Tango’s ad ‘You know when you’ve been Tango’d’ slapped its way onto the TV screens. Featuring a man being hit around the face by an orangecoloured person immediately after drinking Tango, the ad seized the imagination of children throughout the country. Britvic’s Tango later replaced the original ‘slapping’ ad with an almost identical new creative featuring a kiss instead. The original ad was named the third best TV commercial of all time in a 2000 poll by The Sunday Times and Channel 4.
Fighting was a popular theme in toys and games. Gladiators had become a huge TV hit and Gladiator dolls were popular toys. Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat, one of the most popular computer fighting games ever, made its debut, leading the House of Commons to question its suitability for children.
A bigger battle was ensuing in telecoms. Mercury had the unenviable task of persuading an apathetic public that there was an alternative to British Telecom with its ‘Hats on the Phone’ ad campaign.
It was also the year we were introduced to Chris Evans on The Big Breakfast and Edina and Patsy on Absolutely Fabulous. Then Calvin Klein taught boys to show their pants as Mark Wahlberg modelled CK underwear in low-slung jeans.
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