Keep on Scratchin': Gus the Groundhog returns to TV

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Gus is back.

Pennsylvania's second most famous groundhog has returned to Pennsylvania Lottery television commercials.

"The people have spoken and the Pennsylvania Lottery listened," a statement released Monday by the Pa. Lottery said.

Gus has returned this week as part of the Lottery's holiday season advertising campaign.

Gus made his TV debut in early 2004, promoting a St. Patrick's Day-themed instant game. He went on to appear in more than 50 TV commercials and numerous print ads.

But in 2012 that all changed.

In the statement, Lottery Excecutive Director Drew Svitko said Gus went into semi-retirement after a nearly eight-year run as their instant game ad mascot.

At the time, officials said they believed the Gus campaign reached everyone it could, and they wanted to try to tap new market segments.

"In the years since, we have continued to hear from players who told us how much they missed Gus and wanted him to return. Simply stated, Gus is a Pennsylvania Lottery institution," Svitko said.

But many are probably wondering where Gus has been all this time.

Svitko says the Pa. Lottery likes to imagine Gus had some fun traveling around the state.

That may very well have been case as postcards from locations across Pennsylvania with the initial 'G' have shown up on the Pa. Lottery's social media pages.

And it seems Gus was in Philadelphia just this past Saturday. Perhaps he is a Temple fan?

The final postcard came from the State Capitol in Harrisburg, only a few miles from Lottery headquarters.

"When we opened the doors this morning, Gus loped in, dropped his suitcase, loudly proclaimed, 'Keep on Scratchin!' and headed right to his desk," Svitko joked.

The Pa. Lottery says we should expect to see more of Gus in the coming months.

While we are on the topic of Pennsylvania Lottery commercials - yes, this one is back, too!