Dr. Pepper commercials often feature miniature musician Lil' Sweet Who is the little guy in the Dr. Pepper commercial? ", "Drink Up! Advertisement. His performance (which included singing, dancing, acting, and playing guitar) landed Guarini an offer to continue the role in the original Broadway production, which he eventually declined. He recently appeared in the Britney Spears jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time as Prince Charming at the Shakespeare Theatre Companyin Washington, D.C. A singing competition where participants compete to impress the American public and judges - Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan to win a recording contract. Take a Gander at Broadway-Aimed Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical | Broadway Buzz", "Photo Flash: Meet the 'MOONSHINE' Cast & Creative Team, Beginning Previews Tonight in Dallas! co-star with her in the box-office bomb "From Justin to Kelly". Other professional performances Guarini has starred in include: Good Vibrations (2004) The Awakening of Angel DeLuna (2009) American Idiot (2011) His father, Eldrin Bell, is African-American and is a former Atlanta, Georgia, Chief of Police, and former chairperson of the Clayton County Commission in Clayton County, Georgia. The door flings open and a spotlight shines on Lil' Sweet, played by American Idol alumnus Justin Guarini, who sings his arrival as the daughter runs off scared. He studied vocal performance and theatre in Philadelphia and New York before auditioning for American Idol in 2002. [43] He has been cast to reprise the role when the musical transfers to Broadway's Marquis Theatre in May 2023.[44]. After studying vocal performance and theater studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Guarini later moved to New York City, where he attended the School for Film and Television. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. During the thrilling first season of Idolin 2002, when America had found its new pop culture craze and Brian Dunkleman was still a co-host, Clarkson came to embody the show's promise right out of the gate. Your culture and entertainment cheat-sheet. Also, Who is Justin Guarini's wife? JUSTIN Guarini is best known for being the runner-up on season one of American Idol, but what has he been up to since? Justin attended the University of the Arts, where he took up vocal performance and theater studies. The former "Idol" runner-up makes sweet music as Diet Dr Pepper's "Lil Sweet," looking unrecognizable in a long purple wig in the latest commercial titled "Birthday." The first Lil Sweet commercial debuted in February. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Justin Guarini is best known for his time on season one of American Idol, He is now known as Little Sweet in the Dr. Pepper commercials, Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini on American Idol. About one year after his time on the singing show, Justin released his debut, self-titled album. Justin Guarini became the first runner-up on American Idol, ultimately losing to Kelly Clarkson during season one of the singing competition. The first Lil Sweet ad debuted in February. Born on October 28, 1978, Guarini is a native of Georgia. Guarini was born in Columbus, Georgia. You can watch all Dr Pepper Lil Sweet commercials featuring Justin Guarini in one video. This time, he shows up to give a can to people who deserve it. The runner-up from the 2002 debut season of American Idol he lost to Kelly Clarkson has reprised his role as Lil' Sweet in an odd series of Dr. Pepper commercials . Guarini also performed in American Idiot, Romeo and Juliet, and Wicked. and they went on to co-star in the critically panned (but undeniably fun) musical vacation flickFrom Justin to Kelly. But its pretty well-known that Lil Sweet is actually the Season 1Idol runner-up even if Justin is somewhat unrecognizable wearing Aqua-Netted long locks even lusher than his famous Sideshow Bob curls and a sparkly gypsy scarf that looks like it was plucked from ex-Idol judge Steven Tylers closet. Season 1 American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini has returned to our television screens as a beloved character. In May 2008, Guarini released an acoustic EP titled Revolve comprising three songs ("Sweet Time", "Rock Bottom", and "When She Cries") co-written and co-produced with Shaun Ingram. He continues his Broadway and theater career in 2015 with "Paint Your Wagon" an Encores presentation by New York City Center and "Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical" at Dallas Theatre Center.Justin married hometown sweetheart Reina Capodici September 26, 2009 at a Hudson River estate in Pennsylvania, with vows that included step-daughter, Lola. Justin's solo at the festival, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," won him a standing ovation.Justin attended University of the Arts, Philadelphia, and School for Film & Television, New York City (1999-2000). Lil' Sweet is seemingly the mascot for Diet Dr. Pepper but sometimes shows in ads for the regular version of the soda. RememberAmerican Idol Season 1, when an unknown, Texas-born singer named Kelly Clarkson rose to superstardom and had her "Moment Like This?" Justin recently appeared on the American Idol 20th anniversary episode on May 2, 2022. Is Lil' Sweet a tiny pop star. Chief Bell is first cousin to acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson's wife, LaTonya. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Pepper mascot he first appeared as in a commercial in 2015, has returned in a new ad. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Paula Abdul Admits to Kicking Simon Cowell Under American Idol Desk, Singer Turns Four Chairs in The Voice Early Release Audition, Daniella Karagach Shares Friends Reactions to Finding Out About Her Pregnancy. A Shakespeare Theatre musical that may be headed to Broadway", "Briga Heelan, Justin Guarini, and Aisha Jackson Will Star in Broadway's, "American Idol finale: After 10 years, the beat goes on", "BWW CD Reviews: Broadway Records' WHERE THE SKY ENDS: THE MUSIC OF MICHAEL MOTT Awakens Dreamers", "USATODAY.com Guarini to star in 'Good Vibrations', "Ask a Star: Justin Guarini of American Idiot | Videos", "Full Cast Announced for Justin Guarini-Led RENT at Surflight", "American Idiot's Justin Guarini Will Star in Media Theatre's Chicago", "Talking with Justin Guarini, starring in 'Ghost Brothers of Darkland County' | Radio & TV Talk", "Justin Guarini Will Star in Muny Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Christian Camargo, Justin Guarini and Roslyn Ruff Join Cast of Broadway Revival of Romeo and Juliet - Playbill.com", "Christine Dwyer, Jenni Barber, Justin Guarini & More to Join Cast of WICKED in February", "Highlights From Paint Your Wagon With Keith Carradine, Alexandra Socha and Justin Guarini", "First Look at Keith Carradine, Alexandra Socha, and Justin Guarini in Paint Your Wagon", "Photo Call: First Look at Justin Guarini in Bucks County Playhouse Production of Company", "Justin Guarini, Rose Hemingway & More Will Star in MOONSHINE: THAT HEE HAW MUSICAL at Dallas Theater Center", "Justin Guarini Leads Cast of Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical", "Justin Guarini, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Rupert, Sally Struthers Set for Reading of First Gentleman Musical", "Justin Guarini, Michele Ragusa and Euan Morton to Lead New Musical CAKE OFF at Bucks County Playhouse", "In Transit on Broadway: Justin Guarini joins a capella musical cast", "Read the Reviews for Britney Spears Jukebox Musical Once Upon a One More Time", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Justin_Guarini&oldid=1139771515, University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni, 21st-century African-American male singers, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 20:39. SEE ALSO: KELLY CLARKSON HOSTS AMERICAN IDOL REUNION WITH JUSTIN GUARINI & ALL THREE SEASON 1 JUDGES! Chief Bell is first cousin to acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson's wife, LaTonya.Stepfather Jerry Guarini is a retired Navy physicist.Mom Kathy is a former TV journalist and anchor at CNN and is now a freelance broadcast journalist and Realtor in Doylestown. Lil known fact about Lil Sweet: He sings in the key of sweet and always carries a spare six pack of Diet Dr Pepper with him. Justin joined boys choirs throughout his time in school and even became the lead vocalist in an acapella group called The Midnight Voices. "I'm so happy and proud, and just over the moon about how well she has done." Jerry reportedly has eight children, including Justin.At Lenape Middle School, Justin impressed Bucks County Music Festival director Donald Dumpson - a professor at Westminster Choir College and composer who has worked with notables like Patti LaBelle and Boyz II Men - so thoroughly that he canceled the rest of the auditions. Justin Guarini, now 38, rose to fame in 2002 when he became the first runner-up on the hit singing competition show. View our online Press Pack. The group released an independent album in 1999 with proceeds benefiting a music scholarship fund at Guarini's alma mater, Central Bucks High School East in Buckingham, Pennsylvania. Although he did live in Los Angeles for many years, Justin confirmed to Visit Bucks County that he moved back home to raise his family. In the past 30 days, commercials featuring Justin Guarini have had 72,728 airings. In 2002, Justin's life changed forever when he turned down a role in The Lion King to audition for American Idol. Since 2015, Guarini has been starring as Lil' Sweet in Diet Dr Pepper television commercials, and web marketing. The pint-sized heavy metal-soul man shows up at a suburban home unexpectedly where a childs birthday party is in progress to deliver zero calorie sweet treats., Kelly Clarkson Dishes on Justin Guarini, Miley Cyrus on Watch What Happens Live, He sings in the key of sweet and always carries a spare sixpackof Diet Dr Pepper with him, reads a description on the soft drinks YouTube channel. They were best friends throughout their time on the show and have remained friends to this day, with Justin making an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2019. Shortly after he was accepted on the show, Guarini was offered a role on Broadway - he chose to stick with Idol. His high school and college theatre credits include the lead roles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Little Prince, The Pirates of Penzance, The Taming of the Shrew, and Once on This Island. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Shortly after being chosen for American Idol, he was offered a role in the Broadway production of The Lion King. Justin turned his focus from albums to performing live and took to stage and film acting. Born on October 28, 1978, Guarini is a native of . Taking a break from releasing music, Justin became a co-host for Idol tonight and Idol Wrap from 2007 to 2011. Born on October 28 . No one knows where he keeps it though.. "Lil' Sweet is BACK, y'all!" says the rapper. Justin Guarini is best known for his time on season one of American Idol Credit: Getty 9 He is now known as Little Sweet in the Dr. Pepper commercials Credit: Dr Pepper Born on October 28, 1978, in Columbus, Georgia, Justin was raised in the Philadelphia, PA, suburb of Doylestown. Dr Pepper has launched a new commercial featuring Larry Culpepper. Dr. The musician released a book in 2019 called Audition Secrets. After losing to Kelly Clarkson, he went on to co-star with her in the box-office bomb "From Justin to Kelly" and try his hand as a recording artist. but turned down the chance to star in the Broadway production. ". Justin Guarini (born Justin Eldrin Bell; October 28, 1978) [1] is an American singer, songwriter and actor who in 2002 was the runner-up on the first season of American Idol . "As I progressed through Idol I realized that it might be something.". Its not even American Idols Constantine Maroulis in full-on Rock of Ages mode. Beck Bennett (AT&T) - $250,000 You can connect with Justin Guarini on Facebook, Twitter, and Wikipedia. Aside from From Justin To Kelly, he has also starred in Fast Girl, Forgotten Son, Wizards of Waverly Place, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and independent films. Guarini told Entertainment Weekly in 2015 that his Lil Sweet persona is the kind of thing he does around the house all day every day, adding that he loves to make his wife and kids laugh. The runner-up from the 2002 debut season of American Idol he lost to Kelly Clarkson has reprised his role as Lil Sweet in an odd series of Dr. Pepper commercials. Then, in 2008, the theater actor released a three-song EP titled Revolve, which was co-written by Shaun Ingram. Coming in second jumpstarted his singing career and made him go down in Idol history as one of the greats. Guarini finally made his Broadway debut in 2010, appearing in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Season 1 American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini has returned to our television screens as a beloved character. Oh, not to mention his role as that groovy Prince-esque "Lil Sweet" guy in the Diet Dr. Pepper commercials. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Talent Recap is the only independent website that is exclusively dedicated to the fans of the most popular talent shows around the world. He made his Broadway debut in 2010 in Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown. Im not saying that 100% of National Championship Lil Sweet commercials lead to a #Bulldogs win, but. Jill ORourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like AGT, The Voice, and American Idol. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Justin Guarini is back. But Guarini has flown pretty under the radar since then. After Idol, Justin signed with 19 Management and secured a record deal with RCA. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. In 2013, he wrote a blog post about the struggles of his post-"Idol" life. KELLY CLARKSON HOSTS AMERICAN IDOL REUNION WITH JUSTIN GUARINI & ALL THREE SEASON 1 JUDGES! Lil' Sweet, the Dr. Pepper mascot he started playing in 2015, is back in a new commercial. It was really a difficult decision," Guarini told TheaterMania. Published February 19, 2019 Advertiser Diet Dr Pepper Advertiser Profiles Facebook, Twitter, YouTube . He worked in New York nightclubs, and auditioned for New York Theatre before successfully auditioning for American Idol in April 2002. Guarini has released two studio albums a self-titled one in 2003, and Stranger Things Have Happened in 2005. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Lil Sweet is BACK yall! Guarini wrote on Twitter after the new commercial premiered. Justin Guarini is back on television 13 years after he made his debut on 2002's . Just found out the dr. [2][3] After moving to Pennsylvania in 1985, he joined the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Boys Choir. From there, Justin went on to star in American Idiot, Romeo and Juliet, Wicked, Rent, Chicago, Company, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as many others. Justin Guarini became the first runner-up on American Idol, ultimately losing to Kelly Clarkson during season one of the singing competition. ", By Justin Guarini is married to wife Reina Capodici. Real-Time Video Ad Creative Assessment. Justin Guarini as Lil' Sweet croons to the man that his hard work deserves a sweet Diet Dr Pepper. He studied vocal performance and theatre in Philadelphia and New York before auditioning for American Idol in 2002. "I'm not claiming that every Lil' Sweet advertisement during the National Championship leads to a Bulldogs victory, but . American Idol season one runner-up Justin Guarini stars in a new ad campaign for Diet Dr Pepper.. Guarini takes on an alter ego named Lil' Sweet in the commercial. Aside from Lil' Sweet, Justin has continued to act, with his last two roles in 2018 and 2019. He was also considering a contract offer from an independent record label, but the show's rules prohibited participants from having existing record contracts. The former "Idol" runner-up makes sweet music as Diet Dr Pepper's "Lil Sweet," looking unrecognizable in a long purple wig in the latest commercial titled "Birthday." Fans of American Idol may recognize Lil' Sweet, the zazzy littlevery littlestar of Diet Dr. Pepper's new . Justin guarini, who finished second to kelly clarkson . The couple tied the knot in 2009 after dating for three years. Who is Adriana Lima's boyfriend Andre Lemmers? He has been performing theater for the past 10 years, including a handful of Broadway shows. Diet Dr Pepper mascot Lil' Sweet and the Doctor himself team up in a "Sister Christian"-inspired power ballad that celebrates the two-in-one flavors of Dr Pepper & Cream Sodas. The Georgia-native singer ended up losing to pop songstress Kelly Clarkson, who now has several Grammy Awards to her name! Via PledgeMusic, Justin released his 17-track EP, JG, in 2016. Your email address will not be published. Justin Guarini is in a new Diet Dr. Pepper commercial. Justin Guarini was born in Columbus, Georgia, on October 28, 1978.Dad Eldrin Bell is a former Atlanta police chief and Clayton County (Ga.) Commission Chair. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Justin Guarini has an estimated net worth of around $700,000. LIL' SWEET is a fictional miniature musician who finds his home in various Dr. Pepper advertisements. All Rights Reserved. Justin and his wife Reina met in high school but the pair only started dating in the mid-2000s. I politely declined the offer of a role". The Idol alum continues to direct and produce musicals. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Justin Guarini TV Commercials We don't make the ads - We measure them Sign up to track 19 nationally aired TV ad campaigns for Justin Guarini. [citation needed], In 2021, Guarini starred as Prince Charming in the world premiere of the jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time. . He has also helped raise funds for Habitat For Humanity, Rockers on Broadway, Broadway's Kitchen Sink, the Children's World Organization, the Foundation for Global Harmony and donated items to a Little Kids Rock auction.In 2011, Justin made his Broadway debut as "Carlos" in "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" followed by "Will" in "American Idiot" on Broadway; "Roger" in "Rent" at Surflight Theatre on Jersey Shore; staged reading as "Priest" in Bill T. Jones', "Superfly the Musical" in New York; "Billy Flynn" in "Chicago" at The Media Theatre of Performing Arts in Philadelphia; "Joseph" in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at The Muny; "Drake" in Stephen King's and John Mellencamp's "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" in Atlanta; as "Jake Laurents" in "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" at Bucks County Playhouse; cast as "Paris" in "Romeo and Juliet" with Orlando Bloom on Broadway in 2013; and began as "Fiyero" male lead in "Wicked" on Broadway, February 2014. It also happened to coincide with the season 2 finale and the release of the movie, From Justin to Kelly. Early life [ edit] Guarini was born in Columbus, Georgia. Seriously, if Justin Guarini had looked and sounded like this back in Season 1, I totally would have voted for him. Luckily, in Guarini's case, Idol was just the beginning! Hes also appeared on Broadway, making his debut in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown in 2010. Other professional performances Guarini has starred in include: Guarini has also guest-starred on shows like Wizards of Waverly Place, a Disney original featuring Selena Gomez. They have two kids together, named William and Asher. Guarini performed on stage throughout high school and college and learned to play the piano, guitar, and banjo. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Lil Sweet comes to the rescue in the latest 30-second ad spot by bringing the zero-calorie beverage to a cupcake-filled birthday party. Justin's mother, Kathy Pepino Guarini, was a journalist for WTVM TV in Columbus, and later for CNN. In 2016, Guarini attended the Tony Awards, and co-hosted backstage coverage of the live broadcast in conjunction with BroadwayHD.com.[36][37]. Nick Ballard plays the role of a Dr. Pepper fan. While stepping out to support the opening of The American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios[8] in February 2009, Guarini confirmed his impending marriage to his fiance, Reina Capodici. Wanting to continue his singing career, Justin independently released his second album, Stranger Things Have Happened Here. All rights reserved. He was a director/performer at the Riverside Haunted Woods in Bridgeton Township, Pennsylvania, in 2001. Top 5 Most Exciting Diet Dr Pepper Lil Sweet Feat Justin Guarini Commercials 2017 [Mr Elzone] Mr Elzone 356 subscribers Subscribe 2.3K views 5 years ago Top 5 Most Exciting Diet Dr. The beloved character has appeared in commercials since 2015. Justin met his idol, Stevie Wonder, at Quincy Jones' birthday party held at Spago restaurant in LA on March 15, 2003.Justin has a large family-- he has nineteen brothers and sisters! Multitalented entertainer Justin Guarini portrays him. The film was critically panned,[5] while the album sold 146,000 copies. But Broadway seems like it is not a detour for Guarini, but a destination. You can view more details on Privacy and Policy. [38][39][40] In 2016, Dr Pepper "promoted" tunes for a Lil' Sweet "album" with video clips, promotional pictures of the character, and the character's own Twitter page. Prior to the American Idol Tour, he was the only contestant asked to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show, on which Oprah Winfrey told him, "Justin, you have it.