August 04, 2003
Hand Job
A savage critique of the Arby's "talking oven mitt" ads (via
Max). Arby's took a promising (if strange) concept and botched it with crass humor.
It goes without saying that the oven mitt is, mascot-wise, the spiritual grandson of the
Hamburger Helper Helping Hand (artist's conception at right). You remember the Hand, don't you? Apparently Betty Crocker, which has
zero images or mentions of the Hand at
their site, would rather forget. I hope they didn't shelve the Hand. That would be a shame, since the Hand is right up there with Tony the Tiger and The Jolly Green Giant in the advertising mascot hall of fame.
Uh, where was I? In a similar vein, Bill
"Blather" Barol takes a long, hard look at
fast food salads for
Slate. Informative
and fun!
Posted by mhinrichs at August 4, 2003 03:28 PM
By the way the oven mitt does have a name and it is Smitty, i work at an Arby's and that is what i am told
Anyone smell a ripoff? Anyone remember hamburger helper? And for the love of God, if you ARE going to rip off an idea, at least make it funny.
what the FUK are you losers thinking? this is the worst, and most UNfunny idea in years. None of his jokes are funny except to people who have been living in a cave or some other remote area that didnt hear them the first two million times they were used. anyone who actually likes this THING should be beaten with a rubber hose
I have a question, is Jim Belushi the voice of oven mitt ?
The voice is Tom Arnold! I heard him say so an interview on Leno or Letterman (I don't remember which.) I'm not a big fan of Tom Arnold, but oven mitt is just plain funny. Sometimes the dialog may not be funny, but the way they animate him - given his limited appendages and flexibility - is really quite good.
Hey give Arby's and the oven mitt a break. I work for Sybra a franchise of Arby's (sbyra arby's backwards) if my company couldn't have come up with a better name it is going to be even harder to come up with a better spokes person!!!
Hey give Arby's and the oven mitt a break. I work for Sybra a franchise of Arby's (sbyra arby's backwards) if my company couldn't have come up with a better name... but anyway over the last few years that i have worked for this co. they have had us do some pretty stupid stuff this oen is pretty cool but if i hear one more time "I want to talk to the oven mitt" COME ON AMERICA HE IS A CARTOON!!!
I hate the oven mitt. He is evil and a Satin worshiper.
A great commerical would be Ronald McDonald wearing the oven mitt while strokin' himself and the oven mitt saying give me some of that 'secret sauce'.
