While Subway is known for the slogan “Eat Fresh,” one of the fast-food chain’s TV commercials is a bit stale.

You’ve probably seen it: A guy with a Mohawk tries to tempt a woman sporting ratted hair and tons of makeup with a burger. “I don’t want no burger,” she sings as clowns fall down in the background. “I don’t want no greasy chicken,” she announces a few seconds later after giving a stiletto-heeled kick to a KFC-inspired bucket. Then, a couple of teenage girls share a shot with a nasty looking conveyor belt full of burgers.

When the 29-second spot began airing in April, folks took notice. Bloggers began to inquire about the dated commercial. One woman went so far as to post a letter she wrote to Subway in which she offered to buy more subs if they would pull the “garish” commercial. Rumors even started that one of the teen girls in the ad was a young Parker Posey.

“It works,” says Eric Loeffler, vice president of marketing communications and creative services at Nemer Fieger, the locally based ad agency that worked with regional Subway franchises to revive the commercial.

Loeffler claims Subway sales have increased, but that’s as much sales information as he’ll share. He also says that the spot is airing in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa and that the commercial originally aired nationwide in 1985 and later again in the early ’90s. Its ending, when a Valley Girl-tinged voice announces a foot-long sub deal, is actually new but made to look and sound like the ’80s.

John Rash, senior vice president, director of broadcast negotiations at Campbell Mithun Advertising in Minneapolis, says that most of the time when old commercials are brought back to life, it’s because of a familiar jingle or phrase (think: Pop, pop, fizz, fizz). In the case of the Subway commercial, Rash says it’s more about the era.

“What’s most compelling about this spot coming back is that it’s more evocative of an era than it is of a specific spot,” says Rash. “It’s a clever device to get increased viewing, particularly with the younger demographic who are harder to find in television.”

Loeffler won’t say how long the commercial will continue to run, but he’s pretty happy with the buzz  both good and bad it has generated.

“If people are talking about it, and it works  mission accomplished,” he says.

As for those Parker Posey rumors?

“She is not in this commercial,” her manager, Frank Frattaroli, wrote via e-mail Thursday.

Amy Carlson Gustafson can be reached at agustafson@pioneer press.com or 651-228-5561.

Down with the clown today!