Ad Rant: David Spade brings pal Chris Farley back from the dead to shill for Direct TV
Filed under: Ad Rant
Friendship is a beautiful thing, except when you have a friend like David Spade.
The minor-league SNL alum's close buddy Chris Farley died at 33 of a drug overdose in 1997, and the grief must be eating away at Spade's brain cells (and ethics) all these years later.
How else to explain the monstrous lack of judgment involved in Spade's new commercial for DirecTV? The ad uses the wonders of modern technology to meld Spade's pitch for the satellite TV giant with a scene from Tommy Boy (1995) showing Farley trying to squeeze into a too-small suit jacket. Farley frequently made fun of his own girth -- which does not mean that a minor fat joke is how he would have liked to be remembered.
Using dead celebrities to sell products is not new, of course -- Direct TV even did this before, with a much-derided ad in 2008 featuring Poltergeist child star Heather O'Rouke, who died in 1988. Perhaps Spade wanted to get Farley into that particular Hall of Shame along with Gandhi and Einstein (for Apple computers), Audrey Hepburn (The Gap), JFK (Omega watches), and Fred Astaire (Dirt Devil portable vacuum cleaner). And don't forget Judy Garland (M&Ms), and -- oh, my favorite -- Rosa Parks for Chevy.
The David Spade ad underclasses them all, I'm afraid, because Spade is not just some advertising exec with a wild idea for a tasteless new campaign. He was an actual friend of the deceased, and was so distraught over Farley's death that IMDB.com quotes him as saying he could not bring himself to attend Farley's funeral, because "I just couldn't have gone into a room where Chris was in a box." (What does Spade say now? He gave a statement to our pals at Asylum that says the Farley family and friends all agreed to the ad.")
The poor thing. He doesn't want to be in a room with his friend in a box, but it's OK to cash in on the corpse's celebrity to hawk a different kind of box, the television kind. (Or maybe he doesn't see TV as a "box" anymore, now that there are slim flat-panel displays. They're really not box-shaped, right?)
Because Spade therefore sounds like a really sensitive guy, let's not put all the blame on his caved shoulders. After all, the estate of Chris Farley approved the ad. That estate, by the way, is (or at least has been) run by one of Chris' brothers, Tom Farley.
In 2006, Tom approved the first-ever commercial use of his brother's image and received $25,000 for Chris to hawk Prometa, a treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. The first ad appeared on a 20-by-60 foot billboard overlooking Sunset Boulevard, that swath of broken dreams-and, incidentally, very close to the Chateau Marmont where Farley's idol, John Belushi, died under similar circumstances.
As Tom Farley told Matt Lauer at the time of the Prometa folly, "We're happy to find a program like this that can utilize the same, you know, brand assets that Chris still has."
Oh, those brand assets. Gotta love 'em. Tom further defended the move by pointing out how much good it would do the world if these ads could spare just one person from the kind of drug-related death that took Chris from the bosom of his family.
"We've turned down so many offers for, you know, Bobbleheads and Ringtones for-for three, four, five times that," explained Tom. "I mean, it's really not about that. This is -- it's not a lot [of money] comparatively and, again, it's all going-it's going right back to doing what the [Chris Farley] Foundation's been doing for six or seven years, and that's helping people, you know, get better."
In other words, it was a humanitarian act to take that $25,000. Not at all like taking blood money to advertise bobblehead dolls and ringtones.
I wonder how much they got for the David Spade ad? I wonder what David Spade got for the David Spade ad?
Most of all, I wonder how many people will "get better" when they see Chris Farley's "brand assets" recommending signing up with DirecTV?
The minor-league SNL alum's close buddy Chris Farley died at 33 of a drug overdose in 1997, and the grief must be eating away at Spade's brain cells (and ethics) all these years later.
How else to explain the monstrous lack of judgment involved in Spade's new commercial for DirecTV? The ad uses the wonders of modern technology to meld Spade's pitch for the satellite TV giant with a scene from Tommy Boy (1995) showing Farley trying to squeeze into a too-small suit jacket. Farley frequently made fun of his own girth -- which does not mean that a minor fat joke is how he would have liked to be remembered.
Using dead celebrities to sell products is not new, of course -- Direct TV even did this before, with a much-derided ad in 2008 featuring Poltergeist child star Heather O'Rouke, who died in 1988. Perhaps Spade wanted to get Farley into that particular Hall of Shame along with Gandhi and Einstein (for Apple computers), Audrey Hepburn (The Gap), JFK (Omega watches), and Fred Astaire (Dirt Devil portable vacuum cleaner). And don't forget Judy Garland (M&Ms), and -- oh, my favorite -- Rosa Parks for Chevy.
The David Spade ad underclasses them all, I'm afraid, because Spade is not just some advertising exec with a wild idea for a tasteless new campaign. He was an actual friend of the deceased, and was so distraught over Farley's death that IMDB.com quotes him as saying he could not bring himself to attend Farley's funeral, because "I just couldn't have gone into a room where Chris was in a box." (What does Spade say now? He gave a statement to our pals at Asylum that says the Farley family and friends all agreed to the ad.")
The poor thing. He doesn't want to be in a room with his friend in a box, but it's OK to cash in on the corpse's celebrity to hawk a different kind of box, the television kind. (Or maybe he doesn't see TV as a "box" anymore, now that there are slim flat-panel displays. They're really not box-shaped, right?)
Because Spade therefore sounds like a really sensitive guy, let's not put all the blame on his caved shoulders. After all, the estate of Chris Farley approved the ad. That estate, by the way, is (or at least has been) run by one of Chris' brothers, Tom Farley.
In 2006, Tom approved the first-ever commercial use of his brother's image and received $25,000 for Chris to hawk Prometa, a treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. The first ad appeared on a 20-by-60 foot billboard overlooking Sunset Boulevard, that swath of broken dreams-and, incidentally, very close to the Chateau Marmont where Farley's idol, John Belushi, died under similar circumstances.
As Tom Farley told Matt Lauer at the time of the Prometa folly, "We're happy to find a program like this that can utilize the same, you know, brand assets that Chris still has."
Oh, those brand assets. Gotta love 'em. Tom further defended the move by pointing out how much good it would do the world if these ads could spare just one person from the kind of drug-related death that took Chris from the bosom of his family.
"We've turned down so many offers for, you know, Bobbleheads and Ringtones for-for three, four, five times that," explained Tom. "I mean, it's really not about that. This is -- it's not a lot [of money] comparatively and, again, it's all going-it's going right back to doing what the [Chris Farley] Foundation's been doing for six or seven years, and that's helping people, you know, get better."
In other words, it was a humanitarian act to take that $25,000. Not at all like taking blood money to advertise bobblehead dolls and ringtones.
I wonder how much they got for the David Spade ad? I wonder what David Spade got for the David Spade ad?
Most of all, I wonder how many people will "get better" when they see Chris Farley's "brand assets" recommending signing up with DirecTV?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 53)
10-26-2009 @ 3:16PM
rebecca said...
Honestly, I don't know what the big deal is. Since neither I nor the author of this article knew Chris Farley, and David Spade (not to mention his own brother, Tom) did, it's certainly not up to us to decide whether he would or would not want his likeness to be used in an advertising campaign, regardless of the nature, postmortem. Especially with the one for the treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. What better likeness to use than someone who died from this disease? Would it be better to use some actor or model in the ads that is healthy, happy and not suffering from this? Or a public figure that died from it? Since his family and friends are the ones that truly suffered from his passing in the most personal way, I think the ball should be in their court and not the court of public opinion.
Reply
10-27-2009 @ 6:02AM
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10-27-2009 @ 6:47AM
Phil said...
The dilemma here is that whatever remarks one might make about the writer's judmental attitude about something that is none of his business can come off as nothing short of also judgmental.
At risk of sounding hypocytical, and I don't know Jami nor the reasons for David Spade making the ad, taking a clip from a MOVIE (not exhuming the body) to make a comical commercial that in NO WAY deminishes the comic genius and, in fact, reminds us of Farley's ability to bring a smile to our lives, neither disrespects the actor nor discredits David for making the clip.
It seems arrogant to claim that this is morally reprehensible without knowing the reasoning behind the making of the ad, especially considering the fact that only family and friends are qualified to know if Farley would have, in fact, been for or against such creative editing after his death.
I am no David Spade fan, but come on, leave the guy alone. He is interacting with a friend from the past in a very creative way that in no way tarnishes the image of the deceased.
10-27-2009 @ 6:55AM
Dee said...
Rebecca: I agree with you, though the Direct TV ad is totally creepy when you consider how close Spade and Farley were and here they are with Farley stuck in some other dimension while Spade is pushing satellite service. Still, the writer of the article is spewing indignation like he knows any of these people, and the ad for Prometa being near Chateau Marmont is a ridiculous observation. However, not as much as the random connect-the-dots of coffins, TVs, and Plasmas.
10-27-2009 @ 8:23AM
Angela said...
I don't see what the problem is. If the Chris' family and close friends are ok with it, who are we to judge. They aren't portraying him in a bad light nor are they using his drug problems as comedy. Well within the realm of decency.
10-27-2009 @ 8:53AM
eric said...
The commercial is in perfectily good taste without question. Farley is indirectly applauded by Spade when Spade says, "It never gets old" meaning that the "fat guy in a little coat" scene was classic Farley humor that will live on and on to everyone's delight that was a Farley fan.
10-27-2009 @ 8:28AM
Sam said...
I loved the movie and I like the add. don't see anything wrong with it and anyone who publicly objects needs to move on to more important things in life.
10-27-2009 @ 8:44AM
Viki said...
One word.. ridiculous. Farley was funny. That movie was funny. I didn't think anything bad when I saw commercial. Geesh, chill..
10-27-2009 @ 8:50AM
mike mcgillacudy said...
i agree w/rebecca! i never ever respond to crap like this, but it's really no big deal. it's not like the commercial is saying "please be a fat, dead drug attict like me and buy direct t.v.!" cut these people a break and get a life Jami!
10-27-2009 @ 9:08AM
D said...
hey I liked he commercial... with the many Tommy-Boy lovers in our house it was a "big" hit and we're all not skinny little model people.
10-27-2009 @ 10:01AM
rob said...
thank you! it's so nice to see someone not judging others without even knowing them. it's the one human idea i wish wasn't disappearing from the world but oh well.
10-27-2009 @ 9:18AM
luther said...
You are over reacting and it brought back pleasant memories of Farley. In fact, one could argue the exact opposite of your column or should I say "rant". This commercial actually helps us remember the good things about Farley and how funny he was. I even explained or reminded my 10 year old son who Chris Farley was, and what he was famous for. Therefore, please just get over it and let the memories of Farley let us live vicariously through his humor.
It appears that only the writer of this column wants to remember the poor qualities of Farley. Again, take the commercial how you want and let everyone decide on their own. I for one laughed and reminisced about a funny movie and good time in my own life.
I loved the commercial.
10-27-2009 @ 9:17AM
PR said...
Yes - the big deal is that someone gets to write a big story about nothing...someone quick call Larry David!
10-27-2009 @ 9:20AM
Michele said...
I agree.
10-27-2009 @ 9:24AM
CeCe said...
I agree with your post 100%. I was not a fan of Farley, but I know he was popular. From what I've read about him he would not have objected to the ad. As for Spade not going to his funeral, funerals are for the living. I prefer to grieve in private and to talk to family and friends about a death privately also.
10-27-2009 @ 9:36AM
ac77inc said...
I totally agree. Someone is always complaining about something. The people most important to this advert is Mr. Farley's family and friends. They gave the only and final say.
10-27-2009 @ 9:43AM
Kat said...
It is amazing to me how judgemental we can all be. This person can not possibly know the hearts and motives of family and friends, certainly has no idea what they have gone through, and they do not have to justify the reasons behind their decisions to anyone outside the family. This is a free country, and the author has the right to say whatever he/she wants, but this author aught to turn inward and take a good look at him/herself before casting dispersions on others.
10-27-2009 @ 10:04AM
Tony said...
I AGREE WITH REBECCA...................................The family made the decision.............................I thought Chris was a great comic and I miss him a lot.................to see him in the add brought back memories of him and made me even talk to my children about the fact that he is no longer with us and why.
The writer of this published article should get a live.........you are probably some liberal that should move to another country.
10-27-2009 @ 10:43AM
Chris said...
I agree. This journalist is a complete idiot. What a vicious and slanderous attack on David Spade. No matter how hard you try to villify him, David has always been a true friend to Chris Farley. This ad isn't in poor taste. This article is. The ad is funny! If you can't see that then you were tragically born without a sense of humor or in the case of this journalist a brain. It helps us remember Chris Farley the way I and many remember him, funny and able to bring a smile to our lives.
10-27-2009 @ 10:58AM
doug said...
Well said Rebecca. Also comedians love and live or in Chris' case livED for making people laugh- it is what they did. I think Chris would enjoy the idea of still putting a smile on people face's even after death. I don't think he would be angered at his brother nor Spade's use of his likeness one bit.