Happy
Hotpoint
-
The three-inch
tall dancing pixiewho advertised Hotpoint appliances during
commercial segments on the ABC sitcom THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE
& HARRIET beginning in 1955. Wearing a heavy corset, makeup
and costumed in a head-to-toe gray leotard, a very young Mary
Tyler Moore (just out of high school) made her acting debut as
Happy Hotpoint, a tiny pixie with a blonde curl at the
forehead who was superimposed skating on an ice-cube tray or
leaping out of an oven piping such phrases as "Hi! Harriet,
Aren't you glad you bought a Hotpoint?" and "Everyday's a
holiday with Hotpoint." Mary earned about $6,000 for filming
39 Happy Hotpoint TV spots (in five days) but later was unable
to continue in the role of the slender little sprite when she
became pregnant. As Mary Tyler Moore recalled in her biography
After All (Dell Publishing, 1995 p.81-82) "Fitting into
Happy's elf costume for the next block of commercials proved
to be a challenge. I was now three months pregnant and my
breasts reflected that fact. I remember the pain of that
neutering bra to this day (a bandeau, a sort of bra without
cups). I looked a bit egg shaped, but we got away with Happy's
little secret for that group of ads. The elf bit the dust
afterwards, though. The sponsor couldn't stop showing the
character for the duration of my pregnancy and then bring her
"it" – back again. So off she – "it" – went. TV history."
