University alumnus’ commercial to air during “The Office” premier

By Kate Szyszka

During the season premier of “The Office” Thursday night, viewers will see more than Michael Scott’s awkward leadership of Dunder Mifflin.

2004 graduate John Michael Sy won Tide to Go’s contest which challenged contestants to create a spoof of the popular Super Bowl advertisement. His advertisement will air during the season premier of “The Office.”

“This is one of the few contests I’ve entered,” said Sy. “I had this gut instinct that no one else would enter a rap.”

Sy graduated in 2004 with a degree in accounting and his masters in tax.

Tide chose the top ten finalists for the public to vote on to choose the winner.

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Many of Sy’s friends from fraternities, sororities and St. John’s Catholic Chapel voted for his commercial.

“I feel a debt of gratitude to Illinois,” said Sy.

Sy performed at open-mic nights in local bars while he was a student at the University.

“This is the first time I have put my music into the main-stream media,” said Sy. “And I hope Jim and Pam (two characters from the show) watch.”