• February 8, 2002

The American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), in conjunction with The History Channel and USA TODAY, last night unveiled the Top Ten commercials of the last 25 years at a black-tie fundraiser to benefit the AAAA Foundation, Inc. All ten spots are featured in a special History Channel program debuting tonight at 10 p.m. The show-Whassup In Advertising: America's Favorite Television Commercials-features interviews with the writers, directors, actors, producers and others who brought these incredible, unforgettable commercials to life and reveals what made them legendary. It will be repeated on Sunday, February 10, at noon. The Top Ten spots were selected in a USA TODAY.com online poll in which 25,000 votes were cast. Voters chose the winning spots from a field of 22 award-winning commercials chosen by a panel of renowned creative directors from AAAA member agencies.

The Ten Most Popular TV Commercials of the Past 25 Years:
(client, spot, agency, break date)

Pepsi-Cola, “Jackson Street,” BBDO New York, February 1984

Pepsi-Cola, “Security Camera,” BBDO New York, January 1996

Apple, “1984,” Chiat/Day Advertising, Superbowl, January 1984

Anheuser-Busch, Inc/ Budweiser, “Whassup Wasabi,” DDB-Chicago, April 2000

Wendy's, “Fluffy Bun,” Dancer Fitzgerald Sample, 1984

Wendy's, “Fashion Show,” Dancer Fitzgerald Sample, 1985

The California Milk Processor Board, “Aaron Burr,” Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, November 1993

Anheuser-Busch, Inc/ Budweiser, “Talking Frogs,” Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Superbowl, January 1999

Coca-Cola, “Mean Joe Green,” McCann-Erickson, 1979

Monster.com, “When I Grow Up,” Mullen, January 1999