Written by Back when I was a kid in the 70’s there was a series of animated commercials for Starkist tuna that featured a blue fish dressed as a hipster, sporting a Greek fisherman’s hat and coke-bottle glasses. Since Charlie was so hip and cultured he was convinced his “good taste” would make him the perfect tuna for Starkist. Each commercial, however, he was shot down by other sea creatures who would tell poor Charlie, “StarKist doesn’t want tunas with good taste. Starkist wants tunas that taste good.” This was followed by a rejection letter in the form of a note attached to a fish hook with the simple words, “Sorry, Charlie” that went on to become an American catchphrase as well as words that would haunt me throughout my grade school years.
This day invites people to think about the depressing topic of rejection, but happily reflect on what they’ve learned from it. You see, those dumb commercials just kept airing with different scenarios showing how, despite rejection, Charlie refused to ever give up. I found this part comforting in my youth, when met with cries of “Sorry, Charlie!” yelled at me on the playground. I was a chubby kid too smart for his own good and I didn’t always fit in. But that didn’t stop me from always trying to fit in while deflecting the many barbs that people threw my way.
Though sharing my namesake with a tuna was tough, I was mostly just perplexed at the ridiculousness of those commercials. In short, Charlie was an idiot. He was a tuna who was basically campaigning to be murdered, ground up, and stuffed into a can. Though each tiny episode ended with the ultimate rejection of “Sorry, Charlie” one has to wonder about the ghoulish “happy ending” we would have been treated to had Charlie ever gotten his way. To me the real moral here is that oftentimes, not getting what we really want can be a good thing. So on this auspicious day, we can all cheer for Charlie the Tuna, content in the knowledge that sometimes, rejection is the best thing that never happened to you.
Join me any and all days you like during April by celebrating a National or International Day with a doodlewash! Tag your image #doodlewashaday and I’ll feature everyone who played along on doodlewash.com at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Quinacridone Gold, Azo Green, Quinacridone Gold, Pyrrol Red, Maroon Perylene, Gamboge, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink, second pen with sepia ink, and third pen with blue ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Charlie, I am so sorry to hear the tuna has haunted you in life…..,well they don’t make adverts like they used to back then,used to be so iconic, nowadays they come and go so quick, what a changeable , disposable world we have become accustomed to🤔
Hehe… I do actually miss those memorable, iconic commercials, Rebecca.😃 I guess it only happens like that during a time when we actually all watched commercials! You’re right, now it’s the latest video on YouTube that’s hot this week. Times have sure changed.
Oh yes, you tube …videos come and go so fast, I don’t think kids nowadays will recall any in their later years…although I still giggle at benson chasing the deer, in the London park, he he he
Yay! It’s not really sorry Charlie day. Well it is and it isn’t. Let’s face it the tuna was not the sharpest knife in the drawer and it’s a good thing there is rejection even for a tuna. Glad you survived the ridicule Charlie. These days that’s called bullying. Another topic for another day. 🙂
Thanks Susan! 😃💕 Yeah… Charlie the Tuna was not super smart. Hehe… actually I rewatched those commercials and realized how strange and creepy they were. But all is good these days! 😉
Glad to hear that 🙂
Charlie was a tuna who walked the land
He didn’t sing opera or play in a band
but Charlie was smart and knew he was yummy
It was the starkist man who was the dummy
In a twist of fate Charlie wasn’t canned
and didn’t land in someone’s tummy
A fabulous ode to a famous tuna fish, Judy!😃💕 hehe… now there’s a pome I bet you thought you’d never pen! 😉
Charlie O’, EVERY pome is a pome I thought I’d never pen.
Very cool Doodlewashed tuna can.
You certainly didn’t deserve any childhood trauma from The “sorry Charlie” tuna ad. It’s amazing how outside forces can cause such havoc.
I say “Yeah Charlie” you add very positive force to our lives!
Thanks Sharon! 😃💕 It’s all good now! Though I never thought I’d doodlewash a can of tuna… that was unexpected! Lol Thanks so much for your kind words my friend!
I totally forgot about Charlie the tuna, I was just giggling because of your name being a national day. And I ran with it in my national day sketch.
Really wonderful job on the sketch!
Thanks Teri! 😃💕Yours was totally awesome!! One of the best of the day!! Made me laugh! So cruel to eat all the caramel popcorn though! I nearly cried! 😥Hahaha!
First – AMAZING doodlewash – the details blow me away! Second – great perspective on the whole “sorry charlie” concept! I am not sorry I have got to know you Charlie! xo Hugs!
Awww thanks Jodi! 😃💕 It was fun to try something different like this, though this morning I think the tuna unintentionally looks a bit like brains. 😊 And I’m not sorry either! So thrilled getting to know you as well!
LOL! 🙂
I always wondered about wanting to be made into food too…
As to rejection, it’s the rejecter that is missing out, right? (K)
Yep, Kerfe! They are definitely the ones who are missing out! And glad I’m not the only one who was perplexed with Charlie’s dream. hehe
I am in awe of how you managed to squeeze an awesome life lesson in along with a fabulous doodlewash (who knew a can of tuna would look so good?!), as well as hilarity (“Charlie was an idiot”…hahaha!). You are amazing! 😆💙
Awww thanks Teresa! 😃💕That’s sweet of you to say. Hehe… yeah… I’m never completely serious. Life is too short for that. This was fun to doodlewash… I forgot that Charlie wasn’t even on the cans yet in the 70’s.
😀
I understand how hurtful words can be to a young child. I was teased in Middle School because I had neck surgery and didnt look like everyone else. It has made me overly self conscious to this day. I realize now that those boys were just a bunch of insecure brats but it wasn’t easy at the time. I like what you learned from those stupid commercials to never to give up! You are very wise my dear friend! 😍💕🎨 And talented too! 🌟🌟🌟
Awww… you’re too sweet Jill! 😃💕 I’ve met a lot of creative people with this same story. We DON’T fit in… and that’s why we’re awesome!! I realize that now. People who totally fit in can be totally boring. It’s not worth it. Let’s just let our freak creative flags fly high knowing we’re actually super rare and cool! 😉💜💚🎨😍
I remember those commercials well. I am so sorry about your childhood experiences. You are certainly a resilient soul. I just absolutely love your gentle heart and your positive attitude. And wow on the doodlewash!
Thanks so much Kari! 😃💕 So sweet of you to say! Glad you liked the doodlewash… it was such an odd subject matter! hehe… I wish more kids learned early that fitting in with the crowd isn’t as cool as standing out from the crowd. It’s what’s unique about us that makes life so wonderful and interesting. 😃
That is such a hard lesson for them. I think it’s a constant struggle between wanting to belong and exercising your individuality.. 💕
Interesting that a can of tuna brings up such memories. You’ve got lots of friends and admirers now, Charlie.
I’m thinking also of the ads with the two ridiculous chickens who want to be Foster Farm chickens. Never made me run out to buy chicken but I found the ads funny.
Thanks so much Sharon!! 😃💕 Hehe… yeah there are so many funny ads where I think… that was entertaining… but still fail to buy the actual products.
Haunted by a tuna – that suggests a drawing in itself! Like you, I’ve always wondered about ads where things want to be made into food. Watching the blackcurrants aching to be made into Ribena always gave me the creeps…
Haha… “Haunted By A Tuna” shall now be the title of my memoir. Thanks Michael! lol 😃 Yeah…. this whole concept of things wanting to be made into food is creepy. I wrote early on the blog about Raisin Bran and how high the creep factor was. Hehe
I’m with you Charlie, I too grew up with those commercials and even as a kid questioned why anyone would want their fate to be stuffed in a can. You were one wise kid that pushed ahead to be a kind hearted and very talented and loved artist! Cheers to Charlie O! And a great rendering of a can of tuna!
Thanks Cathe! 😃💕 You’re so sweet to say those things. It was weirdly fun to try to draw a tuna can, though not a subject matter I would have picked! Lol These days stir up some strange memories and doodlewashes! 😉
I like this tuna can! Bullies do not deserve the company of good people 🙂
Awww thanks! 😃💕Glad you liked this! And I agree… I’ve never met a bully who was actually smart, so I assume the complexity of the world must just really scare the hell out of them and cause them to lash out hatefully. 😉hmmm… Sorry Trump!
Nice can! I never saw these adverts of course, but as you say, the concept sounds a bit fishy! (Sorry Charlie.) I can imagine sharing your name with a tuna was harrowing. I of course had Jacob’s Cream Crackers; as it turns out, this is rhyming slang, but we were oblivious to the fact at the time. Of course.
Lol…now I have heard of those crackers but I think you win!! Haha….that’s awesome…well I’m sure it wasn’t back then. Good to know we survived both idiotic tunas and creamy crackers!! 😉
Awesome can of tuna and awesome story as usual!
Awww thanks Eileen!! 😃💕So glad you enjoyed this one!
Thanks for Sharing
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Almost looks like brains in a can. Yay. I found canned tuna in my pantry! Now I know whats for lunch. Cool art subject, Charlie.
Thanks!! 😃haha! I thought the same thing!! I was waiting for someone to mention it! It totally looks like brains! lol
Thoughtful post and a beautiful rendering of the tuna.
Thanks so much! 😃💕
He was a great tuna and you are a Great artist…it’s the sorry Charlie thing that reminds me that it’s starkist Tuna that I buy.,there are sooo many choices and it has to be starkist…
hehe… yay to that! 😃💕 Yeah, I was plagued by that phrase in my childhood, but I actually loved those commercials.