02/19/2007: Twelve fantastic McDonald’s tray covers.
New article, covering
thirty years’ worth of McDonald’s history…as told by one dozen promotional tray covers. Once merely thought of as those sheets of paper that protected loose fries from tray grime, these tray covers are a window into fast food history, and a solid memento of those swank
Batman Forever mugs McDonald’s used to sell. Read it and weep.
Discussion Thread: 248 comments 
Your Back!!!! Woooo! Hallabalooya!
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Jester @ 02/19/2007 11:37 PM EST
But… you can still get Honey at McDonalds for the nuggets.
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Tash @ 02/19/2007 11:43 PM EST
Memories of McDonald’s is akin to memories of housesitting a tapeworm in my intestines. However I do remember the day all junkies and criddlers alike revolted against McDonald’s when they changed the coffee stirrers from the old mini coke-spoons to the harmless plastic boat orr design (gee, I wonder what brought on that change!). I remember the horrible “Food, folks, and fun” commercial jingle with Ronald looking like he was taking a disturbing Michael Jackson-like interest towards the kids in the ad. And finally, the feds may finally break open a decade long mystery with this confession, but I have to come clean. Remember the old-style 1980’s/1990’s plastic Ronald McDonald standup display for the Happy Meal toys in the lobby near the cash register? My friend set up a challenge for me to rip Ronald’s head off for a bounty. My first attempt was a pathetic failure as I only managed to taco-shell Ronald’s head down to his feet with no breakage. However, on attempt #2, I had a well rehearsed gameplan set up for action.
Once the coast was clear, I snuck up to Ronald and put my arm over his shoulder as if I was non chalantly hanging out with a good buddy of mine. Then, I used one foot to plant at the base of the stand up to sturdy it. Then, using one hand to sturdy the base of Ronald’s shoulders, I quickly and strongly grabbed him by his hair and yanked as hard as I could. POP!!!! I swear it sounded like a .22 echoing in the place! Immediately, three kids who were playing in the small fries ball pit out in playland ran up to the front counter, looked at the freshly decapitated McDonald’s mascot, then screamed “RONALD” and burst into tears. I was playing innocent bystander while holding the victim’s head behind my back and simultainiously trying not to burst out laughing and piss my pants. Two workers came out from the kitchen area and looked in horror at their fallen breatheren, and then slowly and somberly carried Ronald’s corpse like a coroner would from the crime scene to the back room.
My friend who orchestrated the hit job was out in the parking lot trying to fight off a coronary from laughing so hard. My reward for the this highly controversial and dangerous assasination hit: one medium chocolate milkshake.
After this horrendous act of butchery, McDonald’s incorporated a new toy display that featured an assasination proof Ronald that consisted of much sturdier and thicker plastic that would basically stop bullets; it is the one currently in use.
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Josh Ednoff @ 02/19/2007 11:45 PM EST
I get hot mustard all the time. It goes great with those greasy fries. And by all the time, I mean the two times a year I go to McDonalds (one for Filet o’ Fish Friday during Lent, and another for Shamrock Shake)…
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Michael @ 02/19/2007 11:48 PM EST
I still have my Batman Forever mug, the one with Batman himself. It’s under my bathroom sink, randomly.
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Julie @ 02/19/2007 11:50 PM EST
How about another McDonald’s attempt at masqarading as heath food? During the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, they put out the “Gold Medal Meal Deal” which was a triple cheeseburger combo with Michael Jordan of all people promoting it. The only victory stand you’ll be atop after training for months on that regimen will be the morgue table
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Josh Ednoff @ 02/19/2007 11:56 PM EST
Nice article, Matt, good to have ya back.
BTW, the McDLT still lives on as the Big n Tasty, and even that isn’t even available everywhere. (it’s hidden in a corner on the menu of the McDs in a local mall here on LI, where everything there is more expensive then going to a standlone franchise)
Good article! Way to roll out memories I didn’t know I had.
Yeah, I still use my Batman Forever Mug too. And I got TWO Tricar X-8s which still float around my mom’s house. I had five other cars from that same “placemat.” I guess that means I ate way more McDs as a preschooler then I remember
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Carri @ 02/19/2007 11:59 PM EST
Hooray!
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Hoverbored @ 02/20/2007 12:00 AM EST
Wow! What a cool article! Matt, where do you come up with these ideas for articles? And where did you find all these photos!? I can hardly wait to see if any more Shamrocky goodness can be squeezed into another St. Patrick’s Day article this year?!
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Crazy_Mainer @ 02/20/2007 12:04 AM EST
Like most,I still have my Two-Face mug. But whats important about this article is the inclusion of the Hot-Wheels promo. This particular Hot-Wheels promo had a car that changed my life, Its #9 on the chart. When I was little I was absolutely convinced that it was the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard. I fell in love with that little car and used it for every high speed chase that my G.I. Joes needed to get out of.
It also marks the first time I stood up to my brother. Lets see, if Matt has an accurate date of 1983 then that means I was three when I got it, maybe 2 (My birthday is Dec 9 1980, do the math). When I was about 8 I still had that car, most of us can state that holding on to a Hot-Wheels for 5 or 6 years is a hell of a long time for a kid. Anyway, I was playing with the car out in my driveway when my brother came out and heard me making the classic horn noise for the General Lee, he called me an idiot and said that it wasn’t the Dukes of Hazard car. We argued back and forth for a while until I finally got mad enough to punch him in the nose. To say he wasn’t expecting it would be an understatement. His nose immediatly started bleeding and I freaked out thinking I had ripped his nose off.
I didn’t get in trouble because Mike started teasing me first, but I did learn a very important lesson that day. My brother has very thin membranes in his nose. A weakness that I exploit too this very day, 18 years later.
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Jester @ 02/20/2007 12:08 AM EST
I haven’t read it yet, but I am very excited too!I will always enjoy something involving Mcds! I wonder anything is said about the placemat that had the music notes and lyrics to “Have you had your break today?” I used to have it posted on my wall when I lived at home, I tried to save it but it ripped.
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IHAQ @ 02/20/2007 12:12 AM EST
Also, didn’t the Ninja Turtles have a PLacemat/Tray Cover, I seem to recall having to go through a maze on a manhole cover and doing a connect-the-dots the turned out to be Krang. Might have been for a diffrent fast food joint.
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Jester @ 02/20/2007 12:16 AM EST
I could be wrong, Jester, but I think the Turtles were Burger King.
I actually think I remember the RocDonald’s tray liner. Even if that’s just my mind screwing with me, I do remember the toys. Little plastic Flintstones houses that opened up so you could put a car with one of the actors driving inside of it, and a nifty little Dino that was probably meant to be the “safe for kids who are young enough to choke on the toys” toy. Good times…
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Paul W. @ 02/20/2007 12:38 AM EST
I think the Turtles shacked up with Burger King back when. Personally I remember getting the Transformers happy meal before the toys could transform like they do now. Even further back, I recall getting Dukes of Hazzard happy meals where the box itself was the prize (General Lee, Daisy’s Jeep, and probably Roscoe’s Cruiser) Does anybody else have a favorite happy meal prize?
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9Line @ 02/20/2007 12:40 AM EST
Wow, what a graphic design dream!
On a realted note, I’m looking for a McDonald’s 1982 Brewers laminated placemat, particularly the Robin Yount one. If ya got one, let me know at billboehm13@sbcglobal.net
Thanks!
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Thorzul @ 02/20/2007 12:44 AM EST
I remember my Two Face mug. I would sit and stare in stony silence and try, by sheer force of will, to turn it into a Batman mug (and not the Val Kilmer one either. Some Michael Keaton version that existed only in my head). Failing that, I’d spend much less time trying to wish it into a Catwoman mug, but by then, my determination was gone.
Then, a few years later, my mom got rid of it, and I was pissed as hell.
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Mara @ 02/20/2007 12:45 AM EST
This article is way worth the wait. Now to read it.
We never got to eat at McDonald’s growing up. For one thing, the nearest one was nearly two hundred miles away, in Amarillo. Also, my sister was completely repulsed by the place. So I didn’t get into the Happy Meal scene until I was way too old. But by that time we were in high school and on band trips, and it was okay because we were being ironic.
Man, that post went a whole lotta nowhere. Sorry, everyone. I’ll do better.
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Jedoc @ 02/20/2007 12:46 AM EST
Favorite happy meal prize, huh?
I’ll go with the orange cell phone that turned into a periscope from one of their “spy toys” sets. But the pterotactyl from the changables line is pretty spiffy too 
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K- @ 02/20/2007 12:47 AM EST
hey thorzul, you from Wisconsin? And is that placemat kind of cartoony, like those Donruss cards were? I think I remember those from when I was a kid.
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kidneyboy @ 02/20/2007 12:48 AM EST
Hello everyone. Love the new article; Matt has managed turn out what I think will be an X-E classic. I in particular find it very fitting, since I work at the local McDonald’s and am privy to information about new products and promotions. This is the perfect time for me to announce the impending release of our new Southwest Chicken salad, as well as something you’ll likely find much more interesting: a new line of third-pound angus burgers. No word on Shamrock shakes for this year as of yet, but don’t dispair! I hope McD’s, or at least SOME fast food place does a TMNT promo this year. It kind of upsets me to see that they don’t do this sort of thing anymore. The last big promotion they had at mine was during last year’s world cup. How in the world could that compare with frosted glass mugs featuring Chris O’Donnell’s likeness? BTW, who else thinks they should bring back super size? P.S., sorry about the double post, but I wanted to get in the top 10.
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Hoverbored @ 02/20/2007 12:51 AM EST
kidneyboy,
Yeah, they were painted in a Perez-Steele sort of style, Donrussy, but not really cartoony. I think my parents have a whole set somewhere, but we haven’t been able to find them since they moved a couple of years ago. I’m thinking garage attic.
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Thorzul @ 02/20/2007 12:58 AM EST
mmm i want some mcdicks now…great article..gonna go digg it now.
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Gralph @ 02/20/2007 12:59 AM EST
My favorite HM toys? Definately the dinosaur changeables. I had all of them…except for one…The Fries.
I also loved the Super Mario Bros 3 promotion, even if I only had the Goomba…
I also loved the Train set with all of cars being from different promotions and pop culture figures at the time, including (I’m not making this up): Hot Wheels, Barbie, Tiny Toons, 101 Dalmations, Muppet Babies, Berenstain Bears, and some others im forgetting right now.
This article just made me really hungry. and i don’t even like McDonalds!
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Joker @ 02/20/2007 1:15 AM EST
I spent a summer working at McDonald’s in high school. It wasn’t a very good experience as my boss referred to me as “white boy” and I had to clean up kid vomit at least twice a day. This particular McDonald’s was on the interstate near a regional hub, so this vomit was coming from all over the country. I quit after three months, after I was forced to clean the men’s bathroom after it experienced a full frontal attack of what I can only describe as unimaginably violent explosive diarrhea. I walked into my boss’s office and told them I was quitting and she said “White boy, you know if you don’t put in two weeks notice you can’t never [sic] work for McDonald’s never [sic] again.” I said “I won’t be losing any sleep over that, ‘mam.” and walked out.
Besides that, I fondly remember the Hot Wheels promotion. I had all of them EXCEPT the rocket car, something that has left me feeling like half a person for all these years.
I also still think about the Grand Poobah Meal to this day, as during that promotion my school took a field trip and we ate at McDonald’s and some guy was at the counter screaming “WHAT’S A GRAND POOBAH!? IS IT A SANDWHICH!?”
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Wukong @ 02/20/2007 1:18 AM EST
McDonalds crossed paths with Power Rangers, Batman, and Atari? Where have I been?
Heroes>>>>>24
Just saying….
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Shuanfu @ 02/20/2007 1:29 AM EST
Wow, another full-fledge article! And so soon after the last one! Very nice, my friend.
Heh heh. After I read the first paragraph I was thinking about suggesting the term “tray liners” on here.
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RewolfJ @ 02/20/2007 1:59 AM EST
Oh my gods! You JUST reminded me that I used to eat my McNuggets with honey dipping sauce back in the day! I had completely forgotten that… No wonder they’ve never tasted as good since I started eating them again!
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Justin @ 02/20/2007 2:06 AM EST
Also, my current boss recently got some McNuggets and asked for honey, but they didn’t give it to him. So he flipped out and made me go to McDonald’s and get honey for him.
I swear to God, McDonald’s is trying to drive me insane.
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Wukong @ 02/20/2007 2:14 AM EST
Shamrock shakes are available in my city.
But my money is for clearance Valentine’s Day candy. I had the giant Reese’s PB cup heart with icing today, from Walgreens. Not bad atall.
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kidneyboy @ 02/20/2007 2:44 AM EST
After almost two years of lurking I finally post!
I was stunned when I saw the Hot Wheels liner because I counted 8 of those cars that I had as a kid. (Including the rocket car!) The thing is, I never knew they were from McDonalds. My parents must have just picked them up and given ‘em to me at odd times. Ironically, Jester, I had a General Lee matchbox car but the cop car from McD’s was my Roscoe P.
And kidneyboy, Mrs. McWawa got me the Reese’s heart - not bad atall is a fierce understatement.
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Yelnick McWawa @ 02/20/2007 3:00 AM EST
Hey WTF was up with McDonald’s putting the 6-piece McNuggets on the Dollar Menu for like a week back in January?
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Mystie @ 02/20/2007 3:02 AM EST
Hey WTF was up with McDonald’s putting the 6-piece McNuggets on the Dollar Menu for like a week back in January?
It was probably part of their sinister plan. I’m not sure what it is exactly, but I know that it exists. I have encountered it’s machinations on more than one occasion.
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Wukong @ 02/20/2007 3:10 AM EST
My mom wouldn’t buy me a Batman Forever mug, but she might have been trying to protect me from Val Kilmer. The introduction of the Arch Deluxe was actually a monumental event for me: At the time I was 9. After seeing the commercial that had something to do with the attic, I knew I had to try the sandwich. The thing that shocked me and my family is that I was going to get it with EVERYTHING on it! Typically I was beef only. Pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes be damned! But when I saw that chicken sandwich, I had to try it. Eventually I had the courage to back up my bold claim, ate it, and I’ve had a very fond relationship with lettuce ever since.
RIP, Thuy Trang (aka the original Yellow Ranger). =’(
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Ben @ 02/20/2007 3:16 AM EST
I, too, felt the Arch Deluxe was a moment of triumph. As a kid the only thing I’d ever get on my burgers would be mayonaise and cheese, but the idea of the Arch Deluxe struck me as a challenge; not only did it have a bunch of crap I’d never eat normally, it was ONLY FOR ADULTS! So I tried one and loved it. I was so sad when it was violently snatched from me later.
Does anyone have any idea how to re-create the Arch Deluxe sauce? I’d love to have that on a burger again.
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Timmy @ 02/20/2007 3:51 AM EST
Don’t believe for a minute that the appearance of Roc Donalds in the Flintstones movie (which came out in 1994, not 1993) was a voluntary decision. McDonalds was into movie plugs back then, and not just there.
Sinbad’s movie “Houseguest” had him stuck at a vegetarian’s house. He sneaks away, finds a McDonalds, and runs to it gleefully in slow-motion while “Have You Had Your Break Today” plays in chorus. To clear something that shameless, that payoff must have cost a fortune.
And we can’t forget “Richie Rich.” Sure, the other kids were impressed with his roller coaster and dollar-spotted dalmatian, but HOLY $#@% HE HAS HIS OWN MCDONALDS???!!!??
History repeats itself, only nowadays it’s Burger King paying for placement in Fox programs. “Have it….YOUR waaay.”
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Mars @ 02/20/2007 4:13 AM EST
Used to work at McDonalds. We called them “tray liners”. Of course, we also called people’s sandwiches “spittoons”…
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Deadpool @ 02/20/2007 5:03 AM EST
Don’t know if any one said this yet but as a McD’s wage slave, I can tell you that they are called tray liners.
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Cap'n Ducky @ 02/20/2007 5:08 AM EST
Guess I should actually read to the end of the article before posting a comment. My bad, and Matt good research.
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Cap'n Ducky @ 02/20/2007 5:11 AM EST
Got me the Riddler mug, myself. Word.
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Evin @ 02/20/2007 7:45 AM EST
Does anybody remember when McDonalds for a brief time served pizza, spaghetti and something else that escapes me?? That was weird…
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Mattman @ 02/20/2007 7:57 AM EST
Awww….. so many McMemories.
Great article!
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Jon @ 02/20/2007 8:00 AM EST
“…BAM, they cut to a shot of Tommy Lee Jones covered in cake icing, flipping coins. Plus he had lupus. You had to feel bad for Seal.”
Ahahahaha!
I’m pretty sure my grandparents have some of those Flintstone’s glasses, probably because my grandfather totally loved the way they look.
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Denise @ 02/20/2007 8:20 AM EST
Ronald looks like he’s crying blood in the shamu place-mat
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flabslapper @ 02/20/2007 8:56 AM EST
Nice OMEN reference there. May I say that X-E is really hitting its stride. The dead soda, the obscure Roy Rogers, and the hat-trick is complete with this little ditty.
One of the main things that the younger X-E crowd may not know (and you can see it on the breakfast tray-liner) is that the old school establishments used to sport yellow, brown, and orange as their colors. This gave way to the teal and red/purples of the late 80’s/early 90’s. I miss the tacky old colors.
There is still an old TACO BELL in town which has that old 1983 flavor.
Speaking of 1983, that is when the McNugget debuted, not 1982; otherwise how would we remember so well my 1979 brother. (Please forgive me for correcting but it’s that history teacher within me. 
)
Great article!
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The Manimal @ 02/20/2007 9:00 AM EST
F-in awesome!! Do some more!!
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g mon @ 02/20/2007 9:04 AM EST
Does anyone remember the Fragle Rock happy meal toys?? The ones that had fragles in little toy cars??? I stil have a bunch of those kicking around and was wondering what year they were from? I would guess like 1991 or soemthing.
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Galph @ 02/20/2007 9:49 AM EST
Ohhh, McDonald’s! I am totally craving a breakfast sandwich right now…
To throw my name in the ring, I have, and still use, the Riddler mug, as well as the Flintstones mug. I always liked filling the Riddler one with Pepsi, because Jim Carrey’s features were more pronounced that way.
I’d also like to add that I started singing the “Have you had your break today?” commercial jingle as soon as I saw the Batman tray liner. 
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Liz @ 02/20/2007 10:13 AM EST
Comment based on the fact that I haven’t read the article or most of the comments yet:
By gum, Shuanfu, I just discovered Heroes. I couldn’t believe that it has both Milo Ventimiglia and Christopher Eccleston. My head almost exploded. I am in love with it, and I missed ten episodes.
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Katherine @ 02/20/2007 10:41 AM EST
Hey. Some one might have said this already, but “Honey Sauce” isn’t sauce at all. it’s Just a tub of honey. Which you wouldn’t think would be very good, but actually is totally awesome. I’m sure you can still get it if you ask for it. It’s good. Seriously.
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PrincessPeach @ 02/20/2007 12:40 PM EST
Great Article. A couple comments:
advertorial: Possibly my new favorite word, at least until next week.
McRib: Mmmm, McRib, Mmmmm…now I’ll have that insatiable desire for the rest of the day for pre-formed meat product.
Finally, I never cease to be amazed at the materials you find for your articles. Who woulda thunk it that anyone had the foresight to save 20 years of tray thingees from McD’s!!!
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Mowntandew @ 02/20/2007 1:06 PM EST
Every time they did a Hot Wheels promotion that wasn’t coupled with Barbies, I would get so, so pissed. That Hot Wheels liner just brought back all those times…plus, they gave away real Hot Wheels, but never anything close to real Barbies. I’manna go play My Little Ponies.
Nice article, lots of great memories there! I still have some of the Atari Scratch ‘n’ Win cards in my “big box o’ misc junk from the past” down in my basement.
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Dirk Blackpool @ 02/20/2007 1:40 PM EST
Houseguest is fantasmagoric, and I’ll stand behind that assertion.
Speaking of Atari (not that I need a segueway), the new Ataris album finally came out today!!!
4 years and one live album later, it is here.
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K- @ 02/20/2007 2:07 PM EST
I didn’t know if I was going to be able to comment on anything McDonalds related because my comment would have been off-topic. However, after reading the comments, I have several comments to make about McDonalds.
First of all, to the post about the Fraggle Rock Happy Meal toys, those came out in the mid-80s. Fraggle Rock was still being shown on HBO (they stopped airing them in 1987) when they came out. Me and a buddy of mine were so obsessed with Fraggle Rock. The Fraggle Rock toys were only of the few HM toys in which I almost got the whole set. Usually I would be a “One Toy Wonder” when it came to Happy Meal toys because my family used to eat McDonalds for Sunday Night dinner once a month, and the toys would usually change every month. Anyway, on the rare months where we did have McD’s more than once a month, the HM toy I would get would be a double. That’s exactly what happened with my Fraggle Rock toy. Two weeks in a row I got the Gobo toy and when we tried to exchange it for another toy, we were told that was the only toy they had available (I had that happen to me another time years later with a Tiny Toons toy and I got duplicate Buster toys on two McD’s visits). Fortunately, my equally obsessed Fraggle Rock friend from school had the same thing happen to him only he had two Red toys. So we trade and I gave him my extra Gobo and he gave me his extra Red. As I said before, I “almost” got the whole set because my buddy later on got a duplicate Mokey and I did not have a Mokey, so he gave me his extra Mokey. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a Wembley/Boober toy so that was an unfinished Happy Meal toy set. I had another toy set that I almost completed that tied in with Bambi and all I needed was Thumper, and I even was at a McDonalds where they had Thumper available, but for some reason, no one got me a Happy Meal!!!!
Anyway, now to switch gears here, does anybody remember when McDonalds used to sell ornaments for Christmas? They usually would tie it in with a Disney movie that was released (or re-released) that holiday season. I got a Jack the Mouse from Cinderella one year and my sister got Sebastian from the Little Mermaid. My Jack ornament still is hung on the family tree every year. Also, while writing this, I remember when An American Tail came out in theaters and McD’s sold these story books based on the movie. I also recall getting a mini Fievel stocking. I was quite upset for it being so tiny because I would have LOVED to have a filled stocking with a picture of Fievel on it!
Okay, I have to make a comment or two about the Batman Forever glasses, and a couple other glasses collections that McD’s gave out through the years. At first, I only thought I had the Batman mug, and we had two of them, but now I do recall also having the Riddler mug as well. Also, does anybody remember the glass Garfield mugs back in the 80s? We had the whole collection at one time except the last glass we had broke. Actually, the scene on the glass was Garfield was laying in a hammock and Odie was holding up one end with his mouth while holding a glass of Garfield’s drink. I do recall a commercial in which that scene was shown but it had Odie holding a McDonalds cup. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was to see Odie just holding a normal glass on the glass decision. ALSO, I must mention this because this does take me back to the early 80s but does anybody remember any of the PEANUTS glasses McDonalds issued? We had about two or three of them but they broke because the glass was so cheap. They seemed to be stronger on the mugs though because I remember dropping a couple of the Garfield mugs a couple times and having them not break (which confuses me to how we managed to break one of those). Anyway, the Batman and Garfield mugs we still have, well, I myself don’t have them personally with me. They are back at my mom’s home in Chicago which is of course my Home Sweet Home whenever I’m home on Leave. Oh yes, and does anybody remember the Super Size plastic cups? My personal favorite were the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” cups. Had a couple of them I do believe.
Okay, let’s see, I went through Happy Meal toys, glasses, is there anything I’m missing out? Well, I need to correct Matt here and say that the NFL placemat, or should I say promotion period, was from 1994 and not 1996. I remember because it was the first year FOX broadcast NFL games and I was a sophmore in high school.
Okay, before I wrap this up and remember other toys/promotions McDonalds had that I remember that I will forget, I just want to mention that I was wondering why they had a Burger King commercial on the videotape of the second TMNT movie. Of course, why would Burger King be promoting the turtles when all they eat is Pizza? Hmm, I do beleive Pizza Hut did some promotions for the first movie, even though in that movie they are eating Domino’s Pizza. Okay, is that all I have to say? Well, I do want to mention something in a previous article Matt wrote. When he wrote about the E.T. Happy Meal features and had the commercial clip, I vividly recall owning one of the E.T. posters because it hung outside my bedroom door. I was both overjoyed and frightened to have that poster. Frightened especially at night with all the lights out and I was in the kitchen going to my room, looking at my door in the dark and seeing E.T. staring directly at me! Gave me the chills I can tell you! Anyway, this is all I have to say right now. I hope you enjoyed (those of you who actually read my ramblings) my little trip down memory lane. Why does it seem as though McDonalds had a profound effect on my youth? Perhaps because…well…IT DID!!!!
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BJ @ 02/20/2007 2:14 PM EST
I haven’t been garage sale-ing in a while, but next time I see a Riddler mug, I’s gonna git it. Even Carrey’s slightly fey take on Mr. Nygma can’t take away from one of my favorite Bat-Villains.
Meanthewhiles, I found out I’m not the only one frightened by the Melting Grimace ad on the ‘Net:
http://forums.commercialsihate.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2764
check a couple of posts down.
*!* how could I have forgot the best X-E cliche ever?
Giant Ape Juice!
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kingklash @ 02/20/2007 2:43 PM EST
Great article! This is the type of stuff I need to be saving for my new daughters time capsul. Even if she will not appreciate it, I will for sure. I love the “old school” McD’s stuff. I had most of the hotwheels as well and I would kill to find a general lee shaped happy meal box. Keep up the great work Matt.
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Tigerfan @ 02/20/2007 2:52 PM EST
This was a great read! Worked at McD’s off and on for the past twenty years (first job, owned by family friends, who would throw hours to me when I needed) and this brought back lots of good times. Hot Wheels was a HUGE hit as I recall and the McDLT was a real bitch to make.
Thanks for the memories!
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T. Greiner @ 02/20/2007 2:59 PM EST
Jason Alexander (George Castanza off of Sienfeld) once told on the Tonight Show that he was fired from the McDLT commercial because he had sarcastically rambled on about ‘what a miracle of technology this is’ before shooting without realizing his mic was on.
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dsyoungblood @ 02/20/2007 3:00 PM EST
Honey comes in a tub shaped like the jams and jelly you can get with your breakfast, not like the tubs the other nugget sauces come in. Also, if it’s not hot mustard, I don’t know what it is but there is defiently another option at my mcdonalds, one with a a mustard colored top.
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dohopoki @ 02/20/2007 3:11 PM EST
Holy crap! I had the jet car from McDonalds. God must have smiled on me too. I remember my friend becoming irritated at me and tried to stab me in the leg with it. The joke was on him because the nose was rubber.
I like how all the trayliners are grease stain free.
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Bill @ 02/20/2007 3:19 PM EST
I wish I would read the entire article and blog before commenting but I want to say that I’m in the crowd of people who tried Arch Deluxe because it wasn’t being marketed to me. I thought it was decent.
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dohopoki @ 02/20/2007 3:22 PM EST
oh, man i love your site. just recently found it. i totally remember the hot wheels cars. i used to love the red corvette…shit it had GOLD rims
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firmpulse @ 02/20/2007 3:36 PM EST
Hey! I have that Robin mug! Don’t drink at it much, I just kinda stare at it and thank the lord I got one, even if it is the lesser of the cups (arguably). Always thought the damn thing was from Burger King though. Don’t know why.
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Mike @ 02/20/2007 3:42 PM EST
McDonald’s used to be a staple for me. But then I ate too much of it and now I need my stomach stapled.
Justice served I guess.
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Nickelodeon @ 02/20/2007 3:44 PM EST
Dammit, you’ve got me wanting to see that commercial Kingklash.
I feel your pain though, I remember being scared of this pic of an anthropomorphized furry crocadile in a coloring book I had as a kid. I actually, rationally asked my mother to remove it, which she did. But now the furry crocadile design used in Final Fantasy XII has me staring it in the face on a regular basis. It’s kinda cool, though.
Tingles down the spine, for all!!
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K- @ 02/20/2007 3:44 PM EST
Hey, this reminded me of something! Lately when I pass by the craft department at Wal-Mart there’s a section of McDonald’s themed fabric, and not just prints of Ronald and the Golden Arches. There’s the Happy Meal Gang and even one with Officer Big Mac. Kinda weird.
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Mystie @ 02/20/2007 4:35 PM EST
YES! I can’t believe I remember several of this placemats. I used to love eating chicken mcnuggets and dunking them in honey, I can’t believe you never had that luxury.
I definitely have the riddler cup laying around somewhere…
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Moore_Roger @ 02/20/2007 4:47 PM EST
“Every time they did a Hot Wheels promotion that wasn’t coupled with Barbies, I would get so, so pissed. That Hot Wheels liner just brought back all those times…plus, they gave away real Hot Wheels, but never anything close to real Barbies.”
I was hoping somebody would mention the “Gender-Specific Happy Meal” debacle. My favorite memory of these was some commercial where the boys are happily playing adventure games with their Hot Wheels. Meanwhile, the girls are *just sitting around* with their teeny-tiny Barbies -also just sitting around- and one of the girls says “The Barbies are watching the cars race!”
I congratulate my younger self for being perceptive enough to want to strangle the producers of that ad.
Mystie - There’s Officially Liscensed fabric for EVERYTHING. Though McDonalds fabric strikes me as particularly disturbing. What the hell would anyone use it for? Actually, even scarier, what *kind of person* would use McDonalds-themed fabrics in a craft project?
-K - Furry crocodiles? This needs to be elaborated upon, please. I’m picturing a crocodile with fur.
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Wolphin @ 02/20/2007 5:05 PM EST
I meant I’m not the only one on the ‘net with McTrauma, not that the ad was online. I’m still searching for Web-proof of the ad, though. What’s sad, is that Google searches for “Melting Grimace” usually have my mentions of it at, or near, the top. But now I know I’m not alone. Cue the heartfelt music!
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kingklash @ 02/20/2007 5:21 PM EST
I searched really hard Wolphin, but this is the best I could come up with. It’s such a horrible quality vid, but I couldn’t find a pic at all.
One of the variants is on screen from 12-17 seconds. Right at the beginning. It’s a Hybrid Croc and it’s the big black thing, as opposed to the small black Viper that pops up. Picture its head on a human body and you have my childhood horror
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K- @ 02/20/2007 5:37 PM EST
I know, Kingklash. I’m just saying that you’ve mentioned it to the point where I really want to see it. Believe me, I search everytime I hear you mention it. You’ve got me fascinated.
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K- @ 02/20/2007 5:39 PM EST
I remember when my aunt worked at McDonald’s,she gave me a few Hot Wheels for my birthday that were left over from a recent promotion. Since this was in ‘86 or thereabouts,it wasn’t from the promotion in the pictured place mat,so no rocket cars.
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Dantheman (formely Overlord) @ 02/20/2007 6:03 PM EST
1996’s “Super-Size Your Way To The Super Bowl” Can’t be from 1996 unless they were intentionally referencing a Super Bowl from a year prior. Super Bowl XXIX can clearly be seen in the picture on the box of fries. Super bowl 29 was played after the summation of the 1994 season. So unless McD’s was really referencing an old Super Bowl which I find really hard to believe they would do , there is an error here.
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Joseph Robertson @ 02/20/2007 6:46 PM EST
Copyright says 1994 too.
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dohopoki @ 02/20/2007 7:19 PM EST
The link to the article with the picture of the McDLT is wrong. It’s /articles/092/, but should be /articles/0962/ like the McNuggets pic.
-Just tring to help. Big fan.
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Ben Lorenz @ 02/20/2007 7:29 PM EST
Jesus Matt, you can’t do anything right can you pal. This article was a really good one. I actually know a “Big Splasher” and what a mess. He has a hand/eye coordination issue and growing up I remember watching him throw his nuggets with about 1000 psi behind it into BBQ sauce. That kid could eat McNuggets and wear BBQ sauce on the back of his head. I think they discontinued honey because of the “Big Splashers”. Oh the sticky mess in the minivan!
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Bill @ 02/20/2007 8:12 PM EST
The Power Rangers had pretty kickass costumes for that movie…
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Bizarro Murphy @ 02/20/2007 8:12 PM EST
Bill: Tell me about it! (Link and Super Bowl date fixed.)
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Matt @ 02/20/2007 8:15 PM EST
What a topic to choose, Matt, a week after I started reading Fast Food Nation. No matter. Your writing remains terrific, as always. Congratulations on your truimphant return to full article-writing. There was the discontinued soda article, but it felt thin and half-hearted. Now you’re back at it in full force! For a followup may I suggest something about tropical fish.
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Der Super @ 02/20/2007 8:20 PM EST
Thin and half-hearted?! Thin maybe, but whole-hearted! You make me so defensive Der Super.
Tropical fish, probably not, but something from the animal kingdom has been on deck for a few months now.
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Matt @ 02/20/2007 8:23 PM EST
Matt: You should do an article on sharks. There was a boat that a few bull sharks attacked and sank just down the way from my house. No shit, actually sank. When I was flying over Jupiter Inlet you could see sharks swimming off the shore. It makes me a little nervous swimming now.
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Bill @ 02/20/2007 8:31 PM EST
I still have the batman and the robin glasses. they are cool! Surprisingly so. I remember getting about 6 of those hot wheels when they came out. I was…9? Ew. WHen I was a tike, McDs ruled!!!
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faroniousd @ 02/20/2007 8:36 PM EST
Hey Matt, If one were to send you something, say a six pack of Surge along with the set of Batman glasses. What address would we send it to?
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Jester @ 02/20/2007 9:16 PM EST
Glasses = Glass cups BTW, not Batman Eye devices. Seriously though, I have all the glasses in triple just sitting around my house
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Jester @ 02/20/2007 9:18 PM EST
Hey, did anyone take advantage of IHOP’s Free Pankcake Short Stack Day today? I didn’t…:(
I’m not a big fan of McDonald’s. I will eat it if it’s the only thing around, and I get a Shamrock Shake every year on or around St. Patrick’s Day, but the food is usually terrible unless it’s milky and minty.
However, there was (and is) a McDonald’s in North Cape May where my family ate frequently during most of my childhood. The food was hideous and the lady who owns it to this day is a witch times fifteen, but it’s the closest fast-food place to Cape May City that’s open year-round.
That said, I was a little young in the early 80s to remember most of the “place mats” and their promotions. I do recall the Batman Forever mugs - I think Mom might still have Robin at home - the Super Bowl promotion, and of course, McRibs. McRibs was actually some pretty good stuff for McDonald’s, and they make rare reappearances from time to time. I also remember the Arch Deluxes, mostly because I was actually working there at the time they were on the menu. (My job there lasted for about a month and is now regarded as the biggest mistake I ever made in my entire life.)
Until his wife pointed out he was in danger of death by cholesterol overload last year, my stepfather lived on McDonald’s, especially the breakfasts. The McDLT was “his” special McDonald’s food during it’s heyday, and rarely a week went by without finding the reminents of that morning’s McDonald’s breakfast in his car. My brother used to talk about how Dad would sometimes take him out to a McDonald’s breakfast, complete with McMuffins, semi-heated coffee, and hash browns so grease-coated, they fall apart.
I had no idea the Chicken McNuggets were so recent. They were my sisters’ “special” McD’s food throughout the 80s. I preferred a good old-fashioned cheeseburger. Nothing fancy for me, not even a Big Mac (which was Mom’s “special favorite” - today, she’s a health-food freak who would probably rather eat dirt than McDonald’s).
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starwenn @ 02/20/2007 9:33 PM EST
Matt -
Yes please on the animal kingdom article. May it please please please be about something awesome like octopus personalities or sharks or sea snails. Or whales. I’m excited.
Oh,oh, I see how it is. SuperBowls and FLINTSTONE movie corrections are no problem but ol’ Manimal mentions a Chicken McNugget date error and a defeaning silence followed by *cricket chirp, cricket chirp*
On an unrelated topic, we find out boy or girl tomorrow. Place your bets!
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The Manimal @ 02/20/2007 10:42 PM EST
Oh no! I’m sorry I made you feel defensive, Matt. I love your work so very much. And I still greatly enjoyed your soda article, despite my criticism. I feel a bit like I’ve publicly disgraced myself by offending a celebrity I adore upon meeting them. So I apologize.
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Der Super @ 02/20/2007 10:44 PM EST
Finally proof of the existence of the Super hero burger! I have been trolling the internet for years for a picture of it again. Just to see what it looked like and was called again. I must make a website for it. Maybe I can be like those kool-aid alchemists who make discontinued Kool-aid flavors, but with Mcdonalds. I probably just need three Big and tasty’s with cheese, I could bring my own bun. They still make big and tasty’s right? I almost died of laughter when I read “three beef patties for Batman-loving fatties.” I’m usually sensitive about this but I guess its true. I love Batman and those Burgers. I can still taste them thats the weird thing. God bless you Matt you have made me so happy today. I wish I still had my glass Batman cups. To ebay!
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Pat @ 02/20/2007 10:45 PM EST
Now I can taste the McRib I had two years ago that made me sick… or should I say Poobah meal? either way not a fun memory. McDonalds is pure garbage, a blight on humanity, and it should be thwarted at all costs.
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Simply Justin @ 02/20/2007 10:53 PM EST
Manimal: Awesome, awesome, awesome find on the 80’s TV education. I haven’t seen those in 20 years. Thanks a bunch.
http://www.angelfire.com/retro/gartwo/
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Bill @ 02/20/2007 10:54 PM EST
No problem but I do not deserve the credit. Somebody (and I regret to say I don’t remember who) posted that 2 years ago-ish. Step forward whoever you are and accept your kudos!!
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The Manimal @ 02/20/2007 11:09 PM EST
Oh, McDonalds. I grew up more in the 90s myself. I remember going crazy for the very first Monopoly game (and I still love it to this day), and the teenie beanie craze. I still have all of the original teenies, which used to be worth 70 bucks on ebay at their peak but are now worth 10. Damn. I guess I have to hold onto them for 50 years, now.
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T @ 02/20/2007 11:20 PM EST
Oh, and I forgot to mention the glasses! I have one of those. It’s good for drinking whiskey.
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T @ 02/20/2007 11:23 PM EST
Okay, I actually remember getting honey with chicken nuggets at Popeye’s Chicken back in the 80s.
I still have the entire set of Batman Forever glasses as well as the entire set of McD’s Disney World glasses from 2000 and 2003. I also have a couple of the Flintstone glasses and one of the Disney World 25th Anniversary glasses. Speaking of which, anybody remember the Disney Trivia game McDonald’s had back in 1996?
And does anybody remember the little toy cars McDonald’s used to have in the early 80s where you push down on the driver’s head and it speeds off? They had all the McDonaldland characters like Ronald, Birdie, Hamburglar, Officer Big Mac, etc.
And one more thing, has anybody seen the new McDonaldland Wacky Wobbler bobbleheads made by Funko? They have Ronald, Grimace, the original Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese, and Officer Big Mac.
P.S. My Wii console number is 4211 7916 4397 9557
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Luap @ 02/20/2007 11:27 PM EST
I still have a bunch of the McDonalds “election ‘86″ glasses that have held up remarkably well over the years, despite being machine-washed once a week on average.
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Jim @ 02/20/2007 11:39 PM EST
The superhero/sideways burger reminds me of a something I had at a McD’s a few years ago, and then only once since it disappeared so quickly. They called it the McClub and it had the hoagie bun, three patties, cheese,lettuce, and a cheese sauce that tasted like Cheez-Whiz. It was DELICIOUS. Has anyone else tried/remember this?
My favorite Happy Meals were always the Batman ones, especially the glasses. I also have the animated series toys and the Batman Returns toys.
Another one was the famous McD’s Transformers. They had things like shakes, fries, etc. and they all transformed.
Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” ROCKS, BTW.
Never really paid attention to the tray liners, but will for now on thanks to this article. Hope to see a sequel to this, too.
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JLAJRC @ 02/20/2007 11:42 PM EST
You know, while you’re on this McDonald’s loving binge, any chance you could have an article about how they’ve fired Grimace and the Hamburglar and Birdie the Early Bird? Since they don’t want little kids to get fat, they’ve stopped using those characters, so that kids won’t be attracted to McDonald’s so much. -.-
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Babs Bunny @ 02/20/2007 11:49 PM EST
Anyone remember the McDonald’s plastic plates from about 1981? They were McDonald’s answer to commerative plates from the Franklin Mint, yet these were made of shatter proof plastic and actually usable for meals instead of just for show. Mayor McCheese, Hamburgler, the French Fry guys, ect. Now for the hardcore, does anyone remember Boner from Growing Pains doing a Micky D’s commercial around 1989?
Finally, I have a blatant McDonald’s misconception to debunk to set basically everyone straight. Grimace is lavender, NOT purple.
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Josh Ednoff @ 02/21/2007 12:01 AM EST
I miss the McDLT’s. I would probably eat at McD’s more often if they still had those. When I was a kid, I used to pretend like I worked at McD’s while building my burger. Boy did I have high goals back then.
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cyn @ 02/21/2007 12:08 AM EST
To my fellow Transformers fans on XE, today I finally found & picked up the Toys R Us excluse G1 Reiusse of Soundwave. I have to say one thing, the figure is still pretty fantastic & kickass. He comes with 2 familar cassettes, Laserbeak & Ravage.
To tell you the truth, I never had this soundwave before and actualy getting him basically fufilled a big quest to get all the old G1 figures I really wanted. (Optimus, Megatron, Shockwave, Jetfire, Astrotrain, Galvatron, Perceptor, etc) So now…I guess I can say that I’m done with the old transformers for now? It seems bittersweet, I’m actually sad now, despite having a figure I’ve been looking for for years.
Josh, I had those plates as well. They always got brought out when we brought McD’s home.
I have to disagree about Grimace. I can say without a doubt that after eating the solid sugar Grimace that was on the McDonalds birthday cake, my tongue was certainly purple, not lavender. Of course, you would have to pry me off the ceiling with a broom to find out.
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Yelnick McWawa @ 02/21/2007 12:48 AM EST
Talk of Batman lead me to FINALLY locate and download Prince’s “Batdance” (I know, not the same movie), which I had been thinking about for months. Now I’m rockin’ out to it, but it’s not the same version I had on my little single tape. *sigh*
Talk of Chicken McNuggets lead me to drool uncontrollably over the thought of said McNuggets drenched in Szechwan (sp?) sauce during the Disney’s Milan promotion. I can’t eat McNuggets anymore without longing for that deliciousness… *sob!*
I had many of those Hot Wheels cars because I was a daddy’s girl and we collected them together. I remember 2-6 and 14 specifically.
I remember the SeaWorld liner because Ronald always freaked me out on that one.
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Special K @ 02/21/2007 1:02 AM EST
I’ve used my Batman Forever mugs featuring Batman and Robin as ashtrays and pencil holders and incense burners for ages. They’re right behind me on my bookcase holding pencils and movie ticket stubs.
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Joe @ 02/21/2007 1:20 AM EST
The hot mustard is my fave sauce, I really like honey on the golden flavor nuggets though.
Does anyone remember when they had the apple cinammon dipping sauce a long time ago? That shit was great!
I also liked the little McNugget toys that they had, with the interchangable costumes, there was the rockstar Nugget, and some chick Nugget, shit I dont know. Those might still be at my ‘rents house, actually I think they are on top of a gun cabinet!
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kidneyboy @ 02/21/2007 1:36 AM EST
I saw that Der Super. Thank you for remedying it yourself. 
No, I’m not saying you can’t have opinions on an article’s quality, or be critical. But I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone say anything negative about an article on the blog. Culture Shock. No, I take that back, someone once told Matt he should stop writing Kool-Aid and Cereal Prize entries. That was just f***ed up. I’ll preserve his anonymity, though he doesn’t really deserve such kindnesses.
Also, who needs Hot Mustard and Honey when you have Sweet & Sour?
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K- @ 02/21/2007 1:45 AM EST
BRILLIANT!
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Evan @ 02/21/2007 2:19 AM EST
hey the sites working.
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dohopoki @ 02/21/2007 11:06 AM EST
Yeah, I was deprived of it the latter part of the night, as well. Still didn’t keep me from not writing that paper until right now 
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K- @ 02/21/2007 11:22 AM EST
I had to stop reading immediately and come here to post when I noticed that they don’t have ‘honey sauce’ where you live. My God man, are you serious? You haven’t lived until you’ve had McNuggets with McDonald’s honey.
Honey is the ONLY stuff I would get for my McNuggets. I guess I just can’t picture my life without it. It really is that serious.
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Matt(#2?) @ 02/21/2007 11:22 AM EST
This was great. Thanks Matt. But it sadly made me realize that thirty years ago is now in the 70’s. For that I feel old.
hey kidney, where you been? welcome back
just an FYI I got a new web phone after checking to see if my plan would pay for most of it, and they did. Anyways, I was able to read this whole article on it, amazing little pocket computer, I love it.
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kb @ 02/21/2007 11:26 AM EST
Also, who needs Hot Mustard and Honey when you have Sweet & Sour?
Right on K- right on! The only dip for Chicken McNuggets, or any Nugget is sweet & sour!
Manimal, I vote boy!
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IHAQ @ 02/21/2007 11:41 AM EST
See, I’ve always been a fan of the BBQ suace and while I like honey and sweet and sour, I always felt why bother with second and third place? I don’t think I’ve ever even seen anyone chose hot mustard before.
Anyone remember the very short lived 30 cent cup of hot cheese you could buy with your fries? I think it was going on at the same time they were trying to charge people for the nugget sauces which was also happening at the same time they were doing 2 for 2 six piece nuggets (remember, 6, 9 and 20 piece?) which was ALSO during the time that the nuggets were more expensive because they were being made with things other than just white meat.
It was as if their own nugget promotion was going too well and they weren’t legally allowed to stop it for some reason so they came up with the dumb idea of charging for sauce and the idea that people would want cheese with mcdonalds fries. Horrible sentence structure today.
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dohopoki @ 02/21/2007 11:52 AM EST
I used to be a big supporter of sweet & sour, but now I’m all about the ranch.
Anyone mix sauces?
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Mystie @ 02/21/2007 12:38 PM EST
I wonder why we never hear about any of the people who win these contests. I think in 2006 the big prize was $5,000,000. Wouldn’t that be worth promoting? Ken Jennings only won half of that and he’s the most famous celebrity in the world. (Right?)
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The Unmustachioed Man @ 02/21/2007 1:09 PM EST
Manimal: I see a little girl in your future. Just a web vibe.
Good news everyone. I do not have rabies. I picked up a stray shitzu on the side of the highway last week and he freaked out and bit my hand. Long story short I managed to wrangle him in the car and bring him home only to see that he was a really sick little dog. I called animal control and they gave me my very own bite ID number. So they called me this morning and left a 3 minute message filled with suspence. I swear they do this shit on purpose. “The test reeeeeesultssss cammmmmme in….. and you…….have ……..picked up a dog …(breath heavy in the phone)…and been bitten by that dog….that …has tesssssted ….negative for rabies.
What a jerk. But no 7 shots in the stomach! Good day indeed.
Mystie: Hell no. I dated a girl once that used to mix ketchup and mustard for her salad dressing. Also she ordered extra lemons and sweet n low and made lemonade no matter where we went. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that, it just made me queasy.
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Bill @ 02/21/2007 1:11 PM EST
When did McDonalds start giving out Ranch dressing for nuggets? Why wasn’t I informed of this?
Not that it matters, I’d stick with the Sweet & Sour. Ranch is the ambrosia of the gods, but nah, not on McNuggets.
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K- @ 02/21/2007 1:36 PM EST
Heeeeyyy, Invader Norbert! Check this out:
http://www.bbts.com/bbts/produ...oduct=TAK10696&mode=retail
It’s both Old School and New Class!
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kingklash vs The Tounge That Wouldn't Quit @ 02/21/2007 1:46 PM EST
I may be going to purchase some McNuggets right away.
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Fox @ 02/21/2007 1:52 PM EST
I remember several years ago I saw a news segment where they ran tests to see what was on those fast food trays. Lots of disgusting bacteria, e-coli, fecal traces, etc. Definitely NOT what you want to be eating food off of.
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Justin @ 02/21/2007 2:35 PM EST
I have all of those Batman mugs, but one of them may have broken and or chipped. They are pretty damn great, except I think they’re a bit small.
I wasn’t crazy about the Arch Deluxe because, even at a young age, I thought the marketing campaign behind it was odd. In my opinion, every McDonald’s sandwich was/is a sandwich for adults, that is until you start putting jellybeans and Dunkaroos in there. I don’t think people care if a sandwich is geared towards kids, because food is food and the ones with children usually bring their kids to eat with them anyway, which ends up with the parent(s) finishing the food that their kids cannot.
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Dr. Acula @ 02/21/2007 3:23 PM EST
One of the best write ups in a while Matt! Brings back a deluge of memories!
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Double_G @ 02/21/2007 4:14 PM EST
wow Bill there is something wrong with that.
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kb @ 02/21/2007 4:44 PM EST
I guess I’m the only one who has ever had the McClub.
I’m not a McNugget guy. I’m usually get the Big Mac with the occaisional McRib thrown in. Or I raid the $1 menu and get a bunch of double cheeseburgers.
They should bring back the fortune cookie they did in that Chinese promotion they did in the 80s. They also had teriyaki sauce too.
Supersize Me is the greatest documentary of all time. It didn’t put me off of eating McD’s though.
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JLAJRC @ 02/21/2007 4:51 PM EST
Holy Crap, Batman! I had that Riddler cup!!
Great, great article…I’m seriously impressed by the fact that you have tray covers from 1981…Amazing.
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Mary Mary @ 02/21/2007 4:59 PM EST
K-
every time i order ranch for my nuggets they give me a packet of newman’s ranch dressing that you get when you order a salad. I don’t know if they even have a little cup of it, i wish though i love those little cups.
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danny @ 02/21/2007 5:51 PM EST
I own both the Two-Face mug and the Robin mug- or glass- or cup or whatever. Point is, I LOVE them- they are 2 of my favorite things to drink out of, and I had no idea that they came from McDonalds…it has been so long since I got them that I forgot WHERE they came from! I thought they were from a gas station or something! Wow…I have learned so much from these tray-liners today.
BBQ sauce is for nuggets. Period. The others are strange and taste funny. BBQ sauce and nuggets go together SO WELL. Whenever I order a McChicken or a Crispy Chicken sandwich, I order it plain, and ask for a side of BBQ sauce…because really, these chicken burgers are just big nuggets in a bun, right? SO I top these burgers with BBQ sauce as well.
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Muppet Baby @ 02/21/2007 6:38 PM EST
Man, reading through this thread has made me really hungry. For a double cheeseburger off the dollar menu. Or a McGriddle. Mmmm. Pancake sandwiches.
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Jedoc @ 02/21/2007 6:42 PM EST
Mine has cups of ranch. Technically it’s for the chicken strips, but there ain’t no laws sayin’ I can’t dunk my McNuggets in it.
Also, just an FYI, I picked up my ticket for the NYC Comic Con, so YES, I will be there Saturday. My loins are quivering in anticipation.
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Mystie @ 02/21/2007 6:43 PM EST
I can send you some McD’s hot mustard, I live off the stuff, i put it on everything!!
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callais @ 02/21/2007 7:40 PM EST
I guess I’m the ONLY one who prefers only ketchup with his nuggets, be they from McD’s or otherwise….
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Cameron T. @ 02/21/2007 8:46 PM EST
The baby results are in and apparently I am full of X’s and no Y’s because it’s another girl!!
Now back to disgusting food tray and BATMAN RETURNS glasses commentary.
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The Manimal @ 02/21/2007 9:04 PM EST
Congrats Manimal! What names have you been thinking of?
I remember when Mcds had all the Batman stuff. I had the glow in the dark pogs, I even kept my fry holder. I wanted the glasses sooo bad, during that time in my life I was OBSESSED with Batman, like crazy obsessed. I don’t know why I never got them, I guess my Mom was too cheap.
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IHAQ @ 02/21/2007 9:20 PM EST
OMG! Reese’s Nutrageous bars were out back in ‘94? Every time I see them at the store I think “Wow, I’m gonna have to try one of those new Reese’s things. They sound neat.”
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Adam @ 02/21/2007 9:36 PM EST
omg my memories came back in smells more than anything else. i can clearly smell chicken nuggets and sauces and mcdlt’s and fries. oh the fries! thanx.
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Paul @ 02/21/2007 9:59 PM EST
Another instant classic. Now you’re just showing off
They got rid of honey around these parts years ago. Knowing that some of you people still get it makes me upset. Next you’ll tell me your Wendy’s still serves bacon and cheese potatoes!
Manimal, congrats!! I too had a feeling it was going to turn out to be another girl! Congrats and well wishes to you and the missus :D
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squee4242 @ 02/21/2007 10:45 PM EST
Congrats Manimal! I am so happy for you. Little girls make the world turn. or something like that. You have your work cut out for you.
KB: Hmmmm? The rabies or are you talking about my Seinfeld rejection from “homade salad dresser.” Either way, I’m kind of embarrassed you find something wrong with that.
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Bill @ 02/22/2007 12:38 AM EST
Congratulations Manimal! Girls really are the best.
Has anyone ever seen one of the “Gourmet” McDonalds? When I lived in Orlando, there was one I would frequent occasionally. They sold paninis and cappuchinos. And possibly creme brulee, but I think I’m embellishing there…
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the burro @ 02/22/2007 12:58 AM EST
pologies for the double post…
Mystie: I too will be at NYC comic con on Sat. Sold out! There should be some kind of X-E table, maybe.
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the burro @ 02/22/2007 1:00 AM EST
I might be the only one that thinks this, but I really miss the old Mcnuggets. Sure the all white meat nuggets probably won’t kill us as fast as the old mystery meat nuggets, but man they sure were tasty.
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Joel @ 02/22/2007 2:49 AM EST
Also, does anyone remember the toys that transformed from Mcdonald’s food items into dinosaurs? Those were probably my favorite along with the mcnuggets. (I had 9 out of 10, never found the tennis player nugget sigh..)
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Joel @ 02/22/2007 2:54 AM EST
Joel - Food Changeables series 2, McDinos.
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Mystie @ 02/22/2007 3:07 AM EST
Three cheers for Manimal and Living Human #6,145,243,783!
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Mars @ 02/22/2007 3:12 AM EST
I always got honey sauce with my McNuggets. It was absolutely the best. I almost never eat McDonalds anymore, and when I do, I don’t get the nuggets. I don’t think I’ve had a McNugget since I was about 10. and they used to be all I would eat there. I may have to go try some again soon…
and Mystie, I never mixed McDonalds sauces, but I do mix other ones. Specifically ketchup and mayo (fry sauce) or ranch dressing and BBQ sauce. That combo is probably my favorite for hamburgers, fries, chicken, pretty much anything you’d put either on separately. It’s delicious.
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snowfire @ 02/22/2007 4:13 AM EST
Matt and gang, the largest colossal squid has been caught! It’s not a giant squid but it’s apparently a close relative. Click my name for info and pics! My god, this post sounds like spam!!
I don’t want to go into how many McNuggets I just ate but let’s just say it was a personal record in one sitting and I am blaming each and everyone of you for making me do it. Two notes, Sweet n Sour is better than I remembered and I mixed it and BBQ on one nugget, I feel they just cancelled each other out more than enhanced one and other.
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dohopoki @ 02/22/2007 12:45 PM EST
Squee: Our Wendy’s still serves bacon and cheese potatoes. Actually, you can get them loaded with everything if you want; chili, cheese, bacon, broccoli, chives, etc.
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Matt(#2?) @ 02/22/2007 12:53 PM EST
Man, McDonald’s has had like 40 of those Hot Wheels promotions. Happens all the time. The girl option is often Barbie, but I’ve also seen Polly Pocket, Hello Kitty, and My Little Pony.
My favorite McDonald’s promotion is from 2001 or 2002: BattleBots. I’d outgrown Happy Meals at that point in time, but I was a gigantic BattleBots fan, and when I found out about the fact that BattleBots were coming to Micky D’s, I went right back to Happy Meals and began an epic quest to collect them all. The series consisted of 8 robots, mostly ones that competed season after season on the show: Ankle Biter, Diesector, Tentoumushi, Overkill, BioHazard, Mechadon, Ginsu, and a McDonald’s-created robot that sembled a metallic hamburger. I collected six of them over the course of the promotion (amassing some duplicates and a small army of BurgerBots in the process), and two years ago I was lucky enough to discover number seven at a garage sale (Tentomoushi). Overkill remains elusive. These things are almost as durable as actual BattleBots; for a free toy that comes with some chicken nuggets and fries, they’re very high-quality.
Another old promotion I enjoyed: The Attack Pack, some awesome Hot Whells vehicles that had buttons you’d hold down to open mouths and stuff on the toys. I still have a monster truck and a submarine from that set in my box of toy cars.
Last I checked, McDonald’s current promotion was for KatScratch, another one in the long line of disposable NickToons that never really took off. That show debuted about a year ago, why’s it getting a Happy Meal run now? I don’t get it.
No, I’m being judgy, and the idea of making lemonade is wrong. I bet waitresses hated that. Again. That’s just me. Wrongfully judging.
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kb @ 02/22/2007 1:31 PM EST
Gooper, there are two on eBay right now. Sadly, I don’t know what Overkill looks like, and there isn’t a description on either.
Plus, if I link both of them, this post would be in the approval bin. So, to eBay!
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K- @ 02/22/2007 2:04 PM EST
Anyone remember when David Letterman did a top 10 list about how McDonald’s was becoming healthier? (This was back when he was actually funny on NBC; not the repetitive, sound-effect hand gesturing to the continuous drum cymbal-riff, bada-bing Paul Schaeffer making the pencil crashing through the window keyboard noise, washed up retard he is today.) Anyways, #2 was Ronald McDonald is not allowed to sleep in the salad bar anymore.
Food for thought: I once submitted a story about Grimace the McDonald’s Assasin vs. the Golphers from Zuchini Pit for my 8th grade english class. It featured a humorous Mongolian cluster-f**k of senarios pitting Grimace and his McDonaldland spies against alien ninja golphers from the underground fortress Zuchini Pit, coupled with the Smurfs forming and breaking alliances with both sides (Gargamel’s name was switched to “Gargle-Scope” for copyright protection purposes). Grimace’s camoflauge disguise was hopping up into a pear tree and hanging there when danger was afoot (purple pears were common in this area I guess). Joe Isuzu would pop in periodically and offer snide remarks, and the story came to and abrupt end when John Candy and Dolly Parton trampled everyone inside of the Smurf village.
I was crushed when my grade was “go to counciling” with a “know the signs of your child’s drug abuse” flier attached to my paper.
HAPPY 89th BIRTHDAY C.H. MINTY!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love you very much Grampa!!!!
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Josh Ednoff @ 02/22/2007 2:15 PM EST
the burro I remember that McDonalds. They also had fancy leather chairs and flat screen tvs. I never ordered any of that fancy food though. It was always a six piece McNuggets meal for me.
Re: NY Comic Con I’ll be there as well. Kevin Smith will be moderating the Battlestar Galatica panel! Fun times ahead. It would be quite awesome if Matt had a table there. Instead of drawing sketches for people, he could sign with outdated ad slogans or obscure TMNT character names. Oh just imagine the possibilities!
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BUCKLY! @ 02/22/2007 2:35 PM EST
I confess, I mix ketchup, mustard, and Franks RedHot at times… but it is only for delicious, piping-hot onion rings. When it comes to McDonald’s I like to request the little honey mustard packets that nobody seems to want.
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Liz @ 02/22/2007 2:47 PM EST
Mattman our McDees had pizza, fried chicken, and hotdogs. The pizza was actual ok, sorta reminded me of hot lunch pizza from school. The fried chicken and hotdogs were nothing special.
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AoDfan @ 02/22/2007 2:50 PM EST
Speaking of the Hot Wheels promotions, one of my favorites of those was when the cars they gave out about 11 years ago were Drag Racers. Damn, those were awesome.
Last I checked, McDonald’s current promotion was for KatScratch, another one in the long line of disposable NickToons that never really took off. That show debuted about a year ago, why’s it getting a Happy Meal run now? I don’t get it.
I liked CatScratch, and I agree the implausibility of the Happy Meal promotion taking place now, rather than a year ago when it was in its prime (It debuted summer of 2005). Nick actually advertised it as “The Next Big Nicktoon!” but then they found out that they couldn’t merchandise it to death like Spongebob & Rugrats so they moved on to Avatar (another good show, and premired months before CatScratch)
I have a McD’s McNugget Changeable, and a Rock Lords Nuggit. In overall ranking among my vast Robot Army, they are very near the bottom. And that includes the Bootleg Battalion of rip-off Transformers, aka The Expendibles (first to die in any conflict).
CatScratch, brought to you by Mr TenNapel, Earthworm Jim’s daddy.
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kingklash @ 02/22/2007 3:24 PM EST
Nuggit was always one of my favorites as a kid. Rock Lords was a vastly underappreciated line.
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Matt @ 02/22/2007 3:26 PM EST
Totally. How many other toys turned into square turds. Excellent article. Strangley they had similar placetrays in England too. So that was quite nostalgic for me too.
The Atari scratch-off card reminds me of the Nintendo card-line that looked JUST LIKE THAT. I have a 3in stack of them under my bed.
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K- @ 02/22/2007 4:36 PM EST
Well, Nuggit is spiffy, I admit that. I’m just cranky ’cause I never got Jewel Lord Solitaire, the only Go-Bot related toy that was actually meant to be female, as opposed to assigning genders randomly to (un)lucky Machine Robo toys.
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kingklash @ 02/22/2007 4:54 PM EST
Honey is DEFINITELY the best kept secret of the McNugget dipping sauces. Still available at any location around me (Ottawa Canada)
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Monty @ 02/22/2007 7:43 PM EST
Since everyone is on this crack addiction towards chicken nuggets, anyone remember the commercial where the chicken nuggets challenge Ronald to a basketball game; they strap on their headbands and then “perform” a team dunk by all popping themselves into the dipping sauces. There is still a red mark on my forehead from slapping it in disbelief. Anyways, the continued infatuation with the chicken nuggets is on par with the effectiveness of Fighter Hayabusa’s Back Brain Kick on NES Pro Wrestling!
Speaking of wrestling, there is a confusing paradox that has been troubling me for over 10 years now that I need some help with. In the show Thunder In Paradise starring Hulk Hogan, how is it possible that Hulk Hogan can find time to wrestle AND save lives and the world at the same time?
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Josh Ednoff @ 02/22/2007 7:48 PM EST
Hey guys, speaking of Mcdonalds, I dropped by it today and am happy to report that Shamrock shakes are back.
God I love those minty shakes. Truely the nector of the gods. hehe
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Chris @ 02/22/2007 7:55 PM EST
They don’t have tubs of honey where you live? I live in a small town and they have them here. We take as many as we can.
Oh man, Rock Lords and the Go Bots movie was so horrible it was awesome!
I still have my Leader 1 and Nugget toys, I also still have that Motorized toy from the rocklords, it’s a Hairy Zebra striped pig, with an Alligator style snout. It’s legs are wheels though. So when you turned it on it drove around on these round pig legs and snapped its jaws. I think the hair still has He-Man slime residue on it.
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JimmyJamesInc. @ 02/22/2007 8:33 PM EST
I was reading the article “Twelve Fantastic McDonalds Tray Covers” and noticed one of the covers was for a contest McDonalds had where you could win a “Atari Computer” with scratch and win cards. It just so happens I have an original scratch and win card from the 1982 contest. This card is in mint condition and UNSCRATCHED. I recently bought a book off Ebay from someone in California and inside this book tucked deep within the pages was this game card. I have no idea as the value or not of this card, but it looks to be a great collecter item. If there is anyone out there who knows someone who might be interested in this card, let me know as I will be back.
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Debbie @ 02/22/2007 8:55 PM EST
Yeah, I know them as “tray liners”. Ahh, the nostalgia. ^_^
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Scott @ 02/22/2007 9:41 PM EST
Here you go, Jimmy. I will always contend that Matt has written about everything.
Rock Narlies, FTW!
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K- @ 02/22/2007 10:05 PM EST
Hey all. Been absent lately cause I just found out Mrs. Terror Claws and I are having a baby! Wow, childhood’s officially over at 29. Guess I had a good run though. Sucks they can’t grow up in the 80s. Poor, poor little kids.
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Terror Claws Cole @ 02/23/2007 12:10 AM EST
Congrats Terror Claws! When are you due? I love hearing about fellow x-ers having babies, we keep getting more and more parents around here!
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IHAQ @ 02/23/2007 1:00 AM EST
K- Ah yes the Narlies. But I dont have just any old Narlie, well I do have the green one also I found out. But I have the grandpappy of them all, I have “SNARLIE NARLIE”!!! the leader of all Narlies. Click my name to check him out.
After digging him out I realised that he isn’t a Boar like I thought, but a Bull. Go figure. For some reason, he reminds me of the Ninja Turtle Figure that was a Bull. I think his name was Ground Chuck
Today I’ve been having a weird craving for Checkers, motly because I got coupons in the mail for it. The weird part is that I don’t even eat there!
I went to a Frat/Sorority mixer tonight, and there’s absolutely nothing more hilarious than MSTing a bad Cinemax porno with a group of drunk frat guys, and dry pledges. We were changing the ch
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