Bob Hope Expected to Appear in Kmart Ads

Kmart said it plans to add aging comedian Bob Hope to its roster of celebrity boosters as the discount retailer gears up for the holidays. Hope, 94, is expected to appear in a new TV commercial airing in some U.S. cities by Nov. 1, pending final approval by the company, said company spokeswoman Mary Lorencz. Hope’s ad would be a general commercial that could be used throughout the year and would include other as-yet-unnamed celebrities, she said, declining to provide further details. Kmart uses Penny Marshall and Rosie O’Donnell in ads. Martha Stewart, the diva of home entertainment style, also advertises her line of Kmart sheets, linens and paint. Last year, Kmart spent about 20% of its $31 billion in sales on advertising, according to a regulatory filing.