That Girl in The Progressive Insurance Commercials

When it comes to great characters from famous television commercials, the most memorable appear no more: 1997 Taco Bell's talking Chihuahua ("¡Yo Quiero Taco Bell!"); 1989 LiteCall's Mrs. Fletcher ("I've fallen and I can't get up"); and 1984 Wendy's Clara Peller ("Where's the beef?"). Before that, we had Mr. Whipple warning us not to squeeze the Charmin, Madge advising our hands would be softer with Palmolive, and Juan Valdez touting Colombian coffee.

As much as they might have irritated me at the time, I'd miss those endearing characters, except for a pair of TV commercials currently airing, featuring equally captivating characters.

One is Geiko's gekko, and I'm not including him because he isn't real, he's animated. Besides, even a cute, cynical lizard with a Cockney accent can't compare with Geiko's current competition, a girl who is real, though her personality is animated. You know the one I mean: The Progressive Insurance girl.

She's the one who makes viewers either want to befriend her, date her or buy her insurance. She may be the most animated real-life character on television since Lucy. She's perky, peppy, and positive, no mean feat in these tough economic times when more people hate insurance companies than ever before. Progressive dubbed their bubbly representative Flo. We know that because you can see it on what she refers to as her "tricked out name tag."

However, the actress who plays Flo has her own name: Stephanie Courtney.

Stephanie, an actress, stand-up comic and member of acclaimed improvisational group, The Groundlings, has made Flo famous worldwide. This makes worthwhile the two hours she spends in fat, upholstered chairs in the studio's make-up and hair department, morphing into Flo. That big-hair bubble do of the '60s, flame-red lipstick, and banjo-eyed enthusiasm, leave the viewer wishing to immediately hook onto another Progressive Flo commercial; they're as addictive as chain smoking, only without the cigarette.

Texas online news magazine, Austin360.com, describes Flo as "... bubbly and beaming, high-volume, with a flip of dark hair and a face like a lollipop. She irks as she endears, bemuses as she bewitches. She's a bundle of energetic contradictions, bursting here, retracting there. Her expressions blink and change like a neon sign. Her eyes are popping globes. And she just sold you a bunch of car insurance."

Flo steals your heart as easily as Cupid shoots an arrow on Valentine's Day, whether she's talking about her tricked-out name tag, or ardently pointing out ways Progressive can insure anything you own, tailored to your specifics. And she can fist bump a customer with her pricing gun as easily as John Wayne drew his Colt 45. Fans follow her on Twitter, FaceBook and MySpace; not a shy lot, they often leave love notes which can be read by anyone, even Stephanie Courtney.

A blogger quoted in the Austin publication, is trying to find out why Flo is so appealing, and asks, "Is it her fabulous comic timing, her over-the-top facial expressions, her cute-as-a-button retro flip? Or is it the slight hint of a bad girl that lies just under the surface? The promise of a tattoo under that checkout girl uniform? The possibility of a motorcycle parked out back?"

Another blogger writes, "If you know me at all, you know that I have been in love with Flo from the Progressive Auto Insurance commercials for years." Still another asks, "After years of seeing "Flo The Progressive (Insurance) Lady" high fiving 'power to the people,' thinking about tacos, wearing tricked out name tags, and helping some poor dude save money so he can buy his watch back from his friend I [have] to know.... who is the REAL Flo?"

Courtney herself doesn't know who the real Flo is, believes Flo comes across as asexual, and thinks the Geico lizard puts out more sexual vibes than Flo does. Others disagree, and find Flo a refreshing bounce back to the past when we could trust people. She's helpful, ardent, and sincere.

Stephanie Courtney also has recurring roles as one of the receptionists on AMC's hit Mad Men; Showtime's The United States of Tara; and as cousin Gayla in the movie The Heartbreak Kid.

She's been signed by Progressive for 12 more Flomercials and, if they're as much fun as those she's already done, I may have to consider abandoning Dennis Haysbert, Allstate Insurance spokesman, and sexy U.S. president on Fox's thriller, 24.

Like everybody else, I may just go with the Flo.

Follow Maggie Van Ostrand on Twitter: www.twitter.com/magpie99

Comments

[J.J. Hunsecker]

How can you compare the adorable Flo to that rancid Geico lizard? I've wanted to see that insufferable, yammering green pest crushed to a pulp for a long time!

[Maggie Van Ostrand - Huffpost Blogger]

" ... insufferable, yammering green pest crushed to a pulp... ? That got a laugh out of me.

I haven't thought of anything like that since Mister Bill was squished under the tracks of a tank many moons ago.

:-))

[kps888]

I understand that certain commercials can make you want to peel your skin off. For me, it's the Free Credit Report.com guys and their "jingles", although the new Baskin Robbins ice cream cake commericals are quickly gaining ground as my most hated current commercials.

Let's hear it! What commercials make you guys want to dive off a bridge?

[scotia626]

i have to admit that "flo' led me to progressive- and i am a happy customer now for 2 years.

[somethingworthsaying]

i have seen every episode of US of Tara. i don't recall her character at all. who is she?

[Maggie Van Ostrand - Huffpost Blogger]

Stephanie Courtney played Beth in USofTara episode, Aftermath, and is scheduled in recurring role.

[Json]

Thanks to the miracle of DVR, I get to avoid her (although she seems nice), the gecko and all the other Mr. Whipple wannabes.

[PathofTotality]

I am certainly not a big fan of commercials but the Progressive commercials do keep my attention and most of them make me chuckle.

[jacobomorales]

What's wrong with you?

[stratdude]

Flo rocks.

[Aramingo]

None of them can hold a candle to the most interesting man in the world. After all, he's, well, you know.

[drkazmd65]

I generally don't regard myself as susceptible to most commercial pitches - I am apparently not anybody in particulars' target audience,...

But I do pay attention when 'The Most Interesting Man" comes on my TV,... and I already have been known to tip back a DosXX's once in a while.

",.. He once had an awkward moment,... just to see what it was like,..."

",.. He can speack French,... in Russian,..."

Classic,.... :D

[Maggie Van Ostrand - Huffpost Blogger]

Well yeah, you're right. That dialogue is most cool.

[NoSillyName]

Flo is exactly "That Girl", Marlo Thomas' character, Ann Marie, in the '60s sitcom.

[arvad]

You are absolutely right!

[NoSillyName]

Amazing to see the degree of dislike for Flo.

For the "biography" of the Geico Gecko:
http://www.geico.com/about/corporate/word-from-sponsor/

[FoonTheElder]

All of the insurance characters for Progressive and Geico have become counterproductive due to mass overexposure. I'm completely tired of Flo, the Gecko, the eyeballs on a stack of money and most of all, please make the Cavemen extinct.

[NoSillyName]

Oh, the eyes on the money is really dumb. It that Geico?

[FoonTheElder]

Yep

[Andreams]

12 more of these things coming? There goes my hope for relief any time soon. I HATE these ads!

[AngelaM]

She's nice and perky. But what I really want to know is, who is that voice behind the Geico gekko?

[annie g]

I am sorry to say, it's nothing personal, but I find both Geico and Progressive commercials annoying and would never buy either one of their products due to the fact that they are more expensive anyway.
Might not like Taco Bell, but loved Gidget, (who recently passed away), the Taco Bell Chihuahua.

[tedmore123]

She reminds me of exotic dancer Venus de Light...

[DonJM]

The three most annoying ads on TV? Progressive insurance, anything with Billy Mays, and the Video Professor.

[havbrush2]

What about the Free Credit Report.com ads. That song you can't get out of your mind, the guys in tights in the Rennaisance fair , , , I can't take anymore of them.

[Violeta]

And the HeadOn commercials!! Ugh. Yes the Free Credit Report.com are annoying too, but the songs are kind of catchy, which can be good 'cause at least they are pleasant to the ear, but bad when they are so catchy you can't get them out of your head. ShamWow and SlapChop commercials aren't that pleasant either. I really don't want to but I always end up listening for whether or not it's gonna be the one where he says "you're gonna love my nuts."