Advertising mascot for Lee Jeans
Promotional doll used from 1920 to 1962
First appearance was in the windows of Dayton's flagship store on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis
Brought out of retirement for use in TV ad campaign from 1998 to 2005
12½ inches tall

His tagline was 'Can't Bust 'Em' - a reference to his jeans rather than him.
In 1949, he grew a half inch and became a plastic doll rather than a composition doll.
That same year he got a girlfriend, the little talked about Betty Lee.
Shilling for other products, he dressed as a Coca-Cola truck delivery man and a Phillips 66 gas station attendant.
His early popularity clouded the issue of whether the doll was selling the jeans or vice versa.
He was given his pink slip in 1962 because he was no longer considered profitable.

Chester Reynolds, Lee’s 1920 board president, came up with the idea for Buddy, not realizing he would strike marketing gold.
By the time he was retired after 44 years of service, he had become the second-highest-selling doll in the U.S.
To promote the Lee Dungarees line, he was brought back by ad agency Fallon McElligott to an aggressive TV ad blitz as 'Buddy Lee - Man of Action' (complete with a 6-minute mockumentary).
His first three TV commercials were directed by Spike Jonze.
Subsequent ads featured guest appearances by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jack Hanna and Bobby Womack.
After 9/1,1 he rolled up his sleeve and did an ad for the American Red Cross to promote blood donation, complete with bandaged arm and an 'I Gave' sticker.
In 2004, he starred in MTV2's interactive show 'Control Freak' as 'Buddy Lee: Guidance Counselor,' where viewers were able to choose one of three outcomes for the his segments via online voting.
Promoted in 2005 as a write-in U.S. presidential candidate for the 2008 election, he did garner votes, however not enough to displace Barack Obama as the victor.

Credit: Scar Tactics

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For 2009, as of last week, Out of 14 Votes: 28.57% Annoying

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