« Y&R setting up shop on Catalina Island? | Main | Building the perfect banana »

The terrifying return of Mr. Six It’s spring and that means? Aaahhh! He’s baaaack! Mr. Six—that freakishly festive old bald guy (actually, probably not old) with the oversized glasses and bad makeup is invading our televisions once again with his manic dancing and annoying “We Like to Party” song for Six Flags that inexplicably gets lodged in your brain. In a new spot heralding the seasonal opening of the theme parks, Mr. Six wakes up in a retirement home, realizes it’s spring and drives off in his Six Flags bus to get the parks ready. Some of us wish the tuxedoed toe-tapper had stayed in hibernation. Or better yet, that someone would have finally put him to rest. He’s not an appealing character, and he would seem to frighten some children. (He frightens some adults.) But somehow he’s getting the job done for Six Flags. The theme park reported brisk sales of Mr. Six memorabilia last summer, and the kids came out in droves for look-alike contests. This year, he even got his own roller coaster, “Mr. Six’s Pandemonium.” Looks like Mr. Six won’t be deep-sixed anytime soon. Go figure. —Posted by Eleftheria Parpis

April 4, 2005 in Parpis | Permalink

Comments

The question is, what makes an ad good? Industry insiders may sneer at the Mr. Six campaign and God knows it won't sweep the award shows. But it seems to be working. And isn't that what it's really all about? Who are you trying to reach: a small clique of creatives - many of whom are not even in the target audience - or the public at large? Sometimes I feel like agencies - and the ad press - are like dogs so busy sniffing each other's butts that they ignore what the public thinks.

Posted by: Lamont Cranston | Apr 4, 2005 9:54:20 AM

I think one of those ads was in the top 5 most memorable and liked ads in the USA today poll last year... so besides your dislike of the creative device, likely isn't targeted towards you anyway... where's your beef?

Posted by: gorilla | Apr 5, 2005 4:42:31 PM

Six Flags... the Wal*Mart of amusement parks.

Posted by: Unhappy Camper | Apr 9, 2005 1:03:57 AM

Isn't there a creative level to the Six Flags commercials that transcends the target? I always felt there was a big wink to them. In that, this character is so odd and seemingly strategically wrong for the brand, that the fact that it is on air and successful makes them great.

Posted by: hack1 | Apr 28, 2005 5:39:41 PM

Well, EVERYONE I know loves the commercials. The fact that Mr. Six is weird and sorta creepy is part of the appeal. If Eleftheria Parpis doesn't like him? Well, that's why god made remote controls. Get over it!

Posted by: Freeda | Jun 18, 2005 1:44:44 PM

How can anyone like this ad? I cannot physically stand to watch any commercial with this dancing gangly asshole in it. Seriously, my insides turn. The song only adds to the annoyance. I have dreams about knocking his teeth out with a hammer and smashing his head into a curb and sopping up his blood with his stupid bowtie and shove it down his throat and hear his last gargle of his own blood before he dies in untellable pain.

And on top of it, the commercials trick you. I don't always know whe it's going to come on, so when a commercial starts out normally, and then I'm forced to see him for a split second and I uncontrollably vomit on myself.

This isn't cute, it isn't funny, it isn't entertaining. It's nauseating. You may think it's catchy, but wait until you hear it 500 more times, then you'll want to plunge a screwdriver in his ear like me.

Posted by: SunnyTaint | Aug 13, 2005 12:36:34 AM

Hey!!! How could you NOT like the famous Mr. Six?!? HE RULES MY LIFE!!! I fall down laughing every time I see the ad! I have it saved on my computer and I'm watching right now! Me and my friends LOVE him! And what is so bad about him? He's just a happy guy that likes to dance and be alive! GIVE HIM A BREAK! HE'S AWESOME!

Posted by: Summer | Jul 21, 2006 2:11:29 AM

Fuck who ever doesn't like him!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: SixFlagsRULES | Oct 7, 2006 9:16:29 PM

he is my costume every halloween after the reaction I got this year, I love Mr. Six

Posted by: baldguy | Oct 29, 2006 9:16:38 PM

I love the Mr. Six commercials.. They really do just get under your skin, they are infectious to the point where if you tell a friend about them they catch the fever too.

I guess I love this ad the most because I won Sadies court dancing in the old man uniform. Good times!

Posted by: theCommissar | Jun 26, 2007 3:01:33 PM

Post a comment

Name:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments:

The opinions expressed in comments are those of the individual poster. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Adweek or Nielsen Business Media. Comments of a promotional nature or comments that are otherwise inappropriate may be removed.