Old Spice pitchman lathers up in Emmy nominee

Old Spice pitchman lathers up in Emmy nominee

Isaiah Mustafa woke up to some good news this morning. He "has now officially appeared in an Emmy nominated commercial":http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2010/07/isaiah-mustafas-old-spice-commercial-earns-an-emmy-nomination.html Today Show hosts Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb went gaga over the Old Spice pitchman, who is also a former NFL football player. Mustafa became an overnight sensation thanks to a popular series of Old Spice commercials where he portrays the male personification of most women's dreams. Mustafa has recently landed a "contract":http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118020511.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=bd_tv with NBC, an acting role in an upcoming Tyler Perry film and made appearances on the Oprah Winfrey and the Ellen DeGeneres shows. WATCH ISAIAH MUSTAFA DISCUSS HIS OLD SPICE AD WITH TODAY SHOW

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So, how did this once football player become an Old Spice's spokesman? Mustafa left the gridiron ten years ago to open a restaurant, but when it failed he decided to pursue acting. Mustafa says that after receiving the Old Spice script, he practiced for the audition using the voicemail feature on his cell phone. "They called me back and that's when I called a buddy of mine and I did it for him on my phone and I heard it back on his voicemail...so I heard my own voice and I liked it and I went with that and I did it and _they_ liked it," Mustafa said. The now classic commercial is one continuous shot, but it took roughly about 80 takes to perfect.