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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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9

Ad Exec Scores as UPS 'Whiteboard Guy'

Whiteboard guy prompts FedEx parody

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(Newser) – He’s an ad exec by trade, but Andy Azula displays his acting chops—not to mention his drawing skills—in UPS commercials so popular a rival is spoofing them. In the ads, the long-haired Azula diagrams UPS service on a whiteboard. FedEx recently launched a website that features a similar spot with an Azula lookalike, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Apparently familiar with the sincerest form of flattery, Azula doesn’t mind the parody but does say, "I think I have better hair." He got the job after his work as a stand-in tested better with viewers than actors’ auditions. Now he’s getting stopped on the street and winning acting offers from agents and indie filmmakers. But “I tend to pass them up pretty quickly. I'm an advertising guy,” he says. “This is just a strange anomaly."

Ad exec Andy Azula is flexing his acting chops in UPS commercials so popular they're now being mimicked by competitor FedEx.
Ad exec Andy Azula is flexing his acting chops in UPS commercials so popular they're now being mimicked by competitor FedEx.   (http://www.whiteboard.ups.com/?srch_pos=1&srch_phr=whiteboard)
A shot from FedEx's spoof.
A shot from FedEx's spoof.   (Brown Bailout)
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Azula stars in a commercial.   (UPSWBCampaign)

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9 comments
VIEWING:
 
Collusive
Jun 23, 09 11:55 AM CDT
My ad agency worked with him on their online work, you'll never find a more difficult "actor" to work with. Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
EJ1
Oct 28, 09 10:20 AM CDT
Sounds like you're a competitor with sour grapes. At least he's easy to look at and has 'great' hair.
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0
kokuaguy
Jun 23, 09 1:13 PM CDT
Hey Collusive, why don't you have a branch office in Honolulu? Reply
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-1
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Jun 23, 09 5:15 PM CDT
Kokua, are you going for more newser points again? I mean, would you know an ad agency even if it were on your same block? And which one does Collusive work for? You mentioed "regurgitation" in criticizing DZ for SPAM. How is this comment adding anything worthwhile to anyone -- even yourself? It is off-the-cuff and unthought out. Nothing terrible, mind you, but just nothing . . .
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2-bits
Jun 23, 09 5:24 PM CDT
Seconded. All I see you do is comment on whether someone told a funny joke. You very rarely saying anything connected to the story.
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+3

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