When word broke earlier this week that Maria Bamford’s Christmas Champ was not going to be resurrected for Target ads this year, I have to admit… I was a little bummed. Not because I like advertisements, rather I dug Bamford’s completely off the wall weirdness and buffoonery toward the commercials. They were a welcome change to all the mushy holiday cheer that we’ll be subject to for about a month.
With that being said, with the magic of the internet and the power of Youtube we have the chance to dig up those commercials some comedians hoped would never surface again, others made instantly classic, and those that are somewhere in between.
Here’s a list of 21 commercials that were made better with the presence of comedians.
Pete Holmes is the ETrade Baby
Aziz Ansari for American Express
Brett Gelman for Take 5 Lotto
Just a little bit of luck is all you need.
Tina Fey for Mutual Savings Bank
Want to see Tina’s first ever time on television?
Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter for eBay
MIB has starred in a lot of commercials over the years. Here’s one with fellow The State/Stella comedian Michael Showalter.
David Cross for AOL
Jerry Seinfeld for American Express
Seinfeld’s done a few commercials for AMEX over the years. Here’s one with his idol Superman.
Samantha Bee for Kraft Hidden Valley Ranch
Reggie Watts for DieHard Batteries
Rob Delaney for Progressive Insurance
Rob and Flo… just hanging out.
Lewis Black for Wonderful Pistachios
Tony Hale for Volkswagon
This commercial set up a terrific Arrested Development joke that came years later once Hale was on the show.
Orlando Jones for 7Up
Make 7 Up Yours.
Paul Rudd for Nintendo
Dennis Miller for 10-10-220
Miller hocks some calling cards.
Jay Leno for Doritos
Crunch all you want, we’ll make more.
Steve Martin for Nike
Nike’s had some fun commercials over the years.
Denis Leary for Nike
Denis Leary does a ton of commercial work for things like sports teams, stores, trucks, MTV, computer software and these hilarious Nike commercials from the 90’s which he delivered his “I think you hear me knocking” lines.”
Lynn Koplitz for Midol
Because the perfect remedy for cramps is some stand-up comedy.
Jim Gaffigan and Michael Ian Black for Sierra Mist
These Sierra Mist commercials also featured Aisha Tyler in a few of them. But who can forget the holiday hawk?
John Hodgeman Mac vs PC
These helped ignite the modern day Mac vs. PC debate.
