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5 Shameless Celebrity Endorsements
Seems like everyone out there’s feeling the recession pinch, even celebrities. What other explanation is there for appearing in horrific commercials like these?
Tim Gunn Comes Clean
It’s a sure sign we’re in a recession when Tim Gunn, who is always the classy voice of sanity on Project Runway, is shilling for Tide.
Buy This Pen…Or Lose Your Life Savings
Some celebrities are not content to simply shore up their bank accounts. No, sometimes they want to spread financial paranoia among the viewers, as demonstrated by this Uni-Ball identity-theft-protection pen commercial, starring Law & Order’s S. Epatha Merkerson.
Sell Yourself and Your Gold
There’s selling out, and then there’s selling everything. Ed McMahon and MC Hammer—the latter of whom had, admittedly, nowhere to fall but up—team up to do a commercial for Cash4Gold.com.
Even Lawyers Are Feeling the Pinch
Her life story won Julia Roberts an Oscar, so what is the real life Erin Brockovich doing in a commercial for Weitz & Luxenberg?
NutriSystem Slims Down Their Budget
Marie Osmond isn’t the first actress to hawk a weight-loss system, but her commercial for NutriSystem has lean production values even for the genre. But hey—it’s a recession.
Bonus: Gielgud Never Did This
John Turturro is no John Gielgud—but he’s no Pauly Shore, either. So why's he pushing beer? What’s next? Dennis Hopper selling out to a financial-planning company? Oh, wait…
Final Thought: The Internet Will Find You
We throw this in as a cautionary tale: two vintage Japanese car commercials, featuring very young Leonardo DiCaprio and Meg Ryan. Tough economic times may go away, but video on the Internet does not.
How Obama Wins in 2012
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono.
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Divya Gugnani is the CEO and founder of BehindtheBurner.com, an emerging culinary media brand that creates expert-based content about food, wine, mixology, and nutrition.
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jodigirl11
Celebrities have been doing commercials for years, they just make sure they aren't shown in this country!
SFGiants
I dunno. I'm not sure what the point of this whole exercise was.
ardeth
We all do what we gotta do, embarrassing or not, meaningless or not, to try to maintain the economic level we're accustomed to. That's what capitalism is all about, and that's why I like socialism better.
camfield
Who cares? These are just familiar faces with acting experience. And with a remote at hand, I generally mute the commercial interludes anyway. TV commercials are over-priced and over-rated . . . and the same ones are just repeated too damned often!
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GalleryAtlantic
Celebrities benefit a lot from commercials, and not just money. Just take a look at the outfits and jewelry they wore at the Oscars (http://www.galleryatlantic.com/116.html), you don't think they had to pay for all that...
Veronicaxy
Tim Gunn reportedly wasn't compensated for his first season of Project Runway and I'd say poorly so for the second ($1K a show).
Those were the dues he paid to be be placed in a position to be named chief creative director for Liz Claiborne and "shill for Tide".
He's demonstrated time and time again under pressure he is a class act, dead on in his feedback, and a worthy role model.
Rake it in Tim and forgive me but, bravo! :)
Veronicaxy
My oops: Gunn was paid $2500 per show second season according to reported court records.
Ihatecreatingusernames
I like Tommy Lee Jones and got to see him everyday as I walked by any Boss Coffee vending machine in Japan. He was literally everywhere, and they hadn't changed their picture of him in the 2.5 years I lived there. Making money off of one picture for years and making a homesick person happy is a win win.
Also, good on Tim Gunn for Tide. Would be a different story if he was trying to sell a brand name which appeals or is affordable to only a few.
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screendummie
I still don't buy any of that crap.
quick2no
At least THEY are employed.
Havblue
How dare they take part in the revolting commercial advertising business. HOW DARE THEY!
SkuddGobang
So?
Honestly, these aren't embarrassing products. At least it's not hemorrhoid cream, feminine hygiene products or toilet paper.
MIguel20
Blog comment areas are the last refuge of cowards. You get to hide behind some fictitous name and rip on blog writers. How about an intelligent disagreement. Address the topic. Don't worry, Meghan...most of these morons are straying off the Free Republic reservation, and then running back for cover. A blog which will literally kick you off for disagreeing with them.
If you learned this lesson of impoliteness and hyperbole from Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh, then I understand. Seems that is the only way certain folks get their information...as it is filtered through distortion and hate. For those of you who love Rush, don't forget that he was a convicted drug user and dealer. Only because of wealth was he allowed to wear a low jack and walk free. Ann Coulter was nastier to McCain than any other candidate in the last election. She needs a sandwich and a Match.com membership. Although that membership might have a disclaimer "Warning: Prone to biting. May vomit after meals."
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