Priceline Negotiator is back but Shatner is on vacation
In response to what Priceline calls overwhelming viewer demand, the company has resurrected William Shatner as its clownish spokesperson. In a previous commercial, Shatner’s Negotiator character was presumed to have perished in a fiery accident.
The new spots, which began running on Thursday, show Shatner re-surfacing on a beach.
He says, "Surfing is my life now…we’ll see where the waves take me!" before plunging back into the sea, still dressed in his business suit.
The commercials revive a strong Priceline pitch in tough economic times.
Priceline stock fell 17 percent last week, after its executives warned that global economic woes predicted weak third quarter performance. Analysts also suggest that the recent Google buyout of Frommer’s has shaken confidence in online travel companies. Shares of Priceline and other online travel companies fell after the announcement.
Priceline is not revealing when Shatner will emerge from the surf for another spot. Responding to our interview request, the company said that he is currently "on vacation."
No word whether he booked on Priceline.
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