History HilariousInHindsight / Advertising

* An ad for ''VideoGame/TyTheTasmanianTiger'' featured three competitors -- [[VideoGame/SpyroTheDragon "Dragon,"]] [[VideoGame/CrashBandicoot "Bandicoot,"]] and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog "Hedgehog"]] -- bandaged up after being hit with Ty's boomerang. Then Ty walks in and spooks them into flatlining. The ad is amusingly ironic now that Ty hasn't had a new (non-port) game since 2013 while all three of his competitors are continuing franchises with more mainstream popularity.

* The "ComicBook/LexLuthor [[MemeticMutation stole]] [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/40cakes_4996.jpg forty cakes]]" meme takes a new meaning with an UK advert for Innocent Smoothies, which shows a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hd_BmPfxIo&feature=player_detailpage#t=47s bakery named "Luthor's Cakes"]].

* During the 2004-2005 [[UseFulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL season]], franchise Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Donovan [=McNabb=], was featured on a series of Campbells soup commercials. His team made it to the Superbowl that season where he had a NeverLiveItDown moment when he threw up during the game out of nervousness. The jokes that most people made after the game, where the Eagles lost to the New England Patriots, was that [=McNabb=] ate too much Campbells soup.

* In the very early 2000s, some Disney [=DVDs=] [[https://youtu.be/Zj_XAIPqf7s had]] [[https://youtu.be/fNZrm-gza2o promos]] for the all-new Disney California Adventure. In them, the citizens of Disneyland were trying to get a look at their new neighbor, with [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Buzz Lightyear]] spying on the park and relaying the details to his friends (including Woody and [[WesternAnimation/ABugsLife Flik]]), while dissuading them from going over to the park themselves. Flik and his friends would soon get their own section of the park, ''A Bug’s Land'', which lasted more than a decade. Woody and Buzz would get a midway ride at DCA in 2011, and with the retheming of Paradise Pier, their [[Creator/{{Pixar}} many unborn co-workers]] would all but take over the place!
** In the first ad, Buzz compliments a “nice limo.” The apparent reference, ''Ride/SuperstarLimo'', would go down as the most unpopular and unsuccessful ride in the park, closing within the year and replaced by... a WesternAnimation/MonstersInc ride!

** "Genesis does what Nintendon't" doesn't mean anything anymore now that the Wii's UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole service has Genesis games. A few years later, the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS is announced to have plans for UsefulNotes/GameGear games on its own Virtual Console in addition to UsefulNotes/GameBoy and UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor games, furthering the effect.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIE8xk6Rl1w This]] Apple commercial predicts the Iphone with Siri in ''1987''.

* UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-lCJr0yVo8 vs.]] [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation "Plaything"]]. The UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars would determine which one was worthy. It was the Playstation.

* In the very early 2000s, some Disney [=DVDs=] [[https://youtu.be/Zj_XAIPqf7s had]] promos for the all-new Disney California Adventure. In them, the citizens of Disneyland were trying to get a look at their new neighbor, with [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Buzz Lightyear]] spying on the park and relaying the details to his friends (including other Creator/{{Pixar}} characters), while dissuading them from going over to the park themselves. Flik and his friends would soon get their own section of the park ''A Bug’s Land'', which lasted more than a decade. Woody and Buzz would get a midway ride at DCA in 2011, and with the retheming of Paradise Pier, their many then-unborn co-workers would all but take over the place!
** In the same ad, Buzz compliments a “nice limo.” The apparent reference, ''Ride/SuperstarLimo'', would go down as the most unpopular and unsuccessful ride in the park, closing within the year and replaced by... a WesternAnimation/MonstersInc ride!

* In the very early 2000s, some Disney [=DVDs=] had promos for the all-new Disney California Adventure. In them, the citizens of Disneyland were trying to get a look at their new neighbor, with [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Buzz Lightyear]] spying on the park and relaying the details to his friends (including other Creator/{{Pixar}} characters), while dissuading them from going over to the park themselves. Flik and his friends would soon get their own section of the park ''A Bug’s Land'', which lasted more than a decade. Woody and Buzz would get a midway ride at DCA in 2011, and with the retheming of Paradise Pier, their many then-unborn co-workers would all but take over the place!

* In the very early 2000s, some Disney [=DVDs=] had promos for the all-new Disney California Adventure. In them, the citizens of Disneyland were trying to get a look at their new neighbor, with [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Buzz Lightyear]] spying on the park and relaying the details to his friends (including other Creator/{{Pixar}} characters), while dissuading them from going over to the park themselves. Flik and his friends would soon get their own section of the park ''A Bug’s Land'', which lasted more than a decade. Woody and Buzz would get a midway ride at DCA in 2011, and eventually, their [[Creator/{{Pixar}} many unborn co-workers]] would all but take over the place!
** In the same ad, Buzz compliments a “nice limo.” The apparent reference, ''Ride/SuperstarLimo'', would go down as the most unpopular and unsuccessful ride in the park, closing within the year.

* In the very early 2000s, some Disney [=DVDs=] had promos for the all-new Disney California Adventure. In them, the citizens of Disneyland were trying to get a look at their new neighbor, including [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Woody, Buzz]] and [[WesternAnimation/ABugsLife Flik.]] Flik and his friends would soon get their own section of the park ''A Bug’s Land'', which lasted more than a decade. Woody and Buzz would end up at a midway ride in 2011, and eventually, their [[Creator/{{Pixar}} many unborn co-workers]] would all but take over the place!
** In the same ad, Buzz compliments a “nice limo.” The apparent reference, ''Superstar Limo'', would go down as the most unpopular and unsuccessful ride in the park, closing within the year.
** In fact, California Adventure itself looks nothing like it did in the promo, due to extensive remodeling.

* A Domino’s Pizza ad from late 2020 depicted UsefulNotes/{{NASCAR}} driver Denny Hamlin stopping at a Domino’s restaurant to pick up a pizza in his stock car and fire suit. The 2021 Daytona 500, three months later, would have a six-hour delay due to inclement weather[[note]]NASCAR races cannot be performed in the rain due to the lack of treads on the tires.[[/note]], during which fellow driver Ross Chastain got drive-thru food while still in his fire suit.

* In the very early 2000s, some Disney DVDs had promos for the all-new Disney California Adventure. In them, the citizens of Disneyland were trying to get a look at their new neighbor, including [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Woody, Buzz]] and [[WesternAnimation/ABugsLife Flik.]] Flik and his friends would soon get their own section of the park ''A Bug’s Land'', which lasted more than a decade. Woody and Buzz would end up at a midway ride in 2011, and eventually, their [[Creator/{{Pixar}} many unborn co-workers]] would all but take over the place!

* A Domino’s Pizza ad from late 2020 depicted UsefulNotes/NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin stopping at a Domino’s restaurant to pick up a pizza in his stock car and fire suit. The 2021 Daytona 500, three months later, would have a six-hour delay due to inclement weather[[note]]NASCAR races cannot be performed in the rain due to the lack of treads on the tires.[[/note]], during which fellow driver Ross Chastain got drive-thru food while still in his fire suit.

** In fact, California Adventure itself looks nothing like it did in the promo, due to extensive remodeling.

** In the same ad, Buzz compliments a “nice limo.” The apparent reference, ''Superstar Limo'', would [[Horrible/OtherMedia prove anything but.]]

* It is generally quite hard to deliberately engineer a HilariousInHindsight moment, as it's all too easy to be offensive or to simply pander to an obvious in-joke. For a master class in doing it right, step forward the late, great British comedian Bob Monkhouse. [[TheDeadRiseToAdvertise Four years after his death in 2003, with thanks to modern digital wizardry and an impressionist]] (one whom Monkhouse had personally endorsed as a perfect imitation of himself), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quxOMX1jl1w he appeared on television in an advert suggesting the wisdom of being tested for prostate cancer]], cracking jokes about it being an even bigger killer of men 'than (his) wife's cooking!' so that the viewer doesn't end up 'as (he) did' - spoken while appearing standing beside his own ''actual'' tomb-stone.

** In the same ad, Buzz compliments a “nice limo.” The apparent reference, ''Superstar Limo'', would [[Horrible/{{other}} prove anything but.]]

* A Gilette ad promoting ''Film/ManOfSteel'' asked [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmF0d9cXYAA7d9M?format=jpg&name=small how Superman shaves.]] After Creator/HenryCavill returned to play Superman in ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'', but couldn't shave the mustache he grew for a role in ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', it seems the answer is, "They just edit his facial hair out."

* Clinton wasn't the first President to [[http://med.stanford.edu/ohns/tobacco_ads/images/for_your_health/inhale/large/inhale_13.jpg not inhale.]] All of [[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1595&bih=752&q=reagon+cigerette+ads&gbv=2&oq=reagon+cigerette+ads&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=img.3...1310l7942l0l8096l20l20l0l10l0l0l253l1376l0j5j2l7l0.frgbld.#hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ZmxvT-KhI-HK2AWooojxAQ&ved=0CEEQvwUoAQ&q=reagan+cigarette+ads&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=1&biw=1595&bih=752 Reagan's cigarette ads]] qualify (and a lot of other tobacco product ads on the [[http://med.stanford.edu/ohns/tobacco_ads/images/for_your_health/inhale/large/inhale_01.jpg subject of inhaling.]])

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* [[https://youtu.be/cEN00wMFB2A In this Korean TV ad]] for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, a husband tries to lie to his skeptical wife that the new [=PS4=] that a technician installed in their living room is actually a WiFi Router called "Plash Speed". Then came the UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, which many joke look like a WiFi Router.

** It got even harsher. In 2017 WB re-released most of the store editions of the HB shows with brand new discs manufactured. In 2019 WB re-released several CN originals to remove the Turner name from them. The ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' Season One sets were left overs of the first run with press material still in printed from 2007! ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' Season one re-release was just a broken down pieces from unsold Complete Series sets. And yes, even Scrappy freakin' Doo appeared on new discs. That's some burn.

* A 1997 print ad for Nokia phones boasted, "Ten years from now, people will still say 'cool phone.'" Ten years later, the [=iPhone=] came out that would render Nokia-style phones obsolete. On the other hand, the Nokia phone's incredibly sturdiness compared to newer smartphones prompted it to MemeticBadass status in the early [=2010s=].

* During the 2004-2005 [[UseFulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL season]], franchise Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Donovan [=McNabb=], was featured on a series of Campbells soup commercials. His team made it to the Superbowl that season where he had a NeverLiveItDown moment when he threw up during the game out of nervousness. The jokes that most people made after the game, where the Eagles lost to the New England Patriots, was that [=McNabb=] ate too much Campbells soup.

* In 1999, ''Creator/KidsWB'' was hosted by the members of Music/BarenakedLadies for what was to be called "Naked Day", a promo for which featured [[WesternAnimation/{{Histeria}} network censor Lydia Karaoke]] advising the viewer to wear clothes in spite of the name. Incidentally, the network received complaints about the name, forcing it to be changed to "BNL Day".

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-adG9pcRhrA One old]] "Creator/CartoonNetwork Responds" bumper had them respond to a Creator/JimCarrey fan who asked them for a picture of him. They told said fan they'd never show anything with Jim Carrey in it. Fast forward to their shift to live-action programming, and they eventually would show both ''Film/TheMask'' and ''Film/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas''.[[note]]They seem to at least vaguely remember said bumper, though - while [[{{Sequelitis}} terrible sequels to Jim Carrey movies which don't feature Jim Carrey in them]] are aired as often as anything else, CN's only shown ''The Mask'' and ''Grinch'' one time each.[[/note]]
** What's also damning about that ad is the majority of the characters listed in it are no longer shown on the network.

* During the 2004-2005 [[UseFulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL season]], franchise Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Donovan [=McNabb=], was featured on a series of Campbells soup commercials. His team made it to the Superbowl that season where he had a NeverLiveItDown moment when he threw up during the game out of nervousness. The jokes that most people made after the game, where the Eagles lost to the Patriots, was that [=McNabb=] ate too much Campbells soup.

* During the 2004-2005 [[UseFulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL season]], franchise Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Donovan [=McNabb=], was featured on a series of Campbells soup commercials. His team made it to the Superbowl that season where he had a NeverLiveItDown moment when he threw up during the game out of nervousness. The jokes that most people made after the game, where the Eagles lost the the Patriots, was that [=McNabb=] ate too much Campbells soup.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MPbJaGWbrs This 1964 ad]] for President's Johnson's reelection campaign features a buzzing phone labeled "White House", claimed to only ring in times in crisis. It asks the viewer to vote for Johnson, who has "proven himself responsible" to answer the phone on such occasions. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yr7odFUARg Sounds familiar?]]