How The 'Chevy Guy' Became, You Know, A Hit and Stuff

Late Wednesday night, General Motors introduced America to the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado -- the dependable, all-new pickup that comes with "you know, technology and stuff." Forget Madison Bumgarner, the 25-year-old pitcher who had just given the San Francisco Giants their third World Series championship in five years with a dazzling Game 7 performance. A much more unlikely hero emerged after the game, as Bumgarner collected his MVP trophy and the keys to a new truck: "Chevy Guy," a Chevrolet zone manager from Louisburg, Kan., who accidentally became a social media sensation after stumbling through 58 seconds of can't-look-but-can't-look-away TV. Struggling to read from a notecard in his hand, Chevy Guy, aka Rikk Wilde, awkwardly boasted that the Colorado offers "class-winning and -leading, um, you know, technology and stuff." Within an hour, "#ChevyGuy," "#TechnologyAndStuff" and "Rikk Wilde" were among the top 10 national trending topics on Twitter. Bumgarner was not. Someone even created a parody account, @RikkWilde, which gained more than 400 followers overnight. Twitter users were split on whether Chevy Guy more resembled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford or the late comedian Chris Farley (a cousin of Ford Motor Co. marketing chief Jim Farley, who might envy some of the attention Chevy is getting from this). Some expressed sympathy toward Wilde, while a few comments were inevitably mean-spirited. Around 1:30 a.m., Chevy tried to get in on the joke with this post from its @ChevyTrucks account: "Truck yeah the 2015 #ChevyColorado has awesome #TechnologyAndStuff! You know you want a truck." Later Thursday, Chevy embraced the attention more by adding "#TechnologyAndStuff" to the Colorado page on its website. GM also tweeted that its OnStar telematics service "brings #TechnologyAndStuff to the @ChevyTrucks #Colorado and more than 30 other @GM models." In a statement this morning, GM said: "A lifelong Kansas City Royals fan, Rikk was still a little emotional over the outcome of a tremendous seven game series. We believe baseball fans in Kansas City and elsewhere can relate with Rikk's authentic emotions." Here's Wilde's memorable presentation in full: "Madison, congratulations. Um, as the official sponsor, er, the official vehicle of Major League Baseball, Chevrolet is proud to participate in this, uh, prestigious award. Um, along with our dealers, we are also extremely honored to get back to this sport, uh, by supporting baseball in cities and towns across this nation. "At Chevrolet, we have, um -- we have also been proud of the latest and greatest, uh, technology in our truck lineup, which is the all-new 2015, uh, Chevy Colorado. Um, it combines class-winning and -leading, um, you know, technology and stuff, with, uh, Wi-Fi powered by OnStar, sitting there on the screen. To recognize your performance in this 2014 World Series, I proudly present to you your very own set of keys to a brand-new 2015, uh, Chevy Colorado. Congratulations." Here are a selection of the ensuing tweets. The World Series was won by The Chevy Guy. There was no need to hand over the MVP Trophy, it should have been his trophy. Truck yeah the 2015 #ChevyColorado has awesome #TechnologyAndStuff! You know you want a truck: http://t.co/0NcEoDRSUZ pic.twitter.com/RMiRic8ATF I love #ChevyGuy. I'm a firm believer in ditching the prepared script & freelancing. #technologyandstuff Live TV is tough. Everyone who does it is terrified of having a Chevy guy moment. I get nervous talking to a class of high school kids. He's talking to a cool couple hundred million. If #ChevyGuy doesn't get a 60 second Super Bowl spot, then Madison Avenue doesn't have a clue. Chevrolet: technology and stuff. I've never owned a Chevy but I wanna go buy one now because of #TechnologyAndStuff. #ChevyGuy is awesome! Thank you twitter and good night #chevyguy pic.twitter.com/zdLMucqlE3 Seriously, what comprises the rest of the Chevy sales and marketing department? Just like circus animals and the elderly? #RIkk #ChevyGuy The only good news this morning for non Giant fans is that truck they gave Bumgarner has already been recalled. http://t.co/ZtAf8XHS2f So now we know. Chris Farley faked his own death. #Chevyguy So now we know. Chris Farley faked his own death. #Chevyguy #Game7 Highlight: #ChevyGuy pic.twitter.com/5nGzetwlCn Remember during the World Series and you were pitching and nobody could score on you? Yeah. That was awesome! #ChevyGuy #technologyandstuff Dozed off. Why is Saturday Night Live on? pic.twitter.com/EPYt35dEc2 Waking up to read and then finally see MVP presentation by #chevyguy was like Christmas morning. What a treat. That guy rules. GENIUS! Everyone is talking about @chevrolet this morning! #technologyandstuff Well this excitement has run its course. Back to the rat race. Nick Bunkely is a staff reporter at Automotive News.

How The 'Chevy Guy' Became, You Know, A Hit and Stuff

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