Calvert DeForest, advertising punch line

For a moment in the early ’90s, advertisers loved Calvert DeForest, aka Larry “Bud” Melman, the David Letterman regular who died this week at 85. I remember this 1-800-COLLECT spot in particular (it’s a Real Player file), where Calvert is suddenly revealed at the end. (It’s a shame you have to sit through 25 seconds of David Spade to get there.) DeForest also showed up in a couple of Tropicana Twister spots (also a Real Player file), rounding out an odd group that included John Ratzenberger, Lawanda Page, Betty White and Swoosie Kurtz.