The Burger King: Happy King or Creepy Stalker?

[Guest]

Am I the only one who is completely grossed out by those Burger King commercials?

You know the ones I mean, where the logger is working in the forest and the Burger King appears from behind a tree? Big grin, big head, not speaking? He holds out a burger and the logger happily chows down.

He also appears in some guy's bed with a breakfast sandwich.

He's also running the ball on the football field, but for some reason we don't seem to mind that one so much.

Here's a link to the site. You can actually buy the mask for $9.00, as well as a Subservient Chicken mask for $10.00.

http://www.bkmasks.com/

Ewww.

 

[mack_the_knife]

Some of those are kinda creepy with the fiberglass head and the lecherous smile...who the hell though that was a good ad campaign idea? Almost like that punk band in the chicken suits.

 

[cloudy]

*shudder*

he's creepy as hell.

 

[simply_cyn]

*shudder*

he's creepy as hell.

** See following post ... I can't type!

 

[simply_cyn]

*shudder*

he's creepy as hell.

I totally agree ... he could star in the next big slasher film

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Some of those are kinda creepy with the fiberglass head and the lecherous smile...who the hell though that was a good ad campaign idea? Almost like that punk band in the chicken suits.

Actually, if it were a bad ad, we wouldn't be discussing it, now would we?



Q_C

 

[mack_the_knife]

Actually, if it were a bad ad, we wouldn't be discussing it, now would we?



Q_C

But, I'm also not on my way to Stalker King to get a Whopper, either. I will confess the ad to be a success in that it sticks in the head (in this case like a jagged ice pick), but a utter failure in inspiring people to buy the product it pushes. Though those are some of the best ads out there.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

But, I'm also not on my way to Stalker King to get a Whopper, either. I will confess the ad to be a success in that it sticks in the head (in this case like a jagged ice pick), but a utter failure in inspiring people to buy the product it pushes. Though those are some of the best ads out there.

The one with the lumberjack...

That sandwich you can only buy once, then eat, then have a heart attack...

I eat a lot of fast food, but I don't know if I'd even try that one. Might take years to make my body work right again. But if you're a Burger King fan already, it's enough to make you think of the sandwich.

Honestly, right now, there are't too many good commercials out there, at least that come to mind.

Q_C

 

[Bacigalupo]

If he ate the food there, could he really run down that football field without dying of a heart attack at the 50 yd. line?

Why does no one scream when they see that ghoulish face? He must have a hypnotic effect, something to dull the senses. Also, he can either pass through solid objects, or can pick locks.

He must be stopped.

 

[mack_the_knife]

If he ate the food there, could he really run down that football field without dying of a heart attack at the 50 yd. line?

Why does no one scream when they see that ghoulish face? He must have a hypnotic effect, something to dull the senses. Also, he can either pass through solid objects, or can pick locks.

He must be stopped.

Now, you're starting to make me look over my shoulder...he IS creepy, isn't he?

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I love 'em.

I especially liked the one where Darth Vader came to the door and stood there looking at the King and being menacing. No words, just that breathing, and the King's plastic smile. Impeccable timing.

I would have liked to be at the creative meeting where the guy pitched the original idea of the fiber-glass king: "And then the guy opens his blinds and the King is standing there with a sandwich!"

"Yeah? And then?"

"Nothing. He just stands there."

"Just stands there?"

"Yeah."

"He doesn't dance a little, or sing the jingle or something?"

"No."

"Just stands there?"

"Yeah."

"Get out."

It's a great commercial. Think about it. What are the semiotics? What are they saying about themselves and the whole idea of advertising? Who's the joke on? You? Or them? Or on you when you laugh at them? Or are they laughing at you? It's like Andy Kaufman's humor - just who's the comedian here?

One of the basic techniques in fiction to get the reader involved in the story is to show him some things that are going on between people and then rely on his very human urge to figure out the emotions to draw him into the story. It's called getting the reader invested in the story. Our natural curiosity about people causes us to invest our interest and get hooked.

Now think of the amazing subtlety of that interaction between the startled lumberjack and the plastic King. You look at it, and you can't figure what the hell is going on. That's it. You're invested. It haunts you for days. They don't care that it doesn't make you run out and buy a burger. They don't care if you think it's creepy. They've implanted their brand name way down deep.

It's well known that irritating commercials work just as well as ones you enjoy. It's a matter of grabbing your attention.

But hey, forget their food. It's still crap. What do they put on those fries anyhow? Resin?

--Zoot.

Stands there smiling, waiting.

Love me yet?

 

[Quiet_Cool]

If he ate the food there, could he really run down that football field without dying of a heart attack at the 50 yd. line?

Why does no one scream when they see that ghoulish face? He must have a hypnotic effect, something to dull the senses. Also, he can either pass through solid objects, or can pick locks.

He must be stopped.

Let's face it though. Grimace? The Ham-Burglar? We've been trained in the land of Burger King to be prepared for such frightening characters. Of course, some of the muppets, including those on Sesame Street, were pretty disturbing as well.

Q_C

 

[dr_mabeuse]

The one with the lumberjack...

Honestly, right now, there are't too many good commercials out there, at least that come to mind.

Q_C

Yeah, well I just saved a bundle on my car insurance.

The Geicco commercials are great. The Speed Racer one especially.

You see the usual Speed Racer animation, and he's headed for a volcano or something, and his girl with the monkey tells him she has good news. "Yes? What?" "I just saved a bundle on my car insurance by switching to Geicco!"

Shot of Speed's face, unmoving, mouth frozen in that japanimation "O". It's just hilarious.

 

[arienette]

I fucking hate the Burger King. I'm leaning towards creepy stalker without a shadow of a doubt.

 

[mack_the_knife]

Let's face it though. Grimace? The Ham-Burglar? We've been trained in the land of Burger King to be prepared for such frightening characters. Of course, some of the muppets, including those on Sesame Street, were pretty disturbing as well.

Q_C

You'd act disturbing if you had a man's arm rammed up your backside, too.

 

[mack_the_knife]

It's a great commercial. Think about it. What are the semiotics? What are they saying about themselves and the whole idea of advertising? Who's the joke on? You? Or them? Or on you when you laugh at them? Or are they laughing at you? It's like Andy Kaufman's humor - just who's the comedian here?

I still don't know the answer to that one. I think he was just a strange little man with a funny voice.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I still don't know the answer to that one. I think he was just a strange little man with a funny voice.

When Kauffman was just getting started, the things he did to audiences were incredible. He'd come out playing the congas or something and acting seriously mentally impaired, and people would laugh at him, thinking he was doing comedy. But he wouldn't break character, and then people would start feeling bad because he was obviously disabled, and how could the management exploit a disabled person like this? Wait - maybe the management was being magnanimous by giving this disabled person a chance to perform, and the audience would start pulling for him.

Then he'd break character and they'd realize he was normal all along and just playing at being impaired for laughs and they'd get furious at him. He played with their prejudices and preconceptions and the "fourth wall" of the theater the way Dali payed with oils.

If you've only seen him as Latka Gravis, you've never seen Andy Kauffman.

 

[mack_the_knife]

When Kauffman was just getting started, the things he did to audiences were incredible. He'd come out playing the congas or something and acting seriously mentally impaired, and people would laugh at him, thinking he was doing comedy. But he wouldn't break character, and then people would start feeling bad because he was obviously disabled, and how could the management exploit a disabled person like this? Wait - maybe the management was being magnanimous by giving this disabled person a chance to perform, and the audience would start pulling for him.

Then he'd break character and they'd realize he was normal all along and just playing at being impaired for laughs and they'd get furious at him. He played with their prejudices and preconceptions and the "fourth wall" of the theater the way Dali payed with oils.

If you've only seen him as Latka Gravis, you've never seen Andy Kauffman.

I've seen parts of Man in the Moon, I just couldn't force my way through it. He did seem to be something of a hardcore chain-jerker, which I generally approve of.

 

[kendo1]

We don't get these commercials here as far as I know.
But there again I tend to watch the BBC- no commercials.

Does anyone actually buy MacDonalds or Burgerkings?
Shudder!

 

[dr_mabeuse]

We don't get these commercials here as far as I know.
But there again I tend to watch the BBC- no commercials.

Does anyone actually buy MacDonalds or Burgerkings?
Shudder!

No. Never.

 

[kendo1]

As Crocodile Dundee would say

You can eat them. Taste like shit...

 

[Guest]

--Zoot.

Stands there smiling, waiting.

Love me yet?

Yes, we love you. We just don't love Burger King.

Yeah, well I just saved a bundle on my car insurance.

The Geicco commercials are great. The Speed Racer one especially.

You see the usual Speed Racer animation, and he's headed for a volcano or something, and his girl with the monkey tells him she has good news. "Yes? What?" "I just saved a bundle on my car insurance by switching to Geicco!"

Shot of Speed's face, unmoving, mouth frozen in that japanimation "O". It's just hilarious.

Those I do love. Creative, innovative and damn funny. And it's really an inside joke, as you have to be of a certain age in order to get it.

Well done, Geicco (even though we don't use your insurance).

 

[AppleBiter]

Let's face it though. Grimace? The Ham-Burglar? We've been trained in the land of Burger King to be prepared for such frightening characters. Of course, some of the muppets, including those on Sesame Street, were pretty disturbing as well.

Q_C

Did you never see my "Grimace looks like a buttplug" thread? He does. Look at him. Take away the arms and legs and eyes and mouth and just look at his body shape. He's a big, purple buttplug. What is the message they're trying to send here?

 

[rgraham666]

I'm very, very pleased that I no longer watch television.

 

[Guest]

Did you never see my "Grimace looks like a buttplug" thread? He does. Look at him. Take away the arms and legs and eyes and mouth and just look at his body shape. He's a big, purple buttplug. What is the message they're trying to send here?

Well, that message - I caught.