Classic(ally Bad) TV Commercials: No Thanks, I’ll Play Scrabble
Some commercials need no grand introduction…
Really now, who came up with this? And what marital problems was he experiencing at the time? I can only imagine what the creative meeting for this product was like.
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Mego CEO: Okay guys, we have this new game that’s a combination of checkers and pool. What should we call it? Tommy?
Tommy: How about, “Cock Knockers”?
CEO: Not bad… Bill?
Bill: I was thinking something along the idea of, “Scrotum Squasher”.
Jim: Ooh! Ooh! I know!
CEO: Yes Jim?
Jim: BALL BUSTER!
CEO: Brilliant! We need to make 30 million of these games right now!
Finding the funniest part of this commercial is tough, because there are so many moments outside of the name of the product itself. Here are my nominations:
* Little Timmy’s reaction when his kid sister busts his balls. Or the look on his sister’s face as if she were saying, “Up yours!”
* Our announcer saying it’s a “family game”. Well maybe if you’re part of the Manson family. If my family did this I would have been a teenage runaway.
* Dad chasing the kids away from the table when he realizes it’s time for Mom to bust his balls.
* Our announcer very slyly, slowly, almost in a gangster kind of way informing us the point of the game is to “try to bust your opponent’s balls!”
* Our announcer telling us this game is as easy as checkers. Well, I suppose a kick to the groin is easier than checkers… and quicker. I still wouldn’t call it family fun though.
* Dad yelling at Mom for being a ball buster… and Mom giving that wink to the camera as if she were saying, “Your damn right Henry! Now pick up those empty beer cans or I’ll do it again!”
Before you think this is all just a sick joke, realize that this really was an actual board game! And while Mego was promoting Ball Buster, the founder of the company declined a licensing agreement to make action figures of some little movie called Star Wars. Not surprisingly, Mego was out of business by 1983. Can we call George Lucas a ball buster because of that?
I’m sure a game with a similar name is available at adult “toy” stores across America, but make no mistake when it comes to the original source of family fun: Ball Buster!
