I’m saving some of my detailed explication for a college research paper ie.,
comparing and contrasting IHOP print and television advertising at that time. But.
First of all in the end tag of the commercial notice the slogan “Just for the fun of it”
is central to the ad campaign. I think this is Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn ad. If I remember correctly IHOP was attempting to lose the branding image of being just a breakfast restaurant. Although this campaign was short lived. It was supplanted with a livelier campaign that pushed its expansion into many tourist markets. However the oddness of the commercial fit right in with the television
logos at that time (here’s some http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C4cZx0bD0Q) Now imagine the IHOP commercial popping up after one of the television logos then you’ll understand the impact.