Tribute: Stan Freberg

The world lost one of the funniest and most creative men in broadcasting, Stan Freberg, who died today at age 88. One of the great thrills of my life was seeing Mr. Freberg at Comic-Con, and seeing the wildly enthusiastic audience let him know how much he was loved.

During the Mad Men era, he was responsible for some of television’s most memorable ads, like these:

When I worked at my high school radio station, we used to play this classic Freberg demonstration of the power of radio.

Freberg provided voices for some of Termite Terrace’s classic cartoons, including Pete Puma.

His fresh, brash, innovative style inspired many of the most subversively delicious comedy of the next generation.  The Beatles said they were fans.  And so were parodists like Weird Al Yankovic, who paid tribute to Freberg on Twitter.

Very sad to say that one of my absolute all-time heroes has just passed away. RIP Stan Freberg. A legend, an inspiration, and a friend.

— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) April 7, 2015

May his memory be a blessing.