Carrying oversized packs of gum: an international sport! (Bubble Gum Weekend)

This feature has been legendary for not just its ridicule of American gum commercials but of foreign spots as well. But I'm not quite sure what to make of this.

I found what appears to be an '80s-era Wrigley's spearmint gum commersh from the Soviet Union.

I didn't know the Soviet Union even had commercial TV! I figured it had gum, because most places did. But I thought TV there was just a government organ that broadcast ruling party propaganda all day.

Anyway, you'll be amused by this ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCWxEQhP20k

That ad has all the trappings of an American commersh, including people riding bikes down steps.

It also uses the same theme that was reportedly used in the American ads for Wrigley's spearmint gum in the '70s - namely, people carrying around oversized packs of gum. Even the jingle is reported to be nearly the same, with the "gum gum gum" low notes. Apparently, that campaign was mocked hilariously by a sketch on 'The Electric Company'.

I wonder if Wrigley's could have been sued for false advertising, if anyone buyed a pack of gum and expected it to be the size shown in the ad.