City October 5, 2009 11:53 AM

Cerza Goes National as Face of Pizza Hut Wings

Buffalo Rising 33

National Buffalo Wing Festival Founder Drew Cerza, also known as the "Wing King," is lending his talents to national restaurant chain Pizza Hut, in a series of TV commercials.

Following successful test marketing in several U.S. cities, the Wing King is now front and center in WingStreet Wings by Pizza Hut television commercials airing nationwide. This past weekend, Cerza's spot was featured during major college football, as well as NFL games across the country. Cerza also produced several radio spots that will be part of a national ad campaign.

Cerza is helping the pizza giant promote its "WingStreet" brand, which involves several varieties of deep fried Buffalo Wings that the company celebrates as the "Official Wing of Football". The company claims the deep-fried WingStreet wings are true "Buffalo Style" and different from the baked Pizza Hut wings.

WingStreet quotes the Cerza in its national press release as saying, "I know a great wing the second I taste one, and the taste of WingStreet hits the mark."

The company also notes that WingStreet is a past winner in the category of Traditional Hot Wing Sauce at the Wing Fest, held each Labor Day weekend at Buffalo's Coca-Cola Field.

Cerza began a national media tour last week in Los Angeles, where he did cooking segments on several television shows including a new program on the "E" Network called That Morning Show, a segment for the TBS show Dinner and a Movie, and KTLA TV's Morning Show in Los Angeles.

In addition to his latest media endeavors on behalf of WingStreet, Drew Cerza has appeared on numerous national television shows, including The Today Show, Fox & Friends, The View, Emeril Live, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Live with Regis & Kelly, and the Food Network's Unwrapped and All American Festivals.

As for his new Pizza Hut collaboration, Cerza states: "I feel that my relationship with Pizza Hut's new WingStreet brand is another great way for me to promote my beloved hometown of Buffalo, NY, and the National Buffalo Wing Festival. I have always respected Pizza Hut's brand for having quality food and great family atmosphere."

Pizza Hut began 50 years ago in Wichita, Kansas and today operates more than 10,000 restaurants around the world.

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Comments

33 Comments Leave a comment

TimMD

October 5, 2009 12:17 PM

Had them down here in Maryland. They are horrible.

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benfranklin

October 5, 2009 12:19 PM

Interesting use of the word 'lending'.

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UnionAMG

October 5, 2009 12:23 PM

Sell out!

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no goal

October 8, 2009 11:19 AM

Everyone that says he is a sellout is wrong. Dead wrong. You could not be more wrong. Yes he is a king. Yes the economy is difficult right now. Yes the king needs money. Some of you are clearly thinking he has enough money and is a greedy sell out. F.Y.I. this humble and gracious ruler is a not a real King nor does he make his money from our taxes (or England, France, Irelands taxes) he is only the king and champion of our hearts. So inclusion I only ask that you remeber this when talking about this great man who has done so much for our city, please remeber he does not actually have a crown of jewls nor does make his money from the taxes you pay (unless it is of course on his majesty's land during the international festival of wings) and yes he needs to feed his family. Why cant everyone relax and the let this noblemen do his thing so he to can feed his family? So what if it is Pizza Hut wings.

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donnybagadonuts

October 5, 2009 12:23 PM

I don't blame the guy for cashing in but I doubt these are the type of wings most buffaloanians want. I had high hopes for my first wing fest only to be served premade, warmed over, soggy wings.

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DMZ

October 5, 2009 12:25 PM

Good for him. I met this guy in NYC of all places and he was real nice. I heard this dude can live off what he makes at Wing Fest, so I'm sure this will be a nice added bonus. Pretty nice gig.

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NorPark

October 5, 2009 1:31 PM

I saw the commercial yesterday and was shocked, what a sellout.
"I have always respected Pizza Hut's brand for having quality food and great family atmosphere."
lol

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DMZ

October 5, 2009 2:12 PM

I'm assuming the first "sell out" was a joke, but not so sure yours is. Let me get this straight. You would say no to a national chain that will bring both money in your pocket, and exposure to your brands (Wing King and Wing Fest). I didn't realize a guy who wears a cape and and chicken wing crown was supposed to be taken so seriously.

On a side note, the quality argument is subjective, but Pizza Hut is very family friendly.

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NorPark

October 5, 2009 5:11 PM

Hey, everything has a price tag. I guess I should try the wings before i judge, but based on past experiences, any wings I have had from a national chain have been horrible. Sure that may just be my opinion and basically every person I know.
Ok, so everyone from Buffalo recognized him the second the commercial came on, but i really don't think its going to bring much exposure to his cause, after all, Pizza Hut is paying him to promote their cause.
So i guess if the wings are good, then great, he helped produce the first authentic and properly made wing offered at a large chain. If they suck, then yes, he is a sellout and a corporate shill, but good for him, he is banking his cash. But that really wont make him the 'wing king' any longer, nor will he be able to say "I know a great wing the second I taste one..."

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DMZ

October 5, 2009 9:44 PM

Your definition of "corporate shill" could include just about anything and anyone. There are about 12 ad units on this page, would you call BRO a corporate shill. Technically you could call any actor, athlete, or a musician a corporate shill. People need to maximize their profit and self promote. He's actually always popping up on national talk shows and is fairly recognizable now. If you've been paying attention the last few years, a lot of national chains are using celb-chef type personalities as their spokesman.

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NorPark

October 5, 2009 10:07 PM

Yea, i have been paying attention the last few years with Guy Fieri (sp) endorsing TGI Fridays I believe, Rocco Dispirito endorsing Bertolli frozen dinners, the self proclaimed wing king endorsing Pizza Hut wings, etc...
Just because it goes on doesn't mean it is not a joke. Its just the way it is in corporate america these days. Yea these guys are getting paid for it, good for them, getting paid to endorse a product they know is garbage compared to what they actually believe in. I never said the wing king is a fool for endorsing pizza hut wings, just a sellout. This guy knows wings, he says pizza huts wings are the real deal. So if they suck like every other large chain pizza place, that means he lost credibility.

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cookiemonster

October 5, 2009 2:27 PM

I am from buffalo and love pizza hut pizza and chicken wings. They are not the same as lets say la nova or bocces but its a good different. I think this exposure is priceless to grow the festival and an added feather in buffalo's cap. Keep promoting your self and your region, way to go Drew... This is true entrepreneural spirit. Apparently in Buffalo success is looked at as selling out. When I was watching football everyone thought this was great. The more exposure the better for this city and Drew is a true business man who makes things happen.

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Shoestring Budget

October 5, 2009 4:18 PM

In the spirit of a famous NY Post headline...

Cerza to Anchor Bar: "Drop dead."

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Dan

October 5, 2009 4:37 PM

The issue I've had with wings in other parts of the United States isn't so much the sauce or the "authenticity" (that it's not being prepared and/or served in some shopworn indie pizzeria or corner tavern by staff with names like "Rocco" and "Joanne"), but rather the wing itself. They're TINY! In Buffalo, wings can be a meal, but not so elsewhere with the baby chick parts that are used.

I know this is sacrilege, but I thought the best wings in Cleveland were at an Applebees in Lyndhurst. The sauce was okay, but the drums and flats were actually the same size, if not a bit larger, than what one would find in a Buffalo tavern or pizzeria. What good is great sauce if they're on little one-bite wings?

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DXMontagnes

October 5, 2009 11:02 PM

I don't have a problem with it. It's clearly not supposed to be him walking into Duff's or the Anchor Bar and pulling a fast one on real Buffaloanians, nor is he sporting a Bills cap or Sabres jersey (although that would certainly be prohibited by their respective leagues).

The point is it's like Forrest Gump playing with the fake paddles when he comes back from China. It's a little white lie, and he's practically winking at all us true wing lovers back at home that he's just taking their dough.

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onestarmartin

October 6, 2009 8:48 AM

Good for him, it's not like good wings are available only in Buffalo anymore, decades ago yes, but these days deep fryers and Franks hot sauce are pretty standard everywhere.

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UnionAMG

October 6, 2009 9:17 AM

While I do agree with you that the ability to cook them and flavor them the same as in Buffalo has caught up, the quality of the actual chicken wing does not hold up around the nation.

It's an issue of consumer demand. Here in Buffalo, we are so demanding of our wings, that a restaurant can't afford to offer smaller/sub-standard wings. But around the country, where wings aren't such a cultural icon, consumers are less demanding. And restaurants can offer a cheaper wing and customers will accept that.

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onestarmartin

October 6, 2009 10:20 AM

actually, I have yet to have a lesser wing in other city's.

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NorPark

October 6, 2009 11:15 AM

I used to make it a point to try wings in other cities when the opportunity presented itself, but most times its a disappointment, though not really a suprise.

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DMZ

October 6, 2009 11:30 AM

Travel to Tennessee. I lived there for 5 years, worst wings ever.

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Dan

October 6, 2009 12:37 PM

See my previous post. Anyone can cook a great wing with some interesting sauce, but the wings themselves outside of WNY are usually tiny.

Come to Austin. It's a city of hardcore foodies, much like San Francisco. There's wing joints everywhere, many claiming so serve "authentic" Buffalo-style wings. They're always disappointing, because they're always so small. Even the most hyped local wing chain around here, Pluckers, serves wings on the small size compared to a Buffalo mom-and-pop tavern.

Speaking of wings ... how come there are so many wing chains that aren't based in Buffalo, while restaurants serving great wings in Buffalo refuse to expand, even to just a second location? Buffalo Wild Wings, Wing Stop, Wing Zone, Buffalo Wings and Rings, and many others - none based in Buffalo. All the profits from the chicken wing craze are going to Dallas, Columbus or wherever; not Buffalo.

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LouisTully

October 6, 2009 3:56 PM

i believe duffs is expanding. don't they have 2 or 3 locations? and i just heard there is another opening. i think alot of people will say duffs has the best wings.

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DMZ

October 6, 2009 3:44 PM

"alot of people will say duffs has the best wings"

This is one of the many mysteries of the world. I never get why this place comes so highly recommended. The people who own it are pretty sensitive as well. In fact I had a review on Yelp about how average the place is. The review was fair, and was only one of a few negative reviews. The owner got snippy and posted a retort (which in itself is bush) then he tried to explain how many people visit bla bla bla. I can't remember the entire exchange but called him out and he deleted his posts, I wish I would have got a screen shot. It's not like i said they served puppy meat, I just don't prefer their sauce and undercooked wings.

I'd love for any other local place to get big and franchise but Duffs. I wouldn't want their wings representing the area. I think a good model would be like In and Out burger. Keep the supply chain close and controlled.

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DMZ

October 6, 2009 3:44 PM

"alot of people will say duffs has the best wings"

This is one of the many mysteries of the world. I never get why this place comes so highly recommended. The people who own it are pretty sensitive as well. In fact I had a review on Yelp about how average the place is. The review was fair, and was only one of a few negative reviews. The owner got snippy and posted a retort (which in itself is bush) then he tried to explain how many people visit bla bla bla. I can't remember the entire exchange but called him out about being a baby and he deleted his posts, I wish I would have got a screen shot. It's not like i said they served puppy meat, I just don't prefer their sauce and undercooked wings.

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NorPark

October 6, 2009 4:24 PM

I def agree w you regarding Duffs. A lot of people really seem to love the place, but the sauce is not good, just hot and has no depth, and the wings are def soggy because they swim in the stuff.

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LouisTully

October 6, 2009 8:45 PM

i wasn't singing their praise. just pointing out it's popularity

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LouisTully

October 6, 2009 3:58 PM

i have. i was in boston, can't remember the place, but the wings were awful. and tiny.

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NorPark

October 6, 2009 1:05 PM

All i know is that when friends come back to Buffalo, there are usually 3 food items they always look fwd to having again, and wings are one of them.

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LouisTully

October 6, 2009 3:04 PM

i'd rather eat a shoe than a pizza hut chicken wing. out of taste and pride that better wings are made by locals

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tbefc57

October 7, 2009 6:12 AM

I just saw this commercial the other day. I also saw the wings the other day as well. Idk if it was just our order, but the wings were quite small. I live in Albany for school and always look forward to Tim Hortons coffee and Buffalo style Pizza, there is no substance to the NYC style pizza that is served here. I think in general, Buffalo's food is better than most places, but that's just my idea.

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phenimore

October 9, 2009 3:47 PM

Ok, so hands up to the number of people that actually eat at pizza hut to begin with? Is there a pizza hut in buffalo? When I lived in Arkansas for a few years pizza hut was probably the best pizza I could get and, strangely enough, I found that one of the cooks at an ihop could fry up a great mexican hot wing that, while different from my beloved buffalo wings, hit the spot. So yeah, maybe pizza hut has the best wings for a national pizza joint... I'm pretty sure even if hut gets great success from its wing sales that it won't do anything but help the local Buffalo market for great real wings. Can't knock Cerza for being an impressive brand manager for himself. Congrats!

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Tim

October 10, 2009 9:54 PM

Banish the "king" him from his wingdom. He should rename himself "Sell Out" the Pizza Hut Clown.

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stfuwingking

October 16, 2009 10:57 PM

Any douche bag promoting ANYTHING with Pizza Hut should have their head examined. First off the "these aren't actors" is crap to begin with. The chick who says "What?!" is an actress named Lindsay Mouat. Google that. She has an IMDB page. Next off it's laughable for a moron to call himself a "wing king". That just lends itself to complete douche baggery. If you choose to eat at {izza Hut, blame yourself for that mistake. While you're at it go eat at Arby's too. Both foods are so full of ummm...hmmmm...flavor? No. Wait. Sewage. That's the word I was looking for.

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