Jonathan Bennett is switching gears from “Mr. Christmas” to Mr. Carnival, with a delightfully campy recreation of Kathie Lee Gifford’s “iconic” 1984 business for the cruise line.
On Thursday, Jan. 2, the Imply Ladies star and Carnival Cruise model ambassador, 43, took to social media, posting a video that includes his shot-for-shot remake alongside Gifford’s unique advert, and the 2 clips sync up just about completely, proper all the way down to Bennett’s Gifford-inspired wardrobe.
The OG advert — Carnival’s first nationwide TV marketing campaign — featured Gifford singing the 1921 music “Ain’t We Received Enjoyable” whereas gallivanting round one of many firm’s “Enjoyable Ships” and the sunny locations they sail to. Equally, Bennett’s replace finds the Discovering Mr. Christmas host singing a really ’80s-inflected cowl of the music in practically an identical situations.
“My tribute to probably the most iconic business of all time,” Bennett captioned the video on TikTok. “Kathie Lee you’re a legend!”
And Gifford took discover, reposting the side-by-side video to her official Instagram account.
“So enjoyable to relive these musical recollections of 20 years of working for Carnival Cruise Traces and making their iconic commercials,” she wrote within the Jan. 2 submit. “I suppose imitation is one of the best type of flattery, so thanks @jonathandbennett. Though, I do look an entire lot higher than you do in a bikini!”
Because the Today show notes, Gifford, now 71, labored with Carnival from 1984 to 2004, and even revealed throughout her remaining look as a bunch of this system in 2015 that her son Cody was conceived on one of many firm’s ships.
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Bennett, who was named “Godfather” of the corporate’s Carnival Firenze ship final April, responded to Gifford’s seal of approval, commenting that the daytime TV icon’s Carnival commercials “introduced me a lot pleasure.”
“I nonetheless know each phrase to all of them,” he added, “and attending to recreate them was an honor. You’ll at all times be one of the best to ever do it, however it was FUN attending to play!”
In the meantime, in a touch upon Carnival’s Instagram submit that includes the video, Bennett’s husband, actor and TV presenter Jaymes Vaughan, challenged followers to identify his cameo within the clip. Vaughan will be seen briefly within the advert’s photograph sales space scene.