The Strange Allure of the Progressive Insurance Girl (The One You Mute)

Austin 360.com ^ | 10/20/2008 | Austin 360.com

[Dallas59]

"Flo"



Stephanie Courtney



She's 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 is her name. She's the spokeswoman for Progressive Auto Insurance, lighting up televisions in a series of commercials in which her perky cashier pitches the money-saving merits of Progressive to customers. She works in a sterile, all-white big-box store, and her florid makeup stands out like paint spilled in snow.

First she caught our eye; now she's snatched our heart. Viewers are smitten. They're crushin'. They want to know: Who's that girl?

From a recent blog at HoustonPress.com, with the headline "The Cult of the Progressive Car Insurance Chick":

"Am I the only one completely and totally enamored of the woman in the television ads for Progressive car insurance? You know, the ones starring that babelicious brunette named Flo with her 'tricked-out name tag' and her '60s style eye makeup and her kissable red, red lips?"

No, sir, you are not. There's more where that mash-note came from, out there in the blogosphere's infinite confessional space: "She's hot." "She's weird but, God, she's fine!"

[Cyber Ninja]

sexy but not provocative.....

I take it you haven't seen the commercial where she admits
to a liking for "riding the pink pony".....

[Bean Counter]

Since Billy Mayes assumed room temperature, Flo is now the most annoying voice on television.

[Bean Counter]

Besides, she has an enormous ass...

[Greg123456]

I have Nationwide which has an even more annoying spokesman. I can’t stand that guy with the blue phone!

[A message]

She had Progressive Insurance and they were the best people I've ever dealt with as far as handling a claim (except for my own State Farm agent.) Anyway, they paid us sixteen hundred over retail for our car and had the check ready in two days. No hassles at all.

I have to agree with your comments. I used to have Progressive and they handled any claims very well. Switched to State Farm because I wasn't going to feed a lib Dem owner any further money.

[advertising guy]

she could play Abby Schuto’s ( NCIS ) bigger sister in an episode......lotta writing possibles

[justkillingtime]

I’ll take “Drive Over a Cliff” for $200 Alex....lol

[Magic Fingers]

The Hartford has a nice stag.

[AwesomePossum]

Progressive Funds Leftists!

:}

[Greg123456]

I like the Geico gecko, but can’t stand the stack of money with the eyes.

[tubebender]

Flo is entertaining and she is increasing sales for Progressive. Here is one report from Florida

[Beowulf9]

I can’t stand those Cox cable dwarf mutant robot things.

[Kirkwood]

Erin Esurance is HOT! I can’t believe I said that. LOL

[Secret Agent Man]

Progressive doesn’t cover your ass if you have an in-home defensive shooting. My insurance company does.

[Secret Agent Man]

She wears a wig you know.... ;)

[tlb]

>>> where did they find this comedic talent, and why hasn’t she been seen anywhere before?

She has been around for a while. On Mad Men she was one of the trio of switchboard ladies, and was even on the Man Show for a bit. She has also done a lot of work as voices for cartoons.

[Greg123456]

I haven’t seen ‘em, but will be on the lookout now that you mentioned it.

[pankot]

She makes my ass tired.

[yarddog]

She is not ugly and comes across as very female, but there is something very slightly repulsive about her. Probably fun to work with but a lousy date.

[TNdandelion]

I think she’s adorable in her quirkiness.