15 Comedy Performers Who Starred In Cringeworthy Commercials

Since the dawn of the commercial, humor has been a key ingredient in selling products — even if the product itself isn’t funny. Some of the funniest commercials in recent memory are insurance commercials, and what we ask, is so funny about insurance? Cue the comedian who’s just trying to book some work. An audition for fried chicken or Preparation H pops up, and yes it’s not SNL, but it’s a lot closer to their comedy dreams than waiting tables or loading trucks.

We’ve come to know these hilarious folks for much greater performances, but to be as cliché as possible, they had to start somewhere. Since it’s so rare (near impossible) to just be handed a juicy role in a movie or TV show, the commercial is the perfect stepping stone. Even if it's cringey. Like these 15 cringeworthy commercials, and the now very well-known comedic performers who endured them.