San Antonio native and “Gilmore Girls” actor Jared Padalecki stayed close to his hometown to shoot a new commercial to promote, of all things, soup.
Padalecki stars in a Panera Bread advertisement released Wednesday that promotes the chain’s fall lineup of soups. And residents of Kyle realized it’s no coincidence that their local Panera Bread was closed a week earlier with a flurry of camera crews and vans surrounding it.
Kyle residents on Sept. 17 shared photos on social media of the Panera Bread restaurant at 5200 FM 1626, which was closed for a commercial shoot and was swarming with camera crews. A week later when Panera Bread released the 60-second ad dubbed “Fall For Your Favorites” featuring Padalecki and fellow “Gilmore Girls” star Matt Czuchry, social media users quickly noticed similarities between the Kyle location and the set of the commercial.
“Gilmore Girls” was one of Padalecki’s first major acting roles after he graduated from Madison High School in 2000. He’s expected to appear in an upcoming documentary celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary. Padalecki’s other credits include the long-running TV series “Supernatural” and the Texas-set show “Walker,” which ended its four-season run last year.
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During the seven seasons of “Gilmore Girls,” Padalecki played Dean Forester, a love interest of protagonist Rory Gilmore, portrayed by Alexis Bledel. Czuchry played Logan Huntzberger, a character that appeared later in the series and tried to win over Gilmore.
The romantic rival dynamic is apparent in the advertisement filmed in Kyle, about 60 miles north of San Antonio.
“What is wrong with being the reliable one, the one that’s always there for you,” Padalecki says in the ad. “I know what you’re going to say. It’s not that fancy, but it feels like home.”
“Hey, man, listen, some people just might want a little something more sophisticated,” Czuchry responds from across the table.
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It turns out the two are not debating who is better suited for Gilmore, but rather which of Panera Bread’s fall soups is the tastiest.
“What about autumn squash soup,” Czuchry says. “I mean, it’s so rich.”
A Panera Bread staff member interjects: “Wow, you guys are really passionate about soup.” The two proceed to indulge in their soups.
Panera Bread has numerous locations throughout Texas, including 10 in San Antonio.