Wow! Mike Fontanelli sent me some Jim Hensen commercials for Wilkin's Coffee! Whaddaya think?
I threw this one in for good measure. Boy, the Muppets sure had a way with monsters! Here's (above) a collection of the best monsters-eating-people scenes.
Oh boy! I've watched these on YouTube a few months ago. Very addicting! This guy had uploaded seemingly like dozens of them. They're quick, fast, funny and you remember the sponsor's name. More on this stuff here. They're exceedingly violent but apparently were very popular with kids and parents in the South. Does anybody have an original Wilkins and Wontkins vinyl doll? I'd be flat out amazed if Mike F. has got those toys in his collection.
Eddie I'm so glad Mike is getting you into early muppets. Their commericals and early guest spots are amazing..here are a few other classics - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSC3ZjuuqlE&NR=1
Jim Henson was a genius. "Buy our product or we'll kill you" will never be done again in the history of television.
Not only was his sense of comedic timing superb, he was probably the first person ever to actually consider quality in children's programming. Nearly everything he worked on is worth watching. And you can watch it all with your kids too.
Thanks for posting this Mr.F! I adore the Muppets and these classics are great.
You know the thing that always blows me away about the Muppets, and great puppetry in general? These guys have very few possible changes in facial expressions. Some, like Kermit, have a bit of flexibility. Others, like Fozzie, have none whatsoever - one fixed expression.
And, yet, they get every emotion across. They make these characters live. All through movement. Subtle tilts of the head can make a character sad, thoughtful, happy, pleased yet slightly guilty and all sorts of very complex feelings.
It is awe-inspiring. And just plain inspiring.
Makes me feel like we're almost cheating in animation, being able to draw whatever we choose.
Puppetry is something I've always wanted to get into and just never did. Maybe it's not too late. Actually, you know, I might just look into that and see if I can find out just how someone does that. You've inspired me, Mr.F, and, as the bitter ol' sod I am, that is very unusual.
Of course, not having to make films a frame at a time is a huge draw too.
These are hilarious! They're actually very edgy commercials, too, even by today's standards. I mean, they're essentially a series of overt death threats to people who don't buy the product.
That frog muppet seems like some kind of Wilkins-pushing gangster. "Bad things just happen to people who don't drink Wilkins Coffee."
Several people have already made my point: that these ads could not be run today. I'm not sure how they would do it, or even who "they" are, but they would stop you.
Oh yes, Eddie! A Wilkins and Wontkins vinyl doll premium offered by Wilkins Coffee for $1.00 and a label from the Wilkins coffee can. It was like a soft plastic doll, not hard like a G.I. Joe or Barbie, and a lot smaller of course. Very tough to find, can't say I ever saw any on ebay.
They're exceedingly violent but apparently were very popular with kids and parents in the South
The South?!? They were popular everywhere they were shown!
Following the success of the Wilkins Coffee commercials in the Washington, D.C. market, Jim Henson sold the concept to coffee companies in other local markets around the US. In addition to Community, clients included La Touraine Coffee, Nash's Coffee, Martinson Coffee and Donovan Coffee Company. The same ads were reshot, with the only difference being the name of the coffee company.
Wikins Coffee - Washington DC based (shown in Maryland as well) Donovan Coffee - Alabama based La Touraine Coffee - Boston, Mass. based Nash Coffee - Minnesota based Community Coffee - Louisiana based Martinson Coffee - New York based
Jim Henson was so genuinely creative and funny that he STILL had a career even AFTER the 1968 'no violence' edicts came down, in the wake of the Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy assassinations. The Frito Bandito even lost his guns in that sea change. One thing baffles me, though: why is it that Henson and his muppets laid such a huge egg on the first SNL programs? It's like he forgot how to be funny or his sense of humor didn't gibe with the show's or something. He could certainly continue to amuse on his own terms in his own projects after that, however. NBC just reran the very first SNL on Saturday, from October 1975 and a very boring Muppets skit laid the same vile egg 33 years later that it did on its premiere airing.
I certainly grew up with them. My favourite was always Gonzo. These commercials are absolutely terrific too. Noone these days has the balls to make them like that anymore.
Incidently, I have a question about one of the clips. It's labeled "The Jack Paar Show 1964". Did Mr. get his own show after leaving the tonight show?
Jack Paar had a semi-regular prime time show after he left The Tonight Show, for several years. Jim Henson's first primetime national TV series exposure may have been the segments he did on the ABC weekly Jimmy Dean (the country singer) program. Rolf the dog appeared in most of those.
Yeah it was D'onaghue, I feel bad criticizing the guy since Im not overly familiar with his work but he doesnt seem like a pleasant character, I dont mind when a comedian is a jerk in real life when their writing is beautiful, even "dark comedy" should be joyously dark, most of the examples Ive read is pretty much holocaust jokes.
For example he got into a huge fight with Lorne Michaels about a gag where a Nazi officer says that the third reich had a "good reason" for their atrocities which he whispers into the judges ear who then says "that is a good reason, case dismissed!"
I absolutely despise that sort of comedy which seems to have been taken up by family guy (youve got aids!, musical number,singing aborted fetuses, alzheimers jokes etc.)
Its no fun trying to criticize that stuff without coming off as a puritannical prude, especially in these "postmodern" times
The Muppets had the best monsters of all time (outside of horror movies that is). I thought some of their best character designs were the monsters, along with Crazy Harry. HI-larious.
All the Muppet stuff was great, especially the commercials. There's no better way to sell a product than to threaten the customers to buy them by pointing cannons, guns & explosives directly at 'em! Those Wilken's Coffee ads were short, funny & made their point with roughly 5 seconds of screentime. Great commercials, period!
The Muppets was my very first love. I use to make little comics about them and Gonzo would be the star. I even gave him a full name, "Gonzo J. Weirdo". I never made the J stand for anything.
I hadn't seen these before, they made my day. The sinister Kermit character reminds me of the origin for the Cookie Monster... http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Wheels%2C_Crowns_and_Flutes If you don't want to read all of that, you should at least check out his fangs on the second picture.
Some stuff O'Donoghue did was pretty hilarious. Like the world's greatest impressionist whose repetoire consisted solely of imitating famous people having needles driven into their eyes.
Also the Wilkins commercial with the stagecoach is actually somewhat historically accurate- Native Americans generally did enjoy coffee. In some places it was common for groups to greet wagon trains and actually ask for coffee.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh boy! I've watched these on YouTube a few months ago. Very addicting! This guy had uploaded seemingly like dozens of them. They're quick, fast, funny and you remember the sponsor's name. More on this stuff here. They're exceedingly violent but apparently were very popular with kids and parents in the South. Does anybody have an original Wilkins and Wontkins vinyl doll? I'd be flat out amazed if Mike F. has got those toys in his collection.
ReplyDeleteEddie I'm so glad Mike is getting you into early muppets. Their commericals and early guest spots are amazing..here are a few other classics -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSC3ZjuuqlE&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVDkkmxu_Bk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lFDJTVvp8U&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bfdaR4xMeU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzTKFkMbqrM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dWeMJMh1wI&NR=1
These are great. So violent and funny.
ReplyDeleteLaChoy Dragon has always been my favorite Henson commercial.
-Ryan
Hilarious!
ReplyDeleteThat proto-Kermit sure is a sadistic little bugger!
All I know is that now I want some Wilkins Coffee!
ReplyDeleteProto-Kermit is a real jerk!
ReplyDeleteNice puppet acting though. I especially liked the Wilkins coffee ad with the detonator the timing was very satisfying.
Boy oh boy, the days when you could point a gun characters and just plan shoot'em.
ReplyDeleteJim Henson was a genius. "Buy our product or we'll kill you" will never be done again in the history of television.
ReplyDeleteNot only was his sense of comedic timing superb, he was probably the first person ever to actually consider quality in children's programming. Nearly everything he worked on is worth watching. And you can watch it all with your kids too.
yah, seen these too. have you gotten in on this non-muppet puppet thing that henson did?
ReplyDeletehttp://youtube.com/watch?v=GN23Q4wgJ6w
Thanks for posting this Mr.F! I adore the Muppets and these classics are great.
ReplyDeleteYou know the thing that always blows me away about the Muppets, and great puppetry in general? These guys have very few possible changes in facial expressions. Some, like Kermit, have a bit of flexibility. Others, like Fozzie, have none whatsoever - one fixed expression.
And, yet, they get every emotion across. They make these characters live. All through movement. Subtle tilts of the head can make a character sad, thoughtful, happy, pleased yet slightly guilty and all sorts of very complex feelings.
It is awe-inspiring. And just plain inspiring.
Makes me feel like we're almost cheating in animation, being able to draw whatever we choose.
Puppetry is something I've always wanted to get into and just never did. Maybe it's not too late. Actually, you know, I might just look into that and see if I can find out just how someone does that. You've inspired me, Mr.F, and, as the bitter ol' sod I am, that is very unusual.
Of course, not having to make films a frame at a time is a huge draw too.
Freckled: Thanks for the links! And thanks too for all the good stuff you put up on your own site!
ReplyDeleteJack: Very trippy!
Last: A Wilkin's vinyl toy?
These are hilarious! They're actually very edgy commercials, too, even by today's standards. I mean, they're essentially a series of overt death threats to people who don't buy the product.
ReplyDeleteThat frog muppet seems like some kind of Wilkins-pushing gangster. "Bad things just happen to people who don't drink Wilkins Coffee."
Several people have already made my point: that these ads could not be run today. I'm not sure how they would do it, or even who "they" are, but they would stop you.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Eddie! A Wilkins and Wontkins vinyl doll premium offered by Wilkins Coffee for $1.00 and a label from the Wilkins coffee can. It was like a soft plastic doll, not hard like a G.I. Joe or Barbie, and a lot smaller of course. Very tough to find, can't say I ever saw any on ebay.
ReplyDeleteHoly crap! Jim Henson was a genius!
ReplyDeleteI love how the Wilkins Coffee commercials got progressively more evil and violent.
Good stuff. I've always thought puppetry was an underappreciated artform. And it's damn funny!
ReplyDeleteFrom the first video, I love the last two ads: the tree and pouring the coffee on his head. Madness! Mayhem! Muppets!
Hey Eddie,
ReplyDeleteOne more.. How many plush doll ads today would threaten to do bodily harm to children?!
They're exceedingly violent but apparently were very popular with kids and parents in the South
ReplyDeleteThe South?!? They were popular everywhere they were shown!
Following the success of the Wilkins Coffee commercials in the Washington, D.C. market, Jim Henson sold the concept to coffee companies in other local markets around the US. In addition to Community, clients included La Touraine Coffee, Nash's Coffee, Martinson Coffee and Donovan Coffee Company. The same ads were reshot, with the only difference being the name of the coffee company.
Wikins Coffee - Washington DC based (shown in Maryland as well)
Donovan Coffee - Alabama based
La Touraine Coffee - Boston, Mass. based
Nash Coffee - Minnesota based
Community Coffee - Louisiana based
Martinson Coffee - New York based
I remember the Kraml Milk series of spots that ran in Chicago. I loved 'em. Yup, Kraml.
ReplyDeleteI used to love the Ed Sullivan Appearances, too.
wow creative people used to actually work in adverstising, rather than people who just refer to themselves as creative
ReplyDeleteGENIUS, just like you said, hahahahah.
ReplyDeletegood stuff..we thank google for noting this great blog..
ReplyDeleteJim Henson was so genuinely creative and funny that he STILL had a career even AFTER the 1968 'no violence' edicts came down, in the wake of the Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy assassinations. The Frito Bandito even lost his guns in that sea change. One thing baffles me, though: why is it that Henson and his muppets laid such a huge egg on the first SNL programs? It's like he forgot how to be funny or his sense of humor didn't gibe with the show's or something. He could certainly continue to amuse on his own terms in his own projects after that, however. NBC just reran the very first SNL on Saturday, from October 1975 and a very boring Muppets skit laid the same vile egg 33 years later that it did on its premiere airing.
ReplyDeleteJim Henson's Muppets = GREATNESS!
ReplyDeleteI certainly grew up with them. My favourite was always Gonzo. These commercials are absolutely terrific too. Noone these days has the balls to make them like that anymore.
Incidently, I have a question about one of the clips. It's labeled "The Jack Paar Show 1964". Did Mr. get his own show after leaving the tonight show?
Henson had a lot of problems working with the Snl writers, many of whom (as today) were arrogant jackasses.
ReplyDeleteOne writer famously quipped "I will not write for felt"
I wonder if that was the late Michael O'Donoghue? Sounds like him.
ReplyDeleteJack Paar had a semi-regular prime time show after he left The Tonight Show, for several years. Jim Henson's first primetime national TV series exposure may have been the segments he did on the ABC weekly Jimmy Dean (the country singer) program. Rolf the dog appeared in most of those.
ReplyDeleteYeah it was D'onaghue, I feel bad criticizing the guy since Im not overly familiar with his work but he doesnt seem like a pleasant character, I dont mind when a comedian is a jerk in real life when their writing is beautiful, even "dark comedy" should be joyously dark, most of the examples Ive read is pretty much holocaust jokes.
ReplyDeleteFor example he got into a huge fight with Lorne Michaels about a gag where a Nazi officer says that the third reich had a "good reason" for their atrocities which he whispers into the judges ear who then says "that is a good reason, case dismissed!"
I absolutely despise that sort of comedy which seems to have been taken up by family guy (youve got aids!, musical number,singing aborted fetuses, alzheimers jokes etc.)
Its no fun trying to criticize that stuff without coming off as a puritannical prude, especially in these "postmodern" times
The Muppets had the best monsters of all time (outside of horror movies that is). I thought some of their best character designs were the monsters, along with Crazy Harry. HI-larious.
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate Michael O'Donoghue joke: Michael O'Donoghue is dead.
ReplyDeleteAll the Muppet stuff was great, especially the commercials. There's no better way to sell a product than to threaten the customers to buy them by pointing cannons, guns & explosives directly at 'em! Those Wilken's Coffee ads were short, funny & made their point with roughly 5 seconds of screentime. Great commercials, period!
ReplyDeleteThe LaChoy dragon commercials are a blast too!
The Muppets was my very first love. I use to make little comics about them and Gonzo would be the star. I even gave him a full name, "Gonzo J. Weirdo". I never made the J stand for anything.
ReplyDeleteWhoa. I grew up w/the Muppet show. I had no idea those li'l critters could be so damn violent- The proto-kermit in particular is a right bastard.
ReplyDeleteTHOSE ARE GREAT!!
ReplyDeletefunny monster eating videos... what kind of animation do you do...
ReplyDeletecongrats on being BLOG OF NOTE.
sk
http://observationbook.blogspot.com
I hadn't seen these before, they made my day.
ReplyDeleteThe sinister Kermit character reminds me of the origin for the Cookie Monster...
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Wheels%2C_Crowns_and_Flutes
If you don't want to read all of that, you should at least check out his fangs on the second picture.
Good blog!
wow Thats cute....I seen em on youtube also...very vintage
ReplyDeleteSome stuff O'Donoghue did was pretty hilarious. Like the world's greatest impressionist whose repetoire consisted solely of imitating famous people having needles driven into their eyes.
ReplyDeleteAlso the Wilkins commercial with the stagecoach is actually somewhat historically accurate- Native Americans generally did enjoy coffee. In some places it was common for groups to greet wagon trains and actually ask for coffee.
Man... EVERYONE loves coffee!