What do you mean, 'We hired a dog'?

April 4, 2011 4:05 PM

Network Awesome has compiled a short history of some of Jim Henson's early muppet work, including his infamously dark Wilson's Coffee commercials: (on YouTube) 1, 2, 3 and the IBM Muppet Show. (Who among us hasn't woken up in the morning and wanted to eat their coffee machine? (Previously) (Via)

The title of this FPP comes from this 9-minute film starring Rowlf the dog as a traveling IBM salesman.

posted by zarq (21 comments total)

There is something that is both gratifying and horrifying in watching the cookie monster eat a talking coffee machine.
posted by Fizz at 4:08 PM on April 4, 2011 [1 favorite]

My god, I've never said this before but the violence in those Wilkins commercials is so...senseless. Proto-Kermit as mob enforcer, making sure everybody drinks Wilkins...this is amazing.
posted by Brainy at 4:26 PM on April 4, 2011 [5 favorites]

Why did I think it was Wilkins. Wilsons. Sorry all.
posted by Brainy at 4:31 PM on April 4, 2011

Omfg cookie monster got executed at point-blank range. wtf :(
Where did they find this Kermit, on the Mean Streets?
posted by Foci for Analysis at 4:41 PM on April 4, 2011

Brainy: "My god, I've never said this before but the violence in those Wilkins commercials is so...senseless. Proto-Kermit as mob enforcer, making sure everybody drinks Wilkins...this is amazing."

It's not easy being green....
posted by zarq at 4:51 PM on April 4, 2011

Why did Rowlf cry when the guy on the phone who ordered typewriters said their address was on the west side of the street?
posted by Bwithh at 5:07 PM on April 4, 2011

These are awesome.
posted by Decimask at 5:09 PM on April 4, 2011

Brainy: "Why did I think it was Wilkins. Wilsons. Sorry all."

Actually, no. You had it right and I had it wrong. This is not my best work. An FPP with multiple typos. *sigh* It should be 'amongst.'
posted by zarq at 5:17 PM on April 4, 2011 [1 favorite]

Whoa. Weird. They eventually redid that coffee machine sketch. (And, by the looks of it, made Cookie Monster's teeth and fur a bit less terrifying).
posted by schmod at 5:52 PM on April 4, 2011 [3 favorites]

Wow, I didn’t even know these existed (Rowlf and other muppet commercial did commercials?), or that there were muppets pre-Sesame Street days.

I started perusing other youtube type muppet material and had to share these, too.

There used to be Purina Dog Chow muppet commercials, which are hilarious.

The muppets had guest appearances on old comedy shows (Johnny Carson).

Then a leap through time and there is a goodbye to Jim Henson, with Big Bird singing goodbye at Jim Henson’s Memorial. Thank you Kermit, Jim Henson and friends, indeed.
posted by Wolfster at 6:17 PM on April 4, 2011 [2 favorites]

This. This is why I read MetaFilter.
posted by brennen at 6:21 PM on April 4, 2011 [2 favorites]

Woah, those are some pretty negative brand associations. Drink Wilkins, the coffee of coercion and senseless violent death! No wonder no one is making commercials like those anymore.
posted by subdee at 6:34 PM on April 4, 2011

looks llike it's harder being black and white than it is being green. best muppet shows ever
posted by Redhush at 6:42 PM on April 4, 2011

This is why I read MuppetFilter.

FTFY
posted by dry white toast at 6:42 PM on April 4, 2011

But don't forget Rowlf's regular appearances on Jimmy Dean's TV show (documented in my Jimmy Dean obit thread last year)
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:48 PM on April 4, 2011 [1 favorite]

And here is the most disturbing Muppet-related image I have recently seen. (SFW, just not for Angry Birds fans)
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:06 PM on April 4, 2011 [2 favorites]

schmod: "They eventually redid that coffee machine sketch."

Nice! The new version is funnier. :)
posted by zarq at 9:34 PM on April 4, 2011

just occurred to me earlier: the recent Egyptian Panda cheese ads are a kind of tamer descendant of the Wilkins Coffee ads.
posted by Bwithh at 12:25 AM on April 5, 2011 [1 favorite]

Woah, those are some pretty negative brand associations. Drink Wilkins, the coffee of coercion and senseless violent death! No wonder no one is making commercials like those anymore.

Sounds to me like you don't drink Wilkins!

*Wack!* *Crunch!* *Kaboom!*
posted by lucien_reeve at 3:02 AM on April 5, 2011 [3 favorites]

subdee: "Woah, those are some pretty negative brand associations. Drink Wilkins, the coffee of coercion and senseless violent death! No wonder no one is making commercials like those anymore."

No no, it's great branding.
"Wilkins. for people who like their comedy like their coffee: black."
posted by pwnguin at 7:11 AM on April 5, 2011 [4 favorites]

And here is the most disturbing Muppet-related image I have recently seen.

How about now? Still the most disturbing?
posted by inigo2 at 1:06 PM on April 5, 2011