I never really thought of the Verizon "Can you hear me now?" Guy as a real person until now. Makes you think about these silly tv people.
(from Yahoo)
Verizon Phases Out 'Can You Hear Me Now?' Guy
You won't hear him now. Verizon Wireless is taking its famous cell phone commercials -- featuring actor Paul Marcarelli uttering the phrase, "Can you hear me now?" -- in a new direction. In a new profile in The Atlantic, Marcarelli says he was informed of the change via email last September. "Don't feel bad for me, but I'm definitely glad that chapter is over," he said. "Most people my age are now trying to trade in their street cred for money, and I kind of made my money." Marcarelli landed the role of Test Man nine years ago. At first, he says he was embarrassed. "The reality was, it was a job," he says. His contract obligated him to appear in 20-40 spots a year commercials -- in addition to numerous live events (including appearing in front of 85,000 football fans during the halftime show of the Buffalo Bills' 2002 season opener). READ MORE
