1970s Beer Commercial Icon Passes Away
Lately this has been happening a lot. I will be having a conversation with friends that will inevitably lead to, “Hey, whatever happened to _____?” Then, within a few days, this person will pop up in the news-seemingly out of the clouds. Case in point, the passing of comedian Bill Saluga was announced this weekend. Saluga was an icon of 1970s beer commercials.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s Miller Lite was famous for its “Less Filling, Tastes Great!” television campaign. These would feature celebrities arguing over which beer virtue was better. Bill Saluga participated in more than one of these as his onstage alter ego, “Raymond J. Johnson Jr.” Deadline described his act best. Saluga would be triggered by someone calling him “Mr. Johnson.” Feigning outrage, he would then launch into a soliloquy for his catchphrase, “You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me…” He would then ramble through every conceivable permutation of his name before finishing with “…but you doesn’t has to call me Johnson!”
To everyone who ever saw Bill Saluga do his thing, he was simply known as the “You can call me Ray” guy. His schtick was indeed iconic. You could not escape Saluga’s catchphrase. Like Clara Peller (“Where’s the Beef”) and the “Whazzzup!” guys from Budweiser, not only was Saluga’s act on television constantly, but everyone you knew in your life was just waiting for the chance to mimic it.
Bill Saluga passed away due to complications from arthritis and heart issues. He was 85. I only hope, at the pearly gates, St. Peter called him “Johnson” one more time.
North Carolina Named One Of Top 10 States For Beer Lovers
13. Massachusetts
Quality Ranking: 1
Quantity Ranking: 27
Affordability Ranking: 25
Total Average: 17.6
12. (TIE) Vermont
Quality Ranking: 6
Quantity Ranking: 1
Affordability Ranking: 45
Total Average: 17.3
12. (TIE) Virginia
Quality Ranking: 25
Quantity Ranking: 17
Affordability Ranking: 10
Total Average: 17.3
10. Minnesota
Quality Ranking: 16
Quantity Ranking: 14
Affordability Ranking: 19
Total Average: 16.3
8. (TIE) Rhode Island
Quality Ranking: 22
Quantity Ranking: 22
Affordability Ranking: 4
Total Average: 16
8. (TIE) North Carolina
Quality Ranking: 23
Quantity Ranking: 18
Affordability Ranking: 7
Total Average: 16
6. (TIE) Indiana
Quality Ranking: 8
Quantity Ranking: 26
Affordability Ranking: 11
Total Average: 15
6. (TIE) New York
Quality Ranking: 12
Quantity Ranking: 30
Affordability Ranking: 3
Total Average: 15
5. Missouri
Quality Ranking: 4
Quantity Ranking: 28
Affordability Ranking: 12
Total Average: 14.6
4. Colorado
Quality Ranking: 15
Quantity Ranking: 6
Affordability Ranking: 21
Total Average: 14
3. Illinois
Quality Ranking: 7
Quantity Ranking: 32
Affordability Ranking: 1
Total Average: 13.3
2. Iowa
Quality Ranking: 2
Quantity Ranking: 19
Affordability Ranking: 15
Total Average: 12
1. Michigan
Quality Ranking: 11
Quantity Ranking: 13
Affordability Ranking: 6
Total Average: 10
