1. McDonald’s Mac Tonight
Remember the moon-headed crooner who played piano while singing about Big Macs? That was Mac Tonight, a surreal mascot introduced by McDonald’s in the late ’80s. With his giant crescent moon face, sunglasses, and jazzy vibe, he looked like something from a fever dream rather than a fast-food ad. Yet, he somehow managed to become memorable and still makes people laugh when they stumble across those commercials today.
The ads tried to be “cool” and appeal to adults who wanted a late-night snack, but the overall effect was just bizarre. Watching him glide through neon-lit diners while belting out tunes feels like a parody of itself now. People still share Mac Tonight clips online, often as a kind of nostalgic joke. It’s proof that McDonald’s wasn’t afraid to get a little weird in its marketing.
2. Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?”
This one might have been meant to be serious, but it turned into one of the funniest slogans of the ’80s. Wendy’s introduced a campaign with three elderly women staring at an oversized hamburger bun with a tiny patty inside. Clara Peller, the most outspoken of the trio, kept demanding, “Where’s the beef?”
The simple line became a cultural catchphrase, even spilling into politics when Walter Mondale used it during a presidential debate. Today, it feels charmingly over-the-top, with Peller’s gruff delivery making it even funnier than intended. The exaggerated bun-to-beef ratio looks ridiculous now, and the whole scene plays like a comedy skit. It’s no wonder this commercial is still quoted decades later.
3. California Raisins
Only in the ’80s could anthropomorphic raisins singing Motown hits become a sensation. The California Raisins commercials showed claymation raisins belting out “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” They had sunglasses, swagger, and even spawned toys and merchandise.
The idea that dried fruit could be “cool” is what makes these commercials so absurdly funny now. Instead of making people crave raisins, the campaign became more about the quirky characters themselves. The fact that kids in the ’80s begged for raisin figurines still feels wild. Watching the old ads today is like peeking into a time capsule of oddball marketing.
4. Folgers “Peter Comes Home”
This holiday ad is actually sweet, but there’s an unintentional silliness that keeps people laughing. It shows a young man named Peter surprising his family by coming home for Christmas. Instead of hugging his family right away, his first instinct is to make coffee.
The overly sentimental music paired with the strange focus on brewing Folgers feels unintentionally funny. Viewers joke that Peter cares more about waking up his sister with coffee than greeting his parents. While heartwarming, the ad has become a bit of a meme in its own right. It’s one of those commercials that sticks in your mind for both sweet and goofy reasons.
5. Chia Pet
“Ch-ch-ch-chia!” If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably heard that jingle a hundred times. Chia Pets were advertised as the must-have novelty gift, with clay figurines that sprouted green “hair” when watered. The commercials made it look like magic, with time-lapse footage of sprouts growing in just seconds.
Looking back, the ads are hilarious because of how seriously they took such a silly product. They promised endless fun from watching plants grow on animal-shaped pots. The goofy jingle is still parodied today, proving how sticky it was. The fact that people still buy Chia Pets shows just how enduring this weird little trend became.
6. Kool-Aid Man
“Oh yeah!” If there was ever a commercial character who embodied pure weirdness, it was the Kool-Aid Man. In the ’80s ads, he would literally crash through walls to deliver sugary drinks to kids. His giant red pitcher body and booming catchphrase made every entrance look both ridiculous and hilarious.
The sheer destruction he caused—smashing through living room walls while parents smiled approvingly—makes the commercials even funnier now. It’s hard not to laugh at the over-the-top spectacle of a drink mascot busting into homes uninvited. Kids loved him, but adults watching today see how strange the whole concept really was. The Kool-Aid Man remains one of the quirkiest ad mascots of the decade.
7. Crystal Light Aerobics
Nothing screams ’80s like a fitness-themed ad with neon spandex and bouncy energy. Crystal Light commercials often showed women in workout gear doing aerobics while sipping powdered drink mix. The ads tried to make the product seem like part of a healthy lifestyle.
Today, the combination of cheesy pop music, awkward dance moves, and sugary drinks makes it hilarious. It’s hard not to laugh when you see someone lunging in leg warmers, then pausing to sip a pastel-colored beverage. These commercials capture every ’80s fitness cliché rolled into one. They’ve aged into unintentional comedy gold.
8. Pepsi “Michael Jackson”
Pepsi scored big in the ’80s by signing Michael Jackson for a series of commercials. One ad showed kids dancing in the street with Jackson himself joining in, all to a reworked version of “Billie Jean.” It was meant to be cool and inspiring, but there’s a campy quality to it now.
The overproduced choreography and glowing soda cans feel almost parody-like today. The commercial is remembered for Jackson’s star power, but also for its slightly surreal vibe. It’s hard not to grin at the idea of soda being the bridge between kids and their idol. The whole thing is weird, but undeniably fun to rewatch.
9. Isuzu “Joe Isuzu”
Joe Isuzu was a fictional car salesman played by actor David Leisure, and he was known for lying through his teeth. In the ads, he’d make outrageous claims about Isuzu cars while captions revealed the truth. His deadpan delivery made the lies even funnier.
The commercials stood out because they leaned into absurdity instead of hiding it. Watching him confidently spout nonsense about cars that could “outrun a Ferrari” is still hilarious. It became a joke that people looked forward to seeing during commercial breaks. Joe Isuzu remains one of the strangest and funniest ad mascots of the decade.
10. My Buddy Doll
Before Chucky from Child’s Play, there was My Buddy. The commercials for this doll showed boys hauling their life-sized buddy everywhere, from playgrounds to the dinner table. The upbeat jingle sang about how My Buddy would “be your buddy” no matter what.
Looking back, the ad is unintentionally creepy in its intensity. The doll’s fixed smile and the way kids treated it like a sibling now feel more eerie than cute. People laugh today at how seriously the commercial tried to sell this bond. It’s part nostalgia, part comedy, and a little bit nightmare fuel.
11. Ginsu Knives
Infomercials weren’t just a late-night thing—they broke into primetime in the ’80s. Ginsu Knives were advertised with dramatic demonstrations, like slicing through soda cans and then a tomato. The announcer’s booming voice made it sound like the greatest invention ever.
Watching those ads today feels more like watching a comedy sketch. The exaggerated claims and constant “But wait, there’s more!” became clichés. Still, they worked, because everyone remembers the name Ginsu. It’s one of those commercials that is funny now precisely because of how seriously it tried to impress.
12. Mentos Freshmaker
Though it spilled more into the early ’90s, Mentos ads had their roots in the late ’80s. They showed people solving everyday problems with an upbeat attitude after popping a mint. The acting was exaggerated, and the jingle was almost aggressively cheerful.
What makes these commercials so funny now is how earnest they were. Someone would trip, then smile with a Mentos and suddenly have the confidence to turn it into a win. The ads have been parodied countless times for their cheesiness. They’re the perfect example of an over-sincere commercial aging into comedy.
