The Making of Radio Shack’s “The Phone Call”
It was a blast to see all those famous folks from the 1980s—we’re talking everyone from Mary Lou Retton to Erik Estrada—burst into a Radio Shack store and clear the shelves in the Super Bowl spot “The Phone Call.” But the :30 created by Austin-based GSD&M and directed by Frank Todaro of bicoastal Moxie Pictures offered much more than a trip down memory lane. It was a self-effacing admission by the struggling electronics retailer that it needs to get with the times, and Super Bowl viewers and ad critics appreciated the humor and the honesty. “The concept was the most appealing thing about it,” said Todaro when asked why he chose to direct this spot (he also helmed this year’s Hyundai Super Bowl ad “Dad’s Sixth Sense”), noting, “It wasn’t that it was going to be some spectacular bit of cinema. It was just that it was really funny and incredibly smart and self aware.” The agency had fun coming up with a list of ’80s stars and references to fill the spot, according to GSD&M executive creative director Jay Russell, who recounted, “There were seven or eight people that sat in a room and had this wall of photographs that looked like it was from a scene out of A Beautiful Mind.” Read the full article titled Top Spot: Todaro, GSD&M Storm A Radio Shack With Icons From The 1980s In “The Phone Call” by Christine Champagne...
Cliff’s Cameo in Radio Shack Commercial
Did you catch John Ratzenberger featured in Radio Shack’s “The Phone Call” commercial during the big game? The ad featured several 1980s-era celebrities, such as John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin from Cheers, Hulk Hogan, Mary Lou Retton, Dee Snyder from Twisted Sister, Erik Estrada from CHiPs, along with characters such as Alf and Chuckie from the Child’s Play movies, arriving at a Radio Shack store and representing the 1980s to take their store back. Radio Shack also produced a separate Cliff-featured spot showing off EL wire. Watch the video below to hear one of Cliff’s little known...
Season 2 of ‘Legit’ Announced by FXX
FXX will roll out the premiere of Legit on Jan. 26, 2014. The second season of ‘Legit’ with Jim Jefferies will follow the comedian as he tries to solve the mystery behind his failing love life. On top of his personal challenges, Jefferies will also deal with a string of unwanted house guests that include his parents and his roommates’ dad, Walter (John Ratzenberger). Meanwhile, Jim’s roommate Billy (DJ Qualls) will deal with problems of his after beginning new medications for muscular dystrophy along with an unconventional romantic relationship. For more information about the premiere, check out this article on BroadwayWorld.com...
A Visit to Eagle Hill Southport School
Hamm the pig, Mack the truck and P.T. Flea recently visited Eagle Hill Southport School — or at least the actor who voices the characters did. Actor John Ratzenberger the voice of these and many other Pixar movie characters, talked to the students about his life on and off the movie set. While most of the teachers know Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin on the long-running sitcom, Cheers, most of the students recognize his voice from the Pixar movies, of which he has appeared in every one, including Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Cars. Ratzenberger glided in and out of various character voices, but spent most of his time answering student questions. Click here to read the full news story on the Fairfield...
Guest Cast of BONES on FOX – Catch it Again on January 11, 2014
John Ratzenberger will join the guest cast of the TV show BONES in this Saturday’s episode, which you can watch again on January 11, 2014. He will appear as Bill Schumacher in an episode where The Jeffersonian team investigates the murder of Adam Pak, a management consultant whose remains were found being eaten by bobcats. When evidence leads the team to a marriage retreat site, Brennan and Booth go undercover as previous personas “Roxie” and “Tony” to try to find more evidence. While at the retreat, Brennan and Booth meet fellow married couple Bill (guest star Ratzenberger) and Evelyn (guest star Millicent Martin) Schumacher, whose relationship seems a little too perfect. To read more about the episode, click...
John Ratzenberger to Appear in CSI Episode
On Wednesday, October 9, 2013, John Ratzenberger will appear in the Season 14, Episode 3 “Torch Song” episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The TV episode will run 60 minutes long and air at 10:00 pm on CBS. For more information, and to see videos and photos from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, click here.