The King is dead!

Burger King has finally decided to retire The King.... According to one story, The King was introduced to attract young male customers, a creepy thought in itself and one that may explain why I never "got it." Now that young males have no money, so said the story, Burger King is targeting families in an effort to grow its business.

"Burger King ads: The king is dead. Long live the burger.
Burger King ads will no longer feature the chain's longtime spooky mascot, The King. The company will refocus Burger King ads on its burgers.
Associated Press / August 19, 2011
Burger King's spooky "The King" mascot is retiring so the struggling burger chain can refocus its marketing to reach new customers. The mascot has been around for years, but recently has become a more prevalent and somewhat creepy presence in ads - showing up in people's beds and peeping in their windows.
The fast food chain, which has suffered declining sales, will roll out a new advertising campaign this weekend sans "The King" that will focus on its burgers. The Burger King ads will be the first since the company switched advertising agencies in July.
"We won't be seeing The King for a while," a Burger King spokesman said."

Promises, promises....

I always found him vaguely creepy in an 'uncanny valley' sort of way, but this is one of my favorite commercials ever:

HI,

Does this mean the paper crowns are history too? I will guess yes and stock up.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

Does this mean the paper crowns are history too? I will guess yes and stock up.

Regards,

I believe the crowns predated these particular spots.

I read that Burger King is now going to go to commercials romancing the quality of their ingredients--"beauty shots" of vegetables being washed, sliced, diced, meat being broiled, etc. Which is generally the advertising fast food places do when they don't have an idea.

David Hammond wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

Does this mean the paper crowns are history too? I will guess yes and stock up.

Regards,

I believe the crowns predated these particular spots.

Definitely, by at least a couple of decades.

Personally, I'd prefer they ditch the crowns and keep the king. Love that guy. Doesn't make me want to buy his burgers, of course (the problem, evidently).

David Hammond wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

Does this mean the paper crowns are history too? I will guess yes and stock up.

Regards,

I believe the crowns predated these particular spots.

The creepy King was introduced in 2003, while the paper crowns go back at least 40 years. Burger King the company traces its roots to 1953. (The original cartoon Burger King from the 1950s looked more like Old King Cole sitting on a hamburger.)

Nothing and I mean nothing can get me to eat at Burger King. Their burgers don't even taste like beef. They taste like carboard. Gross, gross, and gross!!! F the King!!

Looks like a final opportunity to plug the Subservient Chicken:

http://www.bk.com/en/us/campaigns/subse ... icken.html

That chicken is way creepier than the King. He does nothing I command, he just wanders around in a daze. Perhaps I should have been more specific than "do my bidding, beyotch".

And by the way, aren't BK Minis just Burger Buddies all over again? I miss Burger Buddies. I recall really liking those, but last time I was in BK, I thought the fries were atrocious and I haven't been back.

Loved the King.

Would take the King over these commercials any day of the week:


:shudder: