As you may or may not have heard: Windell Middlebrooks, who played the the iconic MHL delivery guy in a series of commercials, died at 36 of unspecified causes. There aren’t many pitchmen that I can say are great, but Middlebrooks was one of them. Here is a sample commercial:
Here’s an elongated political-themed commercial.
[And here’s a link to him is on Late, Late Night with Craig Ferguson. My parents don’t watch Ferguson, or Letterman who comes before him, but they’d DVR just about every appearance he made. And then save it for me next time I come home. We love the guy that much. In fact, last time they were here, we were talking about some commercials in BCS season and saying “Not as good as Miller High Life guy.”
My father is partial to the AT&T Rollover Minutes Mom. Here’s the best of the commercials (though with an obnoxious word balloon):
I’ve always been partial to Progressive Insurance’s Flo. Which I am told makes me insane.
Nobody will ever hold a candle to Miller High Life Delivery Guy, though.
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5 Responses to Pitchmen, Living and Passed
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There’s a furniture chain in my area called Bob’s Discount Furniture that does heavy radio advertising. The pitchman, whom I believe is the company’s CEO, has a whining nasal voice that’s almost painful to hear. Think a combination of Woody Allen and Gilbert Gottfried. Yet it’s highly effective: listeners take note, rather than let the ads fade into background noise as with most radio ads.
There was a chain back in Colosse that sold furniture with scratches on it and such. The pitchman was so enthusiastic about damaged furniture that it had an infectious quality.
Not so much that I cared about him or would watch him on Leno, but enough that I remember the ads.
The commericals don’t ring a bell, even though I am familiar with the brand.
The commerical from the radio that has seered its way into my brain is 1-877-KARS-4-KIDS, which is a big scam, BTW.
You’re wrong on the best AT&T pitchmen.
The best was Beck Bennett as the guy interviewing little kids.
Second is the adorable Milana Vayntrub as the AT&T salesgirl.
When she was in episode 6 of Silicon Valley they sexed her up and I didn’t even recognize her.
The kid interviews are great.