CROSSOVER OF THE WEEK!

In hopes of getting the Crossover of the Week re-aligned, we're publishing the next installment practically on top of the last edition. The Crossover of the Week put up on Christmas morning was for the week before last; this entry is for last week.

Everybody got that?

Last week, Alka Seltzer broke a national campaign to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Their parent company Bayer and their ad agency BBDO Worldwide have re-created a 1972 spot for Alka-Seltzer known as "I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing."

But this time, the remake features Peter Boyle as the husband and, as the wife, Doris Roberts. Although it's not stated, it's obvious that they're supposed to be Frank and Marie Barone of 'Everybody Loves Raymond', which ended its nine year run on CBS back in May.

Instead of saying "You ate it, Ralph.", or changing it to "You ate it, Frank.", Doris Roberts (who keeps her back to the camera the whole ad) says, "Where have I heard THAT before?"

This doesn't have to be considered a Zonk!, as she's only referring to the original commercial for our benefit. Within her own reality, she's probably talking about the fact that this wasn't the first time her husband said those very words.

It's a shame Alka Seltzer didn't do something similar 25 years ago for their 50th anniversary. Then they could have used the exact same script for the advertisement, including the name of the husband, by casting the blipvert with Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows as the "Battling Bickersons of Bensonhurst", Ralph and Alice Kramden.

BCnU!
Tele-Toby