--- title: DirecTV Ad Stars Rob Lowe as Ugly, Creepy Customer description: As in, really ugly and creepy canonical: https://time.com/3426085/rob-lowe-directtv/ author: Samantha Grossman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-09-24T19:23:20.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:03:08.264Z og:title: These Ads Show Rob Lowe Like You've Never Seen Him Before og:description: As in, really ugly and creepy og:url: https://time.com/3426085/rob-lowe-directtv/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8334c7a1de3e5db0/6986a54635ba6f501fc0404c/452999816.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2186 og:image:height: 1230 og:image:alt: Rob Lowe og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: These Ads Show Rob Lowe Like You've Never Seen Him Before twitter:description: As in, really ugly and creepy twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8334c7a1de3e5db0/6986a54635ba6f501fc0404c/452999816.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # These Ads Show Rob Lowe Like You've Truly Never Seen Him Before > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=6ed294f6-32ad-4a28-b6b8-1bfe35c348fd&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Less Attractive Rob Lowe DIRECTV Commercial [Watch (HLS stream): Less Attractive Rob Lowe DIRECTV Commercial](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/foBMpeBV.m3u8) (0:31)  _Published 2014-09-24. Less Attractive Rob Lowe DIRECTV Commercial_ by [Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Sep 24, 2014 7:23 PM UTC  Actor Rob Lowe arrives at the "Sex Tape" Los Angeles Premiere at Regency Village Theatre on July 10, 2014 in Westwood, California. Actor Rob Lowe arrives at the "Sex Tape" Los Angeles Premiere at Regency Village Theatre on July 10, 2014 in Westwood, California. Jeffrey Mayer—WireImage / Getty Images by [Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Sep 24, 2014 7:23 PM UTC Well, this is [literally ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FXjka07o1-0)the most hideous we’ve ever seen the notoriously gorgeous (and possibly ageless?) Rob Lowe look. A new ad campaign from DirecTV features the _West Wing_ and _Parks and Recreation_ actor as a few distinct versions of himself. First, there’s him as a DirecTV customer, which is a regular, handsome, gregarious Rob Lowe. But there’s also him as a cable user, which is a disgusting and creepy Rob Lowe (see above) along with a completely hideous Rob Lowe (see below.) We have to admit that this is some pretty effective advertising. If you’re saying that using DirecTV will make me as hot and youthful as Rob Lowe (even though he’s 26 years older than me), sign me up. ## Transcript Hi, I'm Rob Lowe and I have Direct TV. And I'm far less attractive Rob Lowe and I have cable. With Direct TV, you get 10ADP and Dolby 5. 1, the industry's best picture and sound. With cable, you get pictures and some sound too. Direct TV is a theater quality experience I can have at home with all my friends. Friends. I don't- Don't be like this [ UNKNOWN ] Get rid of cable and upgrade to DIRECTV. 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