Commercials

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* Commercials

Since the early 1980s, **commercials** for the *Garfield* franchise have been made and shown on different mediums.

Lorenzo Music provided the voice of Garfield in all appearances made prior to his death in 2001, except on some Alpo commercials, where the character was voiced by Tom Smothers.

All animated features up to 1994 were originally aired on CBS. The three CGI movies and *The Garfield Show* were shown on Cartoon Network from 2008 to 2014, with the latter continuing its run on Boomerang from 2015 to 2016.

## 1982

### *Here Comes Garfield*

#### Promo 1

**20-second promo for the premiere of *Here Comes Garfield*, "right after *It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown*".**
Re-dubbed footage from *Here Comes Garfield* is shown. The "Pleasure Motors" salesman is depicted as a television announcer. The announcer talks about the new special and its title character as Garfield constantly changes the channel. After turning off the television, Garfield scratches the armchair he is sitting on and remarks "Big fat hairy deal."
Announcer: Unknown
#### Promo 2

**10-second promo for the premiere of *Here Comes Garfield*, "coming up next".**
Footage from *Here Comes Garfield* is shown, with Garfield's line "Hello, anybody there?" and sound effects heard.
Announcer: Unknown
## 1983

### *Garfield on the Town*

#### Promo 1

**20-second promo for the premiere of *Garfield on the Town*, which is followed by a rerun of *It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown*.**
Footage from both *Garfield on the Town* and *It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown* is shown, with voices and sound effects from both.
Background music is the theme for *The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show*.
Announcer: Lorenzo Music (as Garfield)
#### Promo 2

**10-second promo for the premiere of *Garfield on the Town*, which is followed by a rerun of *It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown*.**
Footage from both *Garfield on the Town* and *It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown* is shown.
Background music is the theme for *The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show*.
Announcer: Mark Elliot
### Talking Garfield commercial

**3 "Talking Garfield" toys by Mattel are displayed.**
An animated Garfield pulls the strings of "Athletic Garfield", "Gourmet Garfield" and "Grumpy Garfield" to let them interact with live actors.
The animated parts of the commercial were produced by Bill Meléndez.
Announcer: Lorenzo Music
## 1984

### American Express commercial

**Jim Davis and Garfield advertise the American Express card.**
Jim Davis is at a restaurant, asking the famous question "Do you know me?" Garfield, replying "Who cares?", appears behind Davis, acting like his usual self. Davis notes that the American Express card lets people know his name without "the tubby tabby". Garfield holds Davis' card as Davis prepares to say "The American Express card, don't leave home without it."
Announcer: Unknown
## 1985

### Halloween PSA

**Public service announcement for Halloween safety tips, provided by the National Safety Council, starring Garfield.**
Character animations of Garfield from *Here Comes Garfield* and *Garfield on the Town* are played over live action footage of children preparing for Halloween. Garfield gives safety tips throughout, his last tip given after a car drives "near" him.
Announcer: Thom Huge
### *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* promo

**20-second promo for *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* and *It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown*.**
Footage from *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* and *It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown* are shown, with voice clips from both.
Announcer: Mark Elliot

## 1987

### McDonald's mugs

#### Version 1

**McDonald's is giving away "the most wanted mug in America", one of four per week.**
Animated scenes of Garfield and his friends, including re-enactments of the scenes featured on the McDonald's mugs. Live action shots showcase the mugs themselves, with an animated Garfield appearing at one point for a quip.
Trivia: This is the first animated appearance of Arlene. Odie occasionally vocalizes throughout the commercial.
Announcer: Unknown
#### Version 2

Garfield is initially in his bed, complimenting his "mug" (i.e. face) while the McDonald's mugs are showcased. Garfield eventually rushes out of bed to one of the mugs, filled with water, to wash his face.
Announcer: Unknown
### *A Garfield Christmas*

#### Promo 1

**20-second promo for both *A Garfield Christmas* and *A Claymation Christmas Celebration*.**
Footage from both specials are featured, including lines from Grandma and Garfield.
Announcer: Mark Elliot
#### Promo 2

**10-second promo for for both *A Garfield Christmas* and *A Claymation Christmas Celebration*.**
Footage from both specials are featured.
Announcer: Unknown
### *Read More About It* PSA

**A *Read More About It* PSA that suggests three books to learn more about the celebrating of Christmas, courtesy of the Library of Congress.**
The books are *Celebrating Christmas Around the World* by Herbert H. Wernecke, *The Christmas Tree Book* by Phillip V. Snyder and *Guinness Book of Christmas*, edited by Tom Hartman.
Footage from *A Garfield Christmas* is shown in-between the opening and closing scenes.
Announcer: Lorenzo Music
## 1988

### *Happy Birthday Garfield* promo

**10-second promo for *Happy Birthday, Garfield*.**
Scenes from the documentary are shown with special effects.
Announcer: Mark Elliot
### *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* promo

**10-second promo for a rerun of *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* on October 28, 1988.**
Footage from *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* is shown, including occasional voices and sound effects.
Announcer: Lorenzo Music (as Garfield)
## 1989

### Halloween PSA

**Public service announcement for Halloween safety tips, provided by the National Safety Council, starring Garfield and Odie.**
Character animations of Garfield and Odie from *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* are played over live action footage of children trick or treating. The announcer provides safety tips, with additional lines by Garfield. Odie can also be heard yelling with Garfield in one scene.
Announcer: Thom Huge
### *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* promo

**10-second promo for a rerun of *Garfield's Halloween Adventure***.
Footage from the special is shown, plus one line from Garfield.
Announcer: Mark Elliot
### Embassy Suites commercial

**Alternate version of the Entrance commercial, featuring a different voiceover for the bellhop.**

## 1990

### CBS/Fox Home Video Collection VHS commercial

**Commercial for the VHS releases of *Here Comes Garfield*, *Garfield on the Town* and *Garfield Goes Hollywood*.**
Footage from all three advertised specials is played, with occasional dialogue clips.
Featured on home video titles by CBS/Fox.
Announcer: Bill St. James

## 1991

### Garfield Fruit Snacks commercials

**Multiple commercials for Garfield Fruit Snacks:**
Announcer(s) unknown
#### Kids

Kids are enjoying Garfield Fruit Snacks when Garfield jumps out of one of their boxes, briefly bringing their attention to the fat cat "in the fur". Garfield quibbles with the announcer about the package contents.
#### Fat Cat Funnies

Kids laugh at Garfield Fruit Snacks that contain humorous images and quotes. Garfield is initially annoyed with the laughter, then admits "I'm such a card."

### McDonald's Garfield Plush Toys commercial

**Garfield plush toys are given away at McDonald's, alternating each week while supplies last. Each toy is $2.69, with $0.50 donated to Ronald McDonald Children's Charities.**
A woman is decorating the house for Christmas, then notices a trail of wrapping paper leading upstairs. A man in bed is playing with Garfield plush toys (to the tune of "Sleigh Ride"). When the woman arrives in the bedroom, the man immediately assumes a sleeping position.
Announcer: Unknown

## 1992

### Garfield Fruit Snacks commercials

#### Mystery

This is one of the few animated appearances of Arlene prior to 2007.

### *A Garfield Christmas* promo

**10-second promo for *A Charlie Brown Christmas* and *A Garfield Christmas*.**
TBA
Announcer: Mark Elliot
## 1993

### Honey Nut Cheerios commercial

**Part of the "Race For the Taste" campaign.**
Garfield races Buzz (voiced by Billy West) for the Honey Nut Cheerios.
First instance of CGI used in a *Garfield* production.
Binky makes a cameo appearance on a television set screen.
Announcer: TBA

### *A Garfield Christmas* promo

**Promo for *A Garfield Christmas* and *Twas the Night Before Christmas*.**
Garfield section of promo identical to that featured in the 1987 20-second promo. *Twas the Night Before Christmas* replaces *A Claymation Christmas Celebration*.
Announcer: Mark Elliot
## 1994

### Garfield Ravioli commercial

**Garfield is "surprised" with Garfield Ravioli.**
Jon (voiced by Thom Huge) and Odie attempt to show Garfield his own brand of ravioli, with a year's supply, as a surprise. Unknown to them, Garfield has already gotten to the supply of ravioli, with help from a security guard.
Announcer: Unknown
## 1996

### Plymouth Voyager commercial

**The Plymouth Voyager is advertised with a Garfield "Stuck on You" toy.**
A Garfield "Stuck on You" toy, hanging on a window of a car pulling into a gas station, becomes interested in a Plymouth Voyager van that arrives. Eventually making its way into the latter vehicle, the toy jumps onto one of the windows as the Plymouth Voyager drives off.
The animation for the commercial was done by Rhythm and Hues, which later did the animation for *Garfield: the Movie*.
Announcer: Unknown
### Marsh Supermarkets commercial

**To promote the 1996 500 Festival Parade, which featured Garfield as the Grand Marshal, Garfield and Don Marsh endorse the Marsh Fat Cat Track Pack.**
The ad takes place in a supermarket, with Garfield inside a grocery bag ("...I can't think of a better place to be than a place like this"). After interacting with Don Marsh, Garfield looks for his dessert, which has been eaten by Odie (voiced by Gregg Berger). Garfield suggests that he play in the racetrack.
Marsh Supermarkets was an Indiana-based retail food chain, which had locations in Central Indiana and Western Ohio. Don Marsh was President and CEO at the time of the commercial.
Announcer: Unknown
## 1997

### *A Garfield Christmas* promo

**20-second promo for both *A Charlie Brown Christmas* and *A Garfield Christmas*.**
TBA
Announcer: Mark Elliot and Lorenzo Music
## 1998

### Garfield on Nickelodeon

**Promo for *Garfield and Friends* airing back to back on Nickelodeon, 4-5 PM on weekdays.**
TBA
Announcer: Chris Phillips
### *Garfield's Halloween Adventure* promo

**10-second promo for *Garfield's Halloween Adventure*, making its return to television after nine years.**
Footage from the special is shown. Voices and sound effects are occasionally played.
Announcer: Unknown
## 1999

### Sleep Well, Do Well PSA

**Public service announcement for the health benefits of sleep, provided by The National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute.**
Garfield is shown outdoing numerous characters, including Herman Post, Jon and Odie. His secret is the power of sleep, which maintains his body and brain.
First instance of Flash animation used in a *Garfield* television production.
Announcer: Unknown
## 2000

### Cub Scouts PSA

One of the last productions to feature Lorenzo Music as Garfield.
Announcer: Jon Barnard

## 2002

### 60-second spot

**Garfield and a spokeswoman advertise a Litter Maid product.**
First commercial produced after the death of Lorenzo Music. Voice actor for Garfield unknown.
60-second version includes an appearance from Dr. John Prange, DVM.
### Compound W commercials (15 seconds/30 seconds)

**Garfield and Odie help kids deal with warts with Compound W One Step Wart Remover for Kids.**
Announcer: Unknown
## 2003

### Macy's Garfield Christmas plush

**A limited edition Garfield plush from Macy's is offered.**
The Garfield plush, wearing a Santa hat, was made to commemorate the franchise's 25th anniversary. It holds a small version of Odie (with reindeer antlers) and a "Garfield's Night Before Christmas" mini book. "Limited Edition 25 Years" is embroidered on the left foot. Available for $16.95 with any $35.00 purchase.
Flash-animated portion features Garfield and Odie, with their aforementioned Christmas attire, falling down a chimney, along with the mini book. Both of their stockings, along with those of Nermal, Jon and Arlene, are hung.
Background music is an adaptation of "Jingle Bells".
Announcer: Unknown
## 2005

### Chia Pet 1

**Chia Garfield is introduced as "a new pet".**
### The National Commission on Writing PSA (Short and Long versions)

**Garfield helps Jim Davis write a comic strip in a PSA "which reminds you that writing is essential (and fun!).**
Jim Davis does the first panel of a comic strip. After a short pause, Garfield, from the panel itself, springs to life and advises Davis on the second panel and part of the third. While he does so, he helps himself to a cookie. Davis comes up with the punchline. The announcer notes that every part of the Garfield franchise "begins with...a writer", with Garfield emphasizing "Writers".
The long version of the commercial features an animated version of the comic strip being made. Garfield adds that writing is fun as well as essential at the end.
**Jon**: I'm thinking about writing the story of my life. But first I need a snappy title. This is going to be tough.
**Garfield**: Yeah, "Great Expectations" has already been taken.
Jon Barnard as Garfield, Jon and announcer.
## 2006

### *Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties* (video game)

**An online commercial for the video game adaptation of *Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties* for Nintendo DS and PC.**

## 2009

### AAA PSA

**Garfield hosts a PSA on car safety for kids from the American Automobile Association.**
Garfield appears throughout the PSA, speaking only at the beginning and end, with most safety information given by live actors. Garfield's mouth remains stationary during his lines.
Frank Welker as Garfield.
## 2015

### Shelter Pet Project PSA

The PSAs were sponsored by The Ad Council, The Humane Society of the United States, and Maddie's Fund.
Frank Welker as Garfield.

## 1992

### Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Garfield and Friends promo

**20-second promo for *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* and *Garfield and Friends*, advertising that both air Saturday mornings on Kid TV.**
Announcer: Robbie Rist
## Cartoon Network

### 1995-1997

Bumpers and promos for *Garfield and Friends* sometimes featured Carrot Top as announcer.

#### Cat Toon Network

**Garfield changes the name of the channel to "Cat Toon Network".**
Garfield walks up to the Cartoon Network logo and modifies it to "Cat Toon Network", humming along the way. He walks away, remarking "Now *that's* more like it." The nearby spotlight shines on the center, where Garfield returns. The announcer states "Cartoon...uh, Cat Toon Network, home of Garfield."
Garfield animation from "A Tall Tale".
Background music is "The Hot Club Stomp", which was also used for the *Cartoon Planet* song "Scat Sandwich".
"Cat Toon Network" would be reused in April of 2018 for a programming block consisting of *The Amazing World of Gumball* and *Unikitty!*, and again in 2021 to celebrate April Fools' Day.

### 2004

#### Garfield the Movie contest

**Contest on Cartoon Network's website to promote *Garfield: The Movie***.
Viewers can enter for a chance to win a trip to see the Garfield balloon at the 2004 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with 200 runners up getting Garfield prize packs.
### 2009-2010

Bumpers for *The Garfield Show* and movies featured Will Arnett as announcer.

#### Christmas in July (Short/Long)

**Christmas in July 2010 event featuring *The Garfield Show*, among other features.**
Music is set to "Jingle Bells".
Announcers: TBA
## Nickelodeon

### 1997

#### Stick Stickly News

Announcer: Paul Christie as Stick Stickly
### 1998

#### "Next" bumpers

*Garfield and Friends* was featured on "coming up next" bumpers. One example featured the show "followed by *Rocko's Modern Life*".
Voiceover by Bill St. James
## TBS

### 1995

#### Garfield and Friends on TBS

**Garfield talks about his show airing on TBS.** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtamBXh4pug
Scenes from "Nighty Nightmare", "How to Be Funny!" and a Quickie are played. The TBS logo is integrated into some of the scenes.
Announcer: Lorenzo Music
**Garfield presents his show on TBS.** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpWGdRWD5wY
Scenes from "How to Be Funny!" are played. The TBS logo is displayed on Garfield's television screen at the end.
Announcer: Lorenzo Music

## References

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1. ↑ http://www.blackfilm.com/20040611/features/jimdavis.shtml