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What's The 'Shirley Temple Little Darling DVD Collection' Copypasta? The Cartoon Network Commercial That Became A Meme Explained
If you watched Cartoon Network in the late 2000s or early 2010s, chances are you have the Shirley Temple Little Darling DVD Collection copypasta etched into the back of your brain.
The advertisement in question seemingly played every commercial break on Adult Swim and elsewhere. Although it's ubiquitous, did anyone actually buy this DVD box set?
Regardless, let's explain what this ad campaign was and why it's lived on in memes so many years later.
What's The 'Shirley Temple Little Darling DVD Collection' Commercial?
The Shirley Temple commercial originally aired in the late 2000s, predominantly on Cartoon Network. The infomercial wanted viewers to buy a DVD box set of child actress Shirley Temple's greatest hits from the early 20th century.
The commercial was simple in structure. It displayed prices and metrics, packed with retro visual effects akin to old-school television. It also played famous Shirley Temple scenes, most notably Temple singing, "Animal crackers in my soup!"
Overall, the ad gained meme attention because of its notoriety and prevalence in the childhood TV consumption of so many. For Zoomers and some Millennials who grew up during the time period, the commercial seemed omnipresent.
What's The 'Shirley Temple Little Darling DVD Collection' Copypasta?
Internet users have spread the usage of the commercial's copypasta across social media platforms. For your copy-and-paste usage, here it is in full:
From Baby Take-A-Bow, to Curlytop and Heidi, America's favorite little darling Shirley Temple has been entertaining us for generations. And now through this exclusive TV offer, you can experience the most comprehensive DVD collection of one of the brightest stars in film history, but you haven't seen Shirley until you've seen her brilliantly restored in black and white and in color! Presenting the Shirley Temple Little Darling DVD Collection! 18 timeless films packed with hours of her unforgettable singing, spectacular dancing and pure wholesome fun the entire family will enjoy together! These classic Shirley Temple films have stood the test of time and you'll cherish sharing these heartwarming adventures again and again with your family and friends! Bring home the magic of Shirley Temple with the new Shirley Temple Little Darling DVD Collection! 18 classic family films, beautifully restored in black and white and in color for just two payments of $24.99! Call now and receive this collectible photo of Shirley Temple, absolutely free with your paid order! This collection is not sold in stores and only available through this exclusive TV offer! If these priceless movies could lift a nation during the worst of times, imagine what they could do for you and your family today! Tales of innocence, friendship, courage, hope and love! And now you can enjoy the original black and white movies and the beautifully restored color versions all in one amazing DVD collection at the most incredible price! These films have been digitally restored and remastered to preserve their integrity and quality! This is a limited-time offer, so don't miss your opportunity to own the most complete Shirley Temple DVD collection ever! Call now to order your special edition Shirley Temple Little Darling DVD Collection! 18 classic films in black and white and in color, plus this Shirley Temple collectible photo, all for just two payments of $24.99 plus $5.99 shipping and handling! This offer is not sold in stores so call now! Rush delivery available.
How Is The 'Shirley Temple Little Darling DVD Collection' Used In Memes?
Starting in the mid-2010s, meme creators on Tumblr and elsewhere began adding quotes from the Shirley Temple commercial into memes. The joke was aimed at the nostalgia receptors of those adults plagued by the ad's repetition during their childhoods.
The random and overdone usage of the commercial's copypasta ultimately mirrors how the commercial was originally perceived: as an annoying, omnipresent garble of words too sincere and retro for its young, modern audience.
For the full history of Shirley Temple Boxset Commercial, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.
