In 1994 , nearly eight old age before Elijah Wood made his Hobbit debut in 2001’sThe Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring , he assist Frito - Lay introduce its newfangled Wavy Lay ’s tater chips to everyone find out Super Bowl XXVIII , between the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills .
In thecommercial , then-12 - class - onetime Wood dodging his path from the very back of theSuper Bowlstadium to the front quarrel by betting people , one by one , that they ca n’t eat just one chip . If they lose the stakes , they lose their arse — and they all lose . Once he reaches the effective seats in the mansion , he flags down Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman . The scene cuts dead to Wood , now clad in a Cowboys uniform , trotting out onto the discipline in Aikman ’s place .
Mrs. Henry Wood was n’t exactly a showbiz newcomer : By 1994 , he already had several square moving-picture show role under his belt , including as the titular character in Disney’sThe Adventures of Huck Finn(1993 ) . But he was n’t a menage name — and he also was n’t the most illustrious face in the commercial message . That preeminence went to former vice Chief Executive Dan Quayle , who also drop off his seat to the pint - sized plotter . ( You could make the argument that Aikman was also more recognizable , at least in certain circles . )
“ adman could underwrite whole political institutions : Polident brings you the Senate . Domino ’s submit the White House , ” Maureen Dowd wrote forThe New York Times . ( For what it ’s worth , Quayle did donate his ad net income to charity . )
And then there was the fact that in 1992 , Quayle had been widely ridiculed formisspellingpotato(he guess it waspotatoe ) while presiding over an elemental shoal spelling bee . It probably was n’t a happenstance that Quayle was now endorsing a potato production . “ Potatoes have become a big part of my life , but this time I ’m savour them ! ” he joked in a statement .
“ Dan Quayle ca n’t spell ’em , but he can trade ’em , ” theChicago Tribunequipped .
Quayle ’s web with Wavy Lay ’s began and ended with Super Bowl XXVIII , but Elijah Wood ’s did n’t . He starred in at leasttwo other commercialsfor the crunchy collation , one of which also feature acting legend Jack Palance .
