Justin Guarini "Justin Guarini Returns to TV in Funny "Lil' Sweet" Diet Dr Pepper Commercial. From Idol to ads! Justin Guarini is back on television 13 years after he made his debut on 2002's inaugural season of American Idol."

Since 2015, Guarini has been starring as Lil' Sweet in Diet Dr Pepper television commercials, and web marketing.

Despite what seems like a pretty obvious Prince influence, Guarini contends the character is a general glam rocker who is not based on any single figure. Deustch also denies he's based on Prince. (Nobody is confusing him for Ziggy Stardust, though … and some commenters seem to think it actually is The Purple One.)

Originally made in Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, the drink's unique flavor was a hit when it was first sold in 1885. Wade Morrison, the drug store owner, named it "Dr. Pepper" after Dr. Charles Pepper, a Virginia doctor who was the father of a girl Morrison was once in love with.

Dr Pepper Zero Sugar is sweetened with a combination of aspartame and acesulfame potassium, which makes it slightly more syrupy (read: realistic).

Originally made in Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, the drink's unique flavor was a hit when it was first sold in 1885. Wade Morrison, the drug store owner, named it "Dr. Pepper" after Dr. Charles Pepper, a Virginia doctor who was the father of a girl Morrison was once in love with.

Dr Pepper Zero Sugar is sweetened with a combination of aspartame and acesulfame potassium, which makes it slightly more syrupy (read: realistic).

Originally made in Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, the drink's unique flavor was a hit when it was first sold in 1885. Wade Morrison, the drug store owner, named it "Dr. Pepper" after Dr. Charles Pepper, a Virginia doctor who was the father of a girl Morrison was once in love with.

Originally created to refresh the brand's diet portfolio, Lil' Sweet's role has expanded from exclusively singing the praises of Diet Dr Pepper to now extolling the original - a testament to the mascot's staying power. But the rocker has done more than dole out soda.

To broaden its appeal across the nation, Dr Pepper hailed itself as “the most misunderstood soft drink,” and then in the 1970s became “the most original soft drink ever in the whole wide world.” In 1977, Dr Pepper advertising was marked by the famous “Be a Pepper” campaign, followed by “Be You.” The newest slogan out ...

Even in the early eruption of the soda industry, few drinks have been as uniquely satisfying as Dr Pepper. Its signature blend of sweet and peppery flavors puts the “King of Beverages” in the top rankings of all sodas consumed today.

While Diet Dr. Pepper is sweetened with aspartame, Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar is sweetened using a combination of aspartame and acesulfame potassium for a more syrupy, authentic Dr. Pepper taste.