1. Isuzu “Joe Isuzu”
Remember those commercials with Joe Isuzu, the fast-talking car salesman who would say the most outrageous lies with a straight face? The whole idea was that he was so dishonest, you knew not to believe him—but somehow it was supposed to make you trust the brand more. He’d boast that the cars could practically fly or get 500 miles to the gallon, all while flashing a grin that made you wonder if the ad team was just messing with us.
It was funny the first couple of times, but after a while people started to question if this kind of humor really sold cars. Still, the character became oddly iconic and people actually remembered the brand more because of how bizarre he was. It was one of those “so bad it’s good” ad campaigns.
2. Hubba Bubba “Western Showdown”
Chewing gum ads usually focus on flavor or bubbles, but Hubba Bubba decided to go full spaghetti western. These commercials had cowboys facing off in dusty towns, not with guns but with who could blow the biggest bubble. The slow-motion shots of bubbles popping felt both ridiculous and epic at the same time.
It left kids laughing and parents scratching their heads. Why the Wild West? Who knows, but somehow it worked to make Hubba Bubba feel larger than life. The ads were more like mini-movies than gum commercials.
3. McDonald’s “Mac Tonight”
The McDonald’s ads with “Mac Tonight” featured a man with a crescent moon for a head, wearing sunglasses, and crooning on a piano. It was meant to sell the dinner menu, but the sight of a moon-headed lounge singer was unforgettable—and honestly a little creepy. His jazzy voice and strange look made kids fascinated and scared at the same time.
Despite the weirdness, Mac Tonight became a short-lived pop culture phenomenon. There were toys, posters, and even parodies. Looking back, it’s still one of the strangest ways a fast-food chain ever tried to push hamburgers.
4. Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?”
Technically this one became a hit catchphrase, but when you watch the actual ad, it’s pretty strange. You’ve got little old ladies inspecting a gigantic bun with a tiny meat patty, yelling “Where’s the beef?” The awkward pacing and over-the-top delivery made it feel surreal more than anything else.
It confused people at first but quickly turned into a cultural juggernaut. Politicians quoted it, late-night shows parodied it, and everyone was in on the joke. Still, as a commercial, it felt more like a comedy skit than a hamburger ad.
5. Jell-O Pudding Pops with Bill Cosby
The commercials for Jell-O Pudding Pops often featured Bill Cosby enthusiastically talking about the frozen treat in his signature quirky style. He’d make goofy faces, exaggerated sounds, and ramble about how much kids loved them. It wasn’t always clear if he was selling dessert or just entertaining himself.
The ads were effective because kids begged their parents for the pops, but rewatching them now, the energy feels almost unhinged. Cosby’s delivery, paired with kids eating chocolate-covered ice pops in slow motion, left viewers amused and bewildered.
6. ALF Promoting Burger King
At the height of ALF’s popularity, Burger King teamed up with the furry alien to sell kids’ meals. In the commercials, ALF would crack jokes, eat burgers, and generally cause chaos while talking about the toys you could get. The whole thing felt like they had just let him loose on the set.
It was an odd crossover—an alien puppet promoting Whoppers—but kids ate it up. Parents, on the other hand, were often confused about why their dinner was being sold by a wise-cracking extraterrestrial. It was marketing at its weirdest.
7. Crystal Light Aerobics
Fitness was huge in the ’80s, and Crystal Light jumped on the craze by sponsoring aerobics competitions. Their commercials featured spandex-clad dancers doing high-energy routines while sipping low-calorie drink mix. It looked like an infomercial crossed with a workout video, complete with neon lights and endless smiles.
The connection between aerobics and powdered lemonade was shaky at best, but it was memorable. The energy was contagious, even if the product placement was bizarre. For many, it was less about the drink and more about the spectacle.
8. Apple “Lemmings” Commercial
After the iconic “1984” ad, Apple followed up with the “Lemmings” spot in 1985. It showed blindfolded office workers marching off a cliff like the little animals, suggesting that anyone who didn’t switch to Macintosh was doomed. It was dark, unsettling, and not exactly appealing.
Most viewers were confused or even offended, wondering why Apple was insulting potential customers. The ad flopped and is remembered as one of the strangest marketing missteps of the decade. Still, it remains an unforgettable slice of ’80s ad history.
9. Ginsu Knives
The Ginsu knife commercials were so over the top, they became comedy gold. A booming announcer voice would declare that the knife could cut through cans, chop wood, and still slice a tomato paper-thin. The demonstrations were so exaggerated, you couldn’t help but laugh.
It was less about cooking and more like a magic show. The commercials didn’t just sell knives—they created a whole infomercial genre. People still quote the line, “But wait, there’s more!” decades later.
10. Atari “Power” Commercials
Atari ads often tried to make video games look like life-changing experiences. In one memorable commercial, players looked like they were being blasted with laser beams and transported into another dimension just by picking up a joystick. The visuals were intense, confusing, and not really reflective of playing Pong.
The exaggerated drama was meant to sell the excitement, but it mostly came off as surreal. Kids didn’t care, though—it made the games feel like the future. Parents, however, were baffled by all the flashing lights and screaming.
11. Mountain Dew “Do the Dew”
Mountain Dew commercials in the ’80s leaned heavily on extreme stunts, with people hang-gliding, cliff-jumping, or water-skiing in neon swimsuits. The energy was manic, as if drinking soda would instantly make you an adrenaline junkie. It was exciting but also completely absurd.
The connection between citrus soda and daredevil sports was thin, yet the campaign stuck. It became one of the defining “weird but effective” ad styles of the decade. The over-the-top editing made it unforgettable, even if it left people a little confused.
12. Life Call “I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up”
This ad for a medical alert device became infamous for its catchphrase. It showed an elderly woman dramatically falling and calling for help through the device. The stiff acting and strange delivery made it feel less like a safety ad and more like unintentional comedy.
What was meant to be serious ended up being parodied endlessly. The phrase became a pop culture punchline, overshadowing the product itself. It’s a perfect example of an ad that confused tone with effectiveness.
13. Pepsi “Michael Jackson’s Hair”
Pepsi’s Michael Jackson ads were supposed to be groundbreaking, pairing the King of Pop with their product. But the one everyone remembers is the infamous shoot where Jackson’s hair caught fire during a pyrotechnics mishap. While that wasn’t in the finished commercial, the association stuck.
The commercials themselves were already a bit bizarre, with kids dressed like Jackson dancing in the streets. It was equal parts inspiring and strange, but the accident turned the whole campaign into legend.
14. Mr. T Cereal
Yes, there was a Mr. T cereal, and the commercials were something else. They featured the larger-than-life actor shouting about eating his “crunchy T’s” and intimidating kids into enjoying breakfast. His booming voice and tough-guy persona felt odd in a sugary cereal ad.
Kids loved it because, well, it was Mr. T. Parents, though, couldn’t quite figure out why their children were begging for T-shaped cereal. It was the kind of commercial that left everyone talking, even if confused.
15. HeadOn “Apply Directly to the Forehead” (Early Version)
Before it became a meme in the 2000s, HeadOn’s strange advertising roots started in the late ’80s. The commercial literally just repeated “HeadOn, apply directly to the forehead” over and over, with no explanation of what it was for. The hypnotic repetition made it both unforgettable and baffling.
People weren’t even sure if it was real or a parody. It was supposed to sell a headache product, but instead it sold confusion. Even decades later, people remember it more for the strangeness than the product.
16. Toys “R” Us “I Don’t Want to Grow Up”
The Toys “R” Us jingle became famous, but if you watch the full commercials, they’re oddly unsettling. The children sing with such intensity about never wanting to grow up that it feels more like a cult anthem than a toy store ad. The dreamy visuals added to the surreal effect.
On one hand, it perfectly captured the magic of childhood. On the other, it creeped out some parents who thought the whole thing felt a little too obsessive. It’s a classic example of a jingle overshadowing the commercial itself.
17. Sizzler “Freedom to Choose”
This restaurant commercial looked more like a political ad than a steakhouse promo. It featured soaring music, American flags, and serious narration about the “freedom to choose” between salad bars and steak dinners. The patriotic imagery felt completely overblown for a chain restaurant.
While intended to inspire, it mostly left people scratching their heads. Why was a casual dining spot framing itself as a symbol of liberty? It’s one of those over-the-top ’80s ads that people remember for its sheer weirdness.
