I remember a whole bunch of ads for Superfriends toys from when I was a kid. The show had probably ended long ago, but I think there was a new line of toys or something... they came with little comic books (my brother had Robin). I asked for the Hall of Justice for my 4th birthday (1989) after watching an ad on TV.
On the other hand, I don't remember any Transformers ads... I think the show was running out of steam around the time I became aware (right? or maybe I simply didn't pay attention to it). I do remember Beast Wars ads from when I was a teen, but I don't think they ever called them "Trasnformers" outside the show itself (remember that referencing the 80's wasn't as cool in the 90's as it is now).
When the JL Cartoon Network show started, of course it had ads on TV. To be honest I don't recall any ads for JL toys, but I do remember seeing a fuckload of tie-in products. I once witnessed a birthday party with JL cups and napkins. There was a JL Monopoly game, too. And probably undies. And so on.
Well, let's see what we got. You remember Transformer ads, I don't. I remember '89 Superfriends ads, you don't. Neither of us remembers JL ads. Now, Harry, call me crazy if you want, but I'm starting to think only kids pay attention to toy advertisement. What if toy ads still exist to this day, but we don't notice them (or don't notice them nearly as much as we used to) because we're adults? My point being, for clarity's sake: toys ads are irrelevant, because they're generation-specific. The Transformers, like the JLA, are part of pop culture and therefore trascend generations. Popeye.
Nowie, do you seriously think everyone's aware of the Transformers simply because their toys were advertised on TV... what, 20 years ago? Your friends never saw a Transformers cartoon in their lives, but they watched a bunch of TV ads two decades ago, for toys they didn't even want, and the concept was engraved in their brains. Do they remember every single popular toy that was ever advertised on TV? Shit, remembering all the ones from their childhood alone seems unlikely. Hey, remember the Barnyard Commandos and Stretch Armstrong? Yeah, neither do I.
I've tried to explain over and over how this strange and seemingly magical concept called "pop culture" works, and I'm starting to think that I might be burnt at the stake if I keep insisting on it. It may be best for all of us if I keep my arcane and ungodly knowledge to myself, and stop trying to pollute the minds of your children with my crazy ideas.
