The other day I posted the DirecTV ad featuring footage of Chris Farley and new footage of David Spade, and I opined that it was a "worst commercial of the year" nominee. I also mentioned that it might be "too soon."To clarify, when I said "too soon" I didn't mean that it was too soon after Farley's death (he died 12 years ago). I meant that it's odd seeing a young, contemporary celebrity in an ad (which DirecTV also did with Heather O'Rourke - that was worse), especially one where he is interacting with a costar who is doing the scene in the present day. My other point was "how the hell is this going to sell DirecTV to anyone?" (and "boy is this ad unfunny").
I'm not the only one who finds the DirecTV ad odd. Now Spade and Farley's brother Kevin have responded to the criticism.
Spade explains to our friends at Asylum that "When DirecTV came to me and the Farley family with this idea about Tommy Boy, we talked and thought it would be a cool way to remind people just how funny Chris was. It is a clever homage to my friend and a movie that we loved doing."
Kevin Farley is also OK with the ad, as he said in a press release that was sent to us about an hour ago: "We has (sic) a family believe the Direct TV (sic) commercial is a celebration of Chris. It shows him doing what he loved to do most, making people laugh! He would have loved the spot. We are grateful to Direct TV (sic) and David Spade for doing it, and honoring Chris, and the classic movie Tommy Boy this way."
I don't know if I'd consider Tommy Boy a classic movie, but other than that it's good to have the two statements on record. Maybe this is one of those "if his family and friends are OK with it..." situations. I still find the ad jarring though. Why can't DirecTV use celebrities that are still alive to sell their product?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-28-2009 @ 6:07PM
Parl said...
Eh, if the family and friends are ok with it, then who are we to complain? Also, maybe it's just my age, but I do think the movie is pretty classic of that comedy era and that the scene is pretty quintessential Chris Farley.
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10-28-2009 @ 6:16PM
MCW said...
"Why can't DirecTV use celebrities that are still alive to sell their product?"
Because the living won't endorse such a buggy product. Sometimes I think my DirecTV DVR is on as many drugs as Farley injested.
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10-28-2009 @ 7:04PM
CMG said...
Is it just me or is anyone else even more confused after the attempted explanation of the "too soon" comment than before? Can someone translate for me?
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10-28-2009 @ 8:27PM
JD said...
I don't think it will ever be clear until he just clears it up by saying, OK, it was a stupid comment to start with.
10-28-2009 @ 7:09PM
Jimmy said...
> "We talked and thought it would be a cool way to remind people just how funny Chris was."
News flash, Spade: No one has forgotten how funny Chris was. Or that would have had no career without him. Then or now, apparently.
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10-28-2009 @ 8:29PM
JD said...
I'd bet a few dollars that until that ad or this thread you hadn't that about CF for awhile.
10-29-2009 @ 6:40AM
Jimmy said...
Pay up, JD. I think about Farley a lot -- most recently, when Patrick Swayze died.
10-28-2009 @ 7:31PM
eyan said...
come on its just a commercial and, its funny, it reminds people that chris was a comic genius just get over it and quit waisting our time as well as yours by posting this crap.
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10-28-2009 @ 7:52PM
Argus said...
I'm cool with it if they are. I think sometimes we're too quick to think celebs are horrible people.
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10-28-2009 @ 8:08PM
ratphink said...
I'm with you CMG. "Too soon" only has one use for me, especially when it's used in context with someone who has died. I didn't get the explanation either.
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10-28-2009 @ 9:08PM
Michael said...
If nothing else it made me pull my copy of "Tommy Boy" out and watch it again. Farley and Spade at their absolute finest...
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10-29-2009 @ 12:23AM
Ken said...
Absolutely agree. It put a smile on my face to see Farley again in probably the most memorable movie scene of his career. Chippendales still takes the cake.
10-30-2009 @ 8:52AM
C.A. said...
I doubt the paychecks hurt either.
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11-03-2009 @ 12:02PM
K Smith said...
So Direct abandons my hockey w/ the whole Versus thing, but they're willing to pay David Spade to sell out his dead buddy? Wrong priorities. This video sums it up for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEMg90MgNbg
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11-03-2009 @ 4:42PM
KE Smith said...
I found another great video for those that are interested! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YiyFk2GuPM
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