Whedonesque : Comments on 18503 : Tom Lenk sells you Taco Bell. As well as Coffee?

Well, I suggested him to play Barney fife in a mvoie version of the old Andy Griffith show, but I was told he couldn't do Don Knotts's dark side effectively.

DaddyCatALSO | December 30, 23:07 CET

Poor guy, he's stuck doing commercials when he's a talented comedic actor...

StylishYetAffordableBoots | December 30, 23:51 CET

So it's bad that he found work?! The more exposure he gets is a good thing. Look at my link above for an example.

josswhedonaddict | December 31, 00:27 CET

Aaaaaw, it makes me sad to see that this is what Tom has to do right now! *Tear*

Becca5002 | December 31, 01:02 CET

I hope he doesn't find it insulting to realize that his fans think so little of the work he HAS found.

josswhedonaddict | December 31, 01:21 CET

Seriously. What is so shameful about doing commercials?

hacksaway | December 31, 01:26 CET

Personally, I think some of the SciFi Channel movies they all sometimes do to be worse, at least in terms of quality, but it's still work, it's still exposure, which they all deserve.

josswhedonaddict | December 31, 01:31 CET

It seems to me that Tom is doing just fine. He's a working actor, which in itself impresses me!

Jelly | December 31, 02:37 CET

Commercials are dues a lot of working actors pay or have paid, and (usually) provide very necessary income that actors need to live on - as well as exposure. They also give the all-necessary agent some incentive to keep putting them out there.

I'm sure Tom would much prefer to be working on something of artistic merit that uses his talents to a greater extent, but I'm also sure he'd prefer to be working than not working. It's pretty simple.

It can be painful to use your acting for something that feels unworthy of your skills (like most paying actor jobs are) - but guaranteed it can be far more painful to 1) not be wanted for commercial work or 2) have to take some kind of a non-acting job that may make auditions very difficult or impossible to arrange.

Acting - it's one of the hardest jobs in the world in which to find gainful employment (increasingly so, as reality TV multiplies like Hydra heads) - and most actors - including the union-enrolled - are not working at any given time. I couldn't hack it - well, I didn't hack it - and I have a lot of admiration and sympathy for those that persist.

There are so many more people that have talent than can be employed, so I'm just happy when somebody good like Tom gets any work at all.

[ edited by QuoterGal on 2008-12-31 03:07 ]

QuoterGal | December 31, 03:06 CET

1. I'm not a vegetarian.
2. I've never done an empire carpet commercial but I do admire their catchy theme song.
3. Poor guy? You guys can suck it!
- Tom Lenk

tomlenk | December 31, 03:21 CET

Good gravy - that would appear to be from the newly-joined Tom "Suck It" Lenk himself.

Does Tom get to be purple-icized? I hope so, though mebbe he can have his own color...

I look forward to any webisodes that Tom and his friends can dream up for us to watch... youtubish or otherwise.

EDIT: Hee. I edited this one 'cause it's really burrito-style cheesy to write "Tom" as "Tim" right when he's looking right at you.

[ edited by QuoterGal on 2008-12-31 03:35 ]

QuoterGal | December 31, 03:28 CET

Bahahaha. I wonder if anyone's going to scramble to edit/wipe their comments now.

The One True b!X | December 31, 03:33 CET

Hehehe, I've been known to break out in the Empire Carpet song when someone mentions getting carpet there. :)

cabri | December 31, 03:36 CET

Is that really Tom Lenk? Or Tim Lenk! hahaha

DeathIsYourGift | December 31, 03:38 CET

That's okay QuoterGil. We all make mistakes.

The One True b!X | December 31, 03:38 CET

Good on Tom!

TamaraC | December 31, 03:42 CET

LOL.

cabri | December 31, 03:42 CET

Yo Quiero Tom Lenk!

DeathIsYourGift | December 31, 03:42 CET

Right On, Tom! Work is work, dude.

Tonya J | December 31, 03:49 CET

Well, with the economy the way it is, I don't think anyone should be criticizing people's job choices.

QueenofCretins | December 31, 03:50 CET

So if the economy was booming, it would be okay?

The One True b!X | December 31, 03:51 CET

No, I don't think it's ever okay, but it's especially in poor taste right now.

QueenofCretins | December 31, 03:53 CET

If it is open to a vote then I definitely vote that Tom Lenk's name should be purple-icized! And personally I thought it was kind of clever for them to tie in Tom's character in the commercial to his character on HIMYM (which I hope me see more often). I've loved Tom Lenk's webisodes and youtube silliness; it is obvious to me that his creativity is still over flowing in all directions. (He did ask us to suck up, right?)

embers | December 31, 03:59 CET

Did people go all "poor Felicia" when Felicia Day was in the washing machine and Cheetos commercials? Are people more inclined to think of Tom Lenk as "poor Tom" because he's great at playing an underdog character?

Sunfire | December 31, 03:59 CET

I was waiting for someone to ask that, Sunfire.

The One True b!X | December 31, 04:03 CET

2. I've never done an empire carpet commercial but I do admire their catchy theme song.

Then I've seen your evil (?) twin - I could've sworn it was you!

m'cookies actual | December 31, 04:04 CET

That might be so, Sunfire. He has such a long-suffering expression in the commercial that you just want to say 'Poor Tom!' -- if you don't know how much money one gets paid for a national ad! Let's hope Pepsico liked him enough that he becomes part of a whole campaign. :)

cabri | December 31, 04:06 CET

I in turn was waiting for someone else to dig up the relevant thread, b!X. I didn't see one for the Cheetos ad, but it does look like the same attitude about actors doing commercials came up in the washer commercial thread about Felicia.

Sunfire | December 31, 04:21 CET

Welcome, tomlenk! Though I won't conceal my disappointment that your screen name rhymes with jack.

[ edited by Pointy on 2008-12-31 04:40 ]

Pointy | December 31, 04:27 CET

oh in that case: poor felicia. Didn't she discuss the commercial thing in the Commentary! The musical?

Remember when Cordy was on her millionth commercial audition when she got the visions? Good times.

DeathIsYourGift | December 31, 04:28 CET

I think the powers of laundry serve Felicia well, actually.

Sunfire | December 31, 04:39 CET

SHe does discuss it in the regular commentary, but I don't remember if it comes up on Commentary! as well.

The One True b!X | December 31, 04:42 CET

Quick question - everyone has an Evil Twin, right? I mean, it's not just me thinking that, right? Does that sound too crazy? Jeez, I hope not. Don't look at me!

If it does sound kinda too nutty, than this is my Evil Twin QuoterGil typing this, not me. Oh crap, what a giveaway.

Tom's Evil Twin is named Tim. It's a known fact - and it was Tim that was in the Empire commercial - which was directed by Joss' Evil Twin Ross. Written by Zed Whedon.

Whereas, and this is interesting, though Felicia does have an Evil Twin named Fennella, it was Felicia herself who appeared in the Cheetos and Sears commercials.

Go ahead - ask me anything.

QuoterGal | December 31, 05:02 CET

I thought Felicia's evil twin was Delicia. o.O

cabri | December 31, 05:04 CET

I thought her evil twin was Felicia Night. :D

crazygolfa | December 31, 05:40 CET

I thought Felicia *was* the evil twin.

Sunfire | December 31, 05:47 CET

LOL crazygolfa! My evil twin's called "MowingDownKittens". And also, mods, can Tomlenk, be Wheodonesques' newest purple member? (Did I write that right, 'cos that kinda sounds a bit erm,.. hammerish)

RollingInKittens | December 31, 05:47 CET

I thought only Joss was purple as far as I knew. I searched Brian Lynch and he's purple. I don't care if Tom is purple, but do give him a purty color.

Tonya J | December 31, 05:56 CET

Jane Espenson is all purpley, too, but James Gunn is not - so I'm betting it's for V.I.P.s of the Whedon'verse kind (I'm sure there's others, but I'm forgetting, because I'm older than I used to be.)

Tom could be all purpley, too, couldn't he? It'd be sweet.

QuoterGal | December 31, 06:20 CET

I'm happy for him to be purpleized, with verification, of course. I'm sure there are a number of devious Fake Toms out there just floating, actually more like bouncing, around.

Though, I have a friend who was in a Ben Affleck chat room one day (did I mention she's a bit loopy?) and got talking to a guy who insisted he WAS Ben. She gave him her phone number and promptly got a phone call from...Ben Affleck. Sweet, eh?!

missb | December 31, 06:26 CET

I'm not crazy about Ben Affleck, but I did think that was really cool, missb, and now people will stalk chat rooms and give out their numbers just in case I AM DEPP is really Johnny Depp. ;)

ETA. and tomlenk, if that is really the coolly talented you (and no I am NOT checking out your YouTube vids everyday *cough*), hope you have a great New Year! We wish to see more of real you in 09 :D

[ edited by Mirage on 2008-12-31 06:51 ]

Mirage | December 31, 06:49 CET

Tom can has purple if he's, you know, the real Tom. But we don't know yet. Welcome to Whedonesque, Tom Lenk, even if you're possibly fake!Tom.

Caroline | December 31, 10:32 CET

Heehee! Can we make this the new, is it or isn't it Fake Tom Lenk conspiracy, to do our heads in... again? ('Cos the Fake SMG conspiracy is sooo 2008) ; )

[ edited by RollingInKittens on 2008-12-31 11:21 ]

RollingInKittens | December 31, 11:15 CET

As a card-carrying egotist, I'm surprised tomlenk didn't protest "I do *so* have a dark side!"

DaddyCatALSO | December 31, 14:30 CET

Welcome to Whedonesque, Tom Lenk, even if you're possibly fake!Tom.

Fake Thomas Lenk will surely get on well with Fake Thomas Jefferson...

patolver | December 31, 18:58 CET

...so yes this is the real Tom Lenk. I don't know what this purple business is but it sounds regal. Who do I have to email to get purple? And could I have a special font? Maybe Helvetica or Copperplate...or Chalkboard? That's a great font.

tomlenk | December 31, 20:31 CET

tomlenk: Email the mods, they can certainly get you set up; joss and Brian Lynch are the only ones I can recall seeing here since I've been stopping by, but I'm pretty sure there are others set up for it, assuming they recall their passwords.

And like I said, it wasn't me, it was a cyberfriend of mine on another site who said your dark side doesn't compare to that of Don Knotts, altho she praised your comic and straight drama abilities.

And I work in collections, so I seldom insult anyone's job, altho I am known to say a few things about those not smart enough to hire the right people.

DaddyCatALSO | December 31, 21:24 CET

So exciting to be in at the birth of a new purpleness! And yes, extremely regal, on Whedonesque anyway. Too bad you can't get the Chalkboard. (Oh, go ahead mods, prove me wrong! :D )

cabri | December 31, 21:51 CET

the birth of a new purpleness

Bad visuals. *rubs sore eyeballs* And I just had this vision of Tom running around town looking for the color purple.

I seriously need sleep...

Mirage | December 31, 22:02 CET

Hi Real!Tom Lenk. If you haven't already found it under "About", the email address to write the moderators is whedonesque@gmail.com . The purple means when you post a message here, your name will be that color, and yes, Whedon royalty.

Tonya J | December 31, 22:21 CET

Lol rollinginkittens! "The fake SMG conspiracy" is so 2008, haha. Wouldn't be the new year without a new conspiracy.

Happy new year everyone! Possibly real or possibly fake!Tom (aka Tim) Lenk too :)

buffyfest | January 01, 18:51 CET

We don't really do fonts but we do colours alright. As you can see from above.

Simon | January 02, 13:07 CET

So it IS the real Tom, Simon? Is it okay to gush?

Mirage | January 02, 13:28 CET

Would he be purple if he weren't? Sounds regal, indeed :).

zeitgeist | January 02, 13:54 CET

Commence gushing... :D

Mirage | January 02, 16:27 CET

I still think it's Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Pointy | January 02, 22:03 CET

Yay! Tom is a lovely shade of purple...

Tonya J | January 02, 23:52 CET

Three cheers for the empurpling of tomlenk!

cabri | January 02, 23:52 CET

*trumpet sounds* Yay! Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah! Welcome tomlenk! Glad I was able to be present at the birth of new purple royalty! *blushes and curtseys*

(and DaddyCatALSO, great back peddling! ; D )

RollingInKittens | January 03, 00:45 CET

Huzzah for The One True tomlenk ! All hail !

It's just like that bit out of 'Flash Gordon' but with less Brian Blessed.

(one thing i've always wondered - how do folk prove they're them via email ? Do the mods, like, ask them a question only Tom Lenk would know the answer to ? Cos how would the mods know the answer ? Enquiring minds need to know ...)

Saje | January 03, 00:56 CET

Planning on becoming someone else, hmmm, Saje??

Lioness | January 03, 01:01 CET

OK, time to come clean - we've all kidded about it in the past but I really am Spartacus.

Saje | January 03, 01:12 CET

No, I'm Spartacus!

RollingInKittens | January 03, 01:33 CET

Saje and RollingInKittens need to battle this out in a Spartacus competition -- first one to post a pic of himself in a leather miniskirt wins! If you're a girl, RIK, sorry, you're automatically disqualified. Well, from my fantasy competition anyway.

cabri | January 03, 01:42 CET

Cool! But if Saje does post a pic of himself in a leather miniskirt, I hope he doesn't 'Flash Gordon' those which are in close proximity, which, in this instance, would be me. (Even though I am disqualified.)

RollingInKittens | January 03, 02:13 CET

First wave diiivvve !

Dammit, if only I hadn't got rid of my extensive leather mini-skirt collection to make way for my posh ballgowns. Ah well, hindsight's 20/20.

Saje | January 03, 14:50 CET

I think Cabri would agree that a picture of you in a ballgown would be an acceptable alternative.

Lioness | January 03, 15:10 CET

Ah but it wouldn't be period accurate though, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Saje | January 03, 16:08 CET

Did anyone else recognize the "you only pushed a button" guy from Season 1 of Angel? He played the burrower demon guy that Angel fights in "Lonely Hearts."

almost cookies | January 22, 19:48 CET

December 30 2008