Althouse: A very sneaky viral ad, starring Cheech and Chong and playing with the misty memories of aging Boomers...

September 23, 2011

A very sneaky viral ad, starring Cheech and Chong and playing with the misty memories of aging Boomers...

(Thanks to ndspinelli for emailing me this.)

62 comments:

paminwi said...: Love it, love it, love it!; 9/23/11, 2:18 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Not only boombers loved Up In Smoke.; 9/23/11, 2:19 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Not all conservatives would boo this.; 9/23/11, 2:19 PM
Bob Ellison said...: I have two female dogs that if they could be mated would produce a beautiful dog exactly like the one at the end of that video.; 9/23/11, 2:23 PM
Richard Dolan said...: High fibre brownies? You can almost imagine the scene at the ad agency, as today's Madmen tried to think of something to do with that. So, they said, let's make a joke out of it. And, to get you to stay with the ad to its end, they had to eliminate the 'ad-iness' of it all.

Like the worst-ever car ad that Ann featured a few days ago, the MadMen have come up with a style that's as much in-joke as marketing tool, and makes for better TV than TV. This one's aimed at oldsters (is there anyone else on the planet who could possibly be interested in high fibre brownies?), though, and may not reach them (presumably, it will be available only on youTube). Still, by giving washed up routines a new life, they're helping with the employment crisis in California.; 9/23/11, 2:25 PM
Wince said...: Chong does have the quitessential stoner voice.

Wow, man!; 9/23/11, 2:29 PM
Mick said...: Hillarious!!!; 9/23/11, 2:30 PM
John said...: Hysterical, I still have my "Big Bamboo" album with the rolling paper.; 9/23/11, 2:32 PM
Anonymous said...: That's a great ad. But I never got Cheech and Chong.

I like drugs. Don't get me wrong. Just never found them particularly funny.; 9/23/11, 2:32 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Oh, gosh! This was wonderful.

I thought it was going to be an ad for a movie. I thought the movie would be even better than the old Cheech & Chong. But, intead, it's an add for FIBER ONE! "Mgic Browines."

WOW! Sales are gonna bounce up like nobody's business!

Compare this to last night's "road show debates."

Which would you rather see more of?; 9/23/11, 2:32 PM
MadisonMan said...: That is excellent!; 9/23/11, 2:33 PM
Irene said...: That is a beautiful dog! Nice to know that hippies now are running around with show-quality purebreds.

I don't think pot jokes are funny. I was impressed in my class last week: when I used the word "stoner" to describe a dead-beat criminal, a few of the students in the lecture hall did not know what the word meant.

The brownies probably do the same thing a strong cup of coffee and a Marlboro would accomplish.

Or what Jamie Leigh Curtis's yogurt does.; 9/23/11, 2:34 PM
Carol_Herman said...: When was the last time a commercial ran for 2:30 minutes?

This stuff is gonna sell like the best shit! Not kidding.

How old are these guys, now? Fiber One kept them in shape?

Later, when I go out shopping, I'm definitely gonna buy a package.; 9/23/11, 2:35 PM
Trooper York said...: Holy Hossaroni Batman!

Only posting here a month and ndspnelli has his own tags.

That must burn garage's ass big time. Hee.; 9/23/11, 2:35 PM
SunnyJ said...: "...he'll have to come back, I have his throwing thing." Laughed until I cried, cried until I laughed. The upside down world whereit makes sense to value your frisbee more than a vehicle. Made sense to Chong...made sense to the 60-70's.

There we are. Now we value our fiber more than our weed. Turns my frownie, upside downie. Laughing, crying rinse repeat.; 9/23/11, 2:39 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Martha Stewart should do a "recipe show" around this one. She can bring on Cheech & Chong to help with the cooking.

I hope this ad wins all sorts of awards!

I hope, too, that there's gonna be a sequel. Or, at the very least, a movie!

Hey! There's a bomb in the truck! There's a cop who doesn't recognize this duo.

The continuation of this script practically writes itself, here!; 9/23/11, 2:39 PM
Wince said...: High fibre.

You mean we're smoking dog shit, man?

Hey, what is in this shit, man?

Mostly Maui-wowie, man.

Yeah?

But it's got some Labrador in it.

What's Labrador?

It's dog shit.

What?

Yeah, my dog ate my stash, man.

Had it on the table, and the little motherfucker ate it, man.

Yeah?

I had to follow him around with a little baggie for three days before I got it back.

Really blew the dog's mind.

You mean we're smoking dog shit, man?

Gets you high, don't it?; 9/23/11, 2:41 PM
DADvocate said...: A French speaking German Sheperd?

That's not right.; 9/23/11, 2:44 PM
gerry said...: Stuff from the cuttingroom floor...; 9/23/11, 2:46 PM
Irene said...: DADvocate, it's probably what the French and Italians call an "Alsatian Shepherd."

*winks*; 9/23/11, 2:46 PM
madAsHell said...: How many here didn't go through the stoner phase??

I think we all know someone that is still stoning! They never left the stoner phase.; 9/23/11, 2:46 PM
Sofa King said...: The brownies probably do the same thing a strong cup of coffee and a Marlboro would accomplish.

I think that's the problem with the economy. People aren't smoking and drinking coffee at work any more.

And Benzedrene isn't available over the counter any more either. Get that shit in stores, and I bet the economy would take off.; 9/23/11, 2:50 PM
prairie wind said...: How many here didn't go through the stoner phase??

{raises hand sheeepishly]

On the other hand, I can answer my kids honestly when they ask.; 9/23/11, 2:54 PM
X said...: john, you still have the paper?; 9/23/11, 2:56 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Cheech is still recognizable in old age!

And, Chong still has a great voice.

In the next episode ... we can see the truck ... coming back ... with a sign on it. "Return the throwing thing, or else."; 9/23/11, 2:56 PM
Carol_Herman said...: There actually is more!

I hit the "up next" ... And, saw more "stuff."

And, I still want more.

(Just like when you smoked shit.); 9/23/11, 3:04 PM
ndspinelli said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/23/11, 3:04 PM
John said...: X, yes I still do couldn't afford to fill it. Plus it's just so classic.; 9/23/11, 3:10 PM
ricpic said...: I see that white bread whites and of course cops are still the butt of the joke...BUT WHAT'S THE JOKE?!; 9/23/11, 3:13 PM
michaele said...: I think Carol_Herman's totally sincere enthusiasm for the stoner nostalgia thing explains a lot.; 9/23/11, 3:26 PM
Fred4Pres said...: michaele said...
I think Carol_Herman's totally sincere enthusiasm for the stoner nostalgia thing explains a lot.

9/23/11 3:26 PM

Ha!

Yes.; 9/23/11, 3:29 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Okay. The punch line is that you're supposed to toss up your middle-finger at authority. (It's not a black and white thing.) Cheech and Chong cut across all the cultural lines.

Now, what I think is courageous?

I think instead of "tinsel," decorating the truck ... is nothing but dog poop. As if it was tinsel draping.; 9/23/11, 3:37 PM
Clyde said...: The punchline is that I actually have some of those magic brownies in my cupboard.; 9/23/11, 3:50 PM
Lucien said...: So, . . . high-fibre brownies will sell better if the fibre is from hemp & really does make you high?

(And what's with the "Flaming Pole" thing they keep talking about?); 9/23/11, 3:57 PM
edutcher said...: madAsHell said...

How many here didn't go through the stoner phase??

Some of us did make it to 40 with our brains intact.

Some even got to 20 that way.

PS Can't believe both those guys are still alive.; 9/23/11, 4:04 PM
MadisonMan said...: The punchline is that I actually have some of those magic brownies in my cupboard.

Clarify: Which ones?; 9/23/11, 4:15 PM
Roger J. said...: shouldnt stacy keach be doing a cameo in this thing; 9/23/11, 4:18 PM
Roger J. said...: and if he did, would anyone recognize him

Now I got to tell you Rae Dawn Chong is hot--what has she done lately; 9/23/11, 4:20 PM
Clyde said...: @ MadisonMan

The Fiber One ones. They're not bad, but a little dry.

wv: indog.

No shit!; 9/23/11, 4:25 PM
Roger J. said...: of course, on the other hand, theres nothing more pathetic than two aging stoners; the world left them two decades ago--but, thats just me; 9/23/11, 4:25 PM
Steve Koch said...: Awesome, about time.; 9/23/11, 4:38 PM
A. Shmendrik said...: Hard to tell. I'm old, but not that old. Their comedy albums peaked when I was in Junior High. I recall the "Dave's not here, man" routine and the "Basketball Jones" satire. But not so much.; 9/23/11, 4:46 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Black & White TV

DUFFY'S TAVERN

There's a wooden pay phone. With an old fashioned "piece" you talk into ... when you lift the receiver.

"DUFFY'S NOT HERE" ... is the line I remember.

Before Cheech & Chong.

Marijuana, by the way, was LEGAL back in the 1920's. (And, was preferred by jazz musicians.)

Then, the Federal government went nuts. And, produced a film called REEFER MADNESS.

I always suspected American Tobacco as being behind the movement to make marijuana illegal.; 9/23/11, 5:04 PM
ErnieG said...: @Lucien
(And what's with the "Flaming Pole" thing they keep talking about?)

Probably because their lawyers didn't think "Burning Man" was a good idea.; 9/23/11, 5:06 PM
Carol_Herman said...: "Burning Man" would be a bad idea, but not a "Flaming Pole" Polish joke?; 9/23/11, 5:12 PM
ErnieG said...: @Carol Herman

That brought back old memories:

*Ring*
*Ring*
"Duffy's Tavern, where da elite meet 't eat. Archie da manager speakin'. Duffy ain't here."; 9/23/11, 5:12 PM
ErnieG said...: Burning Man is an annual outdoor festival held in the Nevada desert. Since it is a commercial enterprise, copyright issues may have been a concern.; 9/23/11, 5:22 PM
ALP said...: Being a stoner is only a phase?

I never got that memo.; 9/23/11, 5:44 PM
ndspinelli said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/23/11, 5:46 PM
xnar said...: Dude! Uh.. wait, what?; 9/23/11, 5:52 PM
Synova said...: In my mind we are all young.

In reality this whole blog must be older than snot.

LOL.; 9/23/11, 6:06 PM
Toad Trend said...: Awesome stuff, thanks for sharing ndspinelli and Ann!!!

Always loved Tommy and Cheech, since the 'Dave's not here' days and so forth.

Still ove the exchange between Cheech and the cop in one of the classics...

COP: I'll need to see your license.

CHEECH: It's back there on the bumper, man!; 9/23/11, 7:40 PM
Toad Trend said...: love (!)

wv - blabin; 9/23/11, 7:40 PM
Astro said...: Cheech and Chong: "Dave's not here."

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=dave%27s+not+here+cheech+and+chong&mid=8EE89033431C2367D2198EE89033431C2367D219&view=detail&FORM=VIRE5; 9/23/11, 7:41 PM
Toad Trend said...: @ Roger J

Yeah I still remember Stacy playing the stoner cop - I believe in one of the episodes he got a pigeon stoned.

He was Sergeant Stedanko in another role wasn't he?; 9/23/11, 7:44 PM
Toad Trend said...: If you haven't already, rent or see the movie 'Crazy People' with Dudley Moore and Paul Reiser (1990). You'll love it if you like this sort of creative advertising.; 9/23/11, 7:51 PM
frank said...: Just what Madtown needs. Bring back the "Pail & Shovel" party. Build an Army Math Center and van bomb on the lake this winter. Blow it up [giving 5 minutes notice to the police]. Copyright and attach your plan to your Law School application-get your unseen holistic admission.; 9/23/11, 8:33 PM
reformed trucker said...: "Being a stoner is only a phase?

I never got that memo." - APL

Ignore them, reality is for people who can't handle their weed. :); 9/23/11, 9:42 PM
Bill S. said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/24/11, 6:16 AM
Anonymous said...: HIlarious.

wv: frkerse - Sorry, my mouth was full.; 9/24/11, 10:10 AM
Anonymous said...: Roger J. --

"of course, on the other hand, theres nothing more pathetic than two aging stoners; the world left them two decades ago--but, thats just me"

Yep, just you ignoring the fact that these are roles and neither man is a burnt out stoner.

But, keep those fallacious prejudical juices flowing.; 9/24/11, 10:24 AM
Quixotic said...: I was really psyched to see the movie, and now I'm sad.; 9/25/11, 8:52 PM