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12/02/2006: SNT & Christmas McNuggets!

I grew up thinking that people were supposed to eat McDonald's Chicken McNuggets at Christmas parties, partly because that's a really fun thing to believe, but mostly because the chain churned out several television commercials promoting their nugs as a holiday hallmark. The general theme in these ads, mostly from the mid 80's, was that the special box of 20 Chicken McNuggets made for breezy pass-aroundage at crowded parties. I loved that "special box." You know the one. Looked like something you'd carry a pet hamster home from the pet store in.

Today's featured ad doesn't say it outright, but it's skipping the party push more for an insinuation that YOU, busy as heck from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, require good food and fast. This is illustrated by a man holding a stack of Christmas presents, being handed McNuggets from some off-camera ghoul. Admittedly, it's something that works a bit better visually than on paper, because man that sounds spooky when I describe it.

I prefer to think of McDonald's Chicken McNuggets as being made from some totally alien meat that's grown in tubes, was never alive and came into this world in a perfectly nuggetable shape. Within that, this commercial's penchant for showing a fully cooked whole chicken being sliced up is a bit disconcerting. I don't want to think about chicken when I'm eating Chicken McNuggets.

McDonald's had a real knack for holiday-themed advertisements, and though this one falls on the lower end, it still makes me want to stand up and yell for Father Christmas to bring me hamburgers. Click here to watch the commercial!

This is your SNT. Take advantage of the fact that people you know in real life don't read X-Entertainment by discussing some of the best/worst gifts you've bought for your friends and relatives this holiday season.

I love how the commerical shows a chicken and cuts parts off to make you think that it will be turned into a mcnugget! Personally I don't care what it's made out of, I am a mcnugget fan.

I'm probably going to knit a Jayne hat (from Firefly) for my husband for Christmas. That's a pretty good present, right? He asked for it. Haven't bought anything else yet. My brother-in-law brought us a kitten, so he should get something good.

Best: I got XII for a friend of mine. And I got the original Tenacious D album for The Colonel since he STILL didn't have it.

Worst: Anything I buy from here on out since I blew my present budget at the MCR concert

Jessica, I really wish that I was your husband right now. If I had one of those hats I think my life would be a little bit happier.

As for presents, I haven't bought anyone anything yet. And what's more, with the exception of my mom, I don't even know what I'm getting anyone. I should probably get on that, hu?

I haven't bought anything for anyone yet. I have a feeling that budget constraints will have me shopping with my Dec. 22 paycheck. I despise shopping that late, but at least it'll give me time to decide exactly what to get everyone.

Best: Tickets for Dancing with the Stars tour for my Mom\Gramma. Worst: Haven't decided yet, but it will be for my works white elephant exchange. We're supposed to give away tacky\weird stuff, but anything I own that fits that criteria I WANT to own. If only I could find the elusive Green Bamboo Mystery Peanut (tm)

My hamster came home from the pet store in a brown paper bag. A McNugget box would have been so much cooler. I'm getting my uber-Conservative, fundamentalist Catholic sister a book about why the Church thinks she should be a dirty hippie. It'll piss her off and I think that's what Christmas is all about.

I actually believe that chicken Mcnuggets were indeed hamsters. Ronald would say otherwise but I have never had chicken meat that had a consistency like that. At least it is 2 parts hamster 1 part chicken.

It's good to be back.
I do not remember that particular commerical but I do remember that genre. McDonald's truly caught lightning in a bottle in the early 80's. The McDonaldland gang was in full effect AND the other ads (like that one) pleased the adults. No disrepect to the younger X-Ers, but I pity those who missed out on the McNugget roll-out.

Since I haven't done any shopping myself(I'm waiting for after my exams), I'm going to say what the best/worst gifts that have been gotten by OTHER family members for various people are.
Best: A fridge magnet that says "Jesus is coming. Look busy."
Worst: Haven't decided yet.

Man, I've been saying that about McDonalds for years. They used to project an image for everyone, adults and kids. Then a couple years ago they went all ghetto, and I just feel uncomfortable going in. Like Wal-Mart caters to a lower class, and it feels weird changing social strata. I feel Wendy's has taken McDonalds place as McDonalds slides into cheap mass popularity among the dull and ignorant (according to the commercials anyhow).

As far as presents go, I've made a habit of not buying anyone anything for Christmas. Because I'm that boring.

I've got my mom something awesome for Christmas. See, my mom is an Elvis Fan. Not a fan, a Fan. And ever since I can remember, she has owned every Elvis movie ever made… except one. So, this year, I found a DVD box set including that movie and five others (the ones she has already are on VHS). I also got her a DVD player.

So far, I haven't bought any bad presents, but then I haven't shopped for the people I don't really feel like shopping for yet :p

On the whole I think the gifts I bought this year are pretty solid; I tend to bust my butt trying to find the best gift for people. I got my dad a copy of American Gods, but he probably won't read it, so I guess that. It's not my fault he's a talking mokey.

When I started to play the commercial, I initially thought the music was going to be "Oh Susanna"– well, it starts out sounding that way!

When my sister was about 4, my mom took her and a friend to McDonalds. Her friend ordered Mcnuggets, and my sister looked her in the eye and said "You know you're eating DEAD CHICKEN?" Overnight, she'd become a vegetarian. It must have been her preschool.

I'm making a sweater from my mom, still waiting on my sister, and not saying what my Dad's gift is because he sometimes reads X-E.

Man I totally suck….I have not been paying attention to this site at all…I have been dealing with a lot of personal issues and getting my life on track but i hope all the x-e faithful are doing well….Peace out peeps

Jeez I've forgotten all about the old McNuggets Boxes, I oddly for some reason felt comfort by the box as a child…ether it was from the color of it or just the warm McNugget artificial goodness inside it(which I'm completely grossed out by now, I'll probly never touch another Mcnugget again) I kind of miss the things like that back then but now I never eat at McDonalds their food just seems to unnaturally perfect all the time which is…well unnaturally.

I hadn't eaten McDonalds for the longest time, but I decided to give them another chance last summer. Yep, those McNuggets still taste like styrofoam. So did the fries and maybe even the drink. My boycott of McDonalds will continue.

For my mom. Oh, god. Can I blame the codeine? I'm on codeine. Can it be codeine's fault? Thanks, Sallee.

Hey, hey Freudian slips. Good times. Looks like you need an avatar to sublimate your desires, just like Matt

Surely there must be a website out there, where one could purchase a Hero of Canton hat?

Terror Claws, if I may overanalyze and be OVERLY nostalgic to the point of being ridiculous, I think one thing that made the McDonald's magic possibe was a trend in advertising that just isn't possible anymore. Commericals have ALWAYS made outrageous claims regarding happiness and customer satisfaction. Patrons and customers have ALWAYS known this to be the case but I think people used to be more willing to go along with the charade. Audiences today seek to be too savvy plus so many things are parody and self-referential now (man, I miss the days when that was the exception and not the norm. Thanks SCREAM) that the illusion is just not not going to fly.
One more possiblity could be the complete lack of effort to maintain the McDonaldland characters. If they were smart, they could do something a la THE BURGER KING KING with Ronald and the gang to appeal to the ADULTSWIM crowd. Everybody does kids meals characters now (C'mon RED LOBSTER and OUTBACK) but there is only one true mayor of my heart and his head consists of faux meat and cheesy goodness.

This is the first time posting a comment here and I thus did so without knowing theirs no edit button, Now my writing flaws sit there in my comment tuanting me. Next I'll try to double check for flaws before sending out for you kind folks.

My worst gift will be given this year, to my entire family: I cannot afford to get gifts for more than my nephew and my birthson this year. I can't even afford to drive to my parents' house, or anywhere other than places that are absolutely necessary. My health this year has prevented me from getting a job, so I've had to subsist on my retirement annuity alone, which means I had just enough to cover bills and the ocassional emergency (and sometimes not even then).

I'm sure things will change by this time next year, but it makes for a tough Christmas this year.

Terror Claws, if I may be overanalytical and ridiculously nostaligic, I think one reason why McDonald's was able to have such magic was due to a commerical trend that is just not possible anymore. Commericals have ALWAYS made outrageous claims regarding happiness and customer satisfaction. Patrons and customers have ALWAYS been in on this fact but they used to be willing to take part in the charade. Sure a McNugget won't change your life but isn't it nice to think that it could??
Now, everything is so full of parody and self-referential (man, I miss the days when that was the exception and not the norm. Thanks SCREAM) that that kind of illusion just isn't going to fly.
Another possibility is that there has no been no effort to maintain the McDonaldland crew. If McDonald's were smart, they would do a campaign a la the Burger King King ads to appeal to the ADULTSWIM crowd using Ronald and the gang. Every restaurant does characters now for the kids menu(RED LOBSTER?? OUTBACK??) but there is only one true mascot mayor of my heart and his head is made of faux meat and cheesy goodness.

My mom likes to go for walks in these absurd winters we have, so I'm gonna get her fancy shmancy gloves, since she never buys nice things for herself.

You guys can make your heads, get with my heads, and they could be heads — shit, we could do this every weekend. yo matt, is that like biggies video

I just lost my brother's digital camera today. So, it looks like I'm getting him a new one for Christmas. Oh joy.

Well, considering the fact that my sister and I went in on a house together this year, we made the executive decision to do only gifts for my niece (who's already spoiled rotten, but Dec. 23rd is the first anniversary of her coming home from the hospital after being born three months premature). So we decided to go great-guns and went in on a TMX Elmo just to show not only our fantastic earning potential with our big city jobs that impress the hell out of my brother's PA Dutch in-laws, but our incredible procurement skills in the new eBay economy.

Oh and I went out and finally got myself a driver's license. Yeah, it's only a good twelve years late, but hey, I did it and that's what really matter, right?

I don't want to think about chicken when I'm eatting: Dorritos, Chicken McNuggets, Chocolate Cake, Turkey, Popsicles, Lucky Charms, or drinking Pepsi Holiday Spice.

Man, Manimal, we are totally on the same page dude. I agree on the resurrection of McDonaldland characters. I find your ideas on the collective illusion fascinating and novel.

And I've spent over $40 in Burger King merchandise. Imagine what they could get out of me for retro McDonaldland stuff! Now back to Christmas.

Well, right now, I don't have much, and I won't have much since I'm broke. My best friend said "don't get me any knick-knacks," so she's getting five blank videocassettes I found at the thrift shop where I volunteer and a mint-condition 1984 Transformers picture book from a church bazaar. My sister is getting three cookbooks (she says she loves them and she often cooks for friends).

Right now, I'm having a hard time figuring out how I'm going to afford the rent, much less Christmas. The grocery store where I work severly slashed our hours (again), and I haven't heard from the two bookstores I put applications in for.

Although I only ever made it to McDonalds about twice when I was a kid (it was a very special event, usually reserved for someone else's birthday party) given the monkey-burger rumours that began in about 1989, favourite topic of conversation after Bart Simpson, I always went for the nuggets. I don't know if the English and US versions differ, but all I can say is ours tasted like the cardboard boxes they came in. I know because I tried both.

Personally haven't bought anything whatsoever yet, but living in Japan means virtually anything I take back home is regarded as freaky and unique and interesting…. although I'm not sure I'll want customs looking through my bag at the other end… Having a bag full of panda porn, breast puddings and toilet slippers is somewhat embarrassing.

This is completely off topic, but I would like to say that I found Quisp at my Grocery Store yesterday, and they want 4.99 a box….it's a small box. I'm sure I will probably end up buying a box eventually, since I've been curious about it for years….but 5 bucks for a tiny box of cereal? That'll mean 10 bucks at the store for a box to eat and a box to save. Ick.

As far as gifts go you can't go wrong with gift certificates, think of them as cash you're forced to spend in one place.

LemurCat Congratulations on getting your license! I say that b/c I am in the process of getting mine after 8 years of putting off. I'm glad I'm not alone.

As for the question of the night. The best gift I'm giving this year will be for my Mom and her Boyfriend, I got them an automatic wine chiller, I just know they will be highly impressed with that.

As for the worst? I'm not sure yet, Hubby and I are trying really hard to get good stuff, but I have a feeling we are going to stiff out on our son. He is still to young to remember or know what is going on this year so we can get away with it. Plus whenever we have bought something for him in the past few months, I always tell my husband to wait to give it to him for x-mas, but we can never wait, we want to play with the toys too!

I was sitting around today when I remembered that my McDonald's Best Buy Bucks expire tonight! So I had to bolt out to see what I could buy. There wasn't much in DS games, so I picked up a PS3 controller to get my brother for Xmas. The asshat cashier almost didn't let me use them spouting off something like, "You can only use 3 for a DVD." And I glared at him and went, "Yeah, and I'm not buying a DVD or CD," and he got smart with me saying it was right on there, and I went, "Look, it's that you can only use UP TO $3 off a CD or DVD. I checked online to make sure it's good for games and game systems." Then he begrudgingly took them, which is good, because I was about to show him what his intestines looked like. FATALITY!

My other brother will be getting this lovely square pillow shaped like a block from Mario. He's a Nintendo freak.

I don't have my licence yet either at 19, but I DO have a permit. I'm like halfway there!

At any rate, I actually haven't bought anything for anyone yet. I guess that counts a 'bad' present.

For a frat Xmas party, we're having a "secret santa" kinda thing, where we each get a present, and someone pulls a name out of a hat, and they get that gift. I'm bringing a few big boxes of Swedish Fish. Don't ask, it's an inside joke you won't understand.

I've bought my dad a borders gift card, and my mom the "The Hatch" playset from the Lost figures series. I'm still debating whether this is best or worst. I could've gotten her the AI "Best & Worst of Seasons 1-4", but I didn't.

As for myself, I caved in after 2 or so years and bought a 3rd gen Pokemon game: Emerald. It's my gift, to myself, for being a good X-Er this year.

One nephew is getting Starfox DS, another is getting The Simpsons S1 on DVD (he wants it, it's not an arbitrary decison). Yet another is getting a LEGO Ferrari set. And another is getting some Led Zepplin mega CD set. (Again, he asked.) The final nephew, my godson, may luck out on the "godson" factor and nail a DS Lite.

On the nieces side, one is getting Twilight Princess for the Wii. Another gets some Bratz "sister & little sister" two-pack. Another is getting the Baby Alive doll, and yet another is getting this really awesome Happy Feet dancing penguin doll Still have a few to go.

So far I have gotten both my sisters the exact same novelty phones that they had when we were young. One gets one in the shape of a piano, the other gets a skittles candy phone. Ebay helped me out with finding them. Other than that I have bought a load of stuff for my son.
My mother ALWAYS buys me luxurious things I don't use. Like sterling silverware. For real. I don't use them. Ever.

You know you can delete Tom from your friends, right Matt? I mean who's a bigger loser than Tom? Anyone who keeps them on their friend list, that's who.

Hi, first timer here. My nieces love my dog, and my friend wants to get rid of her puppy. Guess what my nieces are getting?

Speaking of pups for Christmas — at that fair I wrote about several entries back, they actually raffled off a puppy. Seemed like everyone but us bought 10-30 tickets, and when they finally got around to drawing the big winner, the crowd was enormous. The family that won at least seemed more genuinely happy than "shit what are we gonna do with a dog," but it was interesting/depressing to see the amount of stonefaced, tearful kids walk away from the bingo spinner like they'd just seen their family assassinated.

Best gift: I haven't bought it yet, but I'm going to spend the big bucks this year and give a DS Lite and game to Child's Play. www.childsplaycharity.com if you don't know what I'm talking about.

Worst: Worst is simply the fact that I have done shopping for only ONE person at this point, and still have a bunch more that I have to go. I'm kind of stuck between a rock and hard place, because I need to get these gifts SOON (the receipients are leaving due to College being out), and I won't be able to pay for them until I get another paycheck (next week). Not to mention the fact that I have NO idea what to get, and one of them is also a graduation present. But I'm sure I'll figure it out…I always do!

Oh, and Thanks, Matt, for doing the Advent Calendar again. It's been great so far, and we're only on the second day!

Aw, that's sad. It's not like there aren't plenty of shelter dogs available for those families if they really wanted one, so you know those parents that lost just wanted points for agreeing to a puppy, but with only 1/30th the risk of cleaning up tiny dooks throughout the house.
I did my shopping for the extended fam today; Decided that my cousins are simply too fertile to merit individual gifts, so I concentrated on the kids instead. I'm not expecting any reciprocal presents anyway, so why should I break the bank, right? Cousin One has two boys and three girls, so I picked up a pair of Hello Kitty make-your-own candy necklaces and Powerpuff Girl lipglosses for the youngest girls and a cute l.e.i. watch for the eldest sister. Still need to figure out the boys, though I picked up some Spongebob chocolates to start with. Cousin Two has two girls: one's getting a Little Mermaid stamp/stationary set and matching roller stamp/markers, the other is getting a Tinkerbell journal and matching pens. Cousin Three just has one little guy, so he's getting a freaking adorable airplane with a propeller that spins and a little pig pilot. Baby toys are too cute.
As for the immediate fam, little bro has been a bit of a pill so he's just getting various knicks I've picked up (Animal from The Muppets keychain, giant candy cane, a cigarette lighter with a monkey sitting in the fluid that is actually quite awesome) and I'm at a loss for a present for mom as always. Sis is probably going to get one of these snazzy aprons, though I'm having trouble deciding which one. The Store That Need Not Be Named was SOLD OUT of both Star Wars "waterballs", so I got a ceramic mug shaped like Chewbacca for a pal.
Okay. I admit it. The Powerpuff Girl lipgloss is a regift. I just don't feel like I'm at a life stage where wearing flourescent makeup from a container adorned with cartoon characters is appropriate.

So this is an SNT, huh? I don't know I've never been involved in one of these before.

You're right, there is something almost disturbing about seeing a chicken associated with Chicken Mcnuggets. Which is weird.

Sallee, I'm gonna have to disagree with you. I mean, it tends to taste the same no matter where you go, but I find the meals presentations sloppy. Or, for example, I once ordered a sausage mcmuffin, to go, and there was NOTHING in it. Oh I was pissed.

Why is X-E suddenly controlling my cravings? After I read the Macy's Parade '93 article I craved Wendy's for three days, and now I have some need for Chicken McNuggets.

Worst? I'm thinking of getting my father The Muppet Show Season One, because he vaguely mentioned wanteing to see ita gain, like five years ago. Or is that good?

Congratulations, LemurCat! I just got my license this year, and I was only five years behind.

MissJess- I think Quisp tastes just like Cap'n Crunch. I don't know how much you like that- if you do (I do), great. If not, it's probably not worth the five bucks. The box is awesome, though.

Well, I guess I got a dog for Christmas this year. Some stuff went down on Thanksgiving so we ended up with my cousin's dog. It's really weird, because we've never had one. Well, except for the one that tried to eat me when I was two. But I don't remember that. It's very different wanting a dog and having one shoved on you. I like her though. She's cool. Except that she got into the neighbor's yard today.

The Advent calendar is shaping up to be awesome. I can't wait to see what's coming next. Knacks almost makes me want to get a myspace. Almost. I'm still your friend in my heart, Knacks. As for the SNT survey topic, I don't think I've gotten anything crappy for anyone this year. What is cool are the boxes I made for my friends. I painted wood boxes and decoupaged book covers to the tops and text to the sides. Huge pain in the butt but I think they turned out very nicely. I got all the rest of my shopping and wrapping done already. I have to do it early or I have no joy for it. I'm actually pretty excited for this holiday season. I hope things are going well with my fellow X-E'ers.

has anyone else noticed the face the commercial ends on? looks like he's about to hurl up that mcnugget. awesome.

Rainbowfeet- The box is the main reason I wanted to get it. Knowing that it tastes like Cap'n pretty much means that I HAVE to buy it.

Best: For my brother, I got a Ha Ha Guy T-shirt, FFIII for DS, and one of those Wii beenie hats.

Speaking as a McDonald's wage slave, Chicken Nuggets are officially "Chopped and Formed Chicken Patty Fritters protected in a water mist." Or so sayeth the box they come in. Love old McD's commercials, they totally kick the crap out of the new attemps McD's has made at marketing their wares.

I was inspired from this SNT to buy my brother in law a book on wrapping decorative styles and wrap it in newspaper and duct-tape. It is a lot of work to open a present to find out it should have been wrapped differently.

Man, poor Knacks…there's just no breaks for the guy. I mean, having your Ding Dongs stolen? That's crap.

Are you purposefully trying to make emo kids look like fickle teenagers?……………Oh yeah, guess we are. Bummer.

Worst presents that I'm giving this year.. my "oh shit" presents. You know when you aren't sure if so-and-so is going to exchange presents this year and you don't know him/her that well anyway… and you get a phone call or a Myspace message.. "Hey let's meet up, I got a present for ya!" then you can proclaim "oh shit" and give them a generic gift such as packaged fudge, cheap candle gift sets, or holiday socks.

My best presents this year are a nice "Love You Dad" plaque for my pops who's in the hospital with pneumonia, various calendars for different folks, and Dr. McDreamy coffee mug for Mom.

I'm sitting here starving at work playing Fox All Access listening to Pepto Bismol commericials, but somehow craving McNuggets now. Yum.

I have so much Christmas shopping left to do. I don't know why I always wait untill the last minute. I'm really not looking forward to being trampled on by a mom who just has to have a Baby Alive doll.

I looked back and I still can't figure out why Knacks has that pumpish thing on his head. Anyone?

Katherine:
he was jealous of legotrons height so he started wearing that contraption to appear taller

Oh, just in case Matt notices: I move for a change from "Basted by" to "Chestnuts roasted by" for Xmas. That is all.

It's gonna be a Dollar Store Christmas from me. I have no money. Or better yet, what little money I DO have needs to be saved for when I leave for Japan in March.

McDonald's became a Christmas (Eve) dinner tradition for many years in my house growing-up. It was instituted primarily because of time. (church, gift wrapping, parties, etc.) So instead of having to add fixing dinner to the list my mom suggested just grabbing Micky D's. Its why Big Macs always make me think of Santa.

Showing a chicken being carved while trying to sell nuggets is like showing a fisherman reeling in a marlin to sell a filet-o-fish sandwhich.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, December 2nd, 2006 at 7:00 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.