Oh Henry Winkler, Why?

He’s the shark jumper for whom “jump the shark” was coined. Is this yet another step too far?

I am exhausted! Really–I’m totally spent and sitting on the sofa watching a CNBC documentary on Pixar. I’m not writing about that, but a commercial that just ran. Have you seen the one with Henry Winkler pitching reverse mortgages?

First, does Henry really need the money? He’s had an excellent career as an actor and producer. He must have saved something?

He’s the shark jumper for whom “jump the shark” was coined. Is this yet another step too far?

Maybe I’m demanding too much from him. I have done commercials in the past. I don’t rule out doing them in the future. There’s just something about seeing Henry Winkler do this that rubs me the wrong way.

Henry–if you read this that last sentence is a compliment not a dig.

Long time to get here, but there is a number two: Henry’s standing next to a slide projector!

I guess that answers any questions about the target demographic.

3 thoughts on “Oh Henry Winkler, Why?”

  1. Geoff,

    Don’t forget all the Hank Zipzer books he has written. These are huge with the middle elementary grade level set. He has a wide audience. The kids don’t know the Fonz, but they know Hank. You are right on. Is it possible to jump the shark twice?

    http://www.hankzipzer.com/

    Here is a link to his books.

  2. Arthur Fonzarelli (I think Henry Winkler is Fonzarelli’s “stage name”) is genuinely a huge fan of the reverse-mortgage. Knowing Arthur, he probably volunteered his services for that public-service announcement.

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