"He's different," said Sammy Salky in something of an understatement about his new TV commercial pitchman, Fancy Ray.
A partner in a nationwide chain of clothing stores operating under the corporate name Man of Fashion, the Memphis-based Salky is bowled over by the Fancy Ray persona. Salky envisions Fancy Ray going big-time with the company.
After a shopping trip to the Man of Fashion store in Crystal, which is called Harold Pener's Man of Fashion, Fancy Ray wanted to give them better TV spots because the one running was "generic," he said. So the self-proclaimed "Best Looking Man in Comedy," who also has a burgeoning advertising business, made it his business to pitch an ad featuring his favorite person.
"It struck me to be so different," said Salky. "You can take that all kinds of ways, but when you look at commercials, it's hard to get somebody's attention. I decided to give it a shot. I talked my partners into four locations across the country: Minneapolis, and we are trying to make him a star in Memphis, a star in Baton Rouge and a star in St. Louis."
The commercials just started airing, and they are already driving customers into the stores. "I've already had some feedback from Baton Rouge and Memphis, and they love him," said Salky. "Four markets now; we're trying to put him in 12 [markets ultimately]. My gut feeling is there is going to be a lot of talk about it. That's what we're looking for. [There are] all kinds of ways we could go with Ray. This [commercial] was done with very little planning. Guy's got some talent, I'm telling you he does."
Mighty impressive how Fancy Ray didn't get any makeup on that off-white trench coat he's wearing in the spot.
"How do you know he didn't?" said Salky. "The manager at the store said HE DID. Next time, we're going to take some of that makeup off. Don't you put that in no article!"
Fancy Ray has met his match.
"When I talked to him," said Fancy Ray, "I was riffing with him and Sammy was hanging with me punch for punch. He likes the fact that I hustle hard. He got me. He sees me going bigger and better places.
"You would not believe what I went through to get to him. But it's going to be worth it. I'm going nationwide. I'm telling you, I'm like the late Billy Mays mixed with Muhammad Ali and Little Richard on two pots of coffee.
"Something special happens when I hit that TV screen. I'm like a magnet. Are you going to use the picture I sent you? My man Daniel Schmidt took a lot of pictures for you."
Would rather not because I'm trying to forget what Fancy Ray looks like. But here's the link to the commercial tinyurl.com/2b5uc3s posted on Youtube.com. It's bearable because it's not all Fancy Ray -- plenty of merchandise is showcased.
Traffic reporter opening?
Word around the Fox 9 newsroom is that new traffic reporter candidates were being auditioned for Juli Jay's job before she injured her leg in a freak accident.
In other words, Jay was on her way out before she was sidelined by injury in November, and before she allegedly was responsible for one of the most spectacular high-profile, no-injury arrests on suspicion of DWI in recent memory.
Jay told me she expected to returned to Fox 9 in January. But it's probably more realistic to expect Kelsey Soby is replacing Jay.
Favre sexting follies continue
Among MyTalk107.1FM's funny new promotions is one where it is jokingly referred to as the station of quarterbacks who sext...
The real joke is how the NFL appears to be doing its best to delay announcing a decision on whether its investigation concluded that not only did Brett Favre telephone Jenn Sterger, but he also sent photos of his anatomy to her. The NFL doesn't want to sully the image of one of its greatest QBs or muddy Favre's walk into the Hall of Fame or hamper his prospects for being a game analyst, if he wants to do that -- alleged violations of the NFL personal conduct policy notwithstanding.
As profootballtalk.nbcsports.com has reported, Favre's camp delivered a bellicose message to Sterger's camp: "Give us a lawsuit."
Somebody's feeling full of himself and this situation he put himself in by dialing Sterger's number in the first place.
C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude can be seen on Fox 9 Thursday mornings.
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