Va. Man Picked as New Maytag Repairman

[peterh770]

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — It's lonely being the Maytag Repairman, but a Virginia man is going to give it a try.

Whirlpool Corp. announced Monday that it has selected Clay Jackson of Richmond, Va., as the character promoting the reliability of its Maytag brand of large appliances.

The Benton Harbor-based company conducted a nationwide search for the "new face of Maytag." Whirlpool bought Maytag of Newton, Iowa, last year.

"The new Maytag Repairman will help revitalize the Maytag brand and its heritage by keeping one foot in our past while putting the other in our future," Maytag Vice President Jeff Davidoff said in a news release.

The company said that at least 1,500 people participated in the two months of auditions.

Clay had been a real estate agent in Richmond, working for his family run business. He said he decided to enter the contest "on a whim" and attended an open audition in New York. He acted in college and then professionally in 1997-2000, Whirlpool said.

The Maytag Repairman was portrayed as always lonely because of the dependability of Maytag's appliances. Since appearing on television in 1967, he has only been played by three actors. The contract of the current repairman, Hardy Rawls, is not being renewed.

 

[mixfinder]

Dufus

I saw the gentleman interveiwed on a morning talk show today. When asked if he knew a lot about appliances, he said, "no, absolutely nothing". He said he won the job on the strength of his audition as a "chair". It would be hard for a knowing person to front for the silly shame that Whirlpool hopes to perpetrate, business as usual.
Kelly

 

[gyrafoam]

Don Shier should have won that contest!

Just goes to show even the folks at Whirlpool don't care about anything but the "bottom line"----big surprise.

 

[danemodsandy]

What Goes Around...

"The contract of the current repairman, Hardy Rawls, is not being renewed."

Funny how the Old Guard at Maytag could find actors who were beloved and remembered, and how more recent management considers them to be disposable.

Hey up, Whirlpool! The whole IDEA behind the original campaign was to create the impression that there was only one Maytag Repairman- and that he was none too busy. If you keep parading new ones past us, we're gonna catch on to the truth....

Giggle!

 

[veg-o-matic]

Phooey!

Don would have made a MUCH better repairman.

veg

 

[westytoploader]

I of course asked about the Maytag audition to Don in AZ and told me that they never even called him back. How shallow of them. He definitely should have gotten the part. Oh well, it's their loss.

Recently, I read somewhere that Whirlpool was NOT looking for anyone who actually knows something about appliances, just someone "young" and "hip" to convey the new image. How stupid.

 

[maytagbear]

That's just it!

Don's knowlege, his set with REAL Maytags frightened them.

I am sure you have all figured it out by now, but when I chose my screen name, I was referring to the REAL Maytags.

At the moment, I am so not happy with Whirlpool. Less happy than usual, in fact.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[hoover1060]

just someone "young" and "hip" to convey

Holy cow if that guy pictured is young and hip.... YIKES!

 

[toggleswitch]

Well maybe in some red states....

(ducks and runs)

 

[mixfinder]

Bad Hearing

Maybe they said young and a drip.
Kelly

 

[rp2813]

It's just too stupid

The whole concept of a lonely Maytag repairman is such a crock I don't get how Whirlpool's marketing team could even consider it to be a credible campaign. There are enough consumers out there by this time who have purchased late model Maytags and have learned the hard way that what they thought was a genuine Newton-built Maytag was really anything but. You can bet they're going to laugh when they see the new ads with the new lonely guy--for more reasons than one. I sure hope they don't tag any commercials with "Maytag--the dependability people" because they'd be asking for trouble with that blatant lie.

 

[laundryshark]

Maytag: "The Degenerative People!"

Or else: "The Undependable People!"--Laundry Shark

 

[peterh770]

Mr. Clay "Jowles" Jackson should be at the Clean Show this summer. I think I will make a special visit to the Maytag booth for heckling purposes.

I guess this also means that "The Apprentice" Mark Devine is also history... Ooops, he was already gone!

Maytag apprentice character to leave company's advertising

DES MOINES, Iowa
Maytag's repairman will find himself even lonelier next year.

The Newton-based appliance maker says the repairman's apprentice, Mark Devine, who was added to the advertising campaign in 2001, will no longer appear in ads next year.

Maytag spokesman John Daggett said Devine's contract expires at the end of this year and it's nothing more than a personnel change. Daggett says the "Ol' Lonely" character will continue to be part of the company's advertising.

Maytag is in the process of being bought by rival Whirlpool. Maytag shareholders vote on the proposed deal on Thursday.

 

[appnut]

"Young and hip", that's our Don as far as I am concerned. And he's aweful damn cute too.

But, oh well, American will never know what they missed, just us priviledge 300 or so who saw Don's audition video.

As for the new man, I think he is kinda cute and down home looking. (But he's no Gordon Jump or Mike Farrell--woof Daddy) I love his smile. And he's an average, middle-America looking man!! He's got taht "aww shucks mayam" look to him. (yee haw) I may just have to turn the tv on again after a new ad campaign is executed, will have to see how the character is portrayued.

Maybe it's best the guy knows nothing about appliances, a lotta repairmen these don't from what I can tell.

 

[retromom]

Don:

You were the BEST Maytag repairman!! Not only do you know those machines like the back of your hand, you have that "adorably lonely look", and a great voice!!

Maytag is the one that is missing out on a fab spokesperson! Come to think of it, they are missing out on the quality of their new washers as well! Hrmmmphhh!

 

[appnut]

GO CAROL!!!

 

[tlee618]

I have to agree Don, this is Maytag's loss. You would have done a great job bridging the old machines with the new ones.

 

[appnut]

Yep, just saw all the stuff on the Maytag web site. He may have been chosen, but he couldn't hold a candle to don. Another major error done by Maytag!!!

 

[swestoyz]

Well Don, I'm just glad that you had a great time putting together that clip - and as for the rest of us, you'll always be our Ol' Lonely.

Ben