Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Booooo...

Where did that come from and why have I been singing it to myself for as long as I can remember?

Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Booooo...

Was it a Hanna Barrbara Cartoon? Nope.

Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Booooo...

Then it hit me! It's from the same COMMERCIAL that I got "my lines, my lines, I can't remember my lines! oh ho..."

Not ringing a bell yet? If you watched any television in the 80s this is a part of your childhood. You may even quote and not remember why.

Let me jog your memory or refresh it if you already have seen a singing flamingo and a talking giraffe.

The spot opens with a wide shot of a huge set of loudspeakers:

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ATTENTION, THE DETROIT ZOO WILL OPEN IN 5 MINUTES!

Of course this is ringing a bell now!!!!!!!!

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The opening animal for the Detroit Zoo talking animal commercial was a lizard WHO DID NOT TALK! Watching now I get it! He's ticked off because those huge loudspeakers just made an announcement that there was 5 minutes before the zoo opens. Huge loudspeakers. But this guy

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5 minutes please! Just 5 minutes!

I realize that the lizard needed to say nothing now, I mean the look he gave this khaki loving stage manager:

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He wasn't silent in retrospect! That is the LOUDEST side eye I have ever seen.

This commercial makes me feel like I'm 8 years old, on Saturday morning, wearing pajamas, with a bowl of cereal, sitting cross-legged in front of the TV waiting to watch The Flintstones Comedy Show, hoping to get a glimpse of Captain Caveman...this commercial was always on!

I still quote this giraffe:

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My lines, my lines! I can't remember my lines! Oh ho...

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My makeup! My makeup!

Kills me to this day. That nose.

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Wardrobe! I say! Wardrobe!

This next guy makes my cheeks hurt honestly. I'd forgotten how funny I thought this commercial was. It still is!!!!!

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How do I look? SERIOUSLY? How do I look

Ya look great seal!  I'vvvvveeee beeeeeen kissed by a rose....

Sorry. Seal joke.

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(hysterical...laughing...birds)

These guys loved seal jokes.

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Hey-A-Honey, gimme a little kiss, before I go on, eh? (kissing noises)

I really want to see her slap him? Wing him? Beak him! Get him with your beak lassie!

Next up, we get to meet Melvin

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Ok guys! This way!

Melvin then leads a pack? Pod? Gaggle? Anyway Melvin leads the group of fellow monkeys to the right, only to be immediately corrected by a nosy neighbor who seems to know where they should be going:

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Wrong way guys

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Nice goin' Melvin!

Poor Melvin. But on Melvin's behalf: Why was that antelope so interested in what Melvin and his friends were up to? Mind you're own business antelope!

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My lines, my lines

And finally! The darn Ba Ba BA BA BA BA BA BA BOOING FLAMINGO

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Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Booooo

It was a flamingo! A singing flamingo I'd been quoting since at least 1982!!!!!!! A. SINGING. FLAMINGO!!!!!!!

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I wanna talk to my agent!

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Let me talk to your agent. He ha ha ha

The bird and the reptile had great timing but, sadly were unable to make it as a duo. One was just hungrier than the other.

Anyway, back to the Detroit Zoo 80s Talking Animal Ad.

Finally, Singing Hippo!

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(opera singing......................hippo.............)

 

How do you follow a singing hippo you may ask???

With this lovable fella:

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Take it from me: You just gotta keep cool.

That bear would eat me but I want to hug it.

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(?????????????????????)

Honestly this ground dweller could be reciting Shakespeare, but I don't know what it said. It still made me laugh then and still does now. The bear was really a great setup man.

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Positions everyone!

Dude. It was 45 seconds ago you said we had 5 minutes. Now you and your khakis, three ring binder, and bullhorn have gone and upset the penguins:

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Hey! No shoving!

(followed by unintelligible penguin bickering)

Who can tie this whole commercial together with one line? A pig:

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Hey! This place is a Zoo!

Cue the announcer.

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Visit the Detroit Zoo and see how the stars live!

Doner Agency drop the microphone...brilliant ad! standing ovation and here's the encore:

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One and two and thhh....

And in a surprise twist here's some dancing flamingos!!

Here's the whole thing without my commentary:

This commercial brings back so many incredible memories. As far as it's ranking in my completely unscientific approach, it's easy a Top 5 Greatest Michigan Commercial of all time.

Part II: Father and Son Construction

MORE: Here's the Michigan Slang Out-of-Staters Need to Know