Saturday, August 30, 2014

Remember the Colgate "Wisdom Tooth"? (1990)

Pat Morita had reinvented himself in the 80's. Best remembered as Arnold on Happy Days, Morita reintroduced himself to a new generation as wise Mr. Miyagi in the original "Karate Kid" movies with Ralph Macchio and, later, future Oscar winner Hilary Swank. With this came something Morita hadn't had during his run as a TV fixture in the 70's & 80's (Happy Days, Sanford & Son, M*A*S*H). That being a commercial endorsement deal.

Playing off his Miyagi persona, Morita returned in a series of spots for Colgate Tartar Control toothpaste in the early 90's, billed as the "Colgate Wisdom Tooth". Internet Lurker gives us a look at one of these ads:



Sadly, while this particular brand of Colgate toothpaste has not been heavily promoted since, we lost Morita some years back. This would be his last extended run in television.

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