Best/Worst advertising mascots

[BEAR]

I actually enjoy most of the cereal characters except maybe that furry Honeycomb thing. He got on my nerves.

Anyone remember the Sugar Bear? What cereal did he represent? He was pretty cool. There was a similar cereal that used a frog. Was it Smacks?

 

[anytimepally]

The Kool-Aid Man (sad about the points, though...)
Keebler's Elves
Wilkins and Wontkins
The M&Ms
Wilfred Brimley, especially when he reminds me to check my blood sugar and check it often
and I actually like The Burger King

 

[Drtooth]

Anyone remember the Sugar Bear? What cereal did he represent?

You may be interrested to hear of a cartoon called "Linus the Lionhearted" Which basically was a collection of cartoons that were based on cereal mascots for Post. Long story short, Sugar Bear was the only one that lasted past the series.

 

[BEAR]

You may be interrested to hear of a cartoon called "Linus the Lionhearted" Which basically was a collection of cartoons that were based on cereal mascots for Post. Long story short, Sugar Bear was the only one that lasted past the series.

Wow! That's really cool. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[Xerus]

Wow! That's really cool. Thanks for sharing that.

And here's the opening theme song of Linus the Lionhearted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq4JSNC_wLg

 

[Convincing John]

My two favorites have got to be Wilkins and Wontkins. They just top the list for me.

I also like Tony the Tiger. I had a Religion and Philosophy professor once that sounded like him when he lectured.

I hate that stupid king, too. I gotta agree with Alfred E. Neuman here.

And I also can't stand that Smiling Bob guy from the Enzyte commercials. That guy is creepy in such a Stepford Wives way. Who's got the creepiest smile? It's a toss up between him and that king.

In general, (although it's not a mascot, really) I can't, absolutely CAN'T stand any commercial that continuously uses obvious misandry and calls it "comedy" to sell a product. The father (or any guy) is always portrayed as a brainless clod while the woman shows "brainless clod male" what to do, usually humiliating, emasculating and/or embarrassing him. Sometimes this is accompanied by the man getting hurt in the...well, you know.

If the gender roles were reversed the ad companies would be in serious hot water! True, ads were offensive to women (and races in general) at one time, but merely switching the roles doesn't make the ads any funnier. Your regular Joe Blow is a person, too, and these commercials are everywhere.

See what I mean?

There was a Progressive Insurance commercial on a few years ago I don't think I can discuss here (this is a family forum after all and what happened to the guy in it was beyond unacceptable) but I was glad when it finally left the air.

But back to good mascots. Hey, here's one some of you might remember! I loved this stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIxSZPWaOTI

Another cereal blast from the past:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nMnBaO1QYs

But of course, my favorite cereal mascot has got to be this guy. Can't put my finger on why I like it so much. I think the guy playing the part must be some artist I like. I'll have to look it up...

Convincing John

 

[Drtooth]

And I also can't stand that Smiling Bob guy from the Enzyte commercials. That guy is creepy in such a Stepford Wives way. Who's got the creepiest smile? It's a toss up between him and that king.

I think his wife is ugly. No wonder he needs that stuff.

 

[Princeton]

Wow, I'm very glad so many of you are enjoying this thread! I've got a lot of comments:

1) I love how in the BarNone commercials, the Pets.com Sock Puppet always says "Everyone deserves a second chance!", because in a way, Sock Puppet got a second chance after Pets.com went under. Am I the only one who finds that funny?
2) What's with Chester the Cheet-os Cheetah being British now? Has anyone seen the most recent Cheet-os commercial (the one on the airplane?)
3) Does anyone remember the Burger King ad campaign where they briefly used Mr. Potato Head as their mascot? The gimmick was that Burger King's fries were better than McDonald's, which I never believed, but that didn't stop me from from buying the Potato Head toys!
4) Speaking of Sugar Bear, does anyone remember the Golden Crisps commercial where the Granny was always trying to steal Sugar Bear's cereal? When I saw this as a kid, I always thought "Grannies wouldn't do that!"

 

[Princeton]

Upon re-visiting this thread, I'm reminded of how much commercials have changed/evolved in three years. So, I'm reviving it to let the new generation of posters (and some golden oldies too) talk about some of the newer commercial mascots.

 

[Drtooth]

Not technically a mascot, but I hate those new McD's Happy Meal commercials with those ugly "quirky" looking CGI things. Spaeman Stu and all that.... they're just very ugly looking. And I HATE that kind of kid's music. I miss Grimace and Hamburgaler!

And other bad mascots? Any local or shifty commercials for credit... Work Out World, The General, stuff like that... those UGLY CGI homunculus type things... ew.

Here's one that's not a mascot per se, but I LOVE the "I Lift zings up und I put zem down!" guy for planet Fitness.