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Why Is It Called a “Soap Opera”?
How did daytime dramas like “Guiding Light” and “General Hospital” become known as “soap operas”? It's all thanks to commercials.
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Why Did Toys Disappear From Cereal Boxes?
The days of police badges and lightsaber spoons lurking in boxes are over. Kids now get QR codes. What happened?
How Cereal Transformed American Culture
More than a century ago, Christian health gurus invented cereal to promote a healthy lifestyle free of sin. Little did they know, their creation would eventually be used to promote everything from radio and cartoons to Mr. T and tooth decay.
The Tortured Soul of Mr. Delicious, Fast Food’s Most Bizarre Mascot
The middle-aged Mr. D promoted Rax Roast Beef by complaining about his mid-life crisis and nursing a hangover.
How Did the Super Bowl’s ‘I'm Going to Disney World’ Slogan Originate?
One throwaway comment turned into a long-lasting Super Bowl tradition.
The Top Rated Super Bowl Commercial Each Year From 1989 to 2024
Since 1989, USA Today has asked viewers to vote on the best Super Bowl ads. Here’s a look back at the winners.
How the Budweiser Clydesdales Became a Commercial Success
The horses are an iconic feature in many Super Bowl commercials.
Can You Match the Slogan to the Fast Food Chain?
See if your knowledge of fast food advertising is super-sized.
‘Like Winning the Lotto for Kids’: Remembering Nickelodeon’s Super Toy Run
For close to 20 years, Nick gave kids a chance to indulge in toy greed. Not everyone came out unscathed.
How Did Mary Jane Shoes Get Their Name?
Mary Janes have an early-20th-century comic strip to thank for their name.
Where Did the Term ‘October Surprise’ Originate?
Its political legacy began during the Iran hostage crisis, but other kinds of October surprises had been happening for decades.
10 Classic Halloween-Themed Commercials
From loving tributes to the genuinely bizarre, here are some of our favorite Halloween commercials from decades past.
When France’s Père Lachaise Cemetery Used Celebrity Remains to Boost Business
The cemetery failed to interest the public until it started seeking out famous corpses.
Does a Realtor Have to Disclose That a House Is Supposedly Haunted?
The answer depends on where you hope to live.
‘B Dubs’: 10 Slang Terms for Popular Brand Names
Shoppers have been referring to Target as ‘tar-jay’ for over 60 years.
‘Wassup?’: The Origins of the Famous Budweiser Ad
Before it became a cultural phenomenon, Budweiser’s “Wassup” ad started as a short film.
7 Discontinued Canned Foods That We’ll Probably Never See Again
From Pumpkin Spice SPAM to Chef Boyardee’s Zooroni, these discontinued canned foods are like a trip down memory lane, but chances are, you’ll never get your hands on them again.
‘Mikey Likes It’: The Origins of Life Cereal’s Most Famous Slogan
The classic 1970s TV commercial is one of the most famous of all time, but no one ever actually utters its most quoted line.
When the ‘Home Alone 2’ Talkboy Turned Into a Real-Life Toy Craze
Parents who wanted to get their kids the recording device seen in the movie wouldn't give up. They were thirsty for more.
Bad Beef: Remembering Burger King’s Infamous “Where’s Herb?” Commercial
In 1986, Burger King customers could win $5000 for spotting ad pitchman Herb in restaurants. It still wasn't enough to make them like him.
‘Bac’n’: 16 Foods With Misleading Names
Some food names are less than forthcoming about what they really are. (We’re looking at you, Grape-Nuts.)
11 Advertising Slogans That Became Famous Catchphrases
Discover the most memorable advertising slogans that stuck with us. How many have you uttered without even realizing it?
How Smokey Bear Helped Win World War II
Smokey Bear’s first ad slogan wasn’t quite as catchy as “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”
Does Febreze Really “Trap” Bad Odors?
When you spritz some Febreze into the air, it actually uses compounds called cyclodextrins to trap those odor-causing molecules.