1. McDonald’s “Mac Tonight”
If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably remember Mac Tonight, the McDonald’s mascot with a giant crescent moon for a head who sang jazzy tunes at a piano. The character was supposed to appeal to adults looking for dinner options, but the imagery was more strange than classy. With his oversized noggin and crooner style, he looked like something straight out of a fever dream. Kids were fascinated, while parents were left wondering who green-lit the idea.
The commercials showed him driving around town at night, serenading people under the stars, and encouraging everyone to grab a Big Mac after dark. It’s hard to believe that McDonald’s thought this would help them sell more burgers, but somehow it did. The campaign became iconic for its sheer weirdness, even inspiring toys and appearances at restaurants. Looking back, it feels more like a parody skit than an actual fast-food ad.
2. Folgers “Peter Comes Home for Christmas”
While many remember this commercial fondly, the setup was bizarre if you really think about it. A young man named Peter sneaks into his own home at dawn during Christmas, only to make coffee for his family while everyone is still asleep. His sister wakes up to greet him in what looks like a staged meet-cute, and the whole thing feels more like a soap opera scene than a coffee ad.
Folgers clearly wanted to connect coffee to warmth, love, and family, but it leaned so heavily into dramatics that it borders on odd. The focus isn’t even the product—it’s this strange storyline where a son’s surprise return home somehow revolves around brewing coffee. Today, it’s remembered as both heartwarming and unintentionally weird, the kind of ad that gets parodied because of how overly sentimental it was.
3. Isuzu “Joe Isuzu”
Isuzu introduced Joe Isuzu as a compulsive liar who bragged about their cars with ridiculous claims like “This car gets 300 miles to the gallon.” The joke was obvious—he was lying through his teeth, and the tagline told viewers not to believe him. While clever in theory, it left audiences wondering why they’d want a spokesman who literally lied about the product.
The character became a cult figure for a while, with his cheesy delivery and exaggerated expressions making him oddly fun to watch. But when you think about it, an ad campaign built on lying is pretty bizarre marketing. People tuned in for the character, not the cars. Today, it’s a reminder of just how experimental the ’80s could be when it came to commercials.
4. Apple’s “1984”
Apple’s famous “1984” commercial, directed by Ridley Scott, is now legendary, but at the time it was incredibly strange for a tech product. It featured a dystopian society where everyone stared blankly at a screen while a hammer-wielding heroine smashed Big Brother’s image. For a computer ad, it looked more like a movie trailer for a sci-fi thriller.
The message was that Apple was different from the rest, but the tone was unusually dark compared to the upbeat jingles and slogans of the era. Most people didn’t even understand what the ad was selling until the very end. Still, it became one of the most talked-about commercials of the decade, blending art, fear, and marketing in a way that still feels surreal today.
5. Domino’s “The Noid”
The Noid was a claymation villain whose sole purpose was to ruin pizza deliveries by making them cold or late. Domino’s positioned themselves as the only company who could “avoid the Noid,” which was funny but also kind of creepy. The Noid’s manic energy and strange rabbit-eared costume made him look like a character from a nightmare.
Kids loved the cartoonish antics, and the ad campaign even spun off into video games and merchandise. But the idea of selling pizza by inventing a deranged mascot whose only goal was to sabotage your dinner is bizarre in hindsight. While it worked for a while, it also raised eyebrows, and the Noid was eventually retired. Today, he’s remembered more for how unsettling he looked than for selling pizzas.
6. Calvin Klein Jeans with Brooke Shields
In 1980, Brooke Shields, then just 15 years old, starred in a Calvin Klein ad where she said, “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” The commercial was intended to be edgy and provocative, but it landed as both controversial and uncomfortable. Many parents were outraged, while teenagers found it oddly fascinating.
The ad sparked endless conversations, and Calvin Klein thrived off the controversy, but it’s hard to imagine a company today pushing an ad like that. The attempt to make jeans feel rebellious and sexy came off as awkwardly suggestive instead. Looking back, it’s one of those ’80s moments that makes you wonder how it ever aired on TV without being pulled instantly.
7. Crystal Light Aerobics with Linda Evans
Crystal Light decided to market their drink mix with aerobics-themed ads featuring Dynasty star Linda Evans. Picture sequined leotards, neon lights, and Evans dramatically drinking a glass of flavored water after working out. It was as much about the aerobics craze as it was about the product, and the end result felt campy and over the top.
The commercial leaned into the fitness culture of the ’80s, but it made drinking a sugar-free powder seem like part of a glamorous lifestyle. Evans looked elegant even while doing jumping jacks, which added to the oddness. Today, it plays like a time capsule of both fitness fads and the way brands tried to cash in on celebrity endorsements.
8. Pepsi’s Michael Jackson Hair Fire Ad
Michael Jackson was the star of Pepsi’s biggest ad campaign in the ’80s, and while the commercials themselves were flashy and exciting, the behind-the-scenes story turned them into something stranger. During the filming of one spot, Jackson’s hair caught fire from pyrotechnics, leading to one of the most infamous accidents in commercial history. The final ad aired anyway, showing him dancing to a Pepsi-themed version of “Billie Jean.”
The surreal part is that Pepsi continued to push the campaign even after the incident, as if nothing had happened. The imagery of Jackson moonwalking with a soda in hand feels bizarre in hindsight, especially knowing the backstory. It became one of the most remembered ads of the decade, not for the product, but for the strange twist of fate during its production.
9. Mentos “Freshmaker”
The Mentos ads that many people remember actually started in the late ’80s, and they were instantly odd. Each one showed people overcoming everyday problems—like sitting on a freshly painted bench—by popping a Mentos and suddenly becoming resourceful. With upbeat music and cheesy acting, the message was that the candy gave you the confidence to solve anything.
While memorable, the ads were laughably exaggerated. Eating a mint somehow transformed you into a genius problem solver with a permanent grin. It was weird, but it worked, cementing Mentos as a pop-culture punchline. Even today, those commercials are parodied because of how silly they were.
10. Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?”
The “Where’s the Beef?” ad became a catchphrase phenomenon, but the actual commercial was pretty strange. It featured a group of elderly women examining an enormous hamburger bun with a tiny patty inside. One of them loudly demanded to know where the beef was, and the slogan stuck.
The humor was simple, but the setup was unusual—why were these women hanging out in a burger joint critiquing sandwiches like food inspectors? Still, the offbeat delivery and unexpected sassiness of Clara Peller, the woman who delivered the line, made it unforgettable. It’s quirky to the point of being absurd, and yet it’s one of the most iconic ads of the decade.
11. Diet Pepsi with David Bowie and Tina Turner
Diet Pepsi commercials leaned heavily on star power, and one of the strangest pairings came with David Bowie and Tina Turner. The two performed a duet in a surreal, high-energy ad that felt more like a music video than a soda commercial. Bowie, in particular, gave the spot a surreal edge just by being himself.
The product almost disappeared in the background as the two legends danced, sang, and dramatically sipped Pepsi. It was mesmerizing, but also confusing—what did any of this have to do with diet soda? It’s remembered today as a flashy oddity that could only have existed in the ’80s.
12. California Raisins
The California Raisins campaign turned dried fruit into claymation Motown singers. They performed “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” with smooth moves and catchy harmonies, and somehow, it became a massive sensation. Kids collected Raisins figurines, and the characters even got their own TV specials.
But the idea itself is undeniably weird—anthropomorphic raisins crooning soul classics to get you to eat more raisins. The animation was impressive for the time, but the concept was so strange it became unforgettable. Today, the California Raisins are seen as both a marketing triumph and one of the oddest ad campaigns of the ’80s.
