The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Commercial Bloopers: The Best Part Of The Ad You Never Hear

**Posted by RadioActive** April 10, 2025 12:50 pm

It's been a while since I enjoyed an "Under The Influence" like this one. On this week's episode, adman Terry O'Reilly plays mistakes in the message, with people screwing up both live on air (including Johnny Carson) and behind the scenes (Orson Welles and Gary Owens.)

As often happens, it's what you were never supposed to hear that winds up being the most entertaining part of any spot.

You can catch the outtakes story on CBC Radio 1 Saturday morning at 11:30 AM or listen to it now.

**Posted by Forward Power** April 10, 2025 1:31 pm

RadioActive wrote:
As often happens, it's what you were never supposed to hear that winds up being the most entertaining part of any spot.

Exactly true! Much like the annual blooper reels that many radio and TV stations would put together. Here's one example, from CTV's CJOH Ottawa, circa 1986, hosted by then-assignment editor Brian Goff... among the faces seen are long-time 6pm anchor Max Keeping, 11:30 anchor Leigh Chapple, weatherman J.J. Clarke (who pulls a disappearing act in this reel) and future CFTO reporter Leon Korbee.

**Posted by Chrisphen** April 10, 2025 2:13 pm

Negativland made good use of the Orson Welles pea fiasco.

**Posted by paterson1** **Online!** April 10, 2025 9:38 pm

https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=J6N8ADDDs0k

**Posted by RadioActive** April 11, 2025 6:42 am

This promo page for the Under The Influence episode features the great Gary Owens trying desperately to get through a Christmas commercial - for Preparation H!

Laugh-In announcer couldn't stop laughing during a commercial

**Posted by paterson1** **Online!** April 11, 2025 9:55 am

I don't know if anyone has ever heard the CHUM production blooper tape from the late 70's-80's. Hilarious, full of swearing tightly edited, and jocks who just couldn't get through the spot. It something that you would put on at a station party at the end of the night or when together with some radio friends after a few drinks. All of the voices are very recognizable. Anyone have a copy or know of this very funny and memorable blooper extravaganza from CHUM?

**Posted by RadioActive** April 11, 2025 10:53 am

Your wish is my command.

CHUM News Goofs

(My favourite has always been the CKLW throw to Grant Hudson about the plane crash. Lots from CFTR and others, not just CHUM.)

**Posted by Forward Power** April 11, 2025 11:28 am

RadioActive wrote:
Your wish is my command.

CHUM News Goofs

(My favourite has always been the CKLW throw to Grant Hudson about the plane crash. Lots from CFTR and others, not just CHUM.)

Nice to hear the NRC Time Signal "boops" in that clip, and of course the legendary Dick Smyth. Speaking of Smyth, does anyone have audio of when the theatre organ cart went kaput on him during a commentary on CHUM? Or a recording of his ensuing rage and subsequent destruction of said cart?

During my college years at Loyalist, professor Steve "Boogie" Bolton, formerly of CHUM, had a recording of Smyth trying to do an interview, but there was some loud noise (construction/renos?) outside the studio. He got up, slammed his chair against the desk, and screamed at the worker(s) "WOULD YOU PLEASE KNOCK OFF THE (bleep) NOISE? I'M TRYING TO DO AN INTERVIEW IN THERE! ... I WANT NO... FURTHER... NOISE!!!" before returning to the interviewee and calmly apologizing for his tantrum.

Last edited by Forward Power (April 11, 2025 11:32 am)

**Posted by RadioActive** April 11, 2025 11:44 am

Sadly, I don't have a copy of it, but the late Kevin Nelson (Jay Nelson's son) once played me a tape of a script his famous dad gave Dick Smyth to read on air for his daily commentary.

It was April Fool's Day and he should have known better. The only thing I can remember about it was it was completely ridiculous and nonsensical and he read it cold. I still recall the first line: "We have seized the cudgel."

As it went on and on, Smyth stopped reading it, acknowledging on air that it was April 1st and he'd been had. He then threw to a commercial.

How I wish I'd made a copy of that tape! It was hilarious.

**Posted by betaylored** April 11, 2025 11:53 am

This will be one of those UTI episodes I listen to more than once.

Blooper reels are the best.

The number of times you'd goof during a read of an in-house radio spot and ask the production guy to not save it and they'd manage to say with a straight face "sure, no problem" only to have it part of the next blooper reel.

A station blooper reel is one of the things I wish I'd kept from my radio days.

The secret to a top notch funny reel is in the editing.

Last edited by betaylored (April 11, 2025 11:56 am)

**Posted by paterson1** **Online!** April 11, 2025 4:38 pm

That clip is good RA but it is not the one I was referring to. A couple of cuts were from the production montage (Richard Scott...do I sound gorgeous..) and maybe one other. The one I heard was all commercial production and no news. But the news clips are not bad either.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** April 13, 2025 7:53 am

RadioActive wrote:
It's been a while since I enjoyed an "Under The Influence" like this one. On this week's episode, adman Terry O'Reilly plays mistakes in the message, with people screwing up both live on air (including Johnny Carson) and behind the scenes (Orson Welles and Gary Owens.)

As often happens, it's what you were never supposed to hear that winds up being the most entertaining part of any spot.

You can catch the outtakes story on CBC Radio 1 Saturday morning at 11:30 AM or listen to it now.

Caught this yesterday, very entertaining episode! I try to catch Under the Influence usually on Saturday morning, just after errands! William Shatner’s bit was pretty good as well as Orson Welles’.