John Ratzenberger – the actor best known for playing the appealing postman Cliff Clavin on Cheers – was signed up to record a cameo video urging people to support the U.S. Postal Service.
The video was accidentally commissioned by Tim Kasher, the punk stalwart best known for fronting bands such as Cursive and the Good Life. Kasher posted the clip Twitter, writing: “An important message from none other than Cliff Clavin (@dratzenberger) himself, who asks us all to keep @usps in business !! (Thank you for your service, Mr. Ratzenberger). He added, “Many bet on that cameo, I must be worth my money @usps haaaaa.” (Per Ratzenberger’s Cameo page, a video of him costs $ 120.)
An important message from none other than Cliff Clavin (@dratzenberger) even, asks us all to keep @usps in business !! (Thank you for your service, Mr. Ratzenberger) #SaveUSPS #USPS pic.twitter.com/bbS43gNcIP
– Tim Kasher (@timkasher) August 16, 2020
The video finds Ratzenberger acknowledging the current predicament that the USPS opposes. Both White House Republicans and the House of Representatives have raised $ 25 billion in emergency funding for the service amid the implementation of new policies by a Trump-appointed postmaster general. Democrats have accused that general of trying to slow down mail delivery for an election that will significantly rely on mail-in votes because of Covid-19.
Ratzenberger does not get into the political weeds here, but with government funding for the USPS in the air, he has come up with a plan to help it raise some extra money: Get your holiday shopping early – and do it at the Post Office Office Store.
“Why not translate the dollar amount you’ll pay for Aunt Tilly’s new hat and just buy her that number of stamps,” Ratzenberger suggests. ‘Easy to carry, easy to ship, easy to ship – and it’s worth something, and it’s going to be worth something for a long time. And how many times will Aunt Tilly wear that hat? Feh. Once, twice? But, how many times will she use those stamps? That’s right, always think. That helps your local post office; go down and buy something. “
Although Ratzenberger does not mention this in his clip, the USPS Store offers much more than just stamps. There are books, puzzles and even mail carrier costumes for kids and dogs.
