Viral Marketing Stunt Puts TV Actor on ... TV

By M. Morris, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 16, 2009 2:40 PM CDT

(Newser) – A mysterious bald audience member turning up on various live Fox broadcasts is a viral marketing plant—as well as an actor on the show he’s subtly promoting. Michael Cerveris, in character as “The Observer” from the sci-fi drama Fringe, has so far been spotted, well, observing football, auto racing, and American Idol, reports Variety. Even better, staffers refer to the sub rosa campaign as “Where’s Baldo?”

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Anna Torv (right) stars as Agent Olivia Dunham, John Noble (left) stars as Dr. Walter and Joshua Jackson stars as Peter Bishop in "Fringe." (AP Photo/FOX, Craig Blankenhron)

"Fringe" co-star Michael Cerveris, in character as "The Observer," appears in the "American Idol" audience. (YouTube)

"The Observer," a character from the sci-fi show "Fringe," turns up at a real-life NASCAR race. (YouTube)

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"The Observer" is up to no good in this scene from "Fringe"--but at least he's appearing on his own show. (carpaltunneler)

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