Slog - Comments on Ten Years Ago, If You'd Have Told Me...

Comment by harold

harold — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:09:16 -0800

Does anyone under the age of 30 think of old spice as a geezer smell? I don't think I even know what this smell you are referring to even is.

Comment by Graham

Graham — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:10:12 -0800

God... NPH is the awesomest thing ever. Like that time he had sex with Whoopi Goldberg.

Comment by High-Rise

High-Rise — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:18:01 -0800

I think the line "I'm tripping balls" moved him into a new realm...

Comment by flamingbanjo

flamingbanjo — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:23:48 -0800

Framing smoking as a feminist issue goes back to the 1920s, when the Father of PR, Edward Bernays (nephew of Sigmund Freud), orchestrated a brilliant publicity stunt: He hired a group of fashionable young models to appear in the New York City Parade and, on his cue, light up their smokes as the photographers clicked away (Bernays had arranged for the papers to be notified in advance of the event so they could get it all on film.) The press, ever eager for a photo-op, dutifully snapped the pictures and even used the tag-line he had created for his campaign: "Torches of Freedom."

As a result of such PR efforts much of the taboo against women smoking was diminished, opening up the remaining half of the population as a market for tobacco products and leading to further skyrocketing profits for the industry, as well as skyrocketing rates of emphysema and lung cancer in women several decades down the road.

Comment by Lloyd Clydesdale

Lloyd Clydesdale — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:25:46 -0800

At least Old Spice sees fit to dilute the bay rum. I made the mistake of buying some bay rum oil at Tenzig Momo to use as a recommended post-shave skin bracer. Big mistake for three reasons: A) It burns the christ out of you, B) It is a scent powerful in the sense of when you consider telling a woman she is wearing way too much perfume, and C) There were obviously, in retrospect, parts of the recommendation I didn't hear or pay attention to. Old Spice, I respect your tact of percentages.

Comment by huh

huh — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:30:13 -0800

NPH is gay?

Comment by Reverse Polarity

Reverse Polarity — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:30:50 -0800

I think the ad is hysterical. I love his expression and the stethoscope on the guy's nose.

Comment by michael strangeways

michael strangeways — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:33:49 -0800

sigh...

he's so dreamy...

Comment by christopher h

christopher h — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:49:47 -0800

NPH is great and all, but Anthony Stewart Head who appears to be the patient in the photo is a hero to those of us who watched Buffy (as well as lovers of international coffee). So basically this ad brings together gays and nerds, which is the peanut butter and chocolate of adolescent victimization-- to sell us the smell of our (grand)fathers?

Comment by The Artist Formerly Known As Sigourney Beaver

The Artist Formerly Known As Sigourney Beaver — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:49:59 -0800

Lloyd, try this:

http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=2314&bhcp=1

Bay Rum is too medicinal for me, but if you're going to go that route, Dominica is about as old school as you can get.

Me, I prefer Le Labo Bergamot 22

Comment by Ben Weldon

Ben Weldon — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:03:25 -0800

The idea that Jimmy Fallon is going to get The Tonight Show, a show NPH would be straight up perfect for, makes me self harm.

Comment by scharrera

scharrera — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:07:58 -0800

I so heart NPH.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:08:04 -0800

Lloyd, stop using "skin bracers". The last thing you need after a shave is something to set your face on fire. Get something creamy with aloe in it.

And yeah, Old Spice is for the 60+ set, which is presumably why they're trying to hep up their advertising like this.

"We've come a long way, gaybee" made me shoot coffee in my nose.

Comment by Lloyd Clydesdale

Lloyd Clydesdale — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:19:00 -0800

Sigourney - thanks! I looked at the Le Labo as well and though it doesn't look like it's for the post shave (or, is it?), I like all those sweet-smellin' ingredients.

Fnarf, there are problems to be had everwhars it seems. Creams can make you look like you ate a Costco-bale of potato chips by the time 2pm rolls around, and aloe -- the option I've liked the most and the one I mostly use -- feels like someone squirted lemon in your eyes once it's worked into a float of persperation by a sweaty bastard like myself.

Comment by Original Monique

Original Monique — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:57:32 -0800

They picked a perfect spokesman. Congrat Old Spice, you ARE young, hip and with it*

*despite the smell being "granpa-ish"

Comment by Explorer

Explorer — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:22:08 -0800

I'd love to play doctor with Doogie, especially if he smelled like Old Spice.

But I'd prefer Hai Karate.

Comment by gawker, three days ago

gawker, three days ago — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:15:37 -0800

http://gawker.com/tag/neil-patrick-harris/?i=396929&t=gay-actor-becomes-ironic-deodorant-stud