Ring around the Collar is a reference to the iconic Wisk brand laundry detergent advertising campaign that was ubiquitous through 1970s and became instantly recognizable, to the point it was frequently alluded to and parodied in Mork & Mindy, and became one of the shows frequent references.
About Ring Around The Collar[]
Wisk was introduced in 1956 as the first liquid laundry detergent which marked a huge step forward in the laundry landscape away from messy powders. It is most recognized for its extremely successful “Ring Around the Collar” campaign that ran for more than twenty years making Wisk a household name synonymous with powerful cleaning.[1]
Wisk’s “Ring Around the Collar” campaign spotlighted the power of liquid detergent to pretreat stains on shirt collars. These four words quickly became amongst the most recognized and famous words uttered in the annals of advertising, and one of the best known marketing campaigns in history.[1]
The campaign introduced in 1968, spotlighted the sometimes-difficult to treat stains that appeared on shirt collars, and the product's ability to help fight them. The campaign was created by BBDO (Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn) worldwide advertising agency. The nagging sing-song voiceover of "Ring around the collar!" that became the ear worm that put it so prominently in people's minds, was performed by Bob McFadden.[2]
Wisk 'Ring Around The Collar' Commercial (1971)
1971 'Ring Around the Collar' Wisk commercial starring Arlene Golanka, who would later go on to play Martha Kent in Lois & Clark in the 90s and was a part of the ensemble cast of the hit murder mystery movie 'Knives Out'.
The campaign was criticized decades later for being misogynistic, with the implication that it was the fault of wives that their husbands left home with dirty collars.[2]
Mork's Multiple References[]
- Mork's Seduction - After his disastrous date with Susan Taylor, a jealous Mindy catches the lipstick on Mork's collar, prompting Mork to sing-song 'Uh oh! Ring around the Collar'
- Mork Runs Down - When Mindy notes the piece of rope tied around Mork's neck as a reminder to him about his impending need to use his Gleek, in taking it off, Mork jokily refers to the Wisk commercial with his 'Ring around the Rope'
- Invasion of the Mork Snatchers - Once converted to an advertising automaton by Mr. Persuasion, Mork bounces around the apartment chanting Ring Around the Collar among other commercial allusions.
Animated Series[]
- Muddle in a Huddle - Mork incorporates Ring Around the Collar into his High School Football Cheer.