Some are calling it the worst commercial ever made, but the director is calling it pure gold. INSIDE EDITION has more.
Ever heard the expression: So bad, it's good?
Well, that's the story of a commercial for the East Hills Shopping Center in St. Joseph, Missouri. It's being mocked as the worst mall commercial of all time!
Chris Fleck made the commercial on a budget of just $300. The way he sees it, it's a smashing success!
Watch the Commercial
INSIDE EDITION's Megan Alexander asked, "How does that make you feel?"
"I don't care," replied Fleck. "Look at the views! Advertising is designed to create awareness, and we've done that."
So far, the commercial's been viewed nearly 1.5 million times on YouTube, and counting. Not bad for a local TV ad.
One fellow who works in the mall sings in the commercial, "Boots and pants, and boots and pants!"
A woman working in the mall sings, "Backpacks! Backpacks! Come get your backpacks!"
The campy tone didn't just happen.
Fleck explained, "We wanted to do something a little different, and I kind of embraced the un-preparedness of the on-camera folks."
"Your talent is actual mall employees?" asked Alexander.
"A lot of them didn't know they were going to sing, so we had that going for us," said Fleck.
Laura Neff is the haircut lady in the commercial. She told INSIDE EDITION, "Whether or not it's silly and stupid and people are silly in it, it's real. We're real people who went to work one day and all took a chance and went out on a limb on something."
Fleck said, "When I shot 'Boots and Pants,' I laughed out loud, 'That's perfect! That was gold!' "
Ellen DeGeneres is a fan! She just tweeted: "Local commericals aren't always bad. Sometimes, well, they're this."
So, a commercial shot on a shoestring budget is a big hit and the guy who made it is laughing all the way to the bank.
