Woody Allen Took The Money And Ran
By now you've probably heard that Woody Allen is suing American Apparel for damages in excess of $10 million for using his likeness in a billboard. Reuters quotes the lawsuit as stating, "Allen does not engage in the commercial endorsement of products or services in the United States."
That wasn't always the case.
On his 1979 album, Standup Comic, Allen does a routine called "The Vodka Ad," which goes, in part, "I was caught here in an ethical crisis. Should I advertise a product that I don't actually use? It's a problem 'cause I'm not a drinker, my body won't tolerate...eh...spirits."
Tolerance or no, Allen appeared in three ads for Smirnoff Vodka, but as Scott Marks' blog, Emulsion Compulsion notes, the director "hasn’t been a pitchman for products or services in the United States in decades." Hey, Woody, here's mud in your eye:
Come Out Of Your Shell... Try Smirnoff
Well, I do have to say that I like the ads - yes, a bit dated, yet I tend to be drawn to out dated things. Guess, this explains my love of handwork.
American Apparel does have some great designs and they have done a good job of bringing some energy to the US garment manufacturing industry - the simple things can once again be done in the US of A!
Wish so much effort wasn't going into this and instead was directed at creating more jobs in the US.
I am still working on not judging these days...... both parties should do the right thing - perhaps Woody can donate any $ he makes in the situation to creating some quality jobs in his beloved NYC garment district!
Thanks for sharing - glad I stumbled onto your site - I do love the internet!
Maureen "Mo" Q. Rubini
"hasn’t been a pitchman for products or services in the United States in decades."
He's been in lots of crappy European ads though. One of them even made a Communication Arts reel in the nineties.