Dr Pepper's Larry: The Man Behind The Glasses

who is larry in the diet dr pepper commercial

Larry Culpepper, played by actor Jim Connor, was a football fanatic and concessionaire featured in Dr. Pepper commercials. He was created to launch Dr Pepper’s College Football sponsorship as a self-proclaimed inventor of the College Football Playoff. Larry quickly became a fixture of college football culture, with fans dressing up as him for Halloween and during games. In 2020, Dr. Pepper announced that they would be retiring the character from future commercials.

Characteristics Values
Name Larry Culpepper
Portrayed by Jim/James Michael Connor
Profession Football fanatic
Other Self-proclaimed "inventor" of the College Football Playoff

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Larry Culpepper is a football fanatic

Larry Culpepper's presence in Dr. Pepper commercials was so strong that he became synonymous with the brand. In one commercial, he assembles a team to tackle tailgates, cheap seats, and even love seats to meet the demand for Dr. Pepper at football games. In another, he visits the ESPN offices, leading to "Banana Tech" trending on Twitter during the College Playoff Semi-Finals.

Larry's popularity extended beyond just the commercials. He inspired countless Halloween costumes, and his catchphrases and mannerisms resonated with fans. Some even considered him the only true source of Dr. Pepper commercials, with his quirky and eccentric personality providing a refreshing take on soft drink advertising.

Despite his popularity, Dr. Pepper eventually decided to retire Larry Culpepper from future commercials. The decision came as a shock to many, including actor Jim Connor, who played Larry. While some fans may have tuned out of the Larry Culpepper commercials, others undoubtedly enjoyed his constant presence during the fall football season.

Overall, Larry Culpepper, the football-loving Dr. Pepper concessions guy, left a lasting impact on both the brand and college football culture, becoming an iconic figure in the world of soft drink advertising.

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Played by James Michael Connor

Larry Culpepper, the football-loving Dr. Pepper concessions guy and self-proclaimed "inventor" of the College Football Playoff, was played by James Michael Connor. Larry quickly became a fixture of college football culture, with his costumes becoming a popular choice for Halloween and college football games.

James Michael Connor portrayed the quirky and enthusiastic concessionaire, who was always eager to promote Dr. Pepper and keep fans' cravings at bay. Larry's presence during the fall football season was a constant for many viewers, and his character hit a campaign high with 55% of college football fans saying they were familiar with him.

The decision to retire the character of Larry Culpepper from future commercials came as a surprise to some, including Connor himself, who stated that the role was an "incredible gig." The popularity of the character extended beyond the screen, with Larry-themed costumes and merchandise becoming sought-after items for fans.

The official Larry Culpepper costume, which included a t-shirt, visor with a wig, fanny pack, ID badge, headphones, wristband, knee brace, and signature flip shades, was made available online for $28. The costume sold out in less than two weeks, showcasing the character's popularity and impact on pop culture.

While Dr. Pepper decided to move in a different direction, the legacy of Larry Culpepper and James Michael Connor's portrayal of the character left a lasting impression on viewers and fans of the soft drink alike.

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Larry is a Dr Pepper concessions guy

Larry, or Larry Culpepper, is a Dr Pepper concessions guy and self-proclaimed "inventor" of the College Football Playoff. He is a football fanatic, and his character is played by Jim Connor. Larry is a fixture of College Football culture, and his popularity has led to Dr. Pepper creating costumes for fans to become their college football hero. The costume includes a t-shirt, visor with a wig, fanny pack, ID badge, headphones, wristband, knee brace, and Larry’s signature flip shade. The costume was available for $28 on the Dr Pepper website and sold out in less than 2 weeks.

Larry has been featured in various Dr. Pepper commercials, including one where he assembles a team to tackle tailgates, cheap seats, and even love seats to meet the demand for Dr. Pepper at College Football games. In another commercial, he visits the ESPN offices, leading to "Banana Tech" trending on Twitter during the College Playoff Semi-Finals.

Larry has become a beloved character, with some fans expressing their disappointment when Dr. Pepper announced they would be retiring the character from future commercials in 2020. Despite this, Larry Culpepper costumes remain a popular choice for Halloween, and his impact on College Football culture is undeniable.

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Inventor of the College Football Playoff

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is an annual knockout invitational tournament that determines the national champion for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The College Football Playoff began in 2014 with a four-team format, featuring two semifinal games and a national championship game. The inaugural tournament was held at the end of the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season, with Ohio State emerging as the first winner.

The four entrants in the original College Football Playoff were selected from among all FBS schools by a 13-member selection committee composed of former college administrators and coaches. This committee took into account factors such as strength of schedule and record against common opponents, in addition to polls and computer rankings. The semifinal games rotated among six New Year's Day bowl games: the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl.

In 2023, the CFP Board of Managers voted to expand the playoff to 12 teams beginning in the 2024-25 season. This expansion will last through the 2025 season, after which a new contract will be drawn up, potentially leading to a larger playoff format. The College Football Playoff National Championship game is played on the first Monday that is six or more days after the Semifinals, with the venue selected based on bids from cities.

While the College Football Playoff has been a recent development, college football rankings have a longer history. They began in 1939 with the release of the first Associated Press poll. Other notable ranking systems include the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) rankings, introduced in 1998, and the CFP rankings, which started alongside the playoff in 2014.

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Larry Culpepper, the football fanatic, was the face of Dr. Pepper's ingenious advertising campaign. The campaign allowed fans to dress up as their college football hero, Larry, with an official costume that included a t-shirt, visor with a wig, fanny pack, ID badge, and more. The campaign was so popular that it is no surprise that Larry costumes are a hit at Halloween.

The official Larry costume is available online, but for those who want to create their own, there are plenty of guides to help. The key elements of the costume are a navy blue suit jacket, a light grey sweatshirt, brown corduroy pants, and brown oxford shoes. The iconic bald head and aviator-style glasses with gold frames are also essential to the look.

The character of Larry, played by actor Jim Connor, was a quirky concessionaire and football fan, and his enthusiastic and excited personality shone through in the commercials. It is this spirit that fans can embody when they dress up as Larry for Halloween.

The popularity of the Larry costume is evident in the many online posts and guides dedicated to achieving the perfect look. Fans of the character can embrace their inner curmudgeon and celebrate the spirit of the football season with a Larry costume, bringing to life the memorable advertising character.

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Frequently asked questions

Larry, or Larry Culpepper, is a football fanatic and concessions guy in the Dr. Pepper commercials. He is also known as the self-proclaimed "inventor" of the College Football Playoff.

James Michael Connor played the role of Larry Culpepper in the Dr. Pepper commercials.

Dr. Pepper decided to retire the character of Larry Culpepper from their commercials to explore a different creative direction for their advertising campaigns.

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