In a video posted to The Daily Show YouTube channel in a segment called "After The Cut," Gountas revealed he won the contest and a year's worth of free burritos at the Pedro Pascal lookalike contest at the Son Del North Mexican restaurant located in the city's Lower East Side. The revelation about Gountas' employment at The Daily Show has brought additional media exposure to the otherwise localized contest, thrusting him into the national spotlight. His appearance on "After The Cut" also allowed him to ask one favor directly to Pascal: his wife would like to meet him.
What George Gountas' Job At The Daily Show Means For His Contest Win
Additional Exposure For Both Him And The Show
Gountas appeared somewhat bewildered during his conversation with Jon Stewart at his explosively fast level of fame. He said he hadn't even signed up for the event, being reminded of it by the show's stage manager, Tyler Goldman, and just showed up the day of, ready to participate after a visit to his stylist neighbor and approval from his wife.
I showed up on Father's Day. You were supposed to have like, pre-signed up. I did not sign up. I rolled up and I'm like, "Yo, I'm here." And they're like, "You're gonna win."
Gountas then went on to beat 30 other contestants in the lookalike contest, winning himself $50 and free burritos for an entire year, according to the New York Post. He commented that his wife was happy about the newfound fame and attention, but only if she could meet Pedro Pascal himself, a request he asked directly into The Daily Show cameras.
Hey, Pedro. This is Pedro number five from New York. It would be a great, great, great gift if you could meet my wife, Jenny. It would mean the world to her. We need to make this happen.
Our Take On The Daily Show's Pedro Pascal Lookalike
It's Hard To Imagine Jon Stewart Doesn't Integrate This Somehow
The Daily Show has a long history of incorporating comical news bits into its reporting, and with it now public knowledge that the show has its own "Pedro Pascal", Stewart could maximize George Gountas on future bits, programs, and skits as the show sees fit to do. Additionally, the possibility of seeing crossovers during late night now exists, as Stewart maintains working relationships with John Oliver, Jimmy Kimmel, and a host of other late-night hosts who would undoubtedly be eager to see Gountas play the role of Pascal for comedic effect.
The fame and attention that's been showered on Gountas post-contest win is a good measuring stick to the universal love and acclaim Pascal enjoys, seen by some as both a model for positive masculinity and an ally in many marginalized communities, and he's now basking in those same sentiments. As Pascal continues to be one of the most popular and in-demand actors in Hollywood, we'll likely see more of these lookalike contests pop up, but it's virtually impossible to imagine anyone looking that much like him outside Gountas.
