Recently, the UK-based Currys electronic stores hired a couple of familiar spokespeople for their new round of advertisements: Celebrity droids C-3PO (voiced by Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2. My first reaction was, Really? Lucasfilm is allowing its beloved characters to advertise for a department store? But then, thinking back over the years, there have been plenty of Lucasfilm-approved ads -- and at least a handful worth watching again. For instance:
1. Anti-Drunk Driving PSA
Apparently drinking and driving is a problem not only in this galaxy but in the Star Wars galaxy as well. Especially on Tatooine, it would seem, which does seem to have a lot of land speeders as well as cantinas -- no doubt a deadly combination. So here's a PSA showing that when an unruly Mos Eisley creature gets a little out of hand, he's helped home. (Or shot, if he happens to be sitting next to Han Solo.)
2. Anti-Smoking PSA
Drinking and driving wasn't the only social scourge in the Star Wars galaxy, either: Smoking was also an issue. Seeing Artoo dragging on a cigarette still shocks me to this day. I mean, if any of the characters from The Original Trilogy were going to be smokers, I would assume that it would be Han. I mean, why would a droid be smoking anyway? I can't imagine there's any personal pleasure derived from the nicotine. This has to be 100-percent peer pressure, so it was good for Threepio to step in and put a stop to this nonsense.
3. C-3PO's
I love how Threepio gets to name his own cereal after himself. From the commercial, it appears the cereal isn't christened yet when Threepio pulls it out of the cabinet. "We'll call them C-3PO's!" he pretty much tells Artoo. I guess this wasn't up for debate. How arrogant can he be? Was this part of Artoo's punishment for smoking?
4. Take-Apart C-3PO
I admit I thought I knew The Empire Strikes Back forwards and backwards, but I don't necessarily remember this scene that these playground kids (who are now all over the the age of 40) are trying to recreate with their action figures. When did C-3PO ever refer to Han and Leia by their first names? Also, of note, the kid that does the Chewbacca growl, do you think he still brags about the performance today? Do you think he's ever out at a local pub and has to constantly turn down requests to do the growl?
5. Han Solo of Hoth
These classic Kenner commercials are fascinating. In this version, Han Solo didn't have time to change out of his Hoth outfit before asking Lando for help against the Empire. Also, it was kind of rude for Han not to at least remember the name of the rebel soldier that he brings along.
6. Burger Chef
Does anyone remember Burger Chef? I actually do, barely: Where I grew up in the Midwest they all became Hardee's, which was upsetting because Burger Chef had a licensing deal with Lucasfilm. It goes to show that Star Wars products aren't always a recipe for success as a business model. The prices in the commercial are intriguing: A large Coca-Cola and a Star Wars poster for 49 cents. Perhaps that's why they went out of business. Of course, arrogant prick Threepio bought a poster of himself -- shocking.
7. The Star Wars Holiday Special Commercial
Yes, I'm sure you're familiar with the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special -- but have you ever seen the CBS commercial advertising its air-date? George Lucas may never want you to watch this show, but in 1978, Archie Bunker sure sold it. And yes: Art Carney was really in the Holiday Special.
8. Land of the Jawas
Here's a commercial from the original Land of the Jawas playset. I have no idea how I remember this commercial, but I do. I remember as a little kid actually believing that this playset could magically make my Star Wars figures disappear. Alas, as this set consists of merely a piece of cardboard attached to a piece of plastic, it did not have that ability.
9. Atari Video Game
What does The Empire Strikes Back and Frogger have in common? Parker Brothers wanted you to buy both of these games for your Atari 2600. Quite an interesting combination of games to package in one advertisement. But wow, look at the Empire game at the 17-second mark! I can't believe those graphics are from 1982... Oh, I see. the game starts at 19 seconds. Yeah, that seems about right.