This Is An Ad For Something

Via AdWeek:

Star Wars: Episode VII doesn't hit theaters until December, but the parade of marketing around the movie has already begun. Quiznos today is launching a parody ad on YouTube that playfully mashes up the film franchise with another flick—the movie version of the HBO show Entourage due out in June. "There's such a big following with the Star Wars world," Chris Ruszkowski, vp of advertising at Quiznos, told Adweek. "Both Star Wars and Entourage are coming out this year, and we are excited about what we are going to be bringing this week as well." The brand's endeavor centers on "Startourage," a three-minute video spoof that humorously drops Entourage characters like Vincent Chase and Ari Gold into the world of Star Wars.

So This Is A Thing

A hot dog wrapped in fried chicken and drizzled with cheese. (Tipped by JMG reader Bernie)

McDonald's Reveals French Fries Recipe

Mmm, delicious anti-foaming agents.

Taco Bell Gospel

Hemant Mehta writes at Friendly Atheist:

Whenever I go to a restaurant or coffee shop and they ask for my name, I’ve gotten used to saying “Bob.” It’s a reflex at this point. Instead of going through the motions of pronouncing my real name and spelling it out for someone who doesn’t really care and just needs to use it once, I prefer making things easier for everyone. When a Taco Bell worker asks Creationist Eric Hovind for his name — an interaction that ought to be quick and simple for a guy named “Eric” — he decides to make their jobs harder (certainly more uncomfortable) by telling them his name is “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Then, as he says, “all you gotta do is sit back and let them witness for you.” It’s not clever; it’s just a dick move.

Taco Bell: We Didn't Make That Gay Ad

Taco Bell has denied producing the commercial posted here yesterday.  Gawker has their statement: "We didn’t create this ad, but we can see the people who did share the same Live Mas passion for our brand—and our breakfast—as we do. Although we cannot condone unauthorized use of our intellectual property, we are impressed with their work and would be open to meeting with them."

Taco Bell Ad Stars Gay Couple

This "leaked" Taco Bell commercial was posted to YouTube ten days ago. Has anybody seen it aired anywhere?

(Via Towleroad)

Burger King: We're Not Moving

"We hear you. We’re not moving, we’re just growing and finding ways to serve you better. As part of the announcement made today, both Burger King Corp. and Tim Hortons will continue to operate as independent brands. We’ll just be under common ownership. Our headquarters will remain in Miami where we were founded more than 60 years ago and business will continue as usual at our restaurants around the world. The decision to create a new global QSR leader with Tim Hortons is not tax-driven – it’s about global growth for both brands. BKC will continue to pay all of our federal, state and local U.S. taxes. We’re proud of the heritage of Burger King and will maintain our long-standing commitment to our employees, franchisees and the local communities we serve. The WHOPPER isn’t going anywhere." - Posted yesterday to Burger King's Facebook page. Most commenters aren't buying it.

Burger King Heads North

Burger King has announced that it will move its headquarters to Canada in an $11B merger with the Tim Hortons donut chain.

The new global company will be headquartered in Canada, but each brand will be managed independently, with Burger King retaining its U.S. offices in Miami, the two companies said in a joint statement. The new base in Canada could allow Burger King to reduce its U.S. tax bill -- a recent report by KPMG found that total tax costs in Canada are about 46% lower than in the U.S. These so-called inversions allow companies to transfer money earned outside the U.S. to the parent company without paying additional U.S. taxes. As more companies have used inversions, President Obama and Congress have publicly criticized the moves because it cuts into U.S. tax revenue.

The merger will vault BK over Subway as the world's third-largest fast food conglomerate with $23B in combined sales. There's no word on whether Tim Hortons will ever get that apostrophe.

Arby's Meat Mountain

Via the Washington Post:

Arby’s faced a key problem as it moved to attract customers: People thought the restaurant served mainly roast beef. To change that, the company made this poster showing a tall stack of every meat on the menu, from bacon to brisket. And then something unexpected happened. “People started coming in and asking, ‘Can I have that?’” said Christopher Fuller, the company’s vice president of brand and corporate communications. So Arby’s began granting their wish. The “Meat Mountain,” as it’s called, will not be listed on the menu, but store associates will make it for customers who ask. The price is $10.

The sandwich is too big for ordinary Arby's boxes and will come wrapped in paper. Hit the link for the ingredients.

One Million Moms Vs Carl's Jr.

One Million Busybodies is calling for a boycott.

Joe, Will Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. ever learn? They are at it again with another disgusting ad. Their newest Texas BBQ Thickburger commercial focuses on the model’s sweaty chest and legs with several suggestive shots. This ad is extremely degrading to women and should be pulled off the air immediately. Not long after One Million Moms contacted the company about its advertisement starring Kate Upton making out with a burger at a drive-in movie wearing only skimpy lingerie, the company aired three different commercials all with the same theme. The restaurant is using sex to sell its burgers with scantily-clad models licking sauce seductively in provocative poses. 1MM has had enough with their soft porn ads! We will politely, but sternly let them know that we are not giving up on protecting our families. There is strength in numbers so be sure to send this to everyone you know! 1MM will remain consistent and dedicated, especially with companies that seem not to budge, which means we need EVERYONE’S help in taking action!

OMM says the company is blocking their emails (SNORK!) so they are asking their supporters to barrage their offices by phone. Here's the suggested script:

"Your advertising continues to offend me and my family. You have shown no respect for common decency, values or women. If you continue to advertise in this manner and refuse to remove your recent ad, my family will no longer eat in your restaurants. I also plan on telling everyone I know never to visit your restaurant again unless you pull the Texas BBQ Thickburger ad off the air and remove it from your website immediately!"

Teabaggers Vs Chipotle

Tea Party supporters are already furious at Chipotle for asking "open carry" nuts not to bring their weapons into their outlets. This weekend ten of thousands of teabaggers shared a Tea Party News Network post which declares that Chipotle is run by communists.

After Chipotle declared that they were prohibiting patrons from exercising their Second Amendment rights in their restaurants, the Mexican grill took another step to the left by writing slogans on their bags that include plainly Communist rhetoric. The fast-food grill now issues paper bags for to-go orders with a variety of quotes from authors like Toni Morrison, Malcolm Gladwell and George Saunders. The campaign, announced in May, was created by militant vegetarian Jonathan Safran Foer who claims that he wanted to offer people something to read while dining. One quote has stood out from the rest as it unabashedly calls for a Utopian existence free of monetary arrangements and committed to a Bolshevist ideology. A bag with a quote from George Saunders offers this bit of pretentious rambling: “Hope that, in future, all is well, everyone eats free, no one must work, all just sit around feeling love for one another.” Damn- that should have been Obama’s campaign slogan. The brief statement is simply absurd. Aside from the obvious impracticalities of such a world, the bag’s quote describes, essentially, a world without purpose- no working, no comparative value- just nothingness. Further, the quote promotes a Communist ideology that is simply and ironically incompatible with the food establishment in which it is offered. It’s amazing that I must state the obvious but…. If everybody eats for free, then Chipotle cannot exist as they must charge for their food.

Saunders, it should be noted, was once a devotee of Ayn Rand. These days he is a Buddhist. See the full series of quotes here.

Tony Perkins Has The Burger King Sadz

"When Burger King says 'have it your way,' they aren't just talking about food. Hello, I'm Tony Perkins with the Family Research Council in Washington. Is it Burger King or Burger Queen? Customers in San Francisco aren't so sure after the chain's new Proud Whopper. Local stores unveiled the rainbow menu to coincide with LGBT week. Although nothing's different about the burger, executives hope the wrapper will make a statement. But even in liberal San Francisco, Time reports, some customers have a beef with the burgers. 'If that's what they're gonna do,' said one person, 'they won't [have] my business anymore.' That's the beauty of the free market. If Burger King wants to cater to a fringe group at the expense of other customers, that's their choice. Just like it's Cracker Barrel's decision to support natural marriage and the celebrities who advocate it. The problem is those companies who say they believe in debate and then try to silence it. That's the biggest whopper of them all." - KKK-affiliated hate group leader Tony Perkins, speaking on his national radio show.

AFA Has The Burger King Sadz

The American Family Association is ever so pissed with Burger King and is asking their followers to sign onto this boycott letter:

I am offended by Burger King's stunt in offering a so-called "Proud Whopper" in San Francisco. What were you thinking? Your celebrated promotion of cross-dressers and homosexuality is an insult to families and I find your celebration of abhorrent behavior as a reason to dine elsewhere. I hope you will learn from this publicity blunder and realize that while most stores did not participate in the corporate-approved program, the damage has been done and affects the image of all Burger King outlets.

AFA president Tim Wildmon warns: "Unless there is some pushback from consumers, there is a real possibility that they could expand this promotion." (Tipped by JMG reader DM)

Bryan Fischer Has The Burger King Sadz

Paging You-Know-Who....

Via AdWeek:

Carl's Jr./Hardee's isn't a shy fast-food chain. But this time they've traded oiled-up models for innuendo. I won't spoil the new spots, but let's just say they aren't too subtle. The approach shouldn't be too surprising, as this is the same restaurant chain that once asked people if they preferred A holes or B holes. I am curious as to how they expect people to eat these Cinnamon Pull-Aparts anywhere (wouldn't the icing drip?), but I will give them points for having both men and women allude to masturbation. Kudos?

(Tipped by JMG reader Arthur)

Proud Whopper Wrapper: $1000 On eBay

There have been no bids so far.

Burger King Posts "Proud Whopper" Video In Support Of LGBT Rights

This morning I reported on Burger King's launch of the "Proud Whopper" campaign over the weekend during San Francisco Pride. The promised supporting video has already arrived and it's really quite lovely. Just in from Burger King's promotional team:

Burger King Worldwide, Inc. is broadcasting a widespread message in support of self-expression with a digital film launching today on YouTube.The film was created at a BURGER KING® restaurant at the heart of the San Francisco Pride Parade route where a limited edition PROUD WHOPPER® Sandwich was added to the menu. Guests who ordered the PROUD WHOPPER® Sandwich were surprised because it is in fact, the same iconic fire-grilled WHOPPER® Sandwich beloved since 1957, but wrapped in rainbow colored paper inscribed with a message reading: “we are all the same inside.” The film captures the brand's new “BE YOUR WAY” spirit through emotionally charged reactions. The written message inside the PROUD WHOPPER® Sandwich wrapper, “we are all the same inside,” speaks volumes and truly showcases what it means to “BE YOUR WAYSM”. The intent of the “BE YOUR WAY” global attitude is not to tell anyone how they should live, but rather aims to elevate “HAVE IT YOUR WAY®” to an even more meaningful place.

Oh my yes, the Whopper sadz will be delicious.

NOTE: While the Proud Whopper is only being sold at the one Market Street location, there is this: "All PROUD WHOPPER® Sandwich sales will be donated to the BURGER KING McLAMORE  Foundation, for scholarships benefiting LGBT college-bound, high school seniors graduating in spring 2015."

Burger King Launches Pride Whopper

Via TIME Magazine:

Behind the counter at a Burger King in the heart of San Francisco is a rainbow-colored menu board advertising a product that the fast-food behemoth has never sold before and isn’t selling anywhere else: The Proud Whopper. When customers visiting during Sunday’s pride parade asked cashiers what made this Whopper different from a standard-issue burger, they simply said, “I don’t know.” The mystery was revealed once diners opened the rainbow-colored wrapper and got a taste: absolutely nothing is different about this burger, nothing at all. To emphasize the point, the interior of the wrapper comes with a second message: “We Are All the Same Inside.”

There's a video coming to support the campaign. And of course, the Freepers and Twitchy are going crazy.

Experiment: Fast Food Ads Vs Reality

2.3M views in 48 hours.

Chipotle: Leave Your Guns At Home

Over the weekend a Texas "open carry" group visited a Dallas outlet of Chipotle, where they bravely protected their burritos with semi-automatic weapons. After a furious social media campaign from the anti-gun group Moms Demand Action, Chipotle has issued a meek request:

The issue of gun ownership or gun rights has become one of the most contentious debates in the country. Chipotle has never taken a position on this issue, as we focus instead on our mission to change the way people think about and eat fast food. Recently participants from an “open carry” demonstration in Texas brought guns (including military-style assault rifles) into one of our restaurants, causing many of our customers anxiety and discomfort. Because of this, we are respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.

Historically, we felt it enough to simply comply with local laws regarding the open or concealed carrying of firearms, because we believe that it is not fair to put our team members in the uncomfortable position of asking that customers refrain from bringing guns into our restaurants. However, because the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers, we think it is time to make this request.

We acknowledge that there are strong arguments on both sides of this issue. We have seen those differing positions expressed in the wake of this event in Texas, where pro-gun customers have contacted us to applaud our support of the Second Amendment, and anti-gun customers have expressed concern over the visible display of military-style assault rifles in restaurants where families are eating. The vast majority of gun owners are responsible citizens and we appreciate them honoring this request. And we hope that our customers who oppose the carrying of guns in public agree with us that it is the role of elected officials and the legislative process to set policy in this area, not the role of businesses like Chipotle.

Over on Twitchy, the statement is being spun as a victory over the "gun-grabbers at Moms Demand Action" because Chipotle only issued a "polite request" and didn't ban guns outright.