Minolta's Super Bowl debut escalates the war of former "Odd Couple" stars Jack Klugman and, seen here, Tony Randall.
Canon had been featuring Klugman to advertise its copiers since 1983. Minolta's comeback? It hired Randall, the other half of the "Couple," starting in 1984. And it wasn't subtle about the tactic, as in this spot by Bozell & Jacobs making the "Odd Couple" connection crystal clear. The ads "created a tiff between Tony and Jack," as John Vacca, Minolta's marketing chief at the time, recalled for Ad Age in 2016.
Minolta and Bozell returned to the Super Bowl in 1986 with a split-screen spot starring Randall as himself and a miserly uncle ("Uncle Ebenezer").
The Super Bowl earlier hosted copier advertising from Xerox, which ran its classic "Monks" just before kickoff in 1976.
Director: Peter Cooper.
BRAND: Minolta
YEAR: 1985
AGENCY: Bozell & Jacobs
SUPERBOWL: XIX
