Running some numbers on a 60,000 word dictionary with word-counts for each word (in millions) (e.g.

Counts for words you'd goof if you use the i-before-e... rule:

Counts for words with cie: 146

Counts for words with not C ei: 394

Counts for words you'd get correct:

Words with cei: 73

Not c ie: 1,836

These numbers change if you know to never begin a word with ie nor end a word with eis. (Exceptions to this are very, very rare.)

The words "their" and "being" count for 154, so if you remember them, you're in pretty good shape with the rule. Right: 2063. Wrong: 386.

The other, Lemmings, commercial was far, far better. But, then, what commercial isn't?

JD: "Like the football fans got the 1984 reference…"

Yes, even un-evolved football fans in 1984 were aware of George Orwell. 1984 came up frequently in grunts around tailgate camp fires.