In 1998, the animated television comedy The Simpsons celebrated the red-hot SUV craze with a pair of hilarious commercial parodies for the fearsome Canyonero.
Nowadays, SUVs and crossovers are among the best-selling vehicles in America, but back in 1998, the SUV craze was still heating up and gathering steam. Meanwhile, if there is one thing the animated TV comedy The Simpsons has excelled at in its 33 seasons on the air, it’s identifying the latest social trends and then lampooning them to hilarious effect. In the 1998 Simpsons episode “The Last Temptation of Krust,” character Krusty the Clown—a cynical hack who will pitch any product no matter how shoddy or dangerous—lands a gig endorsing a gigantic, fire-prone SUV called the Canyonero.
It’s said The Simpsons writers were inspired by the Ford SUV commercials then on the air, but to be fair, a number of automakers used similar messaging in their SUV and pickup campaigns, with gravel-voiced announcers and rugged outdoor themes. In the two Canyonero spots below, the singer is none other than Hank Williams Jr. Pay careful attention to the lyrics: Surely, it was a yeoman’s effort by the country music star to get through his lines without cracking up. Enjoy the commercials.
FINALLY, a little fun on MCG. As a huge Simpsons fan, the Canyonero, and the rest of the episode, making fun of stand up comics, was one of my favorites. Anything produced by David Mirkin is a riot. That guy ain’t right.
Be careful what you wish for.