Chiclets Ronald Reagan Puppet Commercial (1985)
Trailer
Synopsis
The commercial features a Ronald Reagan puppet in bed, waking up thirsty. He attempts to drink a glass of water but spills it. He is then offered a Chiclets gum, leading to an argument with another puppet about whether the gum's flavor is on the outside coating or the inside.
Context & Trivia
This 1985 Chiclets commercial features latex puppets of Ronald Reagan and, in some versions, Mikhail Gorbachev, which are clearly identifiable as creations from the British satirical show "Spitting Image". "Spitting Image" was renowned for its grotesque caricatures of political figures and celebrities, and its puppets gained global recognition, even appearing in the iconic Genesis music video "Land of Confusion" (1986). The use of these puppets in an American Chiclets advertisement highlights the show's cross-cultural influence and how its distinctive designs were leveraged for advertising in the 1980s. The Ronald Reagan puppet from "Spitting Image" was characterized by its portrayal of a president often bewildered and prone to confusion, an image reflected in this commercial.
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