People, this is not satire, McD's is bring back the "Hamburglar..."

[Archae]

Repeat, not satire.

[corkhead]

1. He looks like Bono, and he must have stolen that burger from a real restaurant

it doesn't look like anything McD's makes

[DetlefK]

2. I've once seen a documentary how such a burger-photo-shoot works.

A dozen of their most beautiful buns, and out of those the prettiest gets picked.

The burger-pattie gets made on a special grill to make its edges look nice.

Every single slice of pickle, tomato and lettuce gets handpicked out of dozens. Every. Single. One.

The burger gets built in a tilted way to make the meat come out of the bun towards the camera.

The cheese gets slightly softened with a hair-dryer.

The ketchup/mayo/sauce gets added last: It gets squeezed into well-chosen spots with a syringe.

[tavernier]

4. After 4 months on a low carb regimen

I'd kill for a Big Mac, regardless if it is photo shoot perfect or not.

[Telcontar]

6. With you on that

[kentauros]

13. You wouldn't want to eat the product of a food stylist, though.

For example, to simulate water vapor (or "steam&quot vaporous acids are used, due to how long a shoot can last. Some of the ingredients are made of substances more akin to plastic, in order to hold up under the lights and for the long-duration of the shoot.

It's really not food they're selling. They're selling a fantasy, and even when people are subjected to the reality of what a restaurant can make, they continue to buy into the fantasy and buy the less than palatable-looking product. Advertising is a powerful tool on the human mind.

[jberryhill]

3. What next? The Frito Bandito?

[melman]

5. No way they could get away with that now

[jberryhill]

8. I know, right?

After eating those Frito's, you might need to wash your clothes...

[Aristus]

17. My perception of that old Calgon commercial is that is was actually busting an ethnic stereotype,

not perpetuating it.

Mr. Lee acts like this mysterious Asian, and behind the scenes, he and his wife are normal all-American people. I don't know if anyone else saw it that way...

[hifiguy]

18. That's the way I saw it, too.

The chump bringing his shirts in was too dumb to know that he could do them at home (with Calgon!!!) and get the same results, and the Lees were more than happy to relieve him his money by playing on his ignorance. The Lees were clearly the smart ones. Nothing is more American than suckering people out of their money.

[jberryhill]

21. Even in my youth, I was of two minds on that one

On the one hand, yes, he is "putting on the stereotype" because that's what their customers wanted, and it makes a buck, while behind the scenes they do laundry just like anyone else.

But, as you say, they are the "smart ones" in the sense that they are swindling their customers by simply throwing the clothes into a consumer washing machine with consumer detergent.

Ultimately, you probably have it right that suckering people out of their money is the American way, and the commercial is suggesting that the detergent will obtain the results of those who are considered the best launderers.

That catch phrase, "ancient Chinese secret" took on a life of its own outside of the commercial.

[hifiguy]

23. When you know how to sucker the rubes

you have been fully assimilated as an American.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. I Don't Get That

One is a racist stereotype. The other is just a silly marketing gimmick. Not sure i understand the connection you're making.

[jberryhill]

25. Annoying commercial themes

The entire McDonaldland crew was just wretched, IMHO. Things can be irritating for more than one reason, and the "Hamburglar" just calls to my mind a host of awful advertising characters and symbols.

This is just worse than awful:

Some crazy drug dealer gives the kids LSD, takes their money, and feeds them awful food - all while ripping off the equally execrable "H.R. Puff'n'Stuff" theme.

Puff'n'Stuff indeed. We all know what they were Puff'n.

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. Without the burger

and than hideous tie and shirt, he looks sorta like the Lone Ranger.

[mercuryblues]

9. I read the title

as McD's bringing back the hamburger. I thought about damned time.

[Bobbie Jo]

15. lol

I read it the same way at first. Thought...good, because whatever it is they're selling isn't even close.

[Buzz Clik]

10. So?

[onenote]

20. +1

[Gothmog]

11. McDonalds have been losing market share for a while

I am not sure that this will help

[NaturalHigh]

12. Robble, robble.

At least it's not the Hammurderer!

McDonald's Drops 'Hammurderer' Character From Advertising

OAK BROOK, IL—Bowing to outcry from consumers and parents groups, the McDonald's Corporation announced Monday that it is discontinuing its new advertising mascot, "The Hammurderer," a mischievous, homicidal imp who kills McDonaldland characters and takes their sandwiches.

Developed by Chicago advertising agency DDB Needham, the Hammurderer made his debut two months ago and has since appeared in a series of Saturday-morning television commercials, as well as on Happy Meal bags and activity placemats. All appearances by and references to the violent, ill-tempered prison escapee will be dropped.

"Over the years, McDonald's has successfully introduced a number of new characters whose defining characteristic is a certain measure of comical, criminal intent," said Andrew Perlich, McDonald's vice-president of promotions. "Such shady characters as The Hamburglar, The Goblins, and the bloodthirsty pirate Captain Crook have all fit nicely into the McDonald's advertising universe. We had every reason to believe that the Hammurderer, with his long rap sheet of burger-related crimes and his signature cry of 'Stabble Stabble Stabble,' would take his place in this proud lineage of McDonaldland mischief-makers."

The Hammurderer's Jan. 11 debut ad—in which he seizes and devours the McDonald's Happy Meal Guys, oblivious to their frantic screams—earned poor marks from parents and child-development experts, who feared the spot might send the message to children that killing is acceptable. Several weeks later, more controversy erupted over the promotional coloring book "Shivved In The McRibs," in which the Hammurderer decapitates Mayor McCheese and eats his head. Responding to widespread public outrage, McDonald's executives defended the coloring book as "not nearly as violent or socially irresponsible as it has been made out to be, given that the Mayor's head is, in fact, a giant and conceivably edible cheeseburger."


http://www.theonion.com/article/mcdonalds-drops-hammurderer-character-from-adverti-127

[hifiguy]

19. Reminds me of this Family Guy classic

[frylock]

14. He must be on hiatus, because he was playing drums for Mac Sabbath last I knew..

[Rex]

22. Where did he steal that hamburger from? Does McDs know he is moonlighting?

Someone call Jack in the Box...I think they've been burgled!

[bluesbassman]

24. Well they stole "artisan grilled chicken" from the Hipsters...

http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/usmobile/en/promotions/artisanchicken.html

Might as well promote hamburger theft too.