KFC is about to begin an ad campaign with its first ever product-specific Colonel.
The chain’s new “Extra Crispy Colonel” will be played by the extra crispy actor George Hamilton, KFC announced in a press release. The company noted that it sells two different recipes: Original and Extra Crispy. The ad campaign featuring Hamilton will be promoting the latter with four spots that will begin to air nationally on Sunday.
The campaign will specifically be focused on KFC’s $5 and $20 Fill Ups. The Extra Crispy recipe is described as being “cooked to a golden brown,” which is what makes Hamilton the best man for the part. As KFC’s U.S. chief marketing officer said in the press release, “No actor was more qualified to play our Extra Crispy Colonel than a very tan George Hamilton.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmNSHVXEPE0
“I like to think I know a thing or two about being extra crispy,” Hamilton said in the press release. “It didn’t take long for me to get into character as the Extra Crispy Colonel. One could argue that my entire career has been leading up to this role.”
KFC has been flying through Colonels recently. Darrell Hammond was replaced last summer with fellow Saturday Night Live vet Norm Macdonald, and Macdonald was replaced just six months later with Jim Gaffigan. While Hamilton’s new role as the Extra Crispy Colonel won’t affect Gaffigan, it’s rumored that the comedian could be replaced with David Alan Grier, who would be the first African American to play the Colonel.