Spuds MacKenzie

I was watching an old TV show this morning and they "interviewed" Spuds MacKenzie. I hadn't thought about Spuds in years and decided to try to dig up some information. TV Acres has a pretty succinct biography on the beer mascot:

Billed as the "The Original Party Animal," Spuds with an entourage of 3 beautiful women known as the Spudettes, danced, skateboarded, high-dived, played hockey and rode horses across the TV screens of America. One poster campaign ("Free to Party") depicted Spuds at the signing of the Declaration of Independence where he declared "Let the Party Begin!"

Although popular with the public at large, such groups as The Center for Science in the Public Interest and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) decried the use of Spuds fearing it would entice young children to drink alcohol. He was later "drafted" to warn teenagers and other young people about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Spuds' (actually a female) real name was Honey Tree Evil Eye. She also appeared in the Martin Mull, Dick Shawn movie Rented Lips (1987).

Spuds' last years were spent in the North Riverside, Illinois, home of her owners Stan and Jackie Oles. After Spuds died of kidney failure in May of 1993 (at the age of 10) late night comedian Jay Leno informed the television viewers of THE TONIGHT SHOW that the family requested that no flowers be sent to the funeral but they could however send trees.

My goal is to find some of the weirdest Spuds memorabilia and share it, but in the mean time here are a few commercials to whet your appetitie for beer and bull