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Watch the viral video that caused a stir on the Internet.Pepsi conspired with professional NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon to film a new ad featuring him taking a Chevy Camaro for a test ride, but with a twist. In the ad, Gordon dons a disguise so that he's hardly recognizable as a celebrity. He walks into the dealership acting like a timid middle-aged man who's perhaps in over his head trying to handle car with the get-up-and-go of a V8 Camaro. Hilarity ensues as he takes the seemingly unsuspecting car salesman for the ride of his life.
The video is of course staged, much to the chagrin of John C. Dvorak, who ripped the stunt to shreds in an angry tirade. As one of the article's readers commented, "Why so serious John?" Indeed, the video that went viral (it currently has over 7 million views on YouTube) is a clever ad riding the so-called reality TV wave that's become so popular, except the sub 4-minute video is arguably much more entertaining.
In case there's any doubt about the video, ABC News spoke with a Pepsi spokesperson who refused to say whether the salesman is an actor (a solid indication that he is), but added his reactions are "100 percent genuine." Unlike Dvorak, however, many on the Internet -- including ones who were fooled -- don't really care it's a fake.
"If you need a laugh, this new Jeff Gordon/Pepsi Max spot may do the trick. Now, that's a test drive!," a Twitter user posted.
Enough rhetoric, here's the video:
By the way, this isn't Pepsi's first foray into the land of makeup and staged pranks. Kyrie Irving, NBA star for the Cleveland Cavaliers, was given a makeover to look like a senior citizen before hitting the blacktop for a pick-up game in New Jersey. That video has over 20 million hits.
Getting back to the Test Drive video, the Los Angeles Times reports it was produced by Gifted You, which is owned by Will Ferrell's Funny or Die company. Well done to all involved.
Comments are closed on this article
ZX9RDan89
March 15, 2013 at 10:55am
Fake or not, it's funny.
I just bought a Pepsi Max and book an appointment at my local Chevy dealer. Don't know why... I just had the urge.
My opinion doesn't matter.
vrmlbasic
March 14, 2013 at 10:02pm
Why was this John C. Dvorak guy up in arms over this? Why should I care that he cares?
Hexorg
March 14, 2013 at 1:57pm
I love how the intensity of the second chin is proportional to the G forces. Maybe we can measure G forces in the "second chin protrusion lengths"? He had forces of 4.7 scpls!
Pruneface
March 14, 2013 at 1:18pm
Question: who is better at driving the Camaro: Jeff Gordon or the guy from Hawaii 5-o?
vrmlbasic
March 14, 2013 at 10:00pm
Jeff Gordon.
Only the GM sponsorship keeps McGarrett from dying horribly in that Camaro: he blithely drifts through each and every intersection (luckily cars are repelled from him, magically), he can drive the Camaro through muddy trails and outrace off-road vehicles and all he has to do to stop hardened criminals, criminals often driving much larger vehicles, is to simply get ahead of them and come to a stop ~perpendicular to the "pursuit", and these criminals just give up instead of ramming him.
More importantly, Gordon takes his car against trained drivers piloting comparable cars and wins. McGarrett, supposedly trained in driving as a SEAL, takes his super-Camaro & godly skills against much lesser, slower cars (generally debadged Fords) & trucks, piloted by those without elite driving skills and wins gracelessly.
Gordon beats equals, McGarrett barely ekes out wins against chumps. Gordon is superior.
pastorbob
March 14, 2013 at 1:18pm
I think there are a lot of people on this site that need to lighten up and get a sense of humor. Some of you are waaaay too serious!
stige
March 14, 2013 at 12:55pm
wait... things on the internet aren't always true?
i've had it wrong this whole time.....
Pball1224
March 14, 2013 at 10:57am
Not as staged as people think. The dealership owner was in on it, but the salesman was not. The car was not even the dealership's, but brought in for the prank.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2013/03/13/jeff-gordons-pepsi-max-test-drive-goes-viral-video/
jason2393
March 14, 2013 at 10:29am
I liked the ad, but... there was no 2009 model year Camaro, and the 2010 model year car didn't have that steering wheel. That came in 2012.
anc51699
March 14, 2013 at 10:07am
People must be really gullible to think these aren't staged. Just because they aren't real, however, doesn't mean they're not funny. Most of what you watch on TV, movies or live on stage is staged, yet that doesn't stop people from enjoying it. Why get so bent out of shape about it?
fygquas
March 14, 2013 at 11:03pm
Why do you think the producers go to such lengths to pass this off as "reality tv" when they could just say outright that it's as fictional as a comedy film? Because they know that the funniness here is derived from the fact that it actually happened. So if it's proven that it's all just an act, then it's not funny.
theplustwo
March 14, 2013 at 11:17am
I'd say the main "fake" in the video (that isn't super obvious) which Dvorak totally missed is that it's most likely not even Jeff Gordon doing the driving. He's not in any of the shots of the salesman reacting and you can't see him in any of the exterior shots of the car.
They got a stunt man to do some donuts and filmed the "salesman" freaking out and then probably did all the exterior shots with only the stunt driver in the vehicle.
ApathyCurve
March 14, 2013 at 10:28am
There are legions of boob-tube addicts who think "reality" television shows are candid and impromptu; that such people would be fooled by an obvious viral ad doesn't surprise me at all. As you say, however, it is still quite funny.
corbryant
March 14, 2013 at 9:31am
Didn't fool me.. And from the looks of the many posts and comments I've read - it didn't fool very many others either. It's obviously fake.. Dry pavement, wet pavement, sunny, rainy.. It was either taken on different days or at way different times. A total waste of 4 minutes. LOL It's like these fake ass reality shows, I just don't get why anyone wants to watch the crap.
