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The Puttermans

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The Resume

    (1994-1996)
    Family of robots powered by Duracell batteries
    Consisted of Herb, his wife Flo, son Zack, daughter Trish and Grandma
    Commercials directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

Why they might be annoying:

    They were meant to be Duracell's response to the Energizer Bunny but did not have the same staying power.
    In more than one poll, they were named as worst new commercial of 1994.
    They landed smack in the middle of 'Uncanny Valley' (the revulsion felt by people towards robots that look and act almost but not quite human).
    Zack was portrayed by an actress while Grandma Putterman was played by a male actor.
    There was a rumor that the actor playing Grandma became Mr. Six since his moves are similar to Grandma's in a commerical where Duracell gives her so much energy she cannot stop dancing.

Why they might not be annoying:

    The actors' costumes and facial prosthetics were so convincing, many viewers thought they were watching computer animation or claymation.
    Since they did not keep going and going and going, they quickly faded into a vaguely disquieting memory.
    Primus wore Putterman-like costumes in the video for 'Winona's Big Brown Beaver.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 200 Votes: 22.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 134 Votes: 52.24% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 93 Votes: 63.44% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 138 Votes: 55.80% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 90 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 127 Votes: 71.65% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 25 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 23 Votes: 78.26% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 45 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 27 Votes: 74.07% Annoying