Fun & Success
Photo courtesy of Ryan Richardson
At the end of 2010, Doritos and Pepsi MAX held a contest to see if everyday, regular people had what it took to “crash the Super Bowl” and create a commercial to air on national television in front of the biggest audience in the country. It was then that local residents Tyler Dixon, Tyler Marshall and Eddie King decided to put their creative skills and production talents to the test and see what they could come up with.
The result ended in a commercial called “The Best Part,” and thanks to the votes of friends, family and fans of commercials, it first aired during the 2011 Super Bowl and is still airing on both network and cable stations.
Senior Ryan Richardson has a starring role in the commercial, which earned the “Best Belly Laugh” superlative from USA Today for its simple premise.
Everyone who has eaten Doritos chips knows what it’s like to have that “cheesy dust” residue your fingers after the chips are gone. Dixon believes that licking this dust is a guilty pleasure for people, though they don’t like to admit it. Claiming that the dust is almost the best part of eating Doritos, he came up with the idea of following an office worker doing whatever he can to partake in the dust, including licking someone else’s finger and ripping off a coworker’s pants.
Richardson has the brief, albeit unforgettable, role of getting his pants ripped off. He shared that this was not the way he expected to gain his fifteen minutes of fame, but he’s not unhappy with it, though he shared that he’s yet to be recognized from the role, at least without a little persuasion.
“I was at Disneyland recently and we were talking about the commercial. [After that] someone wanted to take their picture with me, but it’s not like they really recognized me.”
While the creative crew of the commercial got to see their commercial air live at the Super Bowl from a box seat in Dallas, Richardson was at a Super Bowl party in Utah, surrounded by fifty people and three film crews. He said that he “didn’t actually see it air” because everyone was so excited and busy congratulating him.
After airing, the guys heard that both Judd Apatow, writer and director of Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and infamous radio personality Howard Stern called “The Best Part” their favorite commercial of the 2011 bunch. The commercial also ranked number five as YouTube viewers’ favorite.
When asked how he felt about knowing that hundreds of millions of people have seen him in his underwear, Richardson said with a smile, “I think it’s kinda awesome.”
Where are you from?
Name: Ryan Richardson; Year: Senior; Major: Spanish; Photo courtesy of Ryan Richardson
Upland, California, which is east of L.A.
What made you choose to come to UVU?
My sister wanted to go to school in Utah and wanted someone to go with her. I moved with her and six months later, she moved home. I stayed, though.
What are your post-UVU plans?
I am currently working the business side at Rubberball Productions and Andersen Studios (where I work with some of the creators of “The Best Part”) and am majoring in Spanish so I can do international business after graduation.
What has been your favorite UVU class?
Humanities with Elizabeth Leavitt
What do you do when you’re not a student? Do you have a job or any unusual or interesting hobbies?
I make stupid videos with my friends and sometimes get recognition for them. I also am growing a tangerine, a kumquat and a banana tree in my apartment.
What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past year?
True Grit
What about the worst movie you’ve seen in the past year and why?
The Last Airbender. It was nothing like the cartoon.
In your opinion, what is the most beautiful place on earth and why?
Hawaii. I just love tropical climates.
Zombies or vampires?
Zombies, because now vampires are synonymous with Twilight.
If you could share one piece of advice with your fellow students, what would it be?
Do what you love to do. Find what you’re passionate about and you can be successful and still have fun.