Retro Ad Review

Retro Ad Review

Retro Ad Review is a podcast where we explore nostalgic commercials from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s. We go into the details behind your favorite commercials, from the story of their creation to their impact (or lack thereof). Coke, McDonald's, Nike...we cover them all. So, if you like watching the ads more than you like watching the Superbowl, have a listen! Don't forget to follow us on our Instagram and Facebook: @retroadreview

Episodes

June 30, 2025 • 79 mins

Nothing says summer of yore like talking about big blockbuster films. But what really made those films great? That's right, fast food tie-ins. We're looking at big films that teamed up with big food to create big money. Listen to this episode to hear about Ghostbusters II + Hardee's, Batman Returns + McDonald's, and Shrek + Burger King.

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What goes better with a video game than some junk food? We explore food commercials that feature famous video game characters Sonic the Hedgehog, Nathan Drake, and Banjo and Kazooie. What products are they shilling? Tune in to find out!

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It's the season of love. And what better way to spend it than listening to us talk about websites that claim to hook you up with an attractive person? We take a deep dive into the online dating world by checking out eHarmony, Ashley Madison, and Plenty of Fish. Run a bubble bath, crack open the champagne, and listen to this romantic episode.

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Our gift to you this holiday season is to bring you commercials that caused controversy! Sometimes Christmas commercials can bring a warm fuzzy feeling and other times...not so much. Crack open the eggnog, don your Santa hat, and listen to what Folgers, Kmart, and Mr. Kipling did on Christmas!


Related episodes:

  • The last Christmas episode: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/retro-ad-review/episodes/Christmas-Commercials-He...
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It's conspiracy time! But the fun ones. We're looking at commercials that make a nod to our favorite cryptids. Jack Link's has Bigfoot, Playstation has the Jersey Devil, and Toyota has Nessie. Let's get weird and hear all about these very real monsters and their commercial fame.

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Summer is gone so you know what that means...it's time to get depressed about going to school! One of the worst things about August as a kid was seeing in-store ads and TV commercials telling you that school was right around the corner. In this episode, listen to Sonny from Coco Puffs, Mila Kunis for Lisa Frank, and Alice Cooper for Staples tell you that you're late for class.

*The sound is a little funny. Sorry about that....

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We're looking at commercials that have a lost element to them. Some recovered, some still missing pieces. If you like this episode, we'll do more in-depth ones!

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Commercials that feature songs from movies but parodied! Yes, we are layered here. Listen to Thirstbusters (a.k.a. the Ghostbusters Theme) for Coke, Glen! (a.k.a. Eye of the Tiger) for Starbucks, and Say You, Say Me for Walkers Crisps (a.k.a. chips).

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February 11, 2024 • 66 mins
Not every idea is a good idea. We've check out three Superbowl (!) commercials that didn't get the praise and adulation they were expecting. Find out what happened in these Just For Feet, Holiday Inn, and GoDaddy.com commercials.
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Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! It's time for the annual look back at classic holiday commercials by your favorite mega corporations. We watch Ronald McDonald on ice, the first appearance of the Coca-Cola polar bears, and the gaudy Hess trucks. Find out their stories and where the rank in the hallowed halls of Christmas commercials.

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Boo! This year, we're looking at a few spine chilling commercials from outside the USA. Hear about the cursed Japanese Kleenex commercial, the heart-stopping K-fee spot, and the spooky Phones4U advert. It's gonna be a scary one!
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We're going grape nuts in honor of this episode. We take you through the history of the Post cereal company and then dive into the classic commercials of Grape Nuts, Raisin Bran, and Honey Bunches of Oats. Grab a bowl and listen in.

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August 8, 2023 • 69 mins

We're looking at film franchises! More specifically commercials associated with the first film of a blockbuster series. Listen up as we pick apart the Alien figurine, the Batman (1989) cereal, and the VHS ad for Home Alone (no rebate included).

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We're back on the toy tip! This time we're looking at toys that were recalled after some famous incidents. Be careful Cabbage Patch Kids, Sky Dancers, and Pokemon because these are some bad bad toys. Tune in to find out why.

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How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? The answer: depends! From Tootsie Pops to Charms to Dum Dums, we're looking at lollipops in this episode. Grab a Sour Apple, pop on your headphones, and have a listen.
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February 2, 2023 • 81 mins

Who's a complicated man but no one understands him but his woman? Shaft! Who is the man who featured in a ton of Burger King commercials? John Shaft! Burger King appeared to have an obsession with Shaft at one stage in the stories fast food chain's history. We look at three BK commercials that highlight the famous private dick! Shut your mouth and listen up.

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October 31, 2022 • 57 mins

Boo! It's Halloween! Which means we're doing the annual commercial Halloween special. We've got Freddy Krueger's hotline, Elvira's Coors Light beach party, and Nike's slasher spoof. Put on your finest scary costume and have a listen.

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Movies are great. But what's better are the product tie-ins! We look at what the brilliant sequels to Alien, Batman, and Home Alone had to offer. Hint: branded cereal! Pop on those headphones and have a listen.

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Hey! It's time to talk about Butterfinger. The candy everyone is kind of "meh" about. We cover the history of the brand as well as some of their commercials that DON'T include the Simpsons. That's right, there were ads without Bart in them. Listen up to this crispety, crunchety episode!

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Video games have launched careers. Don't believe us? Then listen to how Jack Black, Tobey Maguire, and Ethan Suplee got a boost into their illustrious acting careers thanks to video games! Featuring commercials from Pitfall, the Atari Lynx, and the Sega Game Gear.

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