Christopher Guest Pimps VW as Nigel Tufnel
Filed under: Comedy, Movie Marketing
The latest in the vdubrocks campaign ads features one of my fave directors, Christopher Guest, reprising his This is Spinal Tap character, Nigel Tufnel. You can check out Nigel rocking it out in his highly fashionable kilt, black tshirt, tube socks and sneakers, while standing on (and falling off of) the roof of a white Jetta rising up from the stage, while white Rabbits mark the four corners of the stage. The first ad in the campaign featured
Watching Nigel rock it out in the ad, I couldn't help but think ... wouldn't it be cool for Guest to bring Spinal Tap back for a new mockuementary about the aging rock-and-rollers getting together for a reunion show for VH1? I can't be the only person out there who would love to see Tufnel, David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) bringing it on again, right? The "band" reunited a couple of times in the past, in 1992 for the album Break Like the Wind, for which they did a promo tour and "videos", in 1998 for a short film called Spinal Tap: The Final Tour, in 2000 when they launched a mock website called "Tapster," and in 2001 for a "Back From the Dead" tour that spanned nine cities. Oh, and there was a 2004 documentary about the band as well.
But seriously -- we've had Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration. Isn't it about time we saw Spinal Tap back on the big screen -- utilizing the rest of the of Guest's fab ensemble cast? Picture Catherine O'Hara and Jennifer Coolidge as aging groupies! Parker Posey as, say, Nigel's daughter -- or better yet, as a younger groupie competing against O'Hara for the band's attention. And while we're at it, how about Guest in duel roles? He could reprise Corky St. Clair as the director of the reunion show! Oh, the possibilities are endless. Who else out there would love to see Guest bring back Spinal Tap?
[ via our sister site, Autoblog ]
**SIncerest apologies to both Slash (who, as our readers pointed out, is from Guns 'n Roses, NOT U2, and to The Edge, who IS from U2, for my error there. And thanks to our readers for pointing it out. And yes, I grew up on both bands, and yes, I know better. Shame, shame on me. I guess I have to give back my cool 1980s jean jacket covered with safety pins and rock band buttons now, along with my hip collection of U2 and GNR cassette tapes. Darn. -KV
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-12-2006 @ 6:45PM
notyou said...
Um...are you a fake music fan? Slash is from Guns 'n Roses, NOT U2.
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10-12-2006 @ 6:55PM
eugene said...
or even velvet revolver... the guitarist from u2 is the edge....
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10-12-2006 @ 7:15PM
Jason said...
Um, I don't think that was actually Christopher Guest, just a look alike. There's a close-up of the face, and it just doesn't look right. Can this be confirmed?
I mean, if you didn't know Slash was from GnR, it's hard to believe you'd recognize Christopher Guest.
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10-12-2006 @ 7:47PM
Erik Davis said...
That's why this is a film site and not a music site. Post corrected.
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10-12-2006 @ 11:09PM
Jonny Rice said...
I'd be game for a sequel, but only if there was some sort of Edge/Slash Deliverance type scene with guitars instead of banjos. Hell, we should give the cast a head start and just write an outline for the film right here. What else would you guys wants to see?
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10-13-2006 @ 12:45AM
Kim Voynar said...
Right on, Jonny. Here's what I'd like to see: You know that VH01 show "Bands Reunited?" A mockumentary of that, with Fred Willard as the VH-1 host, Bob Balaban as the producer who wants everyone to take it seriously. One of the band members (maybe Derek Smalls, aka Harry Shearer) has moved on and gotten a real (but soul-sucking and boring grown-up job, while Nigel is firmly stuck in the past and St. Hubbins (McKean) has joined a bizarre religious cult.
Jane Lynch can be Shearer's ball-busting wife who thinks he should stop dreaming about the past, and Coolidge could be an ex-groupie/his past lover who VH-1 brings into the show as well, along with Catherine O'Hara as another ex-groupie and Posey as O'Hara's daughter, who is actually Nigel's love child and is obsessed with the band.
Bring back Rob Reiner as Marty, who has sunk so low he's become a stereo salesman, and toss in Eugene Levy as the director of the VH-1 segment. That's what I have so far. What ideas do other folks have? Let's start a petition! Bring back Spinal Tap!
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10-13-2006 @ 2:50AM
Jonny Rice said...
Kim, a down-on-his-luck Rob Reiner would be fantastic! St. Hubbins could be constantly trying to proselytize him into his cult. Maybe a ridiculous mix of Zen Buddhism, New Age crystals and fundamental Christianity?
I heard rumors that the Folksmen opened for Spinal Tap during their 2001 "reunion" tour, and actually got booed off the stage. But maybe the playing multiple characters thing is a little too Eddie Murphy....
Also, I'd love to see a scene where VH1 brings in a style consultant to craft a '00 image for the band, allowing them to riff on Bono and Madonna and Justin Timberlake. Sexyback jokes of any sort would be welcome. And another scene where Nigel sits with a few ad execs who want to license a song to sell their wares. (Can you imagine where Guest and Co. could take that scene with a song like Big Bottom? I don't even want to guess. I just want to see it!)
And if it's possible, Mr. Guest (because of course you're reading this), please find a role, even a small one, for Amy Sedaris. Please?
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10-13-2006 @ 10:13AM
Alex said...
Yeah, I have to agree with Jason. I'm not sure that's Christopher Guest. If it is, they really didn't give him enough to do in the ad.
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