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Look at the Old Spice guy. Now look at Isaiah Mustafa. Now back to the Old Spice guy. Now back to Mustafa.
The Old Spice guy is a bombastic, shirtless character riding backward on a white steed, an explosive advertising sensation that helped restore sex appeal and humor to a musky brand.
Mustafa, though, is different. He's a 37-year-old history buff and former football player who is muted and soft, almost mumbly. He listens to indie music. He reads narrative nonfiction and avoids gluten.
"Sometimes people are disappointed," he said on a phone call from New York. "A lot of times people don't recognize me, depending on what I'm wearing, if I have glasses on or something, or the fact that I have clothes on."
He's working steadily, booking movies including the upcoming Three Stooges. Wednesday he'll host Funniest Commercials of the Year: 2011 on TBS. His latest Old Spice commercials cast him as MANta Claus, bestowing holiday cheer clad only in a white towel and scarf.
Before he recaps the best commercials of the year, we asked Mustafa, not the Old Spice guy, to give us his personal year in review for 2011.
Best accomplishment:
Working on the Three Stooges was a fun thing. I got to work with the Farrelly Brothers. I've never actually fallen out of my chair and rolled down the aisle until I saw Dumb and Dumber.
Moment you'd do over:
There are many things I'd do over. You know, career-wise, no. I think I like the path I took this year.
Best superhero movie:
I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Evans. He's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. I'm in full support of him as Captain America.
Favorite sports moment:
When the (Edmonton) Oilers picked Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in their first pick for the NHL draft. It's the fastest game on the planet, and it has this karmic flow to it. You don't have time to think, you just react, and it just has this kind of free spirit about it.
Best purchase you made:
Wow. My best purchase. Probably a new wallet. It has a good bill stay. It's very sturdy. I tend to lose things. I keep my wallet nice and trim and flat.
Song you listened to most:
I like The xx, Infinity. The name of the band is The xx. It has a real smooth, very sexy vibe to it. It's very mellow, but it's got a real nice feel.
Last book you read:
Moonwalking with Einstein. It's about this guy who has studied memory and set out to become the U.S. Memory Champion. It's a true story.
Tabloid story you followed:
I don't follow the tabloid stories. I'm too busy reading nonfiction or fiction.
Favorite Old Spice parody:
Matt Lauer's parody recently was probably my favorite that I've seen to date. You know considering what he had to do, I give him about an A minus.
Most frequent tweets:
Traffic, honestly. And, like, health and washing of hands and spreading of germs. One, it's safe and you're not going to offend anyone. Two, it just needs to be known.
Best talk show you went on:
You know, that's rough. I'd have to say Ellen. It's always a good time, and she keeps me on my toes.
Number of times people asked where your horse is?
You know, it happens every day, a couple times a day. People say it with such love. They're so happy when they say it, and they smile. How can that ever get old?
Likelihood of Old Spice guy going in a time capsule:
I would hope so, honestly. I would really hope so. But you never know. People are fickle. I see myself as just a working actor who happened to get a nice job. And hopefully I can get another based on the exposure.
Anticipating in 2012:
Working.
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