History Main / EmbarrassingAdGig

* One ''Series/WorldsDumbest'' clip has cast member Creator/LeifGarrett in his younger days doing a dance number in a potato sticks commercial. Fellow commentator Creator/DannyBonaduce reassures him that others have done their own embarrassing commercials; cut to Bonaduce in a fake ad for an aphrodisiac called "Tiger Penis".

* ''Film/JackAndJill'': The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ3o4dgD6qY Dunkaccino's musical ad]] starred by Creator/AlPacino directed by Jack Sadelstein was so terrible that in the preview that he doesn't want to be released.

** Penny (Creator/KaleyCuoco) was in an embarrassing ad for tampons in an episode of the same show. Penny's an aspiring actress, but the closest she came to fame was a bit part on an episode of ''NCIS'', but that was cut for time.

** One of the informercials Joey was in was for the Milkmaster, a plastic spout that you attached to milk cartons so you didn't have to open the flaps. His character is unable to open carton flaps without tearing the carton open and spilling milk. That episode was "The One With The Metaphorical Tunnel" and it gets a callback in "The One With The Tiny T-Shirt" when someone recognizes him as "the guy that doesn't know how to pour milk". She even tells other people, who keep asking Joey to open their drinks. And Joey being Joey, he can't always do it.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

[[folder: Puppet Shows]]
* ''Series/TheFerals'': After failing to raise any money to repair Robbie and Lenny's flat, Modigliana goes out to try again. She returns with a thousand dollars but refuses to say how she managed to raise such a large sum in such a short time. The end of the episode reveals she took an ad gig for healthier cat food and all the other Ferals burst into uncontrollable laughter when they see it.
[[/folder]]

* ''The Alan Davies Show'' episode "Mr Strawberry" is about Alan getting cast as a mascot in an advert campaign for a kid's milkshake drink, and having to hide this from his girlfriend out of fear it'll make her lose respect for his integrity as an actor.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'' has Bugs Bunny appear in a televised commercial for Pizzarriba, casually stating, "I like it." In-universe PopCulturalOsmosis makes this phrase into Bugs Bunny's ''ad hoc'' CatchPhrase, which disturbs him. Even a squad of firefighters trying to quell a fire at Bugs's house pause to ask Bugs to repeat the "I like it" phrase. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KARHynUOz48 Viewable here]].

* ''FIlm/EasterSunday'': Joe is only known to be "the beer ad guy" with the catchphrase "Let's get this party started, baby!", much to his chagrin. Even the antagonist Dev Deluxe thinks the catchphrase is stupid to Joe's face.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Barting Over", it's revealed that when he was a baby, Bart starred in an ad for anti-halitosis medicine for infants, which Lisa and [[TheBully Nelson]] embarrass him with (even though initially, he wasn't embarrassed so much as angry that he didn't get any money). At the end of the episode, Homer acts in an advertisement for a product in which SideEffectsInclude losing your penis. Fifty years later, his grave features the epitaph "Homer Simpson, Impotency Spokesman". Nelson laughs at this, too.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* [[https://www.deviantart.com/shydad/art/Happy-Hotel-Poster-Girl-817705689 This]] ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' parody has Katie absolutely mortified to see herself dressed as a baby for a diapers ad on a billboard.
[[/folder]]

* ''Series/The Ferals'': After failing to raise any money to repair Robbie and Lenny's flat, Modigliana goes out to try again. She returns with a thousand dollars but refuses to say how she managed to raise such a large sum in such a short time. The end of the episode reveals she took an ad gig for healthier cat food and all the other Ferals burst into uncontrollable laughter when they see it.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "Model Sponge," [=SpongeBob=] gets a modelling gig after thinking he was fired from the Krusty Krab. The commercial is for a new kitchen sponge, but [=SpongeBob=] gets stuck [[PlayingATree playing the sponge]], being forced to strip and getting rubbed on disgusting objects. He quits during the ad and runs back to the Krusty Krab.

Good news, a character's about to be on TV, the cover of a magazine, etc. Bad news, it's an advert which is really embarrassing. Perhaps it's for something sexual (like Viagra) or [[ToiletHumour bathroom-related]] (like laxatives) or they have to pose [[NakedPeopleAreFunny naked]] or [[ComedicUnderwearExposure in their undies]] or wearing a goofy costume, or they're in the "Before" part of BeforeAndAfterPictures, but either way, it's not something the person wants to be famous for.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'' has Bugs Bunny appear in a televised commercial for Pizzarriba, casually stating, "I like it." In-universe PopCulturalOsmosis makes this phrase into Bugs Bunny's ''ad hoc'' CatchPhrase, which disturbs him. Even a squad of firefighters trying to quell a fire at Bugs's house pause to ask Bugs to repeat the "I like it" phrase. Viewable here:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KARHynUOz48]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'' has Bugs Bunny appear in a televised commercial for Pizzarriba, casually stating, "I like it." In-universe PopCulturalOsmosis makes this phrase into Bugs Bunny's ''ad hoc'' CatchPhrase, which disturbs him. Even a squad of firefighters arriving to quell a fire at Bugs's house pause to ask Bugs to repeat the "I like it" phrase.

* In one episode of ''Series/TheMightyBoosh'', Howard catches the eye of an avant-garde filmmaker and is cast in his next venture - unfortunately, the filmmaker has decided to sell out and make advertisements, and Howard plays "the angry crab of trapped wind" in an ad for anti-gas medicine.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Barting Over", it's revealed that when he was a baby, Bart starred in an ad for anti-halitosis medicine for infants, which Lisa and [[TheBully Nelson]] embarrass him with (even though initially, he wasn't embarrassed so much as angry that he didn't get any money). At the end of the episode, Homer acts in an advertisement for a product in which SideEffectsInclude losing your penis. 50 years later, his grave features the epitaph "Homer Simpson, Impotency Spokesman". Nelson laughs at this, too.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': "The Money" is about Gumball defying this trope, refusing to let his family star in a Joyful Burger commercial despite being broke because he doesn't wanna sell out. However, when the family [[BrokeEpisode loses so much money]] that ''[[NoFourthWall they can't even afford to be animated,]]'' Gumball gives in and they do the commercial, which is a cringeworthy TotallyRadical ad that turns the Wattersons into caricatures of themselves.

->'''Dotty "Gran" Burns''': "I don't see why you're making such a big fuss. You have baths at home."
->'''Bertie Burns''': "Not often. And not on TV!"

!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Asian Animation]]

[[folder:Films - Animation]]

[[folder:Films- Live-Action]]

-->'''Al:''' Burn this.
-->'''Jack:''' I'm sorry?
-->'''Al:''' This must never be seen, by anyone.

* ''Series/HannahMontana'': Jackson and Oliver are overjoyed at the idea of being the feature models for a new dating service. It isn't until after the ad comes out they discover they modelled to be the examples of inferior choices people would receive if they didn't sign up for the service and thus become laughing stocks in the community. The episode ends with the same agent offering them another gig for advertising new night classes, specifically as the example of idiots from the before the class. The two start giving an impassionate speech about they represent real people as opposed to the unrealistic promises the advertising offers and how it should be more true to life, only to give up and just go with it when they find out how much the gigs paying.
* In ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', Robin was in an ad for adult diapers [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext in order to compete with her popular co-anchor, Becky.]] The rest of the gang, who don't know about the commercial, assumes she's embarrassed because she slept with Randy while drunk, [[SureLetsGoWithThat and she goes along with it to hide the truth]]. She's later caught in the lie and confesses while believing the commercial will never actually be used. Future Ted then states that it ran for seven years.
->In a later episode, Sandy shows all of his and Robin's co-workers various embarrassing videos she's been in, including the commercial.

[[folder:Web Original]]

Compare EmbarrassingSlide, EmbarrassingOldPhoto, InstantHumiliationJustAddYouTube, KitschyLocalCommercial, and IWasYoungAndNeededTheMoney. Also compare {{Japandering}}, for when the commercial is innocuous, but it's embarrassing for the celebrity to be seen shilling for something overseas that they would never do in their home market.

Good news, a character's about to be on TV, the cover of a magazine, etc. Bad news, it's an an advert which is really embarrassing. Perhaps it's for something sexual (like Viagra) or [[ToiletHumour bathroom-related]] (like laxatives) or they have to pose [[NakedPeopleAreFunny naked]] or [[ComedicUnderwearExposure in their undies]] or wearing a goofy costume, or they're in the "Before" part of BeforeAndAfterPictures, but either way, it's not something the person wants to be famous for.