UPS 'beefcake' drivers take a star turn at Fox

By Rachel Tobin Ramos

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In the stage production of “Legally Blonde” -- at the Fox Theatre through Sunday -- actor Brian Patrick Murphy plays a beefy UPS driver who’s nice legs and flower deliveries capture the heart of salon-owner Paulette (played by Natalie Joy Johnson).

When he presents Paulette with a giant “package” -- a campy scene that delights the overwhelmingly female audience -- you’d think someone at UPS’s famously buttoned-up corporate headquarters would be blushing.

Au contraire. The Sandy Springs-based company seems to be encouraging the “beefcake” reputation of its drivers.

UPS has a Los Angeles agency that looks for product placement opportunities -- even the sexy ones. In the case of “Legally Blonde,” UPS provided the uniform (in lieu of paying for the product placement).

“It takes a lot of strength to deliver packages every day,” said UPS spokeswoman Karen Cole. “They have to be fit and in shape. That’s kind of the fun part of the UPS brand -- we have that face that’s out there every day.”

From 2004-2006, when UPS sponsored New York Fashion Week, UPS placed drivers outside the fashion tents.

“It was insane!” Cole said. “These very hip people wanted their picture with the drivers.”

UPS also monitors what people post on Twitter. Here’s a sampling from this week:

“You do know that since you feel icky, today is the day the hot UPS guy will show up.”

“My managers are laughing at me cause I just sprinted outside like Forrest Gump to catch up with hot UPS guy.”

And finally, “Why helloooooooooo hot UPS guy! :) God I feel like I’m in ‘Legally Blonde’ or something.”

But is UPS really comfortable with the sexy performance in “Legally Blonde”?

“As long as they’re dressed with the right stuff, let them be out there,” Cole said. “Let them be loved.”