Ernest

[Jordan]

HappyGilmore: Dr. Otto is an odd flick. It's like watching a twisted feature-length theatrical version of "Hey Vern! It's Ernest!" The multi-handed Otto is the lead, and Ernest only shows up during the last five minutes. (Which is truthfully the high point of the movie for me.) I can't come right out and say "it's good!" but I'm not going to knock it either. It's just weird, and pretty much forgotten. I'm surprised it is even on DVD.

[CheezeFlixz]

Here in KY where Jim V was from he made tons of commercials all over the state for small stores, auto dealers, groceries, etc. You couldn't watch local TV without seeing a "Earnest" commercial. He would also being in small town parades, county fairs and the like as Earnest. Then he hit the big time when he got to making commercials for Kroger and a few other larger chains.

I could deal with him in commercials but a full length movie is a little much for me, but my kids think he's funny.

[HappyGilmore]

HappyGilmore: Dr. Otto is an odd flick. It's like watching a twisted feature-length theatrical version of "Hey Vern! It's Ernest!" The multi-handed Otto is the lead, and Ernest only shows up during the last five minutes. (Which is truthfully the high point of the movie for me.) I can't come right out and say "it's good!" but I'm not going to knock it either. It's just weird, and pretty much forgotten. I'm surprised it is even on DVD.

I just wanna see it cause I have no recollection of it at all.  I know he's done various other characters as well.  I gotta look to see if Best Buy or Suncoast has it.

Here in KY where Jim V was from he made tons of commercials all over the state for small stores, auto dealers, groceries, etc. You couldn't watch local TV without seeing a "Earnest" commercial. He would also being in small town parades, county fairs and the like as Earnest. Then he hit the big time when he got to making commercials for Kroger and a few other larger chains.

I could deal with him in commercials but a full length movie is a little much for me, but my kids think he's funny.

On the Essential Ernest dvd set I bought, there's two features called Ernest's Greatest Hits 1 and 2, and it features all his commercials.  I knew he did a few, but didn't know that it was that many.  I watched Greatest Hits 1 and was about a half hour into it and realized I just watched Ernest pitch Sprite, Mello Yellow, some banks, some tv stations, some car dealers, more Sprite, a boat, a football, and about 40 other items, and there was still like, a half hour or more to go. 

Funny commercials though. 

[CheezeFlixz]

I knew he did a few, but didn't know that it was that many.

My guess would be that a lot of these smaller stations he did commercials for, long before he was popular; that the tapes no longer exist. I know TV25 in Henderson kept the stuff for a while but after the commercial had it's run they where either recorded over or tossed if the tape was worn. I lived right behind the station growing up and we'd dig them out of the trash at the station and drape the trees in video tape, much like you would toilet paper. We were kids, doing what kids do. Who know Ernest might have been draped in tree or used to tire up a 'captive', 30-35 years ago? If I remember correctly it was those big tapes that wear about 2" wide, give or take. I don't remember which stations he did commercials for or if he did it for all of them in the area I lived. He did do commercials for many stations throughout the state.

I vaguely remember one commercials for Sure-Way grocers ...

Hey Vern,
Sure-Way has (something about store here)
Sure-way is located at ... 'blah blah blah' (2 addresses)
It's the sure way to lower prices.
Tell'em Ernest sent ya'
KnowhudImean, Vern?

This might have been a radio spot ...

[HappyGilmore]

I knew he did a few, but didn't know that it was that many.

My guess would be that a lot of these smaller stations he did commercials for, long before he was popular; that the tapes no longer exist. I know TV25 in Henderson kept the stuff for a while but after the commercial had it's run they where either recorded over or tossed if the tape was worn. I lived right behind the station growing up and we'd dig them out of the trash at the station and drape the trees in video tape, much like you would toilet paper. We were kids, doing what kids do. Who know Ernest might have been draped in tree or used to tire up a 'captive', 30-35 years ago? If I remember correctly it was those big tapes that wear about 2" wide, give or take. I don't remember which stations he did commercials for or if he did it for all of them in the area I lived. He did do commercials for many stations throughout the state.

I vaguely remember one commercials for Sure-Way grocers ...

Hey Vern,
Sure-Way has (something about store here)
Sure-way is located at ... 'blah blah blah' (2 addresses)
It's the sure way to lower prices.
Tell'em Ernest sent ya'
KnowhudImean, Vern?

This might have been a radio spot ...

So he did a hell of a lot then?  I'd love to see the commercials that were thrown out.  The ones on the dvd dated back to like, 1980.  Who knew that character would branch out into movies?