David Spade Defends New Chris Farley Commercial: 'It's A Clever Homage'

Access Hollywood - October 29, 2009 4:55 PM PDT
Story photo: David Spade Defends New Chris Farley Commercial: 'It's A Clever Homage'A vintage shot of Chris Farley and David Spade WireImageAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- David Spade is defending his new DirecTV commercial with late friend and co-star Chris Farley after protests from fans over the star's memory.

"These commercials are cool. They're well done. They're clever. And that they would include 'Tommy Boy' in that company, I thought was very flattering," David told People of the company's latest ad in a series that pulls scenes from classic movies and digitally inserts stars to pitch for DirecTV.

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The spot in question, airing during the World Series, features a scene from 1995's "Tommy Boy" in which Farley, who died of a heart attack in conjunction with a drug overdose in 1997, does his "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" routine.

"Oh, my God if [Chris] was here, I guarantee he'd be stoked that this little movie is included," David, who also starred in the film "Black Sheep" and on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" with the late comedian, said. "The movie is important to me, and I would hate to offend [anyone] because that's one of my favorite things I've ever done. So I would apologize to someone who took it that way."

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David added that he didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea about why he made the commercial.

"I wouldn't want anyone to get a whiff that I'm trying to get something off Chris," he noted.

In a statement to ABC News, he said that he thought the 30-second spot would be a way to refresh people's memories of his friend.

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"When DirecTV came to me and the Farley family with this idea about 'Tommy Boy,' we talked and thought it would be a cool way to remind people just how funny Chris was," he said in the statement. "It is a clever homage to my friend and a movie that we loved doing."

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comments 1-10 of 17  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Cindy T
    You go David!!!
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 9:36 PM PDT
  • Milly R
    hell yeah it was definitely good to see that commercial, we sometimes forget some really good people in this life.... i thought it definitely brought him back to my memory and i actually look forward to seeing the comercial every chance i get
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:54 PM PDT
  • Abe Vigoda
    Chris was great plus this might help Spade get some trim.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:53 PM PDT
  • ohmy
    Chris Farley was brilliant, and coupled with David Spades dry humor was comic magic! I have very little doubt that he woud love this commerical. Chris taught us, if nothing else, that people need to stop taking themselves and their convictions so damned seriously.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:35 PM PDT
  • Lisa G
    I miss Chris Farley.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:23 PM PDT
  • bsw
    How refreshing! Chris was magnificent & David is a true friend! Good!
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:18 PM PDT
  • Mary T
    I totally agree with David Spade when I saw it, I figured Chris Farley would have done it himself if he could have. I did have an inkling that those with no lives would have been offended.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:09 PM PDT
  • Not a one
    I really don't see what the big deal is!!!
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:05 PM PDT
  • Not a one
    I really don't see what the big deal is!!!
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:05 PM PDT
  • ßèè†lèjµî¢è
    Are people fu54ing retarde7! Fat guy in a lil coat is a movie classic. I think that scene and movie is a he11 of a lot better then Gone w/the Wind. Farley would have loved this and people that disagree prolly eat oat meal for breakfast.
    report abuseposted October 29, 2009 5:05 PM PDT
comments 1-10 of 17  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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