Post by IAMCAPER on Jan 19, 2007 13:18:57 GMT -4
Most Canadians may not know Randy Conrad's name, but chances are many who watch TV have seen the Grade 12 Cape Breton student's face, or heard his lexicological brain-child: 'one gigantic cornucopia of awesomeness.'
While skipping class to take advantage of a free sandwich coupon last November, he inadvertently coined the catch-phrase, with a thickly exaggerated local accent, in a Sydney N.S. McDonald's restaurant where a TV crew was shooting a national ad-campaign for a new sandwich.
His surprising, improvised response, which included some subtly executed tongue-in-cheek marvelling at the bacon's hickory-smoked taste, left viewers across the country scratching their heads and wondering whether the testimonial could possibly be for real.
Described by one friend as having a "wry wit for the absurd," Conrad admitted in an interview this week that while he does like the sandwich and he does have "a bit of an accent," the on-camera spectacle was just a way of showing off for his friends.
"There were some pretty girls around and I figured I'd just show off and throw on a thick accent, because I don't really talk like this all the time, only when I'm telling a really good story," said the New Waterford native, reprising the accent that has garnered him attention all over cyberspace on blogs and message boards alike.
"But I wanted to represent the other side of Cape Breton, not the articulate side that the other guys did: 'it's a very good sandwich, I really like it,'" he says in the Queen's English followed by a roaring laugh.
While Conrad's improvised routine has brought a smile to many East Coast ex-pats across the country, particularly in areas like Fort McMurray, Alberta where many of his own friends are exiled, some Cape Bretoners have criticized him for perpetuating negative stereotypes about their part of the country.
But that doesn't seem to bother the easy-going Breton Education Centre student who plans on studying political science next year at St. Francis Xavier University in Halifax. He says most people realize his down home enthusiasm for the sandwich was amped-up for comedic value.
"Most people know; you don't say something like that and be completely serious, one person said 'cornucopia, isn't that a tennis player?," he laughs, reminding those who forgot that a cornucopia is a "horn o' plenty."
As for any disrespect toward his home, Conrad says that while he's proud of where he's from and did not mean any disrespect by his routine, it's important not to take yourself too seriously.
"I have heard people saying he's making Cape Breton look horrible, but the truth is people do talk like that down here.
"Or people are saying he's making us sound like Newfie, but what's wrong with sounding like a Newfie, they're good people," said Conrad, who said he was pleased with his pay for the ad campaign that ran for about a month.
McDonald's Canada spokesman Ron Christianson said in an interview yesterday that although the ad stopped running on Dec. 31, it continues to gain reactions and leave an imprint perhaps more lasting than other versions that were filmed in Ottawa-Hull and Chicoutimi.
"Based on the reaction that we've seen and the notoriety of the individual that has resulted from his participation in the ad, I would say this one has stood out," he said.
Conrad's big lines continue to be featured on the Internet but the question remains: where did he come up with this stuff?
The "gigantic cornucopia of awesomeness" probably came from an old Saturday Night Live skit spoofing Martha Stewart, says Conrad, while his admiration for the sandwich's hickory-smoked bacon was more of a ham than anything else.
He explains that bacon seemed like a natural choice when he was pushed by the camera crew to choose a favourite part of the sandwich, after unsuccessfully insisting he liked "it all together."
"They said 'did you know it's hickory smoked?'
" And I said 'no I didn't know it was hickory smoked, but ask me about the bacon again,' so they all gave me a queer look right... Basically I answered my own question."
Although the ads are now off the air, Conrad doubts he'll ever shake the line.
And even though he has made a habit out of denying any participation, as a way of keeping the running joke alive, there are many places around his hometown of New Waterford where few people are ready to let it go.
"In gym class if I ever hit a home run or score a goal, a teacher will say 'that goal was a cornucopia of awesomness.' I'm trying to live it down, as much as I love it right, I mean come on."
Although the 18-year-old admits his cult-status in some parts of the country is coming from quite ridiculous circumstances, he's happy he can get a laugh out of friends and strangers at home and away in places like Fort McMurray.
"I'm like a catch-phrase up there or something.
"They love it all because I'm talking in a big Cape Breton accent and they're really far from home," says the former McDonalds employee.
As for any regrets, Conrad, who appears in the ad with braces and a New England Patriots cap, only wishes he would have shaved before making his television debut.
While skipping class to take advantage of a free sandwich coupon last November, he inadvertently coined the catch-phrase, with a thickly exaggerated local accent, in a Sydney N.S. McDonald's restaurant where a TV crew was shooting a national ad-campaign for a new sandwich.
His surprising, improvised response, which included some subtly executed tongue-in-cheek marvelling at the bacon's hickory-smoked taste, left viewers across the country scratching their heads and wondering whether the testimonial could possibly be for real.
Described by one friend as having a "wry wit for the absurd," Conrad admitted in an interview this week that while he does like the sandwich and he does have "a bit of an accent," the on-camera spectacle was just a way of showing off for his friends.
"There were some pretty girls around and I figured I'd just show off and throw on a thick accent, because I don't really talk like this all the time, only when I'm telling a really good story," said the New Waterford native, reprising the accent that has garnered him attention all over cyberspace on blogs and message boards alike.
"But I wanted to represent the other side of Cape Breton, not the articulate side that the other guys did: 'it's a very good sandwich, I really like it,'" he says in the Queen's English followed by a roaring laugh.
While Conrad's improvised routine has brought a smile to many East Coast ex-pats across the country, particularly in areas like Fort McMurray, Alberta where many of his own friends are exiled, some Cape Bretoners have criticized him for perpetuating negative stereotypes about their part of the country.
But that doesn't seem to bother the easy-going Breton Education Centre student who plans on studying political science next year at St. Francis Xavier University in Halifax. He says most people realize his down home enthusiasm for the sandwich was amped-up for comedic value.
"Most people know; you don't say something like that and be completely serious, one person said 'cornucopia, isn't that a tennis player?," he laughs, reminding those who forgot that a cornucopia is a "horn o' plenty."
As for any disrespect toward his home, Conrad says that while he's proud of where he's from and did not mean any disrespect by his routine, it's important not to take yourself too seriously.
"I have heard people saying he's making Cape Breton look horrible, but the truth is people do talk like that down here.
"Or people are saying he's making us sound like Newfie, but what's wrong with sounding like a Newfie, they're good people," said Conrad, who said he was pleased with his pay for the ad campaign that ran for about a month.
McDonald's Canada spokesman Ron Christianson said in an interview yesterday that although the ad stopped running on Dec. 31, it continues to gain reactions and leave an imprint perhaps more lasting than other versions that were filmed in Ottawa-Hull and Chicoutimi.
"Based on the reaction that we've seen and the notoriety of the individual that has resulted from his participation in the ad, I would say this one has stood out," he said.
Conrad's big lines continue to be featured on the Internet but the question remains: where did he come up with this stuff?
The "gigantic cornucopia of awesomeness" probably came from an old Saturday Night Live skit spoofing Martha Stewart, says Conrad, while his admiration for the sandwich's hickory-smoked bacon was more of a ham than anything else.
He explains that bacon seemed like a natural choice when he was pushed by the camera crew to choose a favourite part of the sandwich, after unsuccessfully insisting he liked "it all together."
"They said 'did you know it's hickory smoked?'
" And I said 'no I didn't know it was hickory smoked, but ask me about the bacon again,' so they all gave me a queer look right... Basically I answered my own question."
Although the ads are now off the air, Conrad doubts he'll ever shake the line.
And even though he has made a habit out of denying any participation, as a way of keeping the running joke alive, there are many places around his hometown of New Waterford where few people are ready to let it go.
"In gym class if I ever hit a home run or score a goal, a teacher will say 'that goal was a cornucopia of awesomness.' I'm trying to live it down, as much as I love it right, I mean come on."
Although the 18-year-old admits his cult-status in some parts of the country is coming from quite ridiculous circumstances, he's happy he can get a laugh out of friends and strangers at home and away in places like Fort McMurray.
"I'm like a catch-phrase up there or something.
"They love it all because I'm talking in a big Cape Breton accent and they're really far from home," says the former McDonalds employee.
As for any regrets, Conrad, who appears in the ad with braces and a New England Patriots cap, only wishes he would have shaved before making his television debut.
i find it so interesting that people can rip others lives apart through the the internet but only when there anonymous, or atleast have a certain degree of anonymoty. you say your from cape breton. ill see yah around the mayflower mall er somethin or maybe at the show, and then tell me what yah said in ur blog to my face. God bless, Randy