Footnotes: Big Red Commercial
If you thought Peter Billingsley’s finest role was playing Ralphie in A Christmas Story, think again. Billingsley has ditched his love of Red Ryder BB Guns and instead is going after girls. All while playing the tuba (or at least holding one). Anyone can put soap in their mouth for minutes, but few have the acting range of Peter. That’s right, we’re diving into this classic 1985 Big Red commercial, a very catchy ad about gum.
Do Whatever…A Little Longer
It seems like commercials nowadays don’t even bother with catchy jingles. Seriously, think of your favorite song from an ad on TV. Is that commercial from before the year 2000? The answer is likely a resounding yes. Which is too bad, because sometimes I randomly hum the Mentos song or scat the Oscar Mayer Wiener jingle with my lips. And that means I’m thinking about those products more often than I’m thinking about, say, Flo from the Progressive ads.
This Big Red commercial is no stranger to a toe-tapping tune. “A Little Longer” is all about the things you can do for a longer duration by chewing Big Red. Is it actually true? Who knows, but Will Ferrell would have you believe so.
But Does Cinnamon Gum Really Make Your Breath Smell Better?
Admittedly, I was not alive when this commercial launched. Perhaps back then gum flavor lasted longer than six minutes. But I don’t think cinnamon anything has ever really made my breath feel refreshed. I’d much rather have some variant of mint to accomplish that feat. Cinnamon often lightly burns my tongue and there are few things more disappointing than taking a mint from a restaurant and popping it in your mouth, only to discover you’re sucking on a cinnamon mint instead.
That’s why this commercial is so intriguing. The entire premise is people making out. Even when I’m chewing gum that makes my breath feel fresh, I don’t really want to make out. Or even kiss anyone. I’m focused on chewing my gum! What if I swallow it and it gets stuck in my intestines? That’s a scientific fact.
