Thursday, April 20, 2006
Subway commercial blast from the past
I noticed recently that they started airing a commercial for Subway sandwich shops that I swear first aired about 10 or more years ago. It starts with a chain link fence, and a guy lecherously uttering to a blonde, "How 'bout a burger, baby!" She launches into a song and dance, part of which goes "Don't want no greasy burger. Don't want my dinner from a [big?] machine. I want a fresh, delicious sandwich..."
It's not unusual for companies to keep reusing certain commercials for many years, but usually they have a timeless element to them. The actresses in this commercial look like they came straight from 1995 with big hair, makeup applied with a shotgun, and clothing from the wardrobe of Saved By the Bell.
So my questions to you, dear readers, are:
Has anyone else outside of the Minneapolis area seen this commercial recently?
If not, do you remember the commercial I'm talking about? Like I said, I'm thinking it first aired in the mid-90's or even earlier.
If you remember the commercial, can you pin a year or general time period in which you first saw it way back when?
I'm just curious how on earth someone could have consciously decided that it would be a good idea to throw this time capsule back on the air.
UPDATE: See the commercial here!
UPDATE #2: All mysteries resolved!
It's not unusual for companies to keep reusing certain commercials for many years, but usually they have a timeless element to them. The actresses in this commercial look like they came straight from 1995 with big hair, makeup applied with a shotgun, and clothing from the wardrobe of Saved By the Bell.
So my questions to you, dear readers, are:
Has anyone else outside of the Minneapolis area seen this commercial recently?
If not, do you remember the commercial I'm talking about? Like I said, I'm thinking it first aired in the mid-90's or even earlier.
If you remember the commercial, can you pin a year or general time period in which you first saw it way back when?
I'm just curious how on earth someone could have consciously decided that it would be a good idea to throw this time capsule back on the air.
UPDATE: See the commercial here!
UPDATE #2: All mysteries resolved!
I've noticed this commercial too! I was surprised that they were airing it again. It's kind of annoying and tacky.
Never saw it then. Haven't seen it now. Hm. Why do I suddenly have a craving for a Cold Cut Combo?
I rememember the commercial from at least from the mid 90s, and even then it had a weird retro 80s feel to it. The only interesting thing about the commercial is that the woman on the right singing "Don't want my dinner from .." is PARKER POSEY!
Everything old comes into vogue again, like frickin' Strawberry Shortcake from my youth -- why bring that back?
The most insipid commercial ever -- and I hated it even as a kid in the '80s -- was that McDonald's one they dragged out every Christmas season where the kid can't skate, but then ass-clown Ronald McDonald comes and suddenly he can skate with all the animated woodland creatures! Magical!
I don't remember seeing these ads in previous decades but they definitely had an '80s vibe. This made me curious as to when they were actually made. The comments here are the only ones that I have seen so far where someone pinpoints "mid 90s" at least. So far all of the pages that I have come across regarding this commercial are from Minnesota. Is this the only place that these commercials were shown in the past and today? If that is the case, why?
Can anyone confirm that that really is Parker Posey in this ad? I saw another page where someone was wondering if that was true. They had also thought that it might be Ione Skye from the movie "Say Anything" on the left. If true, very weird for what seems to be a Minnesota only ad for Subway.
Anyway, glad to see that others think that these ads are odd enough to comment on.
Paul
I know I originally saw these when I was a teenager or in college in North Dakota. I have utterly no idea where the Parker Posey connection came from, but I'm more than a tad dubious about that claim. I have the full version of the ad ripped from my Tivo, but I haven't had time to convert it to post here yet. Maybe if more people can see the actual ad, it will ring some bells.
Jeremy - Cool Blog. This commercial was extremely popular in 1993 - 1994 in Denver. My brother and I, to this day, talk about "big machines" every time we pass by a Subway. I have some good friends from Kansas who remember the commercial from that era as well. In fact we've been trying to locate a copy of it for years! We all wondered what they were thinking back then, so the fact that they've raised it from the dead is very humorous. If you get it ripped from your Tivo, I'd love to get a copy. If you could e-mail it to thesteve80 at yahoo dot com, I'd indebted to you forever. I'd owe you at least three greasy burgers. You could savor every bite!
Steve, thanks for confirming just how atrociously old this commercial is! I knew it. Can you believe they started playing them again up here 13 years later? I'm hoping to get the video posted this week.
Fair warning, I seem to have sound quality issues when I convert the videos into non-Tivo formats (the Tivo format itself seems to have no problems). Hopefully I can get that figured out, too.
I'm from Minnesota too (Duluth) and have been seeing it quite a bit lately. I think it's probably early 90s, but I could be wrong.
Thanks, flodlogic. I didn't realize it was playing up there, too. Maybe it's a regional thing then? My guess is whoever owns the Minnesota franchise(s) revived it.
I say 90-91...I am from blaine .
I am in agreement with the comment from Blaine. I remember it as 1990-91 as well.
N.E. Mpls.
I also remember this add from 1989 as it has the big 80s feel to it.I belive the singer is dubbed and the jiggle is done by country singer "Janey Fricky"(sp)
Perhaps Subway has exhausted their advertising budget? I really don’t want to have to see that “wrap it up” girl again.
The person to my left is very adamant that the actress in the commercial is NOT Parker Posey. While waiting in line at the grocery store just a couple years ago I spotted a booklet on juicing, the model on the cover holding a glass of carrot juice was a very young Courtney Cox, I also had owned a Family Circus magazine that had Demi Moore modeling a hand made crochet sweater. So…it could be true!
I too am from Minneapolis.
i'm originally from the east coast, so i never saw this. but it seems like it's more from '86 than the early 90s.
whenever it's from, it's grating on my nerves! i hate it.
I think that subway commercial is very dated and I agree with other's on, why would they bring that dated advertisement back to the tube. Freaky that it is playing this very second as I type. Subway is desperate or they are going down in flames. I am glad I do not work for them cause to gather the info to determine to put that commercial back in circulation must be scarey. It has to be the 80's for sure. It totally looks like Parker Posey, which brought me to this bloggedy blog blog, blog.
Uptown Minneapolis, in the house
; )
From Rochester, MN found this site because this commercial drives me nuts and I'm trying to figure out why on earth it's on the air. Glad to know others share my sentiments, though there is still no answer as to WHY.
I believe this ad is from the late 80's. I think it is great. It is a total time capsule and reminds me of my girlfriend from the same era. I think it is hillarious and it makes me laugh every time I see it. I just cannot figure out why they would bring this particular ad back in to use.
I clearly remember this ad form the past. I thought the blonde was hot then and I still think she's hot now. I like her exaggerated, perhaps dated, look. Who is she?? She looks like she's READY for something! I know I am.