Did he just say ‘black laspberry’ Jell-O?
Fellow ad guy Ransom at the Mental Floss blog dug up this bizarre Jell-O ad, reportedly from the 1960s. I’ll stop short of saying it’s overtly racist, mainly because I’ve seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s. But it’s definitely a strange look at how Americans viewed the Chinese back in the days of black-and-white television. I could get on my soapbox about how pop culture still has no qualms about stereotyping Asians, but I’m too distracted by the fact that this ad claims the spoon was invented so people could eat Jell-O. So it’s also kind of a dig at the Greeks and Egyptians. |
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I believe he actually said "laspbelly".
Posted by: Miss Cellania | Oct 11, 2007 3:55:13 PM
This is actually a very cute commercial. I doubt any Chinese would be offended by it. Just as no Irish were offended by the Lucky Charms commercials or the Irish Spring commercials. Both employed exaggerated Irish accents.
Posted by: Tsing Tao | Oct 12, 2007 5:04:05 PM
I worked for JELL-O years ago and I can't even tell you how tightly this ad was kept under lock and key. I would love to meet the guy who got a hold of it and how, just so I could shake his hand. Next mission: Bill Cosby's voice over outtakes. Hysterical.
Posted by: Anonymous | Oct 14, 2007 10:29:39 PM
