The new DirecTV commercial, in which David Spade watches Chris Farley’s “Fat Guy in a Little Coat” scene from Tommy Boy while appearing to exist in the same room as Farley, is freaking me out. I loved that movie, but can’t decide if this a sweet homage to a sexy moment or semi-disrespectful exploitation of the dead. Anyone remember last October’s Poltergeist-spoofing ad featuring child star Heather O’Rourke, who passed away in 1988? You stay classy, DirecTV!
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Never even thought of it that way. Like all of these commercials, I figured it was an iconic movie scene that many of us are familiar with (and love!)
Agree completely, CA.
I think this is an unfair poll, since I’d imagine a majority would vote that he should have turned the commercial down even if Farley was still alive.
As long as this keeps them from playing the commercial with that horrible Black Eyed Peas song, he could dance on Farley’s grave as far as I’m concerned.
WORD
LOL…YESSSS
i thought it was a little creepy when i first saw it… i’d forgotten about the Poltergeist one till now
I’m surprised, considering Spade and Farley were such close friends, that he would pimp Farley’s legacy like this.
couldn’t agree more. does spade really need the money? if he was such a great friend, he wouldn’t have done the commercial. it make me ill.
Spade pays homage to Farley at the end of the commercial when he smiles and says “it never gets old”. Because it’s hilarious every time. Will you never watch “Tommy Boy” again just because Chris is dead?
I agree with Ned about the BEP one.
I mentioned this to my boyfriend yesterday. It’s creeping me out just thinking about it. Although it did make me want to watch Tommy Boy. Soooo… Mission Accomplished? Bravo, David, bravo.
Spade should have said no. No question about it. When Farley died, Spade was too upset to even attend his funeral. Now he has no trouble “selling out” an iconic moment with his friend to shill a product. Well, considering that he knocked up a 20 something Playboy Playmate and allegedly hardly sees his kid, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that he doesn’t have the guts to not sell out his best friend.
These DirecTV commercials suck enough as it is, what with the whole selling out classic film in order to promote a cable company, but whatevs. But I saw this ad last night and was just totally shocked – what an insult to Farley’s memory.
DirecTV should just stop this whole line of ads, period. Do they really think anyone wants to remember some of their favorite movies/scenes (ahem, “King Kong”) of all-time as lame shills for a television service? Enough, please!
I felt a little uneasy watching it but I think it is harmless. I wonder if Farley’s family knew about it in advance and gave their blessing.
Is it wrong that the only time farley made me laugh was when I heard he passed away?
Omg! I thought it was just me who was creeped out!
Direct TV can choke on the vomit I’ve expelled over ALL their crap commercials!
I was horrified by the Poltergeist commercial. Totally inappropriate. I haven’t seen this one yet, but I have a feeling I will feel the same way.
Remember, they can’t use Chris Farley’s image without the family’s permission. If they have no problem with it, I don’t see why we should be upset.
I think it’s a little ghoulish to begin with, but when you add in the fact that Spade was supposedly Farley’s best friend, it’s even worse.
But Spade has always been a creep so I guess it’s not too surprising.
This creeped me out because I am reading “the chris farley show” right now and i dunno. maybe it’s just because I’m reading the book and then this thing pops up on tv.
So are you all saying we shouldn’t watch anything with dead actors in it?? I mean seriously. I don’t care for the commercials period, but he sold his image in this movie and therefore may be used again.Dead or alive. Besides that man grossed me out.
I lost tons of respect for Spade for doing this commerical, and DirecTV will never get a dime from me.
LOL, you me to say you actually had “tons” of respect for him to lose?
“L”
I thought it was a perfect homage to one of the greastest comedians of our time. People need to get over it and stop being so overly sensitive.
Jill got it right: Spade pays homage to Farley at the end of the commercial when he smiles and says “it never gets old”. Because it’s hilarious every time. Will you never watch “Tommy Boy” again just because Chris is dead?
It’s about “iconic” movie scenes and that scene
is a classic, but DirecTV SUCKS anyway!
What’s so “creepy” about it?
Guess you guys only watch movies with all the actor still alive.
No wonder crap like Twilight is so popular these days.
“L”
We the Farley family believe the DIRECTV commercial is a celebration of Chris. It shows him doing what he loved to do most, making people laugh! He would have loved the spot. We are grateful to DIRECTV and David Spade for doing it, and for honoring Chris and the classic movie Tommy Boy in this way.
In addition, part of the ad’s proceeds went to The Chris Farley Foundation.
Kevin Farley
I never saw Tommy Boy, and didn’t know about the “iconic” nature of the “Fat Boy in a Little Coat.” I did know that Chris Farley died of a drug overdose, and that he lived his life eating too much, drinking too much, and in the end doing too many “drugs”. Seeing the DirecTV commercial, all I could think was, this guy DIED (most likely) in part because he was morbidly obese,
and here his killing girth is immortalized, and apparently we’re supposed to laugh. Reading Spade’s comments, and learning about the iconic nature of this particular moment somewhat lessened my level of distaste.
But, it seems Chris’s never-ending excesses in food, drink and drugs hastened his mortality, and it’s the apparent “celebration” or unspoken/tacit approval of the “Fat Boy” image that I object to.
I’ve never cared for David Spade, but believe he sincerely cared for his late friend and is probably genuinely horrified at the outpouring of negativity surrounding this ad. (It still makes me cringe to watch it.)