Abe Vigoda to Appear in H&R Block Commercial During Super Bowl - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 01-25-2009, 02:24 AM

Link

Matt Lauer began the week by summoning up an impressive display of mock dismay at being compared to 87-year-old Abe Vigoda. He ended it Friday by meeting the man who had real cause to be offended.

“We really want to apologize,” Vieira told Vigoda as he walked onto the set to the applause of the assembled TODAY crew – Vieira, Lauer, Al Roker and Natalie Morales. Gesturing toward Lauer sitting next to her, she joked, “We didn’t mean to compare you to this.”

Vigoda sat down and assumed a look of grim offense. Vieira asked him what he thought of the comparison.

“I was excited,” he deadpanned, his pout melting into a mischievous grin.

Before Vigoda came on, Vieira had said that apologies were in order while a tape of the original gag was shown. It had aired on Monday as a comic follow-up to a serious report about how the office of the presidency ages its occupants.

To illustrate how the job of TODAY host ages a man, the TODAY graphics department juxtaposed a picture of Lauer with one of Vigoda, the dour-looking character actor best-known for his roles in the '70s sitcom "Barney Miller" and the classic film "The Godfather."

“This is supposed to make me feel better?” a laughing Lauer asked.

When the laughter died down, Lauer confessed that Vigoda is “one of my favorites. He has a great sense of humor, but he also knows how to take a joke.” The co-host later conceded that there really is a family resemblance.

“You know what, Abe? You’re actually my dad,” Lauer said.

“Frankly, he does somewhat resemble my grandson,” Vigoda said.

While he was there, Vigoda also cleared up how he came to be reported as dead in 1982. The report has become a running joke that has followed him every since.

“We had a wrap party for ‘Barney Miller,’ ” Vigoda esplained. “I was doing a play in Calgary, Canada, at the time of the wrap party. A reporter for People Magazine came on [at the party], and she wrote this article, and she said, ‘We’re very sorry that the late Abe Vigoda is not here. He must be dead.’ ”

In response to the article, Vigoda posed in a coffin holding a copy of the magazine.

The actor recalled learning of the report just as he was about to go on stage in Calgary. “The producer says, ‘You can not go on,’ ” he said. “I said, ‘Why not? I gotta go on.’ He said, ‘No, you can’t. Because you’re dead. People magazine says you’re dead.’ ”

Now, more than a quarter century later, Vigoda is still going strong. In fact, he just did a commercial for H&R Block that’s going to run during the Super Bowl.

“I play...” he said, pausing for dramatic effect, “Death.”

Before saying goodbye, Vigoda moved to the couch to sit next to Lauer. Throwing an arm around Vigoda, Lauer kissed him on the forehead. Vigoda replied by planting a smooch on his surrogate son’s cheek.

robyrob · 01-25-2009, 05:08 AM

catlover79 · 01-25-2009, 11:49 PM

That's great news!! I love Abe.

catlover79 · 02-02-2009, 01:25 AM

Did anyone see this? I missed it!!

Zoneboy · 02-02-2009, 01:40 AM

http://www.youtube.com/hrblock

Marvo301 · 02-02-2009, 02:15 AM

Abe Vigoda as Death - I love it!!!!

sara · 02-02-2009, 07:50 PM

I liked the commercial but I was a little dissapointed. It was just his voice, and I would have loved to have seen his face.

catlover79 · 02-02-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara

I liked the commercial but I was a little dissapointed. It was just his voice, and I would have loved to have seen his face.

So would I. Otherwise - I loved the allegory. You can't cheat death and taxes.

It's also great when Abe is in something.

Scoobiedoo30 · 02-03-2009, 01:10 AM

I really wish that I could see the commercial.

Marvo301 · 02-03-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobiedoo30

I really wish that I could see the commercial.

Just click on the link in Zoneboy's post.

catlover79 · 02-03-2009, 01:34 AM

It's so funny - I mentioned to my mom a few days ago that Abe Vigoda was going to be in a new commercial. Her comment? "Abe Vigoda is still alive??"

Marvo301 · 02-03-2009, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

It's so funny - I mentioned to my mom a few days ago that Abe Vigoda was going to be in a new commercial. Her comment? "Abe Vigoda is still alive??"

Which is why he was the perfect person to play "death". Especially since there was a rumor that went around a number of years ago that Abe had passed away. So a lot of other people probably had the same reaction as your Mom.

catlover79 · 02-03-2009, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Which is why he was the perfect person to play "death". Especially since there was a rumor that went around a number of years ago that Abe had passed away. So a lot of other people probably had the same reaction as your Mom.

What's even funnier is that there was an episode of Barney Miller where the NYPD database purged Fish from the payroll, insisting that he was dead - several years before the rumor started in real life!!

You have to hand it to Abe - not many other people would have as much of a sense of humor about it as him.

Marvo301 · 02-03-2009, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

What's even funnier is that there was an episode of Barney Miller where the NYPD database purged Fish from the payroll, insisting that he was dead - several years before the rumor started in real life!!

You have to hand it to Abe - not many other people would have as much of a sense of humor about it as him.

I remember that episode! Fish had a heck of a time proving he was really alive. The same thing happened to Hawkeye on an episode of M*A*S*H.

catlover79 · 02-03-2009, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I remember that episode! Fish had a heck of a time proving he was really alive. The same thing happened to Hawkeye on an episode of M*A*S*H.

My favorite line in the episode:

Mr. Driscoll: You know, you look exactly like Boris Karloff.
Fish (after a beat): That's because we're both dead.

01-25-2009, 02:24 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,386	Abe Vigoda to Appear in H&R Block Commercial During Super Bowl Link Matt Lauer began the week by summoning up an impressive display of mock dismay at being compared to 87-year-old Abe Vigoda. He ended it Friday by meeting the man who had real cause to be offended. “We really want to apologize,” Vieira told Vigoda as he walked onto the set to the applause of the assembled TODAY crew – Vieira, Lauer, Al Roker and Natalie Morales. Gesturing toward Lauer sitting next to her, she joked, “We didn’t mean to compare you to this.” Vigoda sat down and assumed a look of grim offense. Vieira asked him what he thought of the comparison. “I was excited,” he deadpanned, his pout melting into a mischievous grin. Before Vigoda came on, Vieira had said that apologies were in order while a tape of the original gag was shown. It had aired on Monday as a comic follow-up to a serious report about how the office of the presidency ages its occupants. To illustrate how the job of TODAY host ages a man, the TODAY graphics department juxtaposed a picture of Lauer with one of Vigoda, the dour-looking character actor best-known for his roles in the '70s sitcom "Barney Miller" and the classic film "The Godfather." “This is supposed to make me feel better?” a laughing Lauer asked. When the laughter died down, Lauer confessed that Vigoda is “one of my favorites. He has a great sense of humor, but he also knows how to take a joke.” The co-host later conceded that there really is a family resemblance. “You know what, Abe? You’re actually my dad,” Lauer said. “Frankly, he does somewhat resemble my grandson,” Vigoda said. While he was there, Vigoda also cleared up how he came to be reported as dead in 1982. The report has become a running joke that has followed him every since. “We had a wrap party for ‘Barney Miller,’ ” Vigoda esplained. “I was doing a play in Calgary, Canada, at the time of the wrap party. A reporter for People Magazine came on [at the party], and she wrote this article, and she said, ‘We’re very sorry that the late Abe Vigoda is not here. He must be dead.’ ” In response to the article, Vigoda posed in a coffin holding a copy of the magazine. The actor recalled learning of the report just as he was about to go on stage in Calgary. “The producer says, ‘You can not go on,’ ” he said. “I said, ‘Why not? I gotta go on.’ He said, ‘No, you can’t. Because you’re dead. People magazine says you’re dead.’ ” Now, more than a quarter century later, Vigoda is still going strong. In fact, he just did a commercial for H&R Block that’s going to run during the Super Bowl. “I play...” he said, pausing for dramatic effect, “Death.” Before saying goodbye, Vigoda moved to the couch to sit next to Lauer. Throwing an arm around Vigoda, Lauer kissed him on the forehead. Vigoda replied by planting a smooch on his surrogate son’s cheek.

01-25-2009, 05:08 AM	#2
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,194
	__________________ * firefox * AdAware * HiJackThis * CoolWebShredder * Spybot * SpywareBlaster * Spyware Terminator * * GeeksToGo * AntiVir * Avast antivirus * Housecall Online * Sysinternals Security Utilities * * ZoneAlarm * Agnitum-firewall * Comodo Firewall * AVG Anti-Rootkit * RootkitRevealer * ParasiteCheck * * Annoyances * FreeCodecs * Mikes-Hosts-File * GRC.com * MSAntispyware * DVD's * TradeList * myspace *

01-25-2009, 11:49 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	That's great news!! I love Abe.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

02-02-2009, 02:15 AM	#6
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Abe Vigoda as Death - I love it!!!!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

02-02-2009, 07:50 PM	#7
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	I liked the commercial but I was a little dissapointed. It was just his voice, and I would have loved to have seen his face.
	__________________ Help stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundancy!

02-02-2009, 01:25 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Did anyone see this? I missed it!!

02-02-2009, 01:40 AM	#5
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,386	http://www.youtube.com/hrblock

02-03-2009, 01:10 AM	#9
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I really wish that I could see the commercial.
	__________________ Who Dat

02-03-2009, 01:34 AM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	It's so funny - I mentioned to my mom a few days ago that Abe Vigoda was going to be in a new commercial. Her comment? "Abe Vigoda is still alive??"