Verizon’s “Can you hear me now” guy, aka Paul Marcarelli, aka Test Man, is famous in the US – the result of a long series of commercials that began in 2022 and ran for nearly a decade. Verizon has brought him back this year. But he is seriously upstaged by 95-year-old, Buzz Aldrin. The new campaign by Gut, featuring both men, highlights Verizon’s satellite connectivity that defeats dead zones – all except the dark side of the moon. “Can you hear me now?” has been replaced by “Can you text me now?” – tested in a range of “far off the beaten track” places.
The brand, that has a number of high profile Super Bowl commercials under its belt, is not taking its new commercial to the Game, but launched it at the Grammys instead. Verizon is not letting go of the Super Bowl entirely, however. It is hosting a US-wide fanfest on February 9 in all 30 NFL markets, celebrating Game Day with live entertainment, appearances of former players, and fabulous food.
And from 6-9 February, its House of Verizon activation in New Orleans will feature DJ performances and appearances from NFL athletes, entertainers, and popular personalities from the fashion industry.
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Marcarelli began appearing in Verizon commercials in 2002 to highlight the company’s network coverage. The commercials introduced the now famous phrase, “Can you hear me now?”, that is still synonymous with Verizon. Verizon discontinued the ads in 2011. Buzz Aldrin, as you know, was the second man to walk on the moon.
