There were so many great snacks introduced in the 80s, but one of my favorites has to be Fruit Roll-Ups. It was a wonderful sugary sweet fruit snack that was rolled up and perfect for taking anywhere. Kids loved it because it was sweet and delicious, and parents loved it because they were made with real fruit. I remember the strawberry flavored ones actually looked kinda like a flattened out strawberry. Needless to say, I’m sure there was only about 1% fruit in them, but maybe it was the fruit on the box, or maybe the wonderful announcer saying “Made with real fruit” that convinced the parents, who know, who cares, they were awesome and my parents bought them and that’s all that matters.
But one of the reasons this commercial is so good is all the cut scenes. It starts off with kids, in baseball gear passing a box of Fruit Roll-Ups and enjoying this delicious treat. Hell even the dog loves them! But what does Fruit Roll-Ups have to do with Baseball and a dog? Nothing! But this is advertising and it just has to speak to kids, not make sense.
The beach scene is lame. Yes you can tear them and share them, but I never shared mine, especially with my dad.
The next scene is the best. Three young boys in what looks to be a cap cabin. Look carefully. See that boy on the left that takes a bite of the Roll-Up? Look familiar? It’s Jason Hervey who played Wayne on Wonder Years. Yea, he was in a TON of commercials in the 80s.
Ahh, Fruit Roll-Ups. When you first came out, you were simple but good. Now they come with tongue tattoos and silly shapes. Didn’t they know that simple is best?! I remember with they put silly shapes in there that you could peel out and I guess play with, but it’s a thin piece of sugar fruit stuff. How can you play with that? If it was a rocket or something, I would blast it off and then direct it to my mouth to eat, and that was about the extent of that. But the rest of the lame crap they came up with later? I don’t know, is there anyone out there that like that? If you did, leave a comment and let me know why. Maybe I was too old to understand or something, who knows.
Retro Commercials 