We covered the breaking news last week of Ken, as in Barbie’s beau, finally revealing his full name: Kenneth Sean Carson. A little underwhelming after a 65-year wait, no? Kenneth’s birthday is March 11, and he will be turning 65 this year. The monumental bday, plus a new sponsorship deal with Expedia, were purportedly the reasons for declassifying his full name. Still, I kind of wondered why a beach bum about to be eligible for Medicare needed a month’s lead time of birthday hype, and now it all makes sense — his big new Expedia commercial will debut at the Super Bowl on Sunday! So ole KSC is joining the ranks of other SB ad stars making the press junket rounds ahead of the big game, including this new interview with People Mag:

PEOPLE: Happy birthday! What are you most looking forward to in your 65th year?
Ken: Thanks! Definitely a year of adventures and new experiences. 65, and just getting started!

PEOPLE: What was it like filming your first Super Bowl ad?
Ken: Honestly, totally natural. But my senior superlative was “Most likely to be in a Super Bowl commercial.” Expedia really gave me the 5-star treatment. I felt like a prince. Or a duke. Or a really expensive show pony.

PEOPLE: For this birthday, you’re embarking on an adventure and trying 65 new things. Can you give us a teaser on what that may include?
Ken: Becoming a world traveler. With the help of Expedia, I’m going to hit as much as I can. My goal is 5000 new sights a month, 500 new foods per week, and 3 countries a day! Maybe more if I’m feeling ambitious.

PEOPLE: What inspired you to say hello to new beginnings?
Ken: Saying goodbye to old ends! Haha, no, that’s me joking. It felt like the time for a new chapter. There’s so much I want to do. Live. Laugh. And probably a third thing.

PEOPLE: Everyone is raving over finding out your full name (Kenneth Sean Carson). How does it feel to finally reveal that?
Ken: Oh, wow! Well… It felt like winning the lottery. Going to the moon. Seeing a unicorn. Getting a perfect deal on Expedia. All of which I’ve done before.

PEOPLE: What sort of Ken-ergy are you exuding in your 65th year?
Ken: I plan to channel positivity, open-mindedness, and a sense of wonder. Like babies, whom I greatly admire.

PEOPLE: Will Barbie be joining any of your adventures this year?
Ken: Of course! It’s going to be a year of both familiar and new faces. So excited for you guys to see some of the new faces. They’re really good faces.

[From People]

I’ll be honest, I went into this interview with a dismal view of Kenneth S. Carson. To me, the man’s been riding Barbie’s (fabulously tailored) coattails for years. Nay, decades! After reading this profile, though, I’m inclined to go softer on K-Cars. Look, we can’t all be born smart! (Note that of all the new things he plans to try in his 65th year, not one of them is to read a book.) It’d just be mean to pile up on a guy who lives up to his empty-headed manufacturing. Plus, what he doesn’t have in brains, he clearly makes up for in enthusiasm! And I must admit, this exchange will stay with me: “What inspired you to say hello to new beginnings?” “Saying goodbye to old ends!” Sometimes there’s a veeeeeeery thin line between what’s profound and what’s dumb. So have fun, you expensive show pony! Live, laugh, and probably a third thing. I can see the t-shirt now.

photos are screenshots from YouTube and via Instagram courtesy Expedia