Fred the Baker
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Fred the Baker was a popular advertising character portrayed by actor Michael Vale in commercials for Dunkin' Donuts from 1982 to 1997. He was best known for his catchphrase "Time to make the donuts," and the commercial that introduced the phrase (which showed Fred rising well before dawn to begin making the donuts) was named one of the five best commercials of the 1980s by the Television Bureau of Advertising.
Fred the Baker was so popular with consumers that when Dunkin' Donuts decided to retire the character, the chain surveyed customers to determine the reaction to the move. Customers said Fred could leave - if he were treated like an honored friend and employee. So the company created an official "retirement" celebration for him, including a parade in the city of Boston and a "free donut" day that served over 6 million customers on September 22, 1997. After the death of Michael Vale in December of 2005, Dunkin' Donuts ran a commercial celebrating Fred, including a touching "In Memory Of".
[edit] In Popular Culture
Saturday Night Live parodied Fred's retirement on November 8, 1997 with a sketch where Jon Lovitz (playing Vale) argues with the director (Will Ferrell) during the final commercial shoot about an appropriate send-off for the character, eventually ending on, "See all you people in Hell! It's been quite a ride, everybody!"
