The cure for the common (fill-in-the-blank)

A recent episode of Mad Men featured an aspiring copywriter who was trying to impress Don Draper and colleague Peggy Olson with his portfolio. In the scene, the writer used the same line, "the cure for the common (fill in the blank)" for a variety of brands. Not surprisingly, Draper and Olson looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

As another example of art imitating life, the line has indeed been used in recent advertising by a variety of companies. There is the "cure for the common car" (Nissan), "the cure for the common show" (USA Network), "the cure for the common meal" (Taco Bell), "the cure for the common coupe" (Chrysler Sebring) and "the cure for the common commute" (New York Waterway system.)

It's too bad that Draper is a fictional character and couldn't have influenced this same-ness before all of these taglines were launched by their respective brands.