E.T.’s doofus cousin

This one confused me as a youngster. The (malignant) genius in the product placement/tie-in of Reese’s Pieces being E.T.’s favorite snack had been singed onto my brain by the time this ad rolled around. (Incidentally, there’s something a bit sinister about that, isn’t there? Having a beloved childhood icon closely identified with a sugary, fattening candy? Not up to Joe Camel’s standard, but still…)

I digress. The point is, I’d see this alien Billy Barty-looking blue dude and wonder “Who the hell is this guy? Where’s E.T.?” I guess Hershey Industries Amalgamated Federated Incorporated wasn’t ready to let go of the “Aliens love this crap!” angle. Whatever the reasons for his presence, this nameless interloper was quite a letdown after the great Extra-Terrestrial of my earliest youth. He even looks like he might have an offensive odor, what with his loin fur and all.

Etagramulfabetz indeed.