The new commercials being aired by KFC are just plain creepy.
Former SNL funny-man Darrell Hammond has been hired by the corporation formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken to portray the company’s long-deceased patriarch, Colonel Harlan Sanders, in television commercials.
In the ads, the faux-Sanders pitches poulet with the demeanor of an old man being run off school grounds for offering to show children the eleven herbs and spices he has hidden under his trench coat.
The idea to depict Colonel Sanders as everyone’s peculiar uncle that no one invites to family gatherings anymore is simply baffling.
An international entrepreneurial icon, Colonel Harlan Sanders began selling fried chicken in Corbin during the Great Depression. A grade-school dropout, he sold his first franchise in the early 1950s. A decade later he sold the company for $2 million and continued as the spokesperson for “finger-lickin’ good” chicken until his death in 1980.
This isn’t the first time some public relations firm has messed with the legend of Colonel Sanders. Nearly two decades after his death, a cartoon version appeared. Many were a little uneasy with an animated version, but resigned to the idea with use of Randy Quaid as the voice over – Sanders was an icon, not an angel. The voice of Cousin Eddie aside, the campaign lasted only a few years.
It is hard to imagine how some top executive suddenly decided it was time to turn Colonel Sanders into the type of cheesy mascot one would find at a Class A minor league baseball park.
“Go get me a New Coke and pop Darrell Hammond’s audition tape into my Sony Betamax.”
Colonel Harlan Sanders is more than just a corporate mascot. As much as the Run for the Roses, he is Kentucky’s brand.
With the 2016 presidential races heating up, it’s time for Hammond to return to lampooning Bill Clinton and leave Kentucky’s legends alone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXB2MDaA0A4
Rick Robinson is a Northern Kentucky lawyer and an award winning author of political thrillers which can be purchased on Amazon and at book stores everywhere. His latest novel is “The Advance Man.”
*****
You might also want to read this story about KFC’s ad campaign from the NKyTribune in May.
Totally, agree…they have now firmly destroyed Col Sanders image. The very thought of eating at a KFC makes my skin crawl now. The Colonel’s image is on signs and packaging, so constant reminders everywhere. If the goal is to destroy KFC then “hats-off”. If I owned stock, I would be terribly angry over this. The logic of any marketing campaign that leaves a negative impression, baffles the mind. I may be thinking of KFC more, but not because I am interested in eating at KFC…these commercials actually cause a loss-of-appetite entirely.
This commercial is very disturbing ! Colonel sanders was a real southern gentleman not a stupid hillbilly that you are portraying what a disgrace!!
How can a Southern Colonel not be racist?
Not a Southern Colonel, Tom. A Kentucky Colonel. It’s a title of honor bestowed upon Kentuckians. It’s not a racist thing at all. Your comment makes you look dumb.
The creepy giggle that is being ran on the Colonel Sanders comercials is a real mistake. You guys have the southern gentleman (Colonel Sanders) sounding like a perverted old man. I mute this comercial because it irritates me to hear what you have done to my gental southern man. Please change your ad and you will see your stock KFC on the incline instead of decline.
Great article. This Colonel and the Burger King are neck and neck as the creepiest food commercials.
omg that commercial was horrible….colonel was such a gentleman and you people show him a stupid man…