Top 20 Fake Commercials in TV and Movies
#20: Community: The Game
“Community” (2009-15) This sitcom’s cult following was so strong that the series was able to find a new home after its fifth season cancellation, leading to season 6 airing on a whole other network. Taken from the finale of said 6th season, this commercial for a board game based on the show appears following the conclusion of the main story. Narrated by “Community” creator Dan Harmon, it stays true to what fans love most with its inclusion of meta-humor and pop culture references. However, it’s the dark existential twist in which the family playing the game finds out the truth about themselves, along with Harmon’s disclaimer making fun of himself, that really takes the cake though.
#19: Unified Fund
“Kingpin” (1996) Professional athletes have a way of attracting beautiful women. Since bowling isn’t a conventional sport, however, Ernie McCracken needs to get especially creative. This pro bowler exploits his fame to get involved with the Unified Fund to sponsor several fatherless families. Judging from the body language in this clip though, it’s not really the kids that Ernie is interested in. Regardless, if you need someone to toss around the pigskin with little Billy, Ernie might be your guy. No one wants their kid to be munsoned right?
#18: Drink Responsibly
“South Park” (1997-) With 26 seasons and counting under its belt, it’s no wonder the adult animated sitcom has ventured into and experimented with many different things throughout its time on air. For instance, “South Park” has provided us with several notable live action commercials, such as the Wild Wacky Action Bike and the Mr. Hankey Construction Set. In Season 18, while attempting to tackle the potential negative effects of substance use, too much gaming, and problem gambling, the show offers us this alcohol advertisement that pulls no punches. With the frank descriptions of what’s being shown on-screen and the blatant sexual visuals, one can’t help but shake their head at the irony presented by the ad’s final words: [“Drink Responsibly”].
#17: Globo Gym
“DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story” (2004) Tired of the same old you? White Goodman and his personal alteration specialists at Globo Gym will help you turn into a thinner, more attractive better you - IF you decide you want to do something about your genetic disorders like ugliness and fatness. With this Ben Stiller-led gym ad, “DodgeBall” brings us right into the competitive world of fitness by telling us like it is and setting the stage for the hilarious antics to come in the sports comedy. Who wouldn’t want to defeat White Goodman after a commercial like that?
#16: Dunder Mifflin Paper Company
“The Office” (2005-13) You’d expect that a Dunder Mifflin Paper Company ad produced by members of the Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch might be a clear cut example of why some things should sometimes be left to the professionals. Of course, this mockumentary sitcom wouldn’t be what it was if Regional Manager Michael Scott didn’t put his own spin on things. In this season 4 episode, Scott rejects the advertising consultants and video team sent to them and produces a commercial featuring himself and his staff. His confidence in his team is admirable, and the resulting commercial surprises. The ad has its cringey moments, but it also has quite a few moments of heart and provides you with a taste of Michael’s directorial flare. On top of that, getting to see everyone’s faces light up as they watch themselves on-screen is absolutely priceless.
#15: Fruity Oaty Bars
“Serenity” (2005) This commercial for Fruity Oaty Bars is from the cult hit, “Serenity.” With trippy imagery and confusing lyrics, though, it could easily pass as a real Japanese advertisement. The jingle never answers how the product is supposed to make a man out of a mouse or make a woman bust out of her blouse. It doesn’t even say whether the bars are made from fruits or oats. Underneath the inexplicable surface is a subliminal signal that sends River on a rampage. Fruity Oaty Bars: The treat everyone’s going crazy for.
#14: S’wallow Valley Mall
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“Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie” (2012) “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” has provided an outlet for numerous bizarre parody commercials like the Cinco Napple. In their feature film debut, the duo attempts to pay back their billion-dollar debt by renovating the S’wallow Valley Mall. Having zero people skills, their grand reopening ad is as socially inept as you’d expect. Casually dropping f-bombs and threatening death, no sane consumer could go near their mall. But as long as you get the joke, Tim and Eric will undoubtedly have you coming on down.
#13: Buzz Lightyear
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“Toy Story” (1995) If you didn’t want a Buzz Lightyear action figure halfway through “Toy Story,” you definitely did after this advertisement within the movie. With big letters, extreme close-ups, and an over-the-top announcer, what child wouldn’t be chanting, “I want it!” Even if you’re an adult and too old for toys, it still really takes you back to being a kid when commercials made playtime look like an epic adventure. The ad further plays a pivotal part in the film’s narrative as Buzz makes the heartbreaking discovery that he’s a non-flying toy.
#12: Soul Glo
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“Coming to America” (1988) This cult rom-com found favor among both critics and audiences alike, even spawning a sequel 33 years later. Led by a post-SNL Eddie Murphy, “Coming to America” sees him as an African prince looking to fall in love in the titular country without having to reveal his royal status (at least, not at first). Akeem meets his potential bride at a local fundraising rally in Queens, NY, but of course - there’s a catch. Lisa’s got a not-worthy-of-her boyfriend. Meanwhile, said boyfriend’s father is the owner of a hairstyling aid called Soul Glo. Akeem and his friend Semmi happen upon this [“sexy, easy as 1-2-3”] ad on a bunch of TV screens while on a walk. Showing off a silky smooth Jheri-curl look, the commercial even gets Akeem to reconsider his current ‘do.
#11: Ants In My Eyes Johnson
“Rick and Morty” (2013-) Among many other inventions, Rick is the mega-genius behind a cable box where viewers can watch TV from any universe, celestial object, dimension and so on. As such, Interdimensional Cable has provided audiences with its fair share of memorable media, including a commercial for Real Fake Doors. Perhaps the one ad that fans keep coming back to is the one with this electronics store owner. That’s because - per his name - the poor guy literally has ants in his eyes. Unfortunately, that means he can’t see anything. He also cannot feel anything. This makes things all the more unfortunate considering so many items are priced way lower than he’s aware of or expects them to be… so low in fact that some products are actually being given away for free!
#10: Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tubeman
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-) Unless you’re Seth MacFarlane, you probably can’t say a tongue twister like “Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tubeman” three times in a row. One wouldn’t think that these tubemen would serve much purpose outside of attracting customers, but Al Harrington shows us that they actually possess multiple functions in our everyday lives. Like “Family Guy’s Ball in a Cup, this commercial comes out of nowhere, zooms by in a flash, and leaves you both scratching your head and laughing hysterically.
#9: Who Ya Gonna Call?
Another Top 10 Fake Commercials in Movies and TV
“Ghostbusters II” (1989) The Ghostbusters’ initial low budget commercial produced instant comedic gold. However they took their advertising to new levels of hilarity and cheesiness in “Ghostbusters II.” Now that the boys are established heroes, they should be able to afford a commercial with more convincing production values and actors, where someone actually dials the phone. But their follow-up ad manages to be even cheaper, casting Louis Tully and Janine Melnitz as a married couple being tormented by a Halloween decoration. If the triumphantly stilted acting doesn’t sell you, the promise of a Ghostbusters thermal mug and free balloons will.
#8: MagnaVolt
“RoboCop 2” (1990) Even if the sequels weren’t great, every “RoboCop” film provided some inspired commentary concerning corporations, consumerism, and public safety. “RoboCop 2” includes one of the franchises most darkly hysterical bits in the form of the MagnaVolt ad. As a thug attempts to commit grand theft auto, he’s suddenly bolted in and shocked to a crisp. A smiling spokesperson then appears out of thin air and endorses this efficient technology, completely ignoring the fact that it’s essentially a portable electric chair. We sincerely hope this thing never malfunctions.
#7: Better Call Saul
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“Breaking Bad” (2008-13) Saul Goodman can pretty much be summed up as a character through his commercial. This tacky lawyer makes it abundantly clear upfront that it doesn’t matter how guilty you are; he’ll represent anyone, sue anyone, and say anything to uphold the constitutional rights of his clients. The obvious green screen effects, fast-moving letters at the bottom of the screen, amateur acting, and stock music only add to the commercial’s crudity. Saul is such a charismatic presence, however, you actually consider calling him regardless.
#6: Aveda
“Zoolander” (2001) This commercial raises numerous questions: for example, what exactly is this ad selling? How is wetness the essence of beauty? And above all, why is Derek Zoolander a merman? This commercial might seem too ridiculous to exist in real life. However, it’s not far off from the unintentionally hilarious ads beauty companies traditionally put out – and since Aveda is a real company, we’re glad to see they have a sense of humor. Ben Stiller perfectly satirizes the ambiguous, artsy, overly serious nature of such commercials that ultimately leave us asking, “What the hell was that?”
#5: Porn for Women
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“30 Rock” (2006-13) Although pornography is often viewed as entertainment solely for men, the truth is that sometimes women require mindless relief too. However, this ladies-focused idea of porn doesn’t include any of the normal tropes. They achieve satisfaction by having a single, handsome man patiently listen to them complain about their day. Complete with the clever wit for which “30 Rock” is known, this commercial says a lot about men, women, and the human need for escapism. Whether you’re a female or male, having that partner to complain to is sometimes the real relief you need.
#4: Kitten Mittens
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2005) From a marketing standpoint, this ad for Kitten Mittens gets every conceivable thing wrong. Charlie’s high-pitched presentation is awful, his selling point is ludicrous, his production values are poor even by home movie standards, and he doesn’t even spell mittens correctly. To add insult to injury, the mittens make it virtually impossible for a cat to move. Hell, the cat would actually create less noise if it walked barefoot. Oh, and animal carnage footage is thrown in there! From a comedic standpoint, however, this ad is simply the cat’s meow.
#3: Ichiban - Lipstick for Men
“Friends” (1994-2004) Joey Tribbiani is the nicest friend a guy could ask for. Given his less than stellar résumé, though, his career choice in the field of acting has been questionable. But in this scene, Joey proves to his friends just how talented he truly is. Sending up almost every Japanese commercial in existence, Joey sells the audience a blue lipstick for men. It takes a special kind of actor to make lipstick seem masculine, but Joey overcomes it all to make Ichiban look like a must-have for all dudes.
#2: Mr. Plow
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“The Simpsons” (1989-) Like the Ghostbusters commercials, this fake ad from “The Simpsons” demonstrates how the cheaper you make something look, the bigger the laugh you’ll get. After starting his own plow business, Homer decides to throw together the most inexpensive commercial imaginable. With the lovingly poor quality of a home movie, Homer casts family in the roles, uses his house as a shooting location, and scores a night owl timeslot. The commercial might be as lazy as Homer, but it does stick with you via the catchiest jingle since the Canyonero.
#1: Coming Attractions
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“Tropic Thunder” (2008) Before the real movie even begins, “Tropic Thunder” sums up everything that’s wrong with American cinema in a series of coming attractions. Y’know how Hollywood relentlessly dishes out countless repetitive action sequels, lowbrow fart comedies, and shameless art house Oscar porn? Oh, and let’s not forget rappers who are always plugging their ridiculous soft drinks. Ben Stiller gets every last detail of these all-too-familiar trailers right, from their titles, to their soundtracks, to their taglines. It not only acts as great parody, but a tremendously funny method to introduce us to the film’s main characters.
