World" Raises his Glass for the Last Time

The "Most Interesting Man in the World" has raised his glass for the last time, as the character was sent on a one-way trip to Mars in his final commercial. So ends one of the greatest ad campaigns in history. (It launched an internet meme, for example.)

(Tip of the cap to Kin Chan.)

Awesome Audi Commerical: 'Battle of the Spocks'

Another of the awesome things that has been circulated amidst Leonard Nimoy's passing is this fantastic Audi commercial from 2013 (or at least the io9 article is from 2013, so I am assuming that the commercial is as well) featuring both Nimoy and Zachary Quinto (who plays Spock in the Star Strek reboot) in a 'Battle of the Spocks'.

There are quite a few great allusions in this commercial.

(Tip of the cap to somebody, but I forgot to scribble down whom.)

RIP Cal Worthington (1920-2013)

Cal Worthington, a well-known West Coast used-car salesman who appeared all over the place (and early and often) on television commercials during my childhood---and starting several decades before then---died on Sunday while watching a football game. Worthington's jingle was burned into my head for many years, and I still remember it pretty well. I have no idea where his "dog" Spot is buried.

Update (9/10/13): As I have been reminded by many people, "Go see Cal! Go see Cal! Go see Cal!" sounded like "Pussy cow! Pussy cow! Pussy cow!" to so many of us.

Bo Knows...

I am very happy that Rob Neyer linked to this "Bo Knows" commercial in this article. This commercial is one of the greatest --- and perhaps the greatest --- commercial in one of the greatest ad campaigns of all time.

Models Discussing Quantum Mechanics

This commercial is fantastic.

I would love for some of the academic text I've produced (even if plagiarized, as was the case here) to end up in a commercial like this one.

Jerry Brown is once again Governor of California

Looking at this from a bird's-eye view and without thinking about partisanship, Jerry Brown regaining the California governorship after serving from 1975-1983 is just a really neat story. And his campaign commercial inspired by Dos Equis beer is simply a big win.

Aflac!

I think that this poster is hilarious!

Of course, it helps that I have seen a huge number of Aflac commercials (and in-game quizzes) while watching baseball games.

Jewish Wazzup Commericial

This video is supposedly a banned Budweiser 'Wazzup' commericial. It has a Jewish theme, and I think it's pretty damned funny. (Note: Some people thought that entire thread of commercials was really stupid, and the first few commercials in it were. But then it started getting incredibly self-referential, so that later commercials in the series became pretty bloody funny. Being amused by this video is probably predicated on knowing the thread.)

(Tip of the cap to my cousin Leydah Evers.)

RIP Gidget the Taco Bell dog (1994-2009)

The celebrity world has taken a major hit today, as the dog from the Taco Bell commercials (whose name in real life is Gidget) died of a stroke today. In case you don't remember, the dog's famous tagline was the dubbed "You quiero Taco Bell."

(Tip of the hat to Bonnie Harland.)