THE ADVENTURES OF NIC (A TEEN)

In addition to preventing teenage smoking, this PSA campaign helped popularize a new haircut in our nation's high schools---"The Butthead." It was quite fetching, actually. (From 1988. With yours truly as Nic, and a group of punctual, talented and well-behaved Chicago voice actors.)

[@CBrolley]

I was the voice of Nick, Tom. Recorded at Universal Recording on Walton in Chicago, Sept. 22, 1987.

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

Looks like you should always quit smoking because this nicotine will kill your lungs.

[@Club-Dreamiverse]

You and the cast did marvelous and Everett Peck, creator of Duckman and Squirrel Boy, did some great animation, to tell people to stop smoking.

[@thecajunphoenix]

Thank you for your hard work in getting so many people to give up smoking or not to start smoking in the first place.

[@rootdog442]

wow epic

[@ashbha4138]

What a drag

[@MarthaRoseQuartz]

If I can't be a butthead, then can I be Beavis?

[@CBrolley]

Absolutely, Your Royal Highness. You can be whoever you want to be. You seem a genuine self-starter and therefore more than capable of accomplishing anything you set your mind to. BTW Nic predates “Beavis and Butthead” by 6 years. The copyright infringement lawsuit has been mired in the courts for a quarter-century. “Buttheads & Associates v. Music Television, Inc.” should finally make it’s way to the Supreme Court by next Fall…Fingers crossed.

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854]

​@@CBrolley The Butthead name existed long before this ad though...

[@thecajunphoenix]

@@CBrolley Thank goodness this has no connection with the two teenagers in "Beavis and Butt-Head", who really could use more than your advice to not grab the Idiot Ball as often as they do.

[@CBrolley]

Joe Slattery was the anncr. He passed away in 2009. Attained the rank of Lt. Col. in the air force following WW II. With regard to the anti-smoking spot I believe in hindsight that Nic should have fully embraced his buttheadedness. That disparaged "female butthead" looks pretty hot to me.

[@williamshaw9047]

Yeah, what's he so mad about...she's pretty attractive and he doesn't have to worry about her complaining about cigarette breath.

[@jeffzebert4982]

I remember this ad from the end of the Summer of 1988! And yet, I didn't get one of the puns until DECADES later! Specifically "Nic (a teen)" (nicotine)! And also the *Smokey* Robinson concert! By the way, I've never smoked; and I never will! Almost forgot... the other puns here include: "What a drag!" (said twice by Nic) The *Pack* Rats (as in a pack of cigarettes)

[@curleed85]

Back when I was a kid, this commercial was on all the time on Nickelodeon.

[@PJVids83]

I know the point of the ad is to teach kids it isn't cool to smoke but, as a kid, I usually just wound up feeling really bad for the character. It's like, how would you feel if you were a sentient cigarette and everyone in the world rejected you. You didn't ask to be that way, that's just how you were born. Yeah, it's not cool to smoke but it's also not cool to ostracize people.

[@xojware]

yeah i feel the same way too, i guess its moreso trying to say like, if youre a chronic smoker people will think youre a loser and not wanna hangout with you, considering he is ALSO smoking a smaller normal cigarette himself (which honestly i... dont think is really true, atleast not nowadays, i doubt most people care enough if people smoke to decide whether or not to spend time around them) but still. poor nic. id be his friend, he seems like a nice guy

[@vincentbarney3091]

This was one of the coolest anti smoking PSAs that aired during that time the puns and the music is what did it

[@jccw227]

I was 4 or 5 when this came out, but I do remember it.

[@AnAngryMagpie]

So the teachers just let a kid smoke in school?

[@williamshaw9047]

I heard that in the '70s and maybe even '80s, there was an outdoor smoking area for high school students.

[@classicgunstoday1972]

Back in the 1980s, what were called the “skaters” or later “goths” and other “garbage pail kids” that presented themselves as ratty sat behind a hill at lunchtime on school grounds smoking in Middle School and across the street or on the sidewalk in High School. According to my dad, in the 1950s, you could actually smoke in the school bathroom.

[@williamshaw9047]

Why doesn't he just date the female Butthead? She's not so bad looking.

[@E_blanknamehere]

He wants to date outside his race But society's not ready

[@Dilbert1999]

@@E_blanknamehere Someone needs to tell him and that Butthead skank to go back to Buttheadland.

[@juanitajones7169]

Just, disappointed. 😞 Racism, kills.💔

[@CBrolley]

Joe was the voice of Jewel Foods for many years.

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

I was 12 years old since this KZbin video came.

[@Zombiemermaid101]

honistly this just makes me feel bad for smokers and I now want people to stop givving tham such a hard time. Also, greatings from reddit.

[@disnukka79]

Classic... I thought there was more than 1 of these though, was 9 years old back then, time flys

[@jeffzebert4982]

*Announcer:* The Adventures of Nic (a Teen), the last of the red-hot buttheads. On his way to school, unlike the other passengers, Nic was constantly being ENCOURAGED to stick his head out the window. And at school: *Kid One:* No fair! We had the butthead last time! We want Norman! (Norman is a typical short, scrawny, and nerdy kid) *Nic:* (Cough, cough, cough) That norman kid must be a lot better ball player than he lets on. (Cough, couuuuuuugh) *Announcer:* Desperate for friends, Nic joins the Pack Rats. *Nic:* Man, what a drag! *Announcer:* But the following spring, Nic's fancy turned to girls and getting a date for the Smokey Robinson concert. *Nic:* You really light up my life! *Girl:* And you're like... really darkening my doorstep. *Nic:* Okay... *Announcer:* STRIKE ONE! *Nic:* I've got seats to Smokey this Saturday... *Girl 2:* Sorry, Nic. I'm already dating this really cute ball player. (Norman looks up from his Algebra textbook) *Announcer:* STRIKE TWO! *Nic:* I'm BURNING for you, babe! How about... *Girl 3:* How about you go talk to that female butthead and leave me alone! *Nic:* (Sigh) What a drag! *Announcer:* STRIKE THREE! YOU'RE OUT! Don't be a butthead!

[@bryansanchez8448]

I always liked this commercial

[@Sonnyskookoo]

This was one of the few commercials I looked forward to seeing. Laughed every time.

[@JamesSchneider]

and written by the awesome Tom Aschauer !

[@Wilcox3]

I grew up watching these.

[@logan5girl405]

Me too

[@PenguinVideoStore]

So Nic dies at the end?

[@CBrolley]

1988.

[@jcp1977]

love that commercial

[@jessragan6714]

Was this animated by Everett Peck, the guy who created Duck Man? Sure looks like his work.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

He was the designer, it was animated by Kurtz and Friends (studio), directed by Bob Kurtz.

[@RetroFreak35]

I can tell this was done by Everett Peck before he got his gig for creating the series, “Duckman” on the USA Network during ‘94.

[@henryfreed-fundak5861]

It was also produced by Klasky-Csupo, the creators of Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys.

[@leighburton832]

Creative commercial, but it didn't stop people from smoking.

[@brotherfugue]

Not only did it stop people from smoking, it encouraged my friend to get a new haircut. He had a lopsided haircut and we mercilessly called him "Nick" until he cut it.

[@1Hol1Tiger]

It probably didn't help that Nic was sympathetic

[@Sharon_Hocutt]

You sounded cute as Nic! :)

[@CBrolley]

I WAS cute back then. . . . I think. I don't remember, it's been a while.

[@E_blanknamehere]

Nice animation

[@mattcintosh2]

Question: Were any of the people involved in producing this smokers?

[@Zlifko]

Who worked on the animation/design of this?

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Kurtz and Friends (the studio). It was designed by Everett Peck, later known for his Duckman series.

[@TheMoonman4]

Norman got that dawg in him, way to go dude

[@onestopman5843]

0:26 shikamaru in a nutshell.

[@enderspike]

Wait, so he found a social group and a date? I gotta start smoking

[@henryfreed-fundak5861]

Did this PSA air during Beavis and Butthead on MTV?

[@CBrolley]

This was 5 years before Beavis and Butthead. (1987)

[@B166ER-]

I know a guy who looks like this.

[@thedigreguy]

did he fucking kill himself at the end?????

[@tsitracommunications2884]

looks like

[@allumanati8972]

It's my #BrainFuel when I don't have Marijuana, helps me Focus, but not as #GoodAsWiseCrack'n

[@allumanati8972]

So you #AsainLadies want clean, well, wear This, & I'll pay, for your heels...

[@Alfenium]

0:44 Ara Ara

[@normegruad7577]

0:46 girl verison of drake

[@tomripsin730]

0:53 I have to say, that female butthead looks like a pretty fun date.

[@urglegurgle757]

racism