1. Alka-Seltzer’s “Try It, You’ll Like It”
This commercial had a man trying an unfamiliar dish while a waiter repeatedly chanted, “Try it, you’ll like it!” At first, the guy reluctantly takes a bite, but his face quickly twists into regret, leading to the punchline about heartburn. The exaggerated acting makes it almost slapstick, and the repetition of the phrase has stuck with viewers for decades. At the time, it was a clever way to tie humor to an antacid. Today, it just feels over-the-top and silly, which is exactly why it’s so funny.
The dramatic performance is more memorable than the actual product. Watching it now feels more like a comedy sketch than a commercial. The waiter’s relentless enthusiasm is both annoying and hilarious, especially with how dated his mannerisms feel. It’s the kind of ad that could play today as satire, and most people wouldn’t know the difference.
2. Life Cereal’s “Mikey Likes It”
In this spot, two brothers argue over who should try the cereal because no one thinks it’ll taste good. They shove the bowl toward their younger brother, Mikey, who’s known for hating everything. To their surprise, Mikey digs in and loves it, leading to the iconic line, “He likes it!” The kids’ acting is hilariously stiff, but that’s what makes it charming.
The whole commercial feels more like a home video than something meant for TV. Mikey’s enthusiastic eating is so exaggerated that it’s laugh-out-loud funny now. The idea that cereal could be controversial enough to debate is what really makes it feel dated. Even so, the line became one of the most repeated catchphrases of the decade, and the ad still makes people smile.
3. McDonald’s “Keep Your Eyes on Your Fries”
This one featured kids warning each other not to let their friends steal their French fries. The dramatics of children acting like fry theft was the crime of the century is hilarious today. The slow-motion shots of fries being swiped looked more like an action movie trailer than a food ad. Back then, it tapped into a relatable feeling, but now it feels delightfully corny.
The seriousness with which the kids deliver their lines makes it unintentionally funny. Watching it now, you’d think fries had life-or-death stakes. It’s a reminder of how seriously commercials tried to dramatize simple foods. For a company like McDonald’s, it was brilliant branding, but the execution feels more like a parody now.
4. Alka-Seltzer’s “I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Thing”
In this ad, a man moans repeatedly about overindulging in a meal, groaning, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” His wife dryly tells him to take some Alka-Seltzer. The deadpan delivery and repetitive line turned it into a pop culture catchphrase. Today, the melodramatic moaning just seems absurdly funny.
The setup is so simple it almost feels like a comedy skit. You can’t help but laugh at how seriously the guy takes his indigestion. It’s the kind of spot you’d expect to see parodied on Saturday Night Live. The fact that it’s remembered decades later proves just how much those silly commercials stuck with audiences.
5. Charmin’s “Mr. Whipple”
Mr. Whipple scolded shoppers with his famous line, “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin.” Yet he couldn’t resist sneaking squeezes himself. The contradiction was the joke, but it’s the overacting and repetitive gag that make it funny now. His exaggerated obsession with toilet paper feels bizarre today.
The whole concept of someone lurking in a grocery store to police TP squeezing is strange in hindsight. What once seemed clever now plays like unintentional comedy. It’s hard not to laugh at the sheer seriousness Mr. Whipple had about something so ordinary. Today, the ad feels more like a sitcom sketch than a sales pitch.
6. Coca-Cola’s “Mean Joe Greene”
This ad featured football star “Mean” Joe Greene limping off the field after a game, with a young fan offering him a Coke. Greene gulps it down and then tosses the kid his jersey in thanks. At the time, it was heartwarming, but now the exaggerated acting and over-the-top music give it a funny edge.
The kid’s earnest delivery paired with Greene’s dramatic transformation from grumpy to grateful feels like something out of a cheesy movie. It’s still beloved for its charm, but the corniness is impossible to ignore today. The commercial became iconic, but it also left behind some unintentional laughs for modern viewers.
7. Burger King’s “Have It Your Way”
This commercial showed cheerful employees singing about customizing your burger exactly the way you wanted. Everyone had exaggerated smiles and Broadway-level enthusiasm for hamburgers. It’s hard to watch without chuckling at how seriously they sold the idea of “no pickles if you don’t want them.”
The energy of the singers makes the whole thing feel like a parody now. While the jingle was catchy, the idea of workers bursting into song about your burger order seems hilariously overblown. Today, it’s a great reminder of how ads tried to turn fast food into a spectacle.
8. Oscar Mayer’s “My Bologna Has a First Name”
A little boy sings a song spelling out O-S-C-A-R in one of the most famous jingles of the ’70s. His serious delivery about loving bologna makes the whole thing funny to modern eyes. It’s earnest to the point of absurdity.
The ad feels like it could have been a sketch on a kids’ comedy show. The idea of giving a cold cut such an emotional anthem is what makes it hilarious now. The little boy’s proud voice sells it, but it’s also what gives the spot its unintentional comedy.
9. Ralston Purina’s Chuck Wagon Dog Food
This ad showed a tiny chuck wagon barreling through kitchens, luring dogs to chase it toward a bowl of kibble. The special effects were groundbreaking at the time, but now they look more like a student film project. Dogs leaping after a miniature wagon makes for unintentional comedy today.
The serious narrator describing the dog food contrasts perfectly with the absurd visuals. It’s easy to laugh at how committed the ad was to its cowboy theme. The image of a chuck wagon zooming through a kitchen floor is unforgettable, but not exactly for the reasons the company intended.
10. Kool-Aid Man Crashing Through Walls
The Kool-Aid Man would dramatically burst through a wall shouting, “Oh yeah!” while kids cheered. Back then, it was exciting and larger-than-life. Today, it feels ridiculous watching a giant jug of juice destroy property just to hand out a sugary drink.
The sheer absurdity of kids not being terrified of this massive pitcher makes it funny now. The commercial was meant to be fun and high-energy, but it’s impossible not to laugh at the logistics. Who fixes the walls after he leaves? That’s the real mystery.
11. Tootsie Pop’s “How Many Licks?”
This ad asked how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, with a wise old owl giving the answer. Of course, the owl takes only three licks before biting into it. At the time, it was clever, but today the cartoon animation feels outdated and silly.
The owl’s smug attitude and the boy’s frustration make the ad more funny than anything else. The fact that generations of kids actually tried to solve the “mystery” only adds to the humor now. It’s one of those ads that lingers in your memory for being both ridiculous and charming.
12. McDonald’s McDonaldland Characters
McDonald’s introduced Ronald McDonald, Grimace, and the Hamburglar in whimsical, colorful ads. They looked like they came straight out of a low-budget kids’ show, complete with awkward costumes and odd sets. The surreal imagery was intended to be fun, but today it feels unintentionally hilarious.
The Hamburglar’s strange mumbling and Grimace’s clumsy waddling make them look more like parodies than mascots. Watching these ads now feels like entering a bizarre alternate universe. They may have been designed for kids, but they’re funny for adults today just because of how weird they were.
13. Folgers Coffee’s “Mrs. Olson”
These ads featured a kindly neighbor, Mrs. Olson, giving advice about serving better coffee. She always looked overly concerned about people’s coffee problems, as if it were the end of the world. The seriousness with which she delivered her advice is hilarious in hindsight.
The idea of a neighbor barging in to lecture someone on coffee feels ridiculous now. Her cheerful but nosy attitude is what makes the ads unintentionally funny. What was once meant to be comforting now comes across as oddly intrusive and comical.
14. Heinz Ketchup’s “Anticipation”
This spot showed ketchup slowly pouring out of a bottle to the tune of Carly Simon’s “Anticipation.” The dramatic music paired with the painfully slow product shot makes it unintentionally hilarious today. It’s ketchup, not a suspense movie, yet it was treated with full drama.
The exaggerated buildup makes it easy to laugh now. People actually waiting in suspense for ketchup to fall is a reminder of how simple things were marketed as grand events. It’s funny now, but also a little nostalgic for when patience was part of eating fries.
15. Rice-A-Roni’s “San Francisco Treat”
This jingle sang the praises of Rice-A-Roni as “the San Francisco treat,” showing cable cars and happy families eating dinner. The ad was cheerful to the point of being corny, with everyone smiling a little too much over a side dish. The dated visuals make it feel like a parody today.
The jingle stuck in people’s heads, but the over-the-top happiness makes it comical now. It’s hard not to laugh at how much excitement they managed to squeeze out of a box of rice. Looking back, it feels like a relic of a more innocent advertising era—one that’s just plain funny today.
