Kool-Aid Man
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Kool-Aid Man (known in Canada as Jug Head) is the mascot for Kool-Aid, a popular drink. Debuting in 1975 under the name of "Pitcher Man," the character has appeared in television and print advertising as a fun-loving and avuncular beverage provider, bursting through walls to share the drink with kids. He is a gigantic anthropomorphic pitcher, filled with Kool-Aid (usually cherry, though other flavors have been used) and marked with a fingerprinted smiley face.
History
Already well-known from its company's advertising campaign, Kool-Aid Man starred in a comic book in the 1980s, originally published by Marvel and later Archie Comics. In these comics, he battled long-tongued aliens known as the Thirstees, and later a pyromaniac named Scorch. Also in the 1980s, two video games created by M Networks, and based on the comic books out, were made for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision systems. Both involved Kool-Aid Man having to prevent the Thirstees from stealing all the Kool-Aid from the kids.The voice of Kool-Aid Man in television commercials — known for the catch phrase "Oh yeah!" — is currently Frank Simms, who used to sing back up for the pop singer Billy Joel. The current character has been modernized, sometimes wearing clothing, or talking with kids in their own slang.
Other appearances
Kool-Aid Man has also appeared on non-drink items throughout the years. There have been Kool-Aid Man Banks, T-Shirts of the famous face on a red background, stuffed toys, figurines, wacky wobblers, key chains and toys.Not as popular an icon for Kool-Aid as it used to be, Kool-Aid Man is now often seen in media entirely unrelated to the brand at all. The character is instead parodied in television, comics, and comedy.
Cultural references
- In a scene in Family Guy, it is revealed that Peter is going to jail. One by one, the main characters say, "Oh, No!" in turn. Immediately Kool-Aid Man bursts through the wall and says "Oh, Yeah!" in his trademark way, before retreating through the hole during the awkward silence that follows. In another episode, Kool-Aid Man is in his living room reading a newspaper when a man in a car crashes through his wall. He remarks, "Wow. You know, on the flip side, that's kind of annoying."
- Kool-Aid Man also made small cameo appearances in the webcomics [Impy and Aevy] and [Penny Arcade].
- Kool-Aid Man has appeared in the cult Flash clip Tales for the L33t.
- The cover of Bon Jovi's album "Have A Nice Day" resembles Kool-Aid Man's face.
- Dane Cook has a track on his comedy album Harmful If Swallowed in which he describes his issues with Kool-Aid Man's entrance technique.
- In the Homestar Runner Halloween 2002 Cartoon [Pumpkin Carve-nival], the character Pom Pom dresses up as Kool-Aid Man.
- In the film The Nutty Professor, Dave Chappelle's character works Eddie Murphy's overweight character into his stand-up comedy routine with the line, "He's so fat, that when he wears a red shirt, all the kids say, 'Yo! Kool-Aid!'"
External links
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/9710/koolaidman5qo.gif A recent flash of a Kool-Aid Man parody of the Juggernaut in X-3: X-Men United.
http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/367.html A website with a lot facts about the Kool-Aid man
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