Monday 21 February 2011

Come On Down!

For several decades in Winnipeg, local entrepreneur Nick Hill wrote, produced and starred in his own TV commercials for his business, Kern Hill Furniture Co-op. His signature style, phrasing and delivery made him a living legend in The Peg. Love him or hate him, you could not ignore him. Here's a typical ad from 1986:



Eventually, Nick Hill's son Andy joined him in the business and also on the TV ads. Andy's patter and style weren't quite as slick as the old man's but he was always enthusiastic. Here's a 1996 ad featuring both of them:



When Nick Hill died in 2003, the mayor of the city eulogized him as "a civic treasure." Nick Hill and his TV ads truly were (and still are) Winnipeg icons.

Recently, the Winnipeg Humane Society created a TV ad spoofing the old Kern Hill Furniture Co-op style. Andy Hill (now middle-aged) does a great job of pushing cats for adoption using every Kern Hill cliché and buzz phrase. This ad has been wildly successful and is now promising to go viral on YouTube. Watch and enjoy!


21 comments:

Laura said...

Elena said...

LMAO!! Where do you get these things! No matter, keep em coming.

Willym said...

Why do I hear Andrea Martin and Dave Thomas doing: Come on down to Tex and Edna Boil's Prairie Warehouse and Curio Emporium!

Jeanne said...

That is a marvelous commercial!!!! :0) {{claps hands with delight}} I had to watch it a couple of times.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Don't 'cha love how local add men, can become icons, on their area tv? :-) Kind of nice and old fashioned and etc.

We've got a big guy who sells cars around here and his sig. line is "HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGAHHHH" When we hear the word "Huge," we think of him. ,-)

'Mrs. Bradley' ,-)

Dreaming of Jeanie said...

"If you don't find a cat you like, we'll give you a fucking dog." BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!......I love it, I love it.

35jupe said...

Reminds me of Crazy Eddie in NYC.

Unknown said...

LOVE IT!!! That is hysterical!!

Suzie said...

I saw the Humane Society ad on You Tube over a week ago, and thought that it was great! (I think that everyone can relate to those local ads on TV)

But I didn't know the history behind it. Thanks for sharing. It makes it extra special now!

Dancing With Fey said...

lol That is so cute!

"Oops, sorry, I got carried away."

:)

yellowdoggranny said...

i love it...love it love it..
reminds me of Cal Wortherton in California..
GO SEE CAL GO SEE CAL GO SEE CAL.
If you want a brand new car go see Cal..(and he'd ride across the screen on a elephant, or a ostrich, or fly by on a bi-plane..damn, I miss ole cal.

DB Stewart said...

Classic Canadian bad production commercials from the 1980s. Awesome. What's with Andy's shoulders in the ad with his Dad? Awesome x2.

fromsophiesview said...

They have a winner with that kitty video...funny the 1st video sounds like a friend of mine from Winterpeg oops...he must have a Winnipeg twang!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Hi dbs -- I don't think Andy was used to wearing a suit jacket -- clearly he was uncomfortable in it -- or maybe it had a scratchy tag that was bothering his neck? Either way, he's one twitchy looking guy!

Chris 'Frog Queen' Davis said...

Okay, that is just fantastic!!!!

Cheers!

Jim said...

A little bit of Winnipeg history! Whatever works!

Kal said...

"Just a lazy cat to cover up that hole in the couch?" - Classic

If you want to post videos that don't get cut off let me know and I can tell you how to fix that easily.

turquoisemoon said...

ha ha ha ... I have no idea where you come up with all this stuff, but I'm glad you do. Makes my day!

Wendy said...

I love it! I also now want to get a new cat...

Blueberry said...

I loooove bad local commercials (like the furniture ones) - so awful and so funny! The worst local one here I can think of is a pest control guy with his pet tarantula sitting on his head!!

As for that cat ad - it's brilliant!

SUZY8-TRACK said...

Freakin' hilarious! Love the Kitty Midnight Madness...genius idea!