There are still some old fashion magazines from the Soviet times somewhere in parent's house. Boy, were those girls and outfits beautiful... They also traveled to the capitalistic countries to show off the trends but the clothing models were prohibited to be sold in the non-soviet countries.
That fashion show is just like Wendy's food and most of American "culture". Generic, mass-produced, tasteless trash. As for East European women, they are far more beautiful and stylish than American women. And I say this as an American.
I have told my daughter about this commercial for years. She is 17. I thought I would sit dcwn and try to find it. What a surprise! This was a great commercial...SWIM VEAR
@AnyaSochneva Consider the date, 1984, when many of us were concerned about being reduced to "charcoal briquettes" by our neighbors in the Soviet Union. In the grand scheme of things, this little stereotypical zinger wasn't too terrible. If this ran today, I'd say, yes, it showed our stupidity. Back then, it was a little big of "whistling past the graveyard."
i remember being told that the commercial was pulled at the request of the Soviet government .. they argued that it was not in the best interest of Perestroika .. I WONDER HOW MUCH TRUTH THERE IS TO THAT OR IT IS ANOTHER ONE THOSE URBAN MYTHS? HMM
I read about the Soviet disapproval in the newspaper (later that day, it was on the CBS evening news with Dan Rather) and Wendy's was pressured to remove the commercial.
@kadeshaderow HA! I've been 20 miles outside of Moscow and many other former USSR cities. And I've been 20 miles outside New Orleans, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, Chicago, etc. I see many more butterball shaped women in the good 'ole USA than in the former USSR. It's not even close!
I can imagine the American women who watch this and laugh--their faces full of burgers as wet mash rolls down their fat, burger-fed stomachs and onto their skin-tight designer jeans with semen stains on it.
This commercial is a true classic. I remember the sensation that it created when it first appeared on TV. Every now and then I still hear mention of it bought up in conversations.
Create your favorite dishes from your favorite restaurants...Chili's, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse...all from home! - youtube.com/watch?v=6ktnVmKZXOo
Create your favorite dishes from your favorite restaurants...Chili's, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse...all from home! - youtube.com/watch?v=6ktnVmKZXOo
Create your favorite dishes from your favorite restaurants...Chili's, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse...all from home! - youtube.com/watch?v=6ktnVmKZXOo
hahahaha...oh man does this bring back memories when i was a kid...This reminds me of my uncle always making fun of my aunt by imitating this commercial...Ah memor ies
I think a lot of people are missing the irony that the "Soviet Fashion Show" in this commercial is INTENDED TO SYMBOLIZE McDONALDS! (The ultimate icon of American capitalism.)
In commercials for Wendy's (and Burger King), it was a recurring theme that McDonald's made its hamburgers by a mechanized "assembly line" process, and everything tasted the same, but Wendy's burgers were individually made to order, "the old-fashioned way."
So freaking stupid. Why they didn't show a couple bears and ushanka? And for Wendy's consumers it's better do not think what would Russia show in american parody commercial.
I am so happy to have found this, was telling a friend about it today.
Look, at the time we were not hung up on being PC, particularly when it came to communism, to have seemed sympathetic would have been unAmerican. It was funny as hell back then and it is still funny as hell.
Lighten up people, it was a making light of a situation, not of the people involved. It was Madison Ave's way to remind us how lucky we were.
Why is it that everything has to become a political debate.
I remember this when it was on TV. A bit unfair, that old portrayal of Soviet women as unattractive. Just because they were communists didn't mean the women weren't beautiful. Always struck me as a stupid prejudice.
Never said she or any other Russian women were ugly. In fact, I find this woman intoxicatingly beautiful. Maybe I could buy her a new dress in another color ? LoL
Even though I'm a communist, I found this quite humourous :P Although I'm inclined to point out that the United States of America has the highest overweight and obesity rate in the world (Although Australia is catching up!)
I finally found this. This is my all time favourite commercial. I was in 6th grade when this came out. I remember it differently though. Does anyone know the name of the tune in the beginning? It's also the same tune you heard alot in old black and white cartoons like Popeye, usually associated with some kind of hard labour, such as rowing a boat.
Historical evidence of the Soviet diplomats' negative responses to this commercial, combined with most contemporary Russians' attitudes toward it as evidenced here on YouTube, illustrates the point that (a.) parody is not a genre discussed in Russian literary education and (b.) very few Russians have a clue about what "historical context" means. Oh well. Those of us who get it know that this commercial is still made completely of awesome.
Excellent! This is great news. I'm sure you're aware it's not poking fun of you but of the idea of the Soviet Union and that all of us Americans know it's not been that way since at least the Boris Yeltsin era. So fabulous, thanks for getting the joke!
Whoa! I totally remember being captivated by news footage of when the Berlin Wall fell, which was to the West a visual symbol of the end of the Cold War. I was young, sure, but I remember. You were a baby back then. Wow. Well, this is what the West perceived the Soviet Union to be like. Also look up Yakov Smirnoff; his comedy also influenced American perceptions of the Union and it was its downfall that marked the end of his career.
shows americans are obsessed with their hamburgers and that fat lady is definitely american fuck capitalist whores. eat ur burgers and pretend everything is ok!
Proof positive that America had the best propaganda. America's image of Soviet women were fat, ugly or pumped up on steroids with manly features. With the fall of the iron curtain we see they are blond, blue eyed and beautiful. Never again!
I read that the Russians actually made a protest to the State Department over these commercials. They were very offended at them. I thought they were classic 80's kitsch.
Whoever puts these toppings on American burgers are not eating American burgers. Don't get me wrong, I do like sauerkraut with bratwurst. I also eat pirogies but I wouldn't combine them with my American burgers. It just wouldn't be the same.
No, it wouldnt be the same....it would be much much better! I can imagine it right now, Comrade Wendovski's, no there is a fast food joint I could dig.
I'm with ya, the way the world is going with globalization, terrorism, etc., I kind of have a fondness and nostalgia for the Cold War. Things were saner then. Don't get me wrong, we had a lot of the same problems then, but at least the US and USSR did a fair job at controlling their client states.
And during the Cold War years, we could be reasonably certain of who had their finger on the nuclear button. These days, who knows? Some rogue state or terrorist group could have a bomb this very minute. Mutual Assured Destruction was an expensive way of keeping the peace, but at least it worked!
This ad is a classic! This was Wendy's next ad after the "Where's the Beef" ad.....so, I think high expectation where there and it did not garner the attention, in comparison and it just came and went.
I remember laughing like crazy....(the flashlight!). Thank goodness for Youtube, for I have never forgot this ad and I am so glad I have it again! Good stuff!
Brings back memories, it was made in 1985 IIRC. I have to say that this is my favorite commercial of all time, well maybe tied with the 1984 Apple "Big Brother" Ad.
ya, they had the "right" to do it, but it WASN'T right. it was a commercial jetliner. just like you have the "right" to be a moron, but it isn't right to do it.
The world was simpler and funnier when the Soviets were around.. at least they were noble, which is sorta what made ribbing them funny. Now all we have are a bunch of poor, smelly, muslim terrorists bastards to compete with..who gives a fuck? At least the commies were noble, and the people were against their system all along. The Muslims on the other hand actually buy the bullshit their mullahs and imams feed them.
That was a long running campaign directed by Joe Sedelmaier. He also did Federal Express, Nike (back in the late 70s), Alaska Airways and many others. His bits are always very cartoonlike in subtle ways. The musician's "plink" over the request for quiet is an example that cracks me up without fail.
I remember this from high school. Had a good laugh when I noticed the portrait of Lenin in the background and that the beachball has red stars!! Ahhh, good ol' Soviet Union. Thanks!
loaded the racist bigot. no doubt someone from america's "heartland" (if that's the heart I'd hate to see what it's more seedy nether-regions look like
Thank god that era is gone. What an era of oppression for the Russians and other Europeans. The Jews managed to keep it going for a long time but White Russia finally won the day. Death to communism and socialism.
So, you're suggesting that the Jews were into Communism because it was popularized by Marx and Trotsky was a Jew, right? Do you realize how many Jews were killed and oppressed by the Soviet Commies?
True, it's a bull...but it was real to some extent. Soviets were lacking of choice. This commercial is a bit exaggeration, but I laugh at it every time I watch it.
i think this commercial makes a very good point. the sad thing is that this is what our leaders are talking about when they talk about freedom. we're free to choose all the burger toppings we want in this country. when it comes to things a little more important, we're not so free.
I surely remember these Wendy's commercials with the elderly lady, boy I remember, we at work made so many jokes about it. This is a reminence of the 1980's.
they even put propaganda in our fast-food commercials ha ha! wow! that is so representative of the popular "image" of Russians back then. How could we know any different--this is what they taught us to think.
@Versaski That never was in USSR. It's lie. In the same way Russian people tell funny stories about Americans. We think that all of americans are silly, uneducated, bad-mannered and fat. I hope it's not true too. These are stereotypes.
There are still some old fashion magazines from the Soviet times somewhere in parent's house. Boy, were those girls and outfits beautiful... They also traveled to the capitalistic countries to show off the trends but the clothing models were prohibited to be sold in the non-soviet countries.
Sarma1188 3 weeks ago
Lol "Fat Bottom Girls"
BombermanGold 2 months ago
That fashion show is just like Wendy's food and most of American "culture". Generic, mass-produced, tasteless trash. As for East European women, they are far more beautiful and stylish than American women. And I say this as an American.
onthe1drop 2 months ago
@onthe1A stupid, ignorant idiot educated by socialists to know nothing about Soviet Communism.
bkw140 3 days ago
thanx so much. this ad used to make me yelp with laughter. have tried to explain it to people over the years but now can show 'em.
daisymaisie1 3 months ago
I have told my daughter about this commercial for years. She is 17. I thought I would sit dcwn and try to find it. What a surprise! This was a great commercial...SWIM VEAR
northgait 4 months ago
This video once again proves the stupidity and idiocy of Americans. Not funny
AnyaSochneva 5 months ago
@AnyaSochneva Consider the date, 1984, when many of us were concerned about being reduced to "charcoal briquettes" by our neighbors in the Soviet Union. In the grand scheme of things, this little stereotypical zinger wasn't too terrible. If this ran today, I'd say, yes, it showed our stupidity. Back then, it was a little big of "whistling past the graveyard."
strandedbuckeye 5 months ago
@AnyaSochneva and yet here you are, on an American website trashing the Americans. Quite ironic dont you think?
nyclposter 3 weeks ago
i remember being told that the commercial was pulled at the request of the Soviet government .. they argued that it was not in the best interest of Perestroika .. I WONDER HOW MUCH TRUTH THERE IS TO THAT OR IT IS ANOTHER ONE THOSE URBAN MYTHS? HMM
carlafierro7 7 months ago
@carlafierro7
I read about the Soviet disapproval in the newspaper (later that day, it was on the CBS evening news with Dan Rather) and Wendy's was pressured to remove the commercial.
300Fireball 5 months ago
The funny thing is that a woman in the former USSR is much LESS likely to look or even dress like this fat woman than an American.
swampwiz 7 months ago 2
@swampwiz The funny thing is that stepping 20 miles outside of Moscow would show you how stupid that statement is.
kadeshaderow 7 months ago
@kadeshaderow HA! I've been 20 miles outside of Moscow and many other former USSR cities. And I've been 20 miles outside New Orleans, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, Chicago, etc. I see many more butterball shaped women in the good 'ole USA than in the former USSR. It's not even close!
swampwiz 7 months ago
and to think today marks the first Russian Wendy's franchise to open! Hurray for CAPITALISM!
perlovka1997 7 months ago
OGM!!! Nearly 30 years later and it still makes me laugh to tears!!!
pzkfw5g 7 months ago 2
Awesome... thx!
Warlock67 7 months ago
I am so glad to see this commercial! OMG !!!
MegaMslisa 7 months ago
oh lol...
TheMeritCoba 8 months ago
HOLY SHIT I was telling a friend about this today. I'm so glad it's posted.
jedinurse1138 9 months ago
lol there is a pitcher of hittler
evilunixuser1 9 months ago
@evilunixuser1 You mean Lenin... the irony of this commercial of course being that Russian women are generally...
DrHollywoodEnt 8 months ago
@evilunixuser1 you're a fucking idiot.
kellwych 6 months ago
were any of our liberal politicians in the audience?
evilunixuser1 9 months ago
This commercial works on so many levels: As a spoof of the USSR, as a spoof of McDonald's (making it extra ironic), etc etc etc.
MattTheSaiyan 10 months ago
I loved this commercial than and still love it now!
lightsofrose 10 months ago
A classic commercial ++++++
lightsofrose 10 months ago
The Model in this classic commercial was Lilian Monkus, she was my Drama teacher in high School R.I.P..
jedikcmaniak 11 months ago
My fifth grade teacher told my class about this commercial years ago, and reading the Communist Manifesto reminded me about this.
JKoss618 11 months ago
веселый стеб! во многом, так и было
ekibastoz 11 months ago
I grew up with this commercial and there were three others besides this one.
jiji45 11 months ago
32 Liberals voted down this commercial
thomaserossi 1 year ago 2
СЛАВА КПСС)
poiskovik1 1 year ago
This is great.
wnslung 1 year ago
I love this ad! Bring these commercials back.PLEASE!!!!!
Chris242tt 1 year ago 3
damn now i want wendy's
xocheerlovx3 1 year ago
I can imagine the American women who watch this and laugh--their faces full of burgers as wet mash rolls down their fat, burger-fed stomachs and onto their skin-tight designer jeans with semen stains on it.
etherealstill 1 year ago
This commercial is a true classic. I remember the sensation that it created when it first appeared on TV. Every now and then I still hear mention of it bought up in conversations.
hoesey 1 year ago
great to say with my russian accent!
MrEgg1000 1 year ago
Create your favorite dishes from your favorite restaurants...Chili's, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse...all from home! - youtube.com/watch?v=6ktnVmKZXOo
Williamobert2000 1 year ago
LMAO!! Still one of our favorites...my husband and I still imitate the accents when we say "swimwear" "evening wear" LOL!
TriviaGeek463 1 year ago
Create your favorite dishes from your favorite restaurants...Chili's, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse...all from home! - youtube.com/watch?v=6ktnVmKZXOo
Williamobert2000 1 year ago
Create your favorite dishes from your favorite restaurants...Chili's, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse...all from home! - youtube.com/watch?v=6ktnVmKZXOo
Williamobert2000 1 year ago
funny hahaha
HooxDat 1 year ago
Да вы все здесь упоротые долбаные буржуазные полуебки. Говна поешьте.
s5ub 1 year ago
Damn, when homegirl breaks out the flashlight!! That is too funny!!
tdsafff 1 year ago
hahahaha...oh man does this bring back memories when i was a kid...This reminds me of my uncle always making fun of my aunt by imitating this commercial...Ah memor ies
77rocker 1 year ago
Well this symbolizes what will happen when Obamacare passes. One size fits ALL!
podany4tx 1 year ago 3
@podany4tx Absolutely! If they succeed in taking over health care, there will be little to stop them from seizing all businesses in the US.
Artifactsofmars 1 year ago
The best part about this delicious satire is the truth behind it. Scathing. Ruthless. True!
iowa61 1 year ago 2
I think a lot of people are missing the irony that the "Soviet Fashion Show" in this commercial is INTENDED TO SYMBOLIZE McDONALDS! (The ultimate icon of American capitalism.)
In commercials for Wendy's (and Burger King), it was a recurring theme that McDonald's made its hamburgers by a mechanized "assembly line" process, and everything tasted the same, but Wendy's burgers were individually made to order, "the old-fashioned way."
ThrobertMcGee 2 years ago 12
@ThrobertMcGee
Burger King? Eh, except for the whole decades-long "have it your way" campaign, sure, I could try to follow that line of reasoning.
RalonzoP 1 year ago
So freaking stupid. Why they didn't show a couple bears and ushanka? And for Wendy's consumers it's better do not think what would Russia show in american parody commercial.
mdstokio 2 years ago
Hilarious, although ironic that our economy started circling the drain at the time of this ad.
ksocean 2 years ago
baconator lol
lolwatches 2 years ago
haha oops, i guess it turned out that the american women were the ones fat, ugly, and hairy
mistarcraw 2 years ago 3
Very nice.
chriszaharias1985 2 years ago
hahah, the Soviet Union... hilarious
ItsybitsyspiderMamma 2 years ago
I love this commercial... LOL whenever I say 'swimwear' i have to say it like she does!
olivlucyblue 2 years ago 2
What's old is new (again)
nuaxr 2 years ago
LMFAO funniest commercial ever!
LostEggtown2 2 years ago 3
I am so happy to have found this, was telling a friend about it today.
Look, at the time we were not hung up on being PC, particularly when it came to communism, to have seemed sympathetic would have been unAmerican. It was funny as hell back then and it is still funny as hell.
Lighten up people, it was a making light of a situation, not of the people involved. It was Madison Ave's way to remind us how lucky we were.
Why is it that everything has to become a political debate.
DaDaddySF 3 years ago 26
SVIMVEAR! lol.
I spent all night searching for this a couple of weeks ago but didnt find it because I kept searching for Burger King instead of Wendys.
zwartepiet412 3 years ago
You mock Soviet workers paradise? We will bury you!
surlybob 3 years ago 4
OMG! Is today my lucky day or what? I can't believe I found this commercial, and it was so easy too!
Benayrunyon 3 years ago 2
Your comments will be noted, comrades.
dfp21 3 years ago 2
not funy
vinacus 3 years ago
Actually comrade, you DO think its funny.
10ms2 2 years ago
I remember this when it was on TV. A bit unfair, that old portrayal of Soviet women as unattractive. Just because they were communists didn't mean the women weren't beautiful. Always struck me as a stupid prejudice.
BlackProteus 3 years ago 5
Actually it's not far off. Russia ruled every point of one's life for years. It was considered um patriotic to indulge in personal adornment.
Auggie56 3 years ago 2
"Actually it's not far off. Russia ruled every point of one's life for years. It was considered um patriotic to indulge in personal adornment."
And that somehow makes the women ugly? From what I've seen, Russian women are just as beautiful as any other country's women.
BlackProteus 3 years ago 2
Never said she or any other Russian women were ugly. In fact, I find this woman intoxicatingly beautiful. Maybe I could buy her a new dress in another color ? LoL
Auggie56 3 years ago
maybe it's not as funny with pretty women
Tanksareforcowards 2 years ago
@BlackProteus I don't think anyone doubts that Russians/East Europeans can and are mostly very attractive.
Just the Yeltsin Curse is what scares people ;)
beepandbop 1 year ago
@BlackProteus I don't think anyone doubts that Russians/East Europeans can and are mostly very attractive.
Just the Yeltsin Curse is what scares people ;)
beepandbop 1 year ago
im a marxist
and i dont support the soviet union
and this commercial is freaking hilarious
Hmsheen10 3 years ago
Even though I'm a communist, I found this quite humourous :P Although I'm inclined to point out that the United States of America has the highest overweight and obesity rate in the world (Although Australia is catching up!)
ChukkovProductions 3 years ago
let me point out that Stalin murdered more people than Hitler - so much for "communism"
macspectrum 3 years ago 2
stalin ruined what lenin made
cary123 3 years ago 4
with capitalism "man abuses man. with communism it's the opposite
macspectrum 3 years ago 5
Lenin became bloodthirsty and repressive over the course of the October Revolution though
SepoyFlashman 2 years ago
revolution is not a pillow fight.
cary123 2 years ago 2
No, it's a tea party, according to Mao.
BlackProteus 2 years ago
Capitalist lies lol go read a book beside your US propaganda
Sovietkaz 3 years ago
Go read about 11 million dead Ukrainians due to Stalin forced famine, something Russia won't even admit happened. "Hanba !!"
macspectrum 3 years ago 6
macspectrum is right.
Auggie56 3 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
US Propaganda: the book -- now in softcover!
Tanksareforcowards 2 years ago
This is probably a satire on the Soviet system but just presented as a Wendy's commercial. Nonetheless, it's a nice commercial.
TheCanadianPrairies 3 years ago
I finally found this. This is my all time favourite commercial. I was in 6th grade when this came out. I remember it differently though. Does anyone know the name of the tune in the beginning? It's also the same tune you heard alot in old black and white cartoons like Popeye, usually associated with some kind of hard labour, such as rowing a boat.
MeanMrMustard1 3 years ago
sounds like the begining of "Volga Boatmen".
hillarious...
bolognium 3 years ago
hilarious. ...the flashlight... is it really that old?
bolognium 3 years ago
Historical evidence of the Soviet diplomats' negative responses to this commercial, combined with most contemporary Russians' attitudes toward it as evidenced here on YouTube, illustrates the point that (a.) parody is not a genre discussed in Russian literary education and (b.) very few Russians have a clue about what "historical context" means. Oh well. Those of us who get it know that this commercial is still made completely of awesome.
krushsister 3 years ago 5
I am Russian, and find this absolutely hilarious.
MoskvaKalls 3 years ago 5
Excellent! This is great news. I'm sure you're aware it's not poking fun of you but of the idea of the Soviet Union and that all of us Americans know it's not been that way since at least the Boris Yeltsin era. So fabulous, thanks for getting the joke!
krushsister 3 years ago
Even Russians make fun of the Communist era. I didn't mind it, but then again, I was born in 1988 when the Union fell.
MoskvaKalls 3 years ago
Whoa! I totally remember being captivated by news footage of when the Berlin Wall fell, which was to the West a visual symbol of the end of the Cold War. I was young, sure, but I remember. You were a baby back then. Wow. Well, this is what the West perceived the Soviet Union to be like. Also look up Yakov Smirnoff; his comedy also influenced American perceptions of the Union and it was its downfall that marked the end of his career.
krushsister 3 years ago 2
Man, I miss the Commies--we could make fun of them and not have to worry about some whacko chopping our heads off for it.
Charliecomet82 4 years ago 3
Yeah, but in Soviet Russia, heads cut you off!
thequotablepatella 3 years ago
"Is NEXT! SVIMVEAR! Very NICE!"
Heh, that takes me back to my childhood.
Just the other day I heard somebody in my office using the "VERY NICE" catch-phrase, only I couldn't remember whence it came.
SteveAndIdiAmin 4 years ago 3
from Borat
spyslar 4 years ago
Ah yes, that's it: I was watching Borat while in my time machine zapping back to the week in 1984 before this commercial first aired.
Thank you.
SteveAndIdiAmin 4 years ago 3
Only on the internet can a hamburger commercial lead to a pissing contest between Americans and those who hate America.
LOL.
Wobgoblin 4 years ago 2
shows americans are obsessed with their hamburgers and that fat lady is definitely american fuck capitalist whores. eat ur burgers and pretend everything is ok!
bsxpert1 4 years ago
Proof positive that America had the best propaganda. America's image of Soviet women were fat, ugly or pumped up on steroids with manly features. With the fall of the iron curtain we see they are blond, blue eyed and beautiful. Never again!
Arrow1488 4 years ago 6
Wow.. this brings back a lot of hilarious memories with relatives no longer alive.
June061944DDay 4 years ago
The woman who says "Is Next" is a man!
biggori 4 years ago 3
-Ha,ha,ha,cracks me up!
-Nothing is more insulting than the truth!
peter455sd 4 years ago
I read that the Russians actually made a protest to the State Department over these commercials. They were very offended at them. I thought they were classic 80's kitsch.
StanMyMan66 4 years ago
Yes, but does Wendeys make any Pirogies? Any Gulash or Blintsa's? Can you even get Souerkraut on your burgers?
what kind of choice is that?
Bakuninite 4 years ago 2
Whoever puts these toppings on American burgers are not eating American burgers. Don't get me wrong, I do like sauerkraut with bratwurst. I also eat pirogies but I wouldn't combine them with my American burgers. It just wouldn't be the same.
June061944DDay 4 years ago
No, it wouldnt be the same....it would be much much better! I can imagine it right now, Comrade Wendovski's, no there is a fast food joint I could dig.
Bakuninite 4 years ago
High 5, comrade!
mdemenok 4 years ago
I remember when this ad came out the left wing had a tizzy!
RandallFlaggNY 4 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this. It's just as funny now as it was 20 or so years ago.
veutsavoir 4 years ago
I remember (TV interviewer) Charlie Rose playing this for a Soviet spokesman, back inthe day. Of course he was not amused.
robcat2075 4 years ago
wth is this????
europerox 4 years ago
Ah, good ole cold war..I miss it. I hate this globalization, hands across the sea s**t.
ucruci 4 years ago
I'm with ya, the way the world is going with globalization, terrorism, etc., I kind of have a fondness and nostalgia for the Cold War. Things were saner then. Don't get me wrong, we had a lot of the same problems then, but at least the US and USSR did a fair job at controlling their client states.
NowhereMan1966 4 years ago
And during the Cold War years, we could be reasonably certain of who had their finger on the nuclear button. These days, who knows? Some rogue state or terrorist group could have a bomb this very minute. Mutual Assured Destruction was an expensive way of keeping the peace, but at least it worked!
scotpens 4 years ago 3
Is this commercial suggesting that all Russian women are fat?
alwrig 4 years ago 2
Nooooo, nothing like that!
This ad said a lot about American stereotypes of Russia and its people. But it's still funny.
scotpens 4 years ago
My favorite ad ever!!! I've never forgotten it although I havent seen this in years. Thanks for the post.
elgatonyc 4 years ago 3
Having no choice is no fun.
rsslvscff 4 years ago 3
This ad is a classic! This was Wendy's next ad after the "Where's the Beef" ad.....so, I think high expectation where there and it did not garner the attention, in comparison and it just came and went.
I remember laughing like crazy....(the flashlight!). Thank goodness for Youtube, for I have never forgot this ad and I am so glad I have it again! Good stuff!
nberger 4 years ago 2
My god I haven't seen this in years. When I first saw this back in the early 80's I remember laughing so hard I was in tears.
Turnback 4 years ago
i think i saw Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov in the back behind the fat lady.
XXXzckXXX 4 years ago
next... swimwear! lol
strandedbuckeye 4 years ago
Ahh,Fast Food+Cold War = greatness.
Sparksman2point0 4 years ago
Funny commercial. I heard the Soviets weren't pleased at all when it first came out.
musicnotnoise 4 years ago
I didn't realize Latvians had such a quick temper... thought it was the Irish...
JMReid1220 4 years ago
Vedde Niiiice...i always liked this ad better than the Wheres the Beef? ads.
whammer0411 4 years ago
Brings back memories, it was made in 1985 IIRC. I have to say that this is my favorite commercial of all time, well maybe tied with the 1984 Apple "Big Brother" Ad.
NowhereMan1966 5 years ago
And this is different from the same Old Navy stores in every town how?
EricD 5 years ago 2
This commercial cracks me up as much now as it did then. The flashlight freakin' kills me.
MEINVW 5 years ago
LoL, Wendy's was spot-on on portraying the Soviet system. The evening-wear bit with the flashlight cracked me up.
Dirtfire 5 years ago
um, anyone remember when the soviets shot down the korean airlines 747? that was really noble of them.
smincer 5 years ago
remember that the airline was in restricted military airspace and didnt answer to radio communications?
prenups 5 years ago 2
yes, that 747 could have done something drastic like drop luggage all over siberia.
smincer 5 years ago
It violated their airspace, they had every right to shoot it down.
eaglepies 5 years ago
ya, they had the "right" to do it, but it WASN'T right. it was a commercial jetliner. just like you have the "right" to be a moron, but it isn't right to do it.
smincer 5 years ago
To put it another way, the soviets were sorta Dr. Domento twisted, the muslims are Jeffrey Dahmer twisted.
yumb 5 years ago
The world was simpler and funnier when the Soviets were around.. at least they were noble, which is sorta what made ribbing them funny. Now all we have are a bunch of poor, smelly, muslim terrorists bastards to compete with..who gives a fuck? At least the commies were noble, and the people were against their system all along. The Muslims on the other hand actually buy the bullshit their mullahs and imams feed them.
yumb 5 years ago 2
This brings back memories. If only some of the commercials of today were as funny LOL This ranks as a classic
1701alpha 5 years ago 2
Oh man, the web is rox0rz! I was telling my buddy about this commercial from the mid-80's..and voila, I can just show him. Thanks for posting it.
SaintAtilla 5 years ago
Oh how I love this commercial! After all these years, I still crack up when I see this. Very clever in spoofing the Soviet system.
restless57 5 years ago
Very Nice!!!
rjturk 5 years ago
That was a long running campaign directed by Joe Sedelmaier. He also did Federal Express, Nike (back in the late 70s), Alaska Airways and many others. His bits are always very cartoonlike in subtle ways. The musician's "plink" over the request for quiet is an example that cracks me up without fail.
mgabrys 5 years ago
I remember this from high school. Had a good laugh when I noticed the portrait of Lenin in the background and that the beachball has red stars!! Ahhh, good ol' Soviet Union. Thanks!
KittySkyfish 5 years ago 3
loaded the racist bigot. no doubt someone from america's "heartland" (if that's the heart I'd hate to see what it's more seedy nether-regions look like
theyumb 5 years ago
It's a brilliant commercial. But even funnier than the commercial is those of you who are actually offended by it!
Lectronimo 5 years ago
Thank god that era is gone. What an era of oppression for the Russians and other Europeans. The Jews managed to keep it going for a long time but White Russia finally won the day. Death to communism and socialism.
loaded357magnum 5 years ago
So, you're suggesting that the Jews were into Communism because it was popularized by Marx and Trotsky was a Jew, right? Do you realize how many Jews were killed and oppressed by the Soviet Commies?
kazuo62 5 years ago 2
True, it's a bull...but it was real to some extent. Soviets were lacking of choice. This commercial is a bit exaggeration, but I laugh at it every time I watch it.
elyor2112 5 years ago 2
It's funny but it's bullshit. Besides....It's too cold to swim in Mother Russia.
CodeRed001 5 years ago
I blogged about this ad from http://plancksconstant.org/blog1/2006/07/muslim_girl_scarlett.html
bernieg1 5 years ago
i think this commercial makes a very good point. the sad thing is that this is what our leaders are talking about when they talk about freedom. we're free to choose all the burger toppings we want in this country. when it comes to things a little more important, we're not so free.
warrenr 5 years ago
WarrenR you are reading way to much into this ad. It is just a funny ad making fun of Russia.
Broncophuc 5 years ago
if you're dissecting a burger spot for cultural/political anthropology, you crackhead/crackpot/armchair academics
need to get a life. just laugh and order a thick'n'frosty like a good bourgeois drone...
bobtv 5 years ago
people really shouldn't look to fast food commericials over a two decades old for morals. XD Anyway, thank you for posting. The music was catchy :9
The flashlight amused me.
Namorgasm 5 years ago
@Namorgasm the music starting at 0:15 sounds like Korobeiniki from Tetris
tepples 10 months ago
laughed for 10 minutes
kharlamych 5 years ago
poking fun at soviets. that's so pathetic. that's discrimination.
drunki 5 years ago
You should talk. In your favorites videos, you are making fun of the Chinese people.
jiji45 5 years ago
did i? i didn't meant to. really. honest!
drunki 5 years ago
I surely remember these Wendy's commercials with the elderly lady, boy I remember, we at work made so many jokes about it. This is a reminence of the 1980's.
jiji45 5 years ago
like so 1986
leslielove 5 years ago
I remember this commercial - an all time favorite.
macscruff 5 years ago 3
they even put propaganda in our fast-food commercials ha ha! wow! that is so representative of the popular "image" of Russians back then. How could we know any different--this is what they taught us to think.
dcstudio 5 years ago
If anything, this video makes light of a very real oppressive regime and a sad time in history.
Monty22001 5 years ago
Anything to keep the truth from being heard...
AKKalashnikov 5 years ago
That was awful! Poor soviets.
Versaski 5 years ago
I'm sure the Soviets could dish it out as well as take it... this is more a historical look at the mid 80's than anything else.
JMReid1220 5 years ago
The soviet's couln't hack it, they protested this commercial and forced Wendy's to take it off the air!
alieneggsac 5 years ago 2
@Versaski That never was in USSR. It's lie. In the same way Russian people tell funny stories about Americans. We think that all of americans are silly, uneducated, bad-mannered and fat. I hope it's not true too. These are stereotypes.
lenxoxo 1 year ago
I loved this ad for the brief time it was on tv, as I remember right before detente. Very clever. I have been wanting to see it again for years.
nyc88s 5 years ago 3
Hilarious ad!
HdbngrKen29 5 years ago 2
LOL
themightysisto 5 years ago
american propaganda, sucks.. a show or a shot, the same family. ok, the spot is funny
delpolo 5 years ago
Fun fun fun! And very much an 80's ad!
jamreid 5 years ago 2