Dan McKeague, Aflac Voice

Aflac has hired a new voice to replace the fired Gilbert Gottfried.

Aflac fired Gottfried on March 14 for making crude jokes on Twitter in the aftermath of the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Gottfried issued a public apology the next day.

Japan is Aflac's most important market, where the company derives about three-quarters of its revenue, making the earthquake issue especially sensitive.

Though the company has said from the start its exposure to the quake would be limited, its shares fell more than 13 percent in the four days after the March 11 disaster struck Japan. They have only partially rebounded since.

Aflac's new voice is Dan McKeague, of Minnesota.

Here's Aflac's press release: "Aflac Duck Gets Its Quack Back!"

COLUMBUS, Ga., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a month-long search that included celebrities, actors, professional voice over artists and individuals from the general public, Aflac today introduced 36-year-old Dan McKeague of Hugo, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, as the new voice of the Aflac Duck. The married father of three submitted his audition online and was informed that he had been selected after a review of more than 12,500 live and online auditions.

"I have long admired people who can act and make the most of their voice and have tried to emulate them," McKeague said. "I want to thank Aflac for the incredible honor of voicing the greatest icon in corporate America and representing a company that not only leads its industry but also leaves a positive social imprint in every community it serves."

McKeague, Sales Manager for radio stations KQRS and Love 105 in Minneapolis, has experience doing local voiceovers. He is also Vice President for the Board of Directors of the non-profit Children's Safety Centers in St. Paul, which provides safe havens for children to hold supervised visits with non-custodial relatives. Dan will make his vocal debut immediately in Aflac's latest commercial titled Pigeon, wherein the Aflac Duck represents insurance coverage that includes major medical and Aflac, while a pigeon represents coverage that includes only major medical coverage without the financial protection of Aflac. The new ad will be available this evening on the Aflac Duck's Facebook page.

Casting agencies conducted live auditions in six major cities across the United States and accepted online submissions at quackaflac.com, seeking someone who could not only provide the voice of the Aflac Duck, but who could also represent the philanthropy and the ethical values embraced by Aflac's employees and thousands of independent sales agents across the nation. Experts reviewed more than 12,500 entries before scaling the list to 20 finalists, each of whom was called back for a second audition. The 20 finalists were then further whittled down to a group of eight prior to McKeague's selection.

"We were tremendously impressed with the wealth of talent who applied for this job. Dan impressed us with his vocal range and acting ability," Aflac Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Michael Zuna said. "He understands that he is making marketing history representing our company, our 72,000 independent sales agents and our well-earned reputation as a company that does business the right way."

Since 2000, the Aflac Duck has appeared in 52 television ads and numerous radio ads, helping increase the company's brand recognition from slightly more than 10 percent to an amazing 93 percent. The Aflac Duck is also a symbol for the company's primary philanthropic cause, helping Aflac raise more than $62 million for the treatment and research of childhood cancer.

Here's news from the Aflac Duck's Facebook page:

Congratulations to my new voice: Daniel McKeague from Minneapolis, MN! Daniel is a sales manager at a radio company in Minneapolis, MN who’s done a little voiceover work on the side, so moving into quacking was a logical next step. See his TV debut tonight during The Voice at 9pm EST on NBC.

Meet Dan McKeague. Listen to the new "voice" of Aflac:



In addition to his voice and experience doing voiceover work, it seems Aflac was sold on McKeague, "married father to three."

At the beginning of the video, we see a shot of McKeague's home, with the American flag flying.

Family man McKeague, proud American, doesn't bring the baggage that comes with a celebrity like Gottfried, particularly a comedian.

I doubt McKeague will post tasteless, offensive "jokes" on Twitter mocking the human toll after a catastrophic natural disaster.
__________________

Here's the first Aflac commercial with McKeague giving voice to the duck:

Dennis Miller: Japan, Nuclear Energy, Dayton Police Recruits

Video.

Obama, NCAA Picks, Japan

JIMMY FALLON: Today, President Obama went on ESPN to announce his NCAA tournament picks. Or as Japan put it -- 'REALLY?!? You're kidding me!'

Who is advising the president of the United States?

Gottfried Replacements - Aflac

Gilbert Gottfried, voice of the Aflac Duck, was fired after posting offensive "jokes" about the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Although Gottfried posted what seemed like a sincere apology to those offended by his insensitivity, Aflac is looking for a new voice for the Aflac Duck.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon presented some possibilities.

Gilbert Gottfried, Aflac, and Japan Tweets

UPDATE, March 15, 2011: Gilbert Gottfried apologizes.

Gottfried tweets:

I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my attempt at humor regarding the tragedy in Japan.

He continues:

I meant no disrespect, and my thoughts are with the victims and their families.

_________________

Gilbert Gottfried will no longer be the voice of the Aflac Duck.



From the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

Aflac Inc. has fired comedian Gilbert Gottfried, the voice of the Aflac Duck, for insensitive remarks he tweeted about Japan after the major earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

Gottfried tweeted: "Japan is really advanced. They don't go to the beach. The beach comes to them." He also posted: "I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, 'They'll be another one floating by any minute now."

Wow, what incredibly bad taste!

"Gilbert's recent comments about the crisis in Japan were lacking in humor and certainly do not represent the thoughts and feelings of anyone at Aflac," Aflac Chief Marketing Officer Michael Zuna said in a statement. "Aflac Japan -- and, by extension, Japan itself -- is part of the Aflac family, and there is no place for anything but compassion and concern during these difficult times."

I think firing Gottfried was the right thing to do.

Gottfried can say whatever he wants. I don't think he should be silenced. If he and others find humor in his tweets, that's their choice.

However, I completely understand why a business wouldn't want to have Gottfried on the payroll. Why have the headache of defending Gottfried?

Columbus, Ga.-based Aflac (NYSE: AFL) said it will start a nationwide casting call to find a new voice for Aflac Duck. Gottfried was not the voice of the Aflac Duck in Japan.

Here's the Aflac Duck in a Japanese commercial:



Why not use the same voice for the American ads?

I suppose a nationwide casting call for the Aflac Duck's new voice creates some positive publicity for Aflac.

It shouldn't be hard to replace Gilbert Gottfried if the corporation is looking for a similar sound for the Aflac Duck.

His voice is very easy to mimic.

Japan Earthquake, Tsunami (Video)

This sudden and massive destruction in Japan is incredible.

From the Associated Press:

A massive tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. Tsunami warnings blanketed the entire Pacific, as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast.

Authorities said at least 40 people were killed and 39 missing after the magnitude 8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami. The quake was followed by at least 19 aftershocks, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0. The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of the disaster.

Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter.

"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.

Japan issued a state of emergency at a nuclear power plant after its cooling system had a mechanical failure. Trouble was reported at two other nuclear plants as well but there was no radiation leak at any.

Here's video:





Watch a LIVE STREAM here.

Hawaii, Pacific Brace for Impact After Tsunami Warning Issued

Hawaii and other parts of the Pacific braced for a destructive tsunami early Friday after a massive earthquake struck in Japan.

Tsunami sirens were sounded and coastal areas were being evacuated in Hawaii, where the first waves were expected to hit about 3 a.m. (1300 GMT) Friday.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has widened its tsunami warning beyond East Asia early Friday to include Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, the entire U.S. western coast, Mexico and Central and South America and the rest of the Pacific Ocean.

Chip McCreary, the center's director, said tsunami waves have the potential to swamp coastal areas of all Hawaii's islands.

"What these waves look like is an elevation of sea level, where the sea level will rise above its normal level and stay high for 10 or 15 minutes before it starts to recede," he said. "As a result of this, in a tsunami wave, that water can flood the coast line and be a hazard to people and buildings on the coast."

Amazing.

This disaster reminds me how powerless we really are.

I hope the protesters in Madison and elsewhere around Wisconsin pause to reflect on their blessings.

As casualties mount, my prayers go out to the people of Japan and those threatened by the tsunami.