Dell Sidelines Favorite ‘Dude’

Dude, are you getting a pink slip?

Dell Computer Corp.’s sales of personal computers have soared since the advent of the fictional pitchman Steven, known for his catch phrase, “Dude, you’re getting a Dell!”

But perhaps fearful of a backlash against the ubiquitous Steven, who playfully harangues friends and strangers into buying a Dell PC, the company said Monday that it is moving on to a new, less dude-centric advertising campaign.

“We’re trying to look at some alternatives,” said Dell spokesman Bob Kaufman.

Kaufman declined to say whether the “Steven” campaign was merely on hiatus or gone for good.

In two years, Steven, played by 21-year-old New York University acting student Ben Curtis, has become a cult advertising figure not seen since Joe Isuzu and Clara Peller of Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” fame.