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Toyota Jan 101: Everything You Need to Know about Jan from the Toyota Commercials

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Toyota Jan

Toyota Jan is a one-of-a-kind commercial legend

For years, Toyota Jan has been a hot topic on our website, ever since we announced her pregnancy in May of 2014. At first, it was adoring mothers who were interested in learning more about their favorite commercial superstar, but it eventually became clear that Toyota Jan inspired another specific audience: old pervy men who have a thing for women in red.

Regardless of why you’re interested in Toyota Jan—maybe you’re a young mom, maybe you’re an aspiring commercial star, maybe you find Jan attractive, or maybe she just cracks you up in all of her commercials—it is certain that Jan is a rare but special representation of commercial characters. Very few commercial characters can be recurring for so long, yet still inspire smiles every time their commercials air.

If you want to learn more about Toyota Jan (or Laurel Coppock, the actress behind Toyota’s ad star), our “Who Is Toyota Jan?” analysis is a good place to start. But we also have all the information you’ll ever want to know, gathered in one place below. Hopefully it serves as a goldmine for all true Jan Fans…


1. Yes, Toyota Jan Really Was Pregnant

toyota jan pregnant

Toyota Jan really is growing some eyeballs and toenails in her tummy here

What first launched Jan from Toyota into the spotlight on The News Wheel was her alleged pregnancy. When Coppock began to appear as a pregnant form of Jan in Toyota’s commercials, everyone wanted to know if the pregnancy was all an act for those specific commercials, or if the Toyota marketing masterminds were kind enough to work around Jan’s gestating process. Turns out, it was definitely the latter.

We had a lot of fun around the office trying to guess what Toyota Jan would name her baby. We even jokingly suggested Sienna or Camry.


2. Coppock Almost Gave Up On Commercials Before Being Cast as Jan

toyota jan laurel coppock

Laurel Coppock almost gave up on commercials, but luckily she waited around until she got the good news from Toyota

What kind of world would we live in without Toyota Jan? Actress Laurel Coppock nearly subjected us to this rough life, according to “Commercial Break,” when she very nearly quit auditioning for commercials right before her Toyota audition. She wasn’t getting any gigs and was getting sick of the let down, but something drove her to that Toyota audition, and the rest is history. Coppock talks about the audition process for the Toyota Jan role in the video below.


3. Flo from Progressive Could Have Been Toyota Jan

Toyota Jan vs. Flo from Progressive

Toyota Jan vs. Flo from Progressive

As scary as it is to hear that we might not have had Laurel Coppock as Toyota Jan, it might be even scarier for some diehard Jan Fans to hear that Flo from Progressive actress Stephanie Courtney potentially could have landed the role. (It’s a well-known secret that Jan vs. Flo is a great American rivalry, like the Yanks and the Sox or Coke and Pepsi.)

According to our research, Flo had auditioned for a Toyota commercial shortly before landing the Flo role, and the type of roles she’d been auditioning for were “girl behind the counter” type roles. Cough cough Toyota Jan cough cough. How lucky we are to have gotten Laurel Coppock instead.

It is also interesting to note that there is a Latina knockoff of Toyota Jan, named Mariela. She’s a carbon copy of Jan from Toyota, just for Latina audiences.


4. Toyota Jan Actress Laurel Coppock Does Sketch Comedy

Toyota Jan Laurel Coppock BreakWomb

Laurel Coppock on The BreakWomb

According to Looper.com, Jan isn’t the only character whom Coppock was born to play. She has also dabbled in sketch comedy and is a member of The Groundlings, which has at times included the likes of Melissa McCarthy, Will Ferrell, and Kristen Wigg.

Coppock also co-founded The BreakWomb, which features comedy geared toward moms. One video from the site is called “The Kids Books Moms Wish Existed,” which you can check out below. Just be ready to laugh your *bleep* off. (You’ll laugh more at that after watching…)


5. Her Commercials Rock

Toyota Jan astronaut commercial

Long story short: Toyota Jan just rocks!

At the end of the day, we love Toyota Jan for what she does best—keeping us laughing in all her commercials. And there are so many good ones to choose from.

Whether it’s her being badass at Christmastime, making astronaut puns, or explaining the Toyota Service Centers, the 1 for Everyone sales event, or the Toyota Time Sales event, these commercials are sure to leave you smiling.