# Who's the blond guy in the Verizon ad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572 "2006-04-13T20:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/1 "2006-04-13T20:50:27Z")
The one who looks like a gangster. He tells the nerdy guy “I told you to come alone”. He’s cute as hell, and looks familiar. Anyone know who he is? ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/2 "2006-04-13T22:04:36Z")
A link would help. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/3 "2006-04-13T22:12:14Z")
Sorry. I googled a few pages and didn’t find the ad on-line. I searched using “Verizon TV ads” and “Verizon wireless ads”. It’s one of the “We’re your network” ads, with hundreds of people standing behind the “Can you hear me now?” guy. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/4 "2006-04-13T22:49:40Z")
I don’t know who he is, but just wanted to agree that he is indeed cute as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/5 "2006-04-13T23:59:10Z")
I searched all over and couldn’t find anything either. I hope someone can answer. I agree, he’s really cute. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/6 "2006-04-14T00:02:10Z")
Oh good. It’s not just me. 🙂 He looks the perfect villain, doesn’t he? Like a less dangerous and young Rutger Hauer. I’m not accustomed to _looking forward_ to commercials! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/7 "2006-04-14T01:26:29Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I’m not accustomed to _looking forward_ to commercials! I literally laughed out loud when I read this. I almost said in my last post, “I actually find myself _hoping_ that commercial will come on while I’m watching TV.” ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/8 "2006-04-14T13:15:45Z")
He’s my future baby - grandaddy! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/9 "2006-04-14T13:17:45Z")
Saw that add for the first time yesterday. Can’t remember the last time I LOL at an ad! “Do you guys work down by the docks?” ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/10 "2006-04-14T13:28:12Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Oh good. It’s not just me. 🙂 > > He looks the perfect villain, doesn’t he? Like a less dangerous and young Rutger Hauer. Rutger Hauer! Now I’m _really_ curious! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/11 "2006-04-14T13:49:10Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > Rutger Hauer! Now I’m _really_ curious! [ad text](http://blakesnyder.com/?p=36) > [@](#): > > Comment by Writergurl > > April 4, 2006 @ 9:23 pm > > My favorite commerical these days is a Verizon spot. It shows a kinda wimpy guy meeting another guy, who’s kind a thug type, out in the middle of a large muddy field, and it’s raining. The thug leans towards the wimp in a menacing fashion. > > THUG: ” Thought I told you to come alone.” WIMPY: ” I did.” > THUG: “Who’re they?” > > Wimpy looks over his shoulder where a bunch of folks are waving from under umbrellas. > > WIMPY: “That’s my network. In case I need to make a call or something…” > THUG: “Yeah?” > (friendly now) > “You get service out here?” > > Thug walks towards the crowd. > > THUG “Hey, you work down by the docks? I do lots of business down there too.” > > Great commercial! And, I hate cell commercials ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/12 "2006-04-14T14:11:34Z")
I actually think about this ad whenever it comes on. Not only is that blond guy effective in the role of thug, but think about the choice that Verizon had to make to make the ad work without coming across as racist: - if they went with an overt Mafia type - clearly the thug is meant to be a member of organized crime - they would be accused of using inappropriate stereotypes - if they went with a person of color or with any form of accent - well, let’s not go there - they would clearly be accused of racism so they went with a white, blond, accentless guy, because no one would think of accusing Verizon of racism by implying that a generic white guy is a thug. And again, as far a commercials go, the guy does a good job. But as a marketing executive, I can’t help but think of the huge number of discussions that HAD to have gone on behind the scenes to get this right… ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/13 "2006-04-14T16:24:11Z")
I third or fourth the notion that the blonde guy is Hottie McCute, and familiar. I know I’ve seen him somewhere. The wimpy guy is familiar too, but I know where I’ve seen him - [Kevin Sussman](http://imdb.com/name/nm0839934/) was in one of my favorite movies, _Wet Hot American Summer_. He’s the crazy kid at camp who caused the wind storm at the talent show. I also catch him doing guest-star roles in series shows, like Law & Order, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/14 "2006-04-14T17:20:42Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I actually think about this ad whenever it comes on. Not only is that blond guy effective in the role of thug, but think about the choice that Verizon had to make to make the ad work without coming across as racist: > > - if they went with an overt Mafia type - clearly the thug is meant to be a member of organized crime - they would be accused of using inappropriate stereotypes > - if they went with a person of color or with any form of accent - well, let’s not go there - they would clearly be accused of racism > > so they went with a white, blond, accentless guy, because no one would think of accusing Verizon of racism by implying that a generic white guy is a thug. > > And again, as far a commercials go, the guy does a good job. But as a marketing executive, I can’t help but think of the huge number of discussions that HAD to have gone on behind the scenes to get this right… Bah, political marketing PC mumbo jumbo. All we care about is…who’s the hottie… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/15 "2006-04-14T18:57:16Z")
If it’s any help, that Verizon TV spot is titled “The Deal”. [Adcritic.com](http://hot.adcritic.com/television/search/?q=verizon) has it online — for subscribers. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/16 "2006-04-14T19:14:05Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > so they went with a white, blond, accentless guy, because no one would think of accusing Verizon of racism by implying that a generic white guy is a thug. That’s some deep thinking. 🙂 The first time I saw the ad, before he spoke, I thought Hottie was gonna be British. He was wearing Bob Hoskins’ coat. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/17 "2006-04-14T19:27:47Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > That’s some deep thinking. 🙂 Are you serious? It’s typical reverse-PC tunnel vision. TV commercials have plenty examples of ethnic criminals. A soon as there’s a blonde white one, it’s suddenly “PC”. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/18 "2006-04-14T20:59:36Z")
I meant that it’s thinking more deeply about a commercial than most people would. It’s the thinking I was commenting on, not the conclusion. Although I can’t argue with the conclusion, since nobody knows what the ad writers were thinking. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/19 "2006-04-14T21:19:39Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I meant that it’s thinking more deeply about a commercial than most people would. It’s the thinking I was commenting on, not the conclusion. Although I can’t argue with the conclusion, since nobody knows what the ad writers were thinking. Again, as a marketing executive at a company, let me assure you that companies, as a rule, spend a TON of time behind the scenes working this out. Remember _Hitch_ the Will Smith movie where he is the date fixer and falls in love with Eva Mendes? There was some press about the fact that his love interest was a Latina - white would’ve run afoul of some folks who don’t like white/black interracial couples (stupid but true) and black might’ve led to a too-limited audience. So, after much analysis they decided to pair him up with a Hispanic actress. Gets a big “whatever” from me personally, but when I have to approve radio ads for my company, the whole issue of the vocal profile and accents of the voice actors can be a big issue… When you do that for a living, it becomes hard to turn it off as a casual viewer, y’know? Kinda like as a guitar player, it is hard to listen to a song and not pick out whether they are playing a Les Paul or a Stratocaster or something… ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572/20 "2006-04-14T22:17:21Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Again, as a marketing executive at a company, let me assure you that companies, as a rule, spend a TON of time behind the scenes working this out. Oh. [upon review, noticing that WordMan never used the term “PC”, or anything like it. Tip toes away from thread.] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-blond-guy-in-the-verizon-ad/352572.md?page=2)