Web Site Puts TV’s Best Ads Online

If, while watching television, you secretly pine for 30-second glimpses of dancing California raisins and Coca-Cola polar bears, you will enjoy the resources for commercial lovers available online.

Some of the most fascinating material comes from Advertising Age’s Web pages. Its “50 Best Commercials” area is the magazine’s subjective compilation of the finest TV advertising from the last 50 years, which can be found at https://www.adage.com/Features/Commercials.

The choices are organized by decade and include three freeze-framed shots from each spot along with a paragraph analyzing the greatness of the ad. (Though none of the 49 other ads are ranked, director Ridley Scott’s Apple Macintosh “1984” spot is considered by Advertising Age to be “the greatest commercial ever.”)

The Ad Age site also offers a captivating and educational journey through the history of TV advertising at https://www.adage.com/Features/TV/.

One specific product well represented online is Mentos candy. For enlightening answers to frequently asked questions about “the Freshmaker,” click over to https://www3.gse.ucla.edu/ ~cjones/mentos-faq.html. Mentos’ commercial evolution and philosophy along with synopses and jingle lyrics can all be found here.

For discussions regarding the Taster’s Choice couple, Michelin Tire babies, Budweiser penguins or any other commercial, stop by the alt.tv.commercials Internet Usenet newsgroup. Similarly, infomercial fans can find companionship at alt.tv.infomercials. But wait, there’s more. For brief but informative background on these extended advertisements, check out https://www.best. com/~dijon/tv/infomercials.