Sole Survivors: Nate and Brian
A look at the Reebok commercials pair

The tribe has spoken. Thanks to bumbling encounters with leeches, poison-oak TP, and crotchety castoff B.B. in Reebok’s Survivor campaign, wannabe islanders Nate (Jake Safford, 29) and Brian (Don Lee, 20) are almost as famous as the real Pulau Tiga castaways.

Casting Call

Because of the SAG strike, ”we weren’t dealing with seasoned actors,” says the ads’ cocreator Michelle Novella. ”We just had all these normal guys showing up. These two walked in and were totally themselves.” Adds Lee, who squirmed memorably in the first spot: ”I did a good job making it look like I had to go to the bathroom.”

Post-SURVIVOR Life

Lee: ”Ex-girlfriends call.”
Safford: ”Everybody likes me now.”

Bark Worse Than Bite?

According to Reebok spokesperson Denise Kaigler, viewers lodged more complaints about ”Sugar,” in which the duo mistakenly hunt the titular lapdog, than the below-the-belt ”Venom” ad when each first aired.

What’s Next?

Trying to jump-start a Nate and Brian movie or TV series; possible new ads for the run of Survivor II — the pair is under contract to Reebok for 12 months.