David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks' commercials for Georgia coffee
Back in the early 1990s, the acclaimed American filmmaker and his hit TV show cast made some easy cash with four Japanese TV commercials based on the series
The 'Japandering' phenomenon -- when serious Western actors and figures appear in Japanese advertisements -- was once hidden to anyone outside of Japan. But now the Internet allows the exploits of American actors in the Far East to become immortalized on YouTube and other websites. Although Arnold Schwarzenegger may win an award for the strangest sell-outs of all time, American film director David Lynch surely takes the cake for most innovative cross-promotion on record.
In 1993, Lynch's TV show "Twin Peaks" had been off the air in America for a year but was winning over Japanese audiences thanks to big box office for "Fire Walk With Me," prompting Georgia -- the canned coffee brand -- to invite the director to create a few spin-off commercials from the show. Kyle Maclachlan and all the gang appear in the four spots, as well as two Japanese actors to give it a more relatable story line.
The plot of the commercials revolves around a Japanese man "Ken" trying to find a missing woman "Asami." But no more spoilers: enjoy this mix of Lynchian logic and Japanese hyper-capitalism for yourself.
1. "Lost"
(Video by YouTube user GODSorGAMES)
2. "Cherry Pie"
(Video by YouTube user GODSorGAMES)
3. "The Mystery of 'G'"
(Video by YouTube user GODSorGAMES)
4. "The Rescue"
(Video by YouTube user jontk)
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