nobody asked…

The Center for Artificial Indifference

Unknown Celebrity…

February 12th, 2008 | Category: Realities, Whatever

You have seen him hundreds of times on television, in magazines and newspapers, and on billboards and smaller signage. But you don’t know his name.

You know exactly what his message is. But you have never heard him speak but six words — the same six words, over and over.

He has probably made enough on this one job that he never has to work again unless he wants to. Yet, he is as common and likeable and unlikable as your brother-jn-law or the guy next door.

He is the Unknown Celebrity.

He is the Verizon guy.

Known affectionately at Verizon as Test Man, he is Paul Marcarelli, an actor from New York City. And, yes, those really are his own horn-rimmed glasses.

testmanVerizon is so determined to keep the Test Man in character that it would provide few details about the actor who plays him in the ads. “Our casting specifications called for an everyman with something quirky or memorable about them,” says Marvin Davis, vice president, advertising, Verizon Wireless. “We looked at over 1,000 people.”

Can you hear me now?

Good.

13 Comments so far

  1. Media Districts Entertainment Blog » Unknown Celebrity… February 13th, 2008 7:26 am

    [...] nobody asked… added an interesting post on Unknown Celebrity…Here’s a small excerpt [...]

  2. twomartini February 13th, 2008 7:43 am

    How about five words?

  3. twomartini February 13th, 2008 7:46 am

    Sorry, missed the “good”. Six words… Yes, they often run through my head. Drives me crazy.

  4. gerry rosser February 13th, 2008 8:25 am

    I like the “more bars in more places” ads from Cingular/AT&T. I like bars.

  5. Rain February 13th, 2008 9:59 am

    wow, i was just thinking how sexy I think he is the last time I saw that Verizon ad. He is just the cutest guy. I don’t know what there is about him that is so appealing but definitely something. Thanks for his name.

  6. twomartini February 13th, 2008 10:33 am

    Probably the uniform.

  7. twomartini February 13th, 2008 10:43 am

    Rain,

    I think I have figured out why you are attracted to him.

    He looks like Buddy Holly.

  8. Joy February 13th, 2008 2:17 pm

    He DOES look like Buddy Holly Rain. Nice to put a name with the face. Looks like Paul won’t be having any more ’starving actor’ days.

  9. Em February 13th, 2008 6:40 pm

    Some people become such fixtures in our lives and we don’t even think about the fact that we don’t know them. And then you point out that we don’t know them. And now I feel driven to know more! LOL

  10. nobody asked… » Hook Lines… February 14th, 2008 6:41 am

    [...] Can you hear me now? — Verizon (see previous post) [...]

  11. Rain February 14th, 2008 8:29 am

    I didn’t actually find Buddy holly that appealing. I think maybe it’s that the Verizon guy appears to be so sweet, doesn’t ’seem’ to have a huge ego, and he can take care of all problems or stay with them until he does. You can count on him… now the actor might be a totally different deal :)

  12. Rhonda March 20th, 2008 3:59 pm

    My husband and I were having a debate on if they replaced the verizon guy with a look-a-like. He got online and found an article saying the verizon guy was dead. Anyone out there know the answer to this?

    http://www.glossynews.com/artman/publish/verizon-guy-dead-1036.shtml

  13. Bob March 28th, 2008 6:15 pm

    I agree Rhonda. It does look like a differnt guy to me, as well.