Using deceased celebrities like Chris Farley in TV commercials is nothing new, but having them interact with a close, personal friend is something we haven't seen before. That's exactly what happens, though, in a new ad for Direct TV featuring Chris Farley and David Spade.The spot features the late Farley doing his "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" bit for David Spade, who re-dubs his dialogue to incorporate Direct TV ad copy. It's the latest in a series of Direct TV spots to re-create iconic movie moments.
Farley died in 1997 of heart failure due to an overdose, and initial reactions to the ad complain that it is tasteless, insensitive or just plain weird and accuse Spade of selling out his dead friend's memory.
We reached out to David Spade through his publicist, who provided Asylum with a statement from Spade.
"When DIRECT TV came to me and the Farley family with this idea about 'Tommy Boy,' we talked and thought it would be a cool way to remind people just how funny Chris was. It is a clever homage to my friend and a movie that we loved doing, " he says.
UPDATE: A spokesperson for Direct TV told us, "We should look to Chris' family and friends for the ultimate opinion on this subject. They were involved from the beginning of this project and felt that the spot was a great to tribute to Chris."
If Farley's family gave their blessing, is that good enough for you? Keep reading to watch the controversial ad.


























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Comments:
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Sunday 15 November
By jcool
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! It's great that they are bringing back Farley's memory.... Never gets old....
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Wednesday 11 November
By Kendra
Chris was great...... Nice tribute to a funny man.
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Wednesday 11 November
By happychuck40
really??..funny??..those two??..i watches farley on tv then in the movies...he never made me so much as smile...i thought he was a good guy but talented??..how many awards did he win??..hmmm..was he the highest paid comedy actor in hollywood??..win any kind of tribute from his fellow actors while he was alive??..did his movies win any kind of awards??..dunno...maybe he has loyal fans,but i work in hollywood and have yet to meet anyone who thought he was funny...dumb..yes...silly...yes..talented fool...oh yea..but a comic giant??..sadly no..goodnight
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Wednesday 11 November
By Ric
Thats funny as hell! Obviously never having met Chris Farley, I'm still sure he would've loved this idea of introducing himself to a whole new generation of people who may never have seen this brilliant comic, who was taken way to early from us!
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Thursday 12 November
By Karla
I see no harm in Chris Farley in this commercial...besides..it keeps his memory alive and everyone will always remember how he has made us laugh through the years and still does. After all..we STILL can watch him in movies..so what is the big deal about him in a commercial? I have many Chris Farley movies on DVD and continue to watch them...a commercial is in on tv...what's the difference?
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Saturday 14 November
By Dick
My wife and our grown sons (with their own teenagers) have our movie classics,,,you know, the ones we've got memorized, and pull out and watch together, and roll in the aisles.
Sure, there are the "Bravehearts," and "Beh Hurs," but then there are also the "Nottinghills," the "Con Airs," and one of the greatest classics of all time, "Tommy boy."
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Sunday 15 November
By jacques
What kind of narrow minded paranoid idiot turns this into a right-wing left-wing debate? To the geniuses calling it a "tribute"...it's a commercial, not a tribute. His family and David Spade were fine with it cause they got PAID. Neither they nor direct tv woke up and said, "hey let's make a tribute". They made a commercial, splicing a scene from a movie with lame ad copy. They did it to line their own pockets. If you don't think that's a big deal, fine, don't be so stupid as to call it a tribute. And if you think that commercial is hilarious you must fast forward through shows you tasteless idiots.
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Sunday 15 November
By Beth McDuffie
Oh get over it already. The ad has far more taste than many I have seen. Anyone who watched Chris Farley would know, as his family and friend obviously do, he would appreciate this memorial to him. People want to censor everything today. It's the new way of doing things I suppose CHNAGE all around. If somone does not like it, then censor it. If that fails, let the governnment decide. I am so sick of the censorship on everything except what should be censored.
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Sunday 15 November
By susan
If the faamily agrees to it and the network thinks it's tasteful then it's just a matter of opinion on the viewers part and they should just change the channel. People lighten up. Chris wasn't Elvis.
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Sunday 15 November
By larry
it's funny. enjoy it.
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Sunday 15 November
By Bob
David Spade... the guy is a joke. Without Farley there was no Spade.
Notice how fast his career ended . lot of rumors about this sick puppies sex life...heard he likes them real young.
Notice the new movie that is coming out.... lol..Spade hitching another ride off another comedian.. Sandler is a nice guy.. i know he feels obligated to help Spade..I mean you can gat away with Joe Dirt once,,...
SPADE.... FARLEY MADE YOU. HE OWNS YOU. WITHOUT FARLEY
YOUR A LOUNGE ACT AT BEST.
DO COMEDY A FAVOR.... HAVE A STROKE
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Sunday 15 November
By Amanda
I think it's hilarious and I firmly believe Chris Farley would also find it humorous. It is a wonderful homage to a man who devoted his life to making others laugh. And as David Spade said that scene "Never gets old".
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Sunday 15 November
By Karen Morales
Chris Farley should be used as a bad example for drug addicts. He was a fat sloppy pig addicted to coke.
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Sunday 15 November
By Rita
Shame on the people who are slamming Chris! We shouldn't judge others on things like their weight or if they had a problem in life. Who is perfect? Some of the comments I read on here are simply terrible. You should keep your terrible thoughts to yourself, especially when talking about a deceased person. I'm sure you wouldn't want others talking about you like this! Where is the love and compassion for other human beings? We should all try a little more love in this world. It is the reason why we are here.
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Monday 16 November
By spoon
no where not judging from history where here to kill and maim each other and boy are we doing a bang up job at it to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday 15 November
By Mari
I don't think its soon at all,
I loved the add an laughed the whole time and didnt fail to mention it to my friends as well.
Tommy Boy is my favorite movie in the world an im only 18, so i am the younger generation an I think it opens the movie to an even newer generation an helps keep Chris Farley's character alive.
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Sunday 15 November
By Desert
I guess you have to make money however you can. I personaly think it's going to bring back all those old feelings of loss and someones ging to get angered over it in the end his family or David..a lot of finger pointing. But as far as his fans we all will love the memories.
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Tuesday 17 November
By Amanda
12 YEARS ago. Not yesterday, not last month, not 5 years ago. 12! I LOVED that movie and with the family ok with it why not? It's not offensive and someone has too much time on their hands if they think it was.
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Thursday 26 November
By sunny
I THINK ITS A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE, HE WAS A GOOD MAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD. HE MADE ME LAUGH HYSTERICALLY.......
GOD BLESS DAVID FOR BEING HIS FRIEND AND GOD BLESS THE FARLEY FAMILY.........
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Sunday 06 December
By Len
This is a great reminder of how funny Chris was. I think if it makes us laugh even for a second Chris would like it and like being remembered. :)
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