Bad credit or no credit? No Problem! Are you on welfare? Social Security? No Problem! You have to see the Special Man

April 19, 2010 5:09 PM

Bad credit or no credit? No Problem! Are you on welfare? Social Security? No Problem! You have to see the Special Man!
posted by grapefoot (23 comments total)

Holy shit. I never imagined I'd see a Frankie and Johnny's post on MetaFilter. Man, I miss those commercials.
posted by brundlefly at 5:14 PM on April 19, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'll admit that at first I was skeptical, but this commercial builds up to sheer awesome. I grinned so much it hurt.
posted by Kattullus at 5:24 PM on April 19, 2010

Everyone should have a special go-to man -- no problem!
posted by madamjujujive at 5:37 PM on April 19, 2010

lettahaaavit is going to be my catchphrase all day tomorrow.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:44 PM on April 19, 2010 [2 favorites]

I don't remember "With noooo problem." It was just "Let her have it." Maybe that was the special man's grandson or something.

We used to do the "I say I say I say" toupee dance in grade school. Try it.
posted by mblandi at 5:45 PM on April 19, 2010 [2 favorites]

what does the special man say?
posted by djduckie at 5:48 PM on April 19, 2010

Are bad toupees a requirement of cheap furniture salesmen?
posted by kanata at 5:51 PM on April 19, 2010

Come Christmastime, around the Rumpole-Marker household we don't sing Jingle Bells, we sing "No-No-No, No-No-No, No money down today!"
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:53 PM on April 19, 2010

what does the special man say?

Special Man said to Craig "Let her have it, Chris"
They still don't know today just what he meant by this
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:55 PM on April 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

The special man is clearly on the nod.
posted by Burhanistan at 5:57 PM on April 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is the only furniture man for me.
posted by kanata at 6:00 PM on April 19, 2010

Advert painstakingly converted and posted to Youtube by MeFi's own (or at least he was until he pushed the button) shammack, my husband.
posted by subbes at 6:25 PM on April 19, 2010

The "special man" is a running joke in the NOLA area to this day. You have now been assimilated, resistance is futile.
posted by localroger at 6:38 PM on April 19, 2010 [2 favorites]

I used to tape these all the time when I lived in NOLA! I knew a girl who actually dated Frankie. (The guy with the bad wig) She said he was a real asshole, but their commercials were awesome. I miss the crawfish doctor from seafood city too. Here's some other NOLA classics.
posted by white_devil at 6:45 PM on April 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

California had Ed Barbara (pronounced the OTHER way). He also had a store in the L.A. market and his commercials were ubiquitous enough to inspire a song that became a hit on the Dr. Demento Show.

And he did THIS classic not-supposed-to-be-aired spot.

The current standard for wacky furniture commercials in L.A. are Mattress Mike, Boxspring Bob, Furniture Faye and The Guy in the Bunny Suit for Michael's Furniture Warehouse. Almost regretfully, they're getting more professional. Mike, just take off your toupee to show us you have "less overhead" and remind us "your neighbors shop here tooooooooo".
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:02 PM on April 19, 2010

More local TV commercials, including the Special Man, courtesy of the AV Club.
posted by MadamM at 8:52 PM on April 19, 2010

Aw man, the Special Man was one of the highlights of my college years.

Although the one I really remember - late 90s', they started turning it into a song and the "nooooo problem" man was singing about how you didn't need credit and the Special Man would let you have it. I even think they got Mardi Gras parasols in there as well.

it was a glorious glorious thing.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:05 AM on April 20, 2010

The special man is clearly on the nod.

I just copped off him. He let me have ten bags with no money down and no problem!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:52 AM on April 20, 2010

around the Rumpole-Marker household

Shouldn't that be the Rumpole/She-who-must-be-obeyed household
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:57 AM on April 20, 2010 [1 favorite]

I called her that once and she did not think it was funny.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:41 AM on April 20, 2010

Rumpole (of the Bailey) had the sense never to call Hilda that to her face.
posted by Kattullus at 6:15 AM on April 20, 2010

The dude at the end of this gonzo furniture commercial (one of many) went on to become the mayor of Toronto.
posted by bicyclefish at 8:01 AM on April 20, 2010

I heard "$699 for 3 rooms of furniture" and (not realizing this is ooooooooooooooooold) I go "oh that must be -really great- furniture.

Can't even get a decent bed for $699 any more. & damn, THAT used to be 4 months rent!
posted by Twang at 12:09 PM on April 20, 2010