Product flops
Lauren's post about the Golden Arches and the subsequent comment about the McRib has me thinking about all the "limited edition" stuff that has been pitched to us over the years. While there have been some *gulp* successes (like the McRib, apparently, since I drive by signs that read "McRib is back!" from time to time), there have been some flops. Flops are funny. So let's discuss...
McDonald's has had their fare (couldn't resist) share of failed product launches. Here are some that come to mind: Lite Mac, McSwiss, Arch Deluxe, etc... The list goes on. Anyone want to wash a McDLT down with a Crystal Pepsi? Anyone? Anyone? How about a New Coke?
What food flops are burned into your brain? Anything that should be brought back? I'm still wondering what crime a canister of Cheez Balls ever committed. Hear that, Planters? Bring 'em back!
Labels: flops, McDonald's
posted by Nicci King at 11:21 AM
18 Comments:
at 12:18 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 12:22 PM 
Nicci King said...
-
-
at 1:00 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 1:01 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 1:25 PM 
Nicci King said...
-
-
at 1:27 PM 
Nicci King said...
-
-
at 1:37 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 1:52 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 1:58 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 2:06 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 2:07 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 3:11 PM 
Nicci King said...
-
-
at 3:40 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 3:54 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 5:04 PM 
Stepfanie said...
-
-
at 7:42 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 9:22 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 11:50 AM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
Post a Comment*Of course McDLT flopped...their commercial suggested that eating one would turn you into a pudgy little Don Johnson impersonator.
The McRib, on the other hand, is a thing of beauty...its yearly return signifies that all is right with the world...just like Spring, the NCAA tournament and Christmas.
Keeping on the McDonalds tip...how about the green milkshakes they used to put out around St. Patricks day? They even had a green, drunken Grimace cousin as their mascot. Shamrock shakes, maybe?
"... their commercial suggested that eating one would turn you into a pudgy little Don Johnson impersonator."
Ha! I wonder if Jason Alexander had that on his resume when he went to audition for a role on "Seinfeld."
"The hot side stays hot and the cool side stays cool" Well, duh! Of course it does until you put the two together. I think that McDonalds biggest mistake ever was changing from the fried apple and cherry pies to the baked ones. Oh, the filling was ever so hot and it scalded your mouth if you didn't wait. They still serve the greasy fried ones in Italy and last time I was there I took the subway to the Piazza diSpagna McDonalds every morning for my "fix". I tried to explain my passion for them to the McDonalds workers, but they didn't care one bit, they just regarded me as the pazzo ragazza.
While the commercial leaves something to be desired....Who could resist the promise of keeping the cool side cool and the hot side hot... Genius I tell you.
You could also include fast food naming embarassments like Taco Bell calling their chili-cheese burrito, Chilito. A word that just happens to be slang for the "male member" in the Mexican Spanish dialect.
NJG, I am so with you on the pies. The fried ones had that crunch, bubbly crust, with an inferno of molten, sugary goodness inside. You had to be careful not to burn your tongue, lip, face, hand, etc...
Imagine my surprise and joy when I was in Shanghai a few years ago and found out they still fry the pies at the McDonald's there. (Yes, I went to Mickey D's while I was on the other side of the globe. I was homesick...) They had taro pies. YUM! My little sis is there right now and she just sent me a text saying she was eating one. (In our case, food obsession is genetic.)
One more thing: While we're talking about McDonald's, what the h*** is Grimace? Besides the precursor to Barney, I mean.
Why do they make them available in foreign markets, but not here? The baked ones aren't exactly a little bundles of healthy either, so what is the difference? Now, you've got me all worked up and missing the pies even more. I guess I'll have to travel abroad more frequently, but with the dollar being so worthless right now a small pie could cost me $6 or more.
I think Grimace is just a blob...unless he was hiding his dinosaur tail, or tucking away his Chilito.
I just called McDonalds and spoke to Sheila. (This is what happens when I have a day off of work, it's raining, and I'm trying to avoid cleaning.)My suggestion that they bring back the fried pies has been duly noted.
They need to bring back the beef tallow in their fries too.
From McD's:
“Grimace is a big, loving, fuzzy purple fellow who is Ronald McDonald's best friend. He's sure Ronald is the world's ultimate authority on everything. While Grimace loves all McDonald's foods, he's absolutely crazy about milkshakes. Grimace is very enthusiastic and eager to try new things. His joyous spirit helps everyone overlook the fact he's a little slow and clumsy sometimes.”
FYI, my favorite thing about the Crystal Pepsi commercial is the power ballad. Who's with me?
Crystal Pepsi? Never heard of it. I remember Pepsi Light though, that lemon flavored stuff from the 70's. As for Grimace: I love the descpription, though it sounds as if he may have some special needs.
That might have been when Van Halen flopped too..
my favorite thing about Crystal Pepesi was the Crystal Gravy spoof on SNL. Anyone else see that? HIL-ARIOUS!!!!!
Here's the transcript for the skit.
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/93/93bcrystalgravy.phtml
And here's the commercial:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=1538174602
MickeyD's was sued by Sid And Marty Krofft Productions for ripping off HR Pufnstuf.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990827.html
* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.
By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site. << Home