Seth Rogen has a message for transit riders in Toronto — don’t clip your fingernails or eat dinner on the subway.
“Seriously, don’t do any of this on the TTC. I can’t believe I have to say this, just stop,” he said in a new public service announcement being aired in Toronto’s subway stations starting on Tuesday.
The Canadian comedic actor is featured in a dozen messages promoting courtesy and transit etiquette, the Toronto Transit Commission has announced.
“While feet are cool, please leave them on the floor while riding the TTC,” Rogen states in another.
LISTEN: Brad Ross on Seth Rogen’s TTC PSAs
Rogen was featured in a tweet from TTC spokesman Brad Ross on Monday wearing a Bloor-Yonge hat, fuelling speculation that his voice might soon be featured on the transit system in some way.
Vancouver’s TransLink announced last week that Rogen, who is from the city, had been tapped to become a guest voice on that transit system.
In a tweet in May, he offered to replace Morgan Freeman, who is facing sexual harassment allegations, in a promotional campaign.
Toronto city councillor Norm Kelly chimed in at the time, saying, “Come do it for Toronto, Seth.”
Rogen responded by saying he’d do “the whole country.”
READ MORE: From ‘Pineapple Express’ to West Coast Express: Seth Rogen to voice Vancouver transit
In an interview with Global News Radio 640 Toronto’s Tasha Kheiriddin on Tuesday, Ross said the project emerged out of that Twitter interaction.
Ross said the announcements are an opportunity to capture the attention of riders through humour and a familiar voice.
“When you’re waiting on the subway platform for the next train, you’re going to listen to it because, hey, isn’t that Seth Rogen? And you’re going to perhaps heed the advice,” he said.
WATCH: Seth Rogen to be new voice of TransLink
The PSAs tackle common transit pet-peeves such as blocking and holding train doors, putting backpacks on seats and talking on cellphones, along with reminders about fare evasion and when to use the emergency assistance alarm.
“I went to our customer service folks and I said, ‘You know, what are … the top 10 etiquette irritants that we hear about?'” Ross said.
Toronto Mayor John Tory thanked Rogen for donating “his time, his talent, and his voice” to the project.
“It is another example of how we’re moving the TTC forward in new and innovative ways. I hope transit riders enjoy these announcements and look forward to hearing them on the TTC,” he said in a statement.
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