Talking With the Ski Lift Guy From the AT&T Commercial
Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 6:16AM It's the best commercial on TV right now. I know it's hard to say there is a "best commercial", but this one is.
I'm talking about the AT&T commercial for 4G wireless where the two guys are on the ski lift and one guy asks the other if he has permission to ask his ex-girlfriend Sheila out. He says sure, but the other guy has already been texting her and she had been waiting for a year for him to ask here out. Keep in mind the guy who used to date Sheila says they broke up only six months ago.
Oh, no. So when Sheila sends a video over by broadband, the dumped guy wih the beard rips the phone out of the first guys hand and chucks it off the lift.
Here's the actual commercial to see if you don't own a television.
Well the guy with the sunglasses and beard who is being called a Zach Galifianakis wannabee is actually none other than actor Derek Reckley.
Reckley single-handedly steals the commercial. His all in one grab the phone, throw it, and then put his sunglasses back on is classic. He even does a little hair flick as he puts the glasses back on.
I spoke with Reckley about some of the finer points of the commercial.
Rick: How many takes did it take to do the perfect throw off the lift chair?
Derek Reckley: 1 time, duh.
Rick: You have to listen closely, but you did a little "umph" as you heave the phone off the lift. Was that all you, or was that put in during post production.
Reckley: That was me, and it was done all at the same time.
Rick: Where was the commercial filmed?
Reckley: Mt. High. (Mt. High is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California)
Rick: You had the look of a pro skier in the commercial, are you an actual skier?
Reckley: That was my 3rd time skiing, so I'd have to say I'll be going pro next go around...
Note: Reckley can be found in other commercials and other projects on the internet, including Casual which is on Hulu. There he plays a more serious role, showing off his versatility as an actor.
