catlover79
10-26-2009, 10:40 PM
http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/directv-resurrects-the-dead-in-questionable-ads--729
By Matt Ufford | Monday, October 26, 2009, 11:35 AM
Some viewers are upset with DirecTV's newest commercial, a recreation of a scene in "Tommy Boy" that combines new footage of David Spade interacting with Chris Farley, who died of a drug overdose in 1997. In the classic scene from the 1995 comedy, a present-day Spade dismisses Farley's antics with the sarcastic remark, "Never gets old." Viewers on YouTube called the spot "distasteful" and a "stupid idea."
It's consistent with DirecTV's long-running ad campaign that features actors in their famous movie roles -- such as Sigourney Weaver in "Alien" and Charlie Sheen in "Major League" -- stepping out of the scene and addressing the TV audience about the benefits of satellite television service. However, this is the second consecutive DirecTV spot that has featured a dead performer: Craig T. Nelson reprised his role from "Poltergeist" in a commercial that featured Heather O'Rourke, who died tragically in 1988 at the age of 12 after her haunting delivery of the line "They're heeeeeere" became part of the popular vernacular.
Corporations using deceased actors is not a new concept. It dates back to at least 1991, when Elton John performed for Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Louis Armstrong in a Diet Coke ad. Fred Astaire famously appeared in a 1997 Dirt Devil ad that debuted during the Super Bowl, and Coors Light has used John Wayne to sell beer.
In all instances, the executor of the deceased's will has to approve the usage of the footage, but moral concerns remain. For example, Astaire's daughter objected to her stepmother approving the Dirt Devil commercial, writing that the "paltry, unconscionable commercials are the antithesis of everything my lovely, gentle father represented." Similarly, the notion of using a dead child or deceased beloved comedian to sell satellite dishes isn't going to sit well with a portion of the audience. But as long as it works, companies will continue to do it.
By Matt Ufford | Monday, October 26, 2009, 11:35 AM
Some viewers are upset with DirecTV's newest commercial, a recreation of a scene in "Tommy Boy" that combines new footage of David Spade interacting with Chris Farley, who died of a drug overdose in 1997. In the classic scene from the 1995 comedy, a present-day Spade dismisses Farley's antics with the sarcastic remark, "Never gets old." Viewers on YouTube called the spot "distasteful" and a "stupid idea."
It's consistent with DirecTV's long-running ad campaign that features actors in their famous movie roles -- such as Sigourney Weaver in "Alien" and Charlie Sheen in "Major League" -- stepping out of the scene and addressing the TV audience about the benefits of satellite television service. However, this is the second consecutive DirecTV spot that has featured a dead performer: Craig T. Nelson reprised his role from "Poltergeist" in a commercial that featured Heather O'Rourke, who died tragically in 1988 at the age of 12 after her haunting delivery of the line "They're heeeeeere" became part of the popular vernacular.
Corporations using deceased actors is not a new concept. It dates back to at least 1991, when Elton John performed for Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Louis Armstrong in a Diet Coke ad. Fred Astaire famously appeared in a 1997 Dirt Devil ad that debuted during the Super Bowl, and Coors Light has used John Wayne to sell beer.
In all instances, the executor of the deceased's will has to approve the usage of the footage, but moral concerns remain. For example, Astaire's daughter objected to her stepmother approving the Dirt Devil commercial, writing that the "paltry, unconscionable commercials are the antithesis of everything my lovely, gentle father represented." Similarly, the notion of using a dead child or deceased beloved comedian to sell satellite dishes isn't going to sit well with a portion of the audience. But as long as it works, companies will continue to do it.