Behind the singing rodents in the Quiznos ad.

[Chicago Democrat]

The Creatures From the Sandwich Shop
Behind the singing rodents in the Quiznos ad.
By Seth Stevenson
Posted Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at 2:34 PM PT


The spot: A small, furry creature, wearing a bowler hat, levitates as he sings an ode to Quiznos subs. Nearby, another flying creature wears an 18th century seafaring hat, and strums on an acoustic guitar. Song lyrics: "We love the subs! 'Cuz they are good to us. The Quiznos subs. They are tasty, they are crunchy, they are warm because they toast them. They got a pepper bar!"

Never have I gotten so much mail on a single ad. I gather that you seek an explanation. And with great urgency. Many of you sound disturbed—as though your lives will be placed on hold until you've come to terms with these haunting creatures.

I wish I could help. But what can be said? I mean, it's a screeching, levitating prosimian in a bowler hat. You'll find no easy answers here, people. What I can tell you is this:

These characters come from a man named Joel Veitch, who makes television shows for the BBC (according to his Web site, www.rathergood.com). On his site, you can see these creatures in a January 2003 video clip, in which they sing about loving the moon, marmots, cheese, dirigibles, and several other nouns. The clip, which calls the characters "spongmonkeys," seems pretty clearly the basis for the Quiznos ad. (Quiznos says a guy from their ad firm received the clip in an e-mail from a friend and decided it was perfect for a new campaign.)

http://slate.msn.com/id/2095868/

[mhr]

1. Warped Minds, Don't You Love It!

eom

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. Spongmonkeys RULE! They're as funny as Gigli

I hope they do an CD with William Hung.

[Skittles]

3. I LOVE THAT COMMERCIAL

IT CRACKS ME UP. I THINK I WILL STOP AT QUIZNOS ON THE WAY HOME. :D

[tedoll78]

4. Yep!

I like to reward certain companies when they make commercials that actually entertain rather than aggrivate.

Quiznos has done so. I shall reward them with my business.

Others just play loud music or a really, really retarded.
(*tommy looks in the direction of the "hemi" truck commercials)