John Hodgman and Justin Long don’t follow each other on Twitter

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“Hi, I’m a Mac.”

“And I’m a PC.”

“And we don’t follow each other on Twitter.”

True fact: John Hodgman and Justin Long do not follow each other on Twitter.

This seems strange to me. Hodgman and Long are something of a binary star system. True, both had careers on their own before they stood in front of that white background for the first time in 2006 – Long had supporting roles in quite a few films from 1999 until 2006, and Hodgman had his first book, Areas of my Expertise, plus his spot on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

But what’s made these guys famous, like capital-C-Celebrity-popping-up-on-Gawker-Stalker-looking-like-a-UPS-driver famous, was the Mac vs. PC commercials, also known as the “Get a Mac” campaign. Apple has had quite a bit of success with the regular bits, depicting Long as the slightly aloof, care free Apple Macintosh to John Hodgman’s eager-to-please PC buffoonery (although Hodgman is an Apple fan outside of the commercials). Dozens of the spots have been produced since 2006, and there is no sign that they’ll stop making them soon.

Now it’s worth stating here that neither Hodgman nor Long are passive Twitter users. Hodgman has a verified account, with 83,000 followers, and Long, with more than 7,000 followers, writes less than two weeks ago that he’s in the process of getting verified. I’d think these guys would be hanging out between takes, and Mr. PC would be like, “Oh, you’re on Twitter now? I gotta follow you.” After all, Hodgman follows 254 other people, from Mediaite’s Rachel Sklar to Night Court’s John Larroquette to Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker. Hodgman has even done a plug for Long’s appearance in a play. Why isn’t Mr. Long Mr. Hodgman’s #255, and why isn’t Mr. Hodgman Mr. Long’s #25?

It’s hard to go as far as to say there is animus between the two. But are there some strains in their working relationship? Here’s Hodgman reflecting on why his role in the ads gets more attention than Long in an interview with Engadget in 2006:

The villain of any story is often the most compelling character. Justin, who is brilliantly funny, of course must play the hero, and the Luke Skywalkers of the world always catch a certain amount of flack. It’s unfair, but inevitable, and I don’t think it has caused people to buy more PCs anymore than it caused people to root for the empire over the Jedi. The Jedi still are the best. And they don’t get viruses.

On the other hand, Long may not be a big fan of the spots given the acting career he’s been working to build. He has apparently contemplated quitting the campaign in the past. And in this interview at Hollywood Outbreak, Long seems a bit chagrined by how much of his career is an afterthought to the people he meets on the street and say ‘you’re the Mac guy.’ He notes, “the big choice I have to make is, like, when do I put my hands in my pockets.” Maybe it’s hard for him to be reminded of the commercials all the time?

So what do you think? Is there something behind the Mac and PC guys not following each other on Twitter? Or is it just one of those oversights like when you realized you’ve been friends with someone for years and haven’t added them yet on Facebook?

(Oh wait, that never happens…)