Totally overdue: An Isaiah Mustafa Post.
Item #1: "Interview: Old Spice Sensation Isaiah Mustafa Hosts Funniest Commercials Of The Year 2010 (TBS)"
The countdown of the Funniest Commercials of the Year 2010 airs tonight on TBS (@ 10:00pm EST)! Isaiah Mustafa, best known for his work on this year's Old Spice ads, will be hosting! We couldn't think of a better host for this special.
FanBolt's Emma Loggins recently had the pleasure of chatting with Isaiah about tonight's special. Here's what he had to say!
So you were the obvious choice for host for Funniest Commercials of the Year 2010. I assume you have to have the #1 commercial of the year, right?
I don't know. I saw up to a point in the show, and that's all I was allowed to see. The last few remaining spots I was not allowed to see, so I have no idea.
What was your favorite commercial of the year?
My favorite were definitely mine [Laughs]. I'm a big fan of that commercial too. Not just because I'm in, but because I know the writers and the director - and having worked with them I find what they did very unique and very honest in a weird way. It's very straight forward. They hit you where it hurts.
Are you going to be doing any more Old Spice commercials? Or do you know right now?
I am currently working with P&G. I signed a year contract with them in July. So whenever they're ready for me to do something, I'm sure I'll step in and do it.
How has these commercials changed your life? I know you've gotten a lot of TV offers.
I've gotten quite a few TV offers. I've had fun doing a couple things. I did Chuck, Love Bites which comes out next year, and Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family and stuff like that. I've had a lot of fun opportunities and fans recognizing me on the street. I've just had a lot of fun this last year.
Now you're going to be interacting a little bit with David Hasselhoff on the Funniest Commercials right?
Yes. The Hoff [Laughs].
Can you tell me a little bit about that?
Yeah. Me and the Hoff swear off [Laughs]. We try to one-up each other. It's fun. He's a funny guy. Upon meeting him, he's the nicest guy you can imagine. He knows exactly who he is and the impact he's had on television. I watched Knight Rider when I was a kid, and I loved that show. So for me to meet Michael Knight, that was amazing! He was so cool about it. I was like 'You're Michael Knight!' And he was like 'Yeah.'
And our last question for you was a fan submitted question. Can you tell me a bit of what it was like guest starring as Greta on Chuck?
It was great. That set, that whole cast and crew, they're really a cohesive family type unit. They're really fun. That's every set I've been on. I've never been on a set where people are mean or mad... or ranting. I've never experienced that, so when people talk about that I don't know what that means.
But Chuck was just really fun. They really are those guys. They are, for lack of a better word, geeky kind of gamer guys. They're into comic books. They're into games. They're into all kinds of popular culture. They really do those things. That's probably why it transfers so well.
EPIC PHOTO:
The Man Your Man Could Smell Like + The Most Interesting Man in the World.
IS THIS REAL LIFE?
SOURCE + TWITTER/YFROG
Item #2: "Mustafa interviewed/chillin on 'Attack of the Show' "!
"Isaiah Mustafa wraps up the year with Kevin Pereira talking about starring in the popular Old Spice commercial, the viral campaign and what could be in store for him in 2011."
Click to viewhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLyUptByxdU
Tiny follow-up to the interview -- former Playmate Sara Underwood is interrupted by You-Know-Who (the bit from the live broadcast that was edited out was Underwood saying "...I'm sorry, was just watching [Mustafa] walk away...", which apparently prompted him to walk over, haha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRL5HlaqLsg
"...Would you like me to finish [the sentence] for you?...." GURRRRL.
Item #3: "Neve Campbell Romance Denied By Old Spice Guy"
NEVE CAMPBELL, the 37-year-old Canadian actress and star of the 'Scream' movies, is not dating 'Old Spice Guy' ISAIAH MUSTAFA, despite a recent report suggesting that the pair were an item.
It was revealed last week that Campbell had filed for divorce from her actor husband JOHN LIGHT after three years of marriage, and recent speculation had suggested that she had begun a relationship with Mustafa. However, the actor's spokesman told OnTheRedCarpet.com that the story was false, adding, "It is an odd rumour that is not true at all". Campbell's divorce from Light will be her second, after she split from actor JEFF COLT back in 1998.
SOURCE
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LOL/OUCH @ at the spokesperson's statement. But seriously, while I have no idea what to think about the veracity of this rumour, I cant help but get subtle "Random Enough To Be True" vibes from it.
On the other hand, he did say in the "Attack of the Show" interview: "This is my first Christmas holidays without a girlfriend". Guess we shall see~
Item #4: "Old Spice Guy’s 'Slumdog' Journey To Hollywood Stardom"
You’ve probably seen less than a minute of the actor’s life, but Mustafa’s story has so many heart-breaking twists and serendipitous turns that Jay Leno compared it to “Slumdog Millionaire.”
That’s not far off.
Born in 1974 as the youngest of seven children to a Muslim family, [Isaiah Mustafa] moved from Portland, OR, to Mission Viejo, CA, during his youth. His dad set up a limousine service but tragically died when he fell asleep at the wheel driving late at night.
“I think my optimistic spirit and nature come from him,” Mustafa said. “He never allowed me to say can’t - which was frustrating for a seven-year old… But that must have stuck.”
The family moved north of Los Angeles to Oxnard, CA, where Mustafa attended Santa Clara High School and stayed busy with acting and basketball. A 6-foot-3 center that was part of two state championship teams, Mustafa dreamt of playing for mighty UCLA, the school his older brother had attended.
But Division I colleges weren’t interested in guard-sized big men and he didn’t have the ball-handling skills for the backcourt. So Mustafa headed to Santa Monica College, where his hoop dreams fizzled out.
When Mustafa’s dream of playing for UCLA was dashed after the Bruins handed their final scholarship to another player, Mustafa took a visit to the desert and instantly bonded with “The Snake” after meeting him in passing.
Said Mustafa: “We said something and both kind of started laughing. Then he said, ‘I hope you make the right decision. It’d be nice to have a nice, tall receiver to throw to.’ At that moment, I knew I was going to Arizona State.”
The rest of his now familiar rise to fame @ SOURCE
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Oh my God, the story of his father. Damn. :((( Reminded me of Stephen Colbert 's bio (huge family, premature death of father). Mustafa seems like such a nice guy, it really makes his gradual success over the years THAT much more awesome.
Item #5: Mustafa trolls the Jace Hall Show! (from October)
He appears @ 00:25, 2:45, and 5:40. Also featured throughout the video: STAN LEE FUCK YEAH. :D
SOURCE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGIBdyFS6Fo
~FIN~
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Yay for Isaiah Mustafa being on "Hot in Cleveland", "Funniest Commercials", and perhaps even in 2011 Old Spice spots! Still holding out hope for a COMMUNITY CAMEO (make it work, NBC). Until then...
ALL ABOOOOOOOARRRD THE SSSSSSEXY EXPRESS, *PEW-PEWWWWWMMM*
Thank you for your time.