The Mayor Deserves a Break (Today)
January 17, 2011 11:17 AM Subscribe
If you put your name on only one online petition this year, then sign this one too.
His political career survived the Pufnstuf Scandal (aka Krofftgate) only to be pushed aside by corporate interests, now seen only in rare, brief TV appearances. He is rated one of Time Magazine's LEAST Influential People of 2010 (with some dissent), his name is used to deride other mayors, he's facing serious local opposition and his action figure is worth half of that of a common criminal. It's time to give one of our yummiest public servants the respect he deserves (am I editorializing too much here?). Via Retroist.
His political career survived the Pufnstuf Scandal (aka Krofftgate) only to be pushed aside by corporate interests, now seen only in rare, brief TV appearances. He is rated one of Time Magazine's LEAST Influential People of 2010 (with some dissent), his name is used to deride other mayors, he's facing serious local opposition and his action figure is worth half of that of a common criminal. It's time to give one of our yummiest public servants the respect he deserves (am I editorializing too much here?). Via Retroist.
Filet-O-Fish set me up!
posted by Joe Beese at 11:21 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Joe Beese at 11:21 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is absolutely not what Metafilter is for.
posted by sambosambo at 11:23 AM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by sambosambo at 11:23 AM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
I don't think the front page is really the right place for this kind of political robble rousing.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:24 AM on January 17, 2011 [33 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:24 AM on January 17, 2011 [33 favorites]
I remember a conversation with friends in which we determined that it would be awesome if someone with the last name McCheese were to rise through the ranks and become Comptroller McCheese. Then everyone would try to convince him to run for mayor, but no, he likes being comptroller, the name is really a coincidence, but thank you for your interest.
We then imagined a feature film on this topic. A mass conspiracy of people - lead by the maniacal Hamburglar and his loyal henchmen the Fry Guys - would go on a killing spree to try to install McCheese as the Mayor, for no other reason than the fact that it would be funny for them. Leave it to the main character, the heavy, ominous, reformed criminal Grimace, to put an end to the madness. (Ronald McDonald himself would be an unseen presence, and he would only show his face for the Dark Knight-esque sequel.)
The whole movie would completely repurpose the tone, imagery, and techno-elegiac score of Tony Scott's Man On Fire, and it would be awesome.
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:24 AM on January 17, 2011 [9 favorites]
We then imagined a feature film on this topic. A mass conspiracy of people - lead by the maniacal Hamburglar and his loyal henchmen the Fry Guys - would go on a killing spree to try to install McCheese as the Mayor, for no other reason than the fact that it would be funny for them. Leave it to the main character, the heavy, ominous, reformed criminal Grimace, to put an end to the madness. (Ronald McDonald himself would be an unseen presence, and he would only show his face for the Dark Knight-esque sequel.)
The whole movie would completely repurpose the tone, imagery, and techno-elegiac score of Tony Scott's Man On Fire, and it would be awesome.
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:24 AM on January 17, 2011 [9 favorites]
My robble was roused, anyway.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 11:27 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 11:27 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not signing this petition until they bring back Captain Crook.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:29 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:29 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not against this post because it is a campaign/petition/sign up for this crap post. I'm not even against McDonald's. I'm against Mayor McCheese.
Growing up, the playland at my local McDonald's had the play equipment shipped in directly from Soviet Russia. That's right: play equipment so terrible that Soviet children chose early conscription over playing on these things. The Mayor McCheese was a small little tower that you could climb inside of. Only two things happened with Mayor McCheese. Either you fell out of the tower/off the ladder, and got hurt, or Mayor McCheese had become somewhere around 140F and you burned yourself.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:29 AM on January 17, 2011 [6 favorites]
Growing up, the playland at my local McDonald's had the play equipment shipped in directly from Soviet Russia. That's right: play equipment so terrible that Soviet children chose early conscription over playing on these things. The Mayor McCheese was a small little tower that you could climb inside of. Only two things happened with Mayor McCheese. Either you fell out of the tower/off the ladder, and got hurt, or Mayor McCheese had become somewhere around 140F and you burned yourself.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:29 AM on January 17, 2011 [6 favorites]
I find this campaign a little hard to swallow.
posted by sambosambo at 11:30 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by sambosambo at 11:30 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sorry, let's try that again:
COBRA COMMANDER 2012!
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:30 AM on January 17, 2011
COBRA COMMANDER 2012!
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:30 AM on January 17, 2011
Growing up, the playland at my local McDonald's had the play equipment shipped in directly from Soviet Russia.
When I was first hired at eBay back in 2003, we could submit wacky listings we found - whereupon the most wacky would be posted in the break room. I scored by finding an old Playland fixture from the 70s in the form of a giant Mayor McCheese head. By "giant" I mean 6 feet in diameter. It was listed for thousands of dollars - no shipping offered, of course.
The seller rightly claimed: "The ultimate McDonald's collectible!"
posted by Joe Beese at 11:32 AM on January 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
When I was first hired at eBay back in 2003, we could submit wacky listings we found - whereupon the most wacky would be posted in the break room. I scored by finding an old Playland fixture from the 70s in the form of a giant Mayor McCheese head. By "giant" I mean 6 feet in diameter. It was listed for thousands of dollars - no shipping offered, of course.
The seller rightly claimed: "The ultimate McDonald's collectible!"
posted by Joe Beese at 11:32 AM on January 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
I wasn't the only person who immediately thought of this mayor, was I?
(The Mayor McCheese playland toy wasn't the hamburger prison that you could climb into?)
posted by jeather at 11:34 AM on January 17, 2011
(The Mayor McCheese playland toy wasn't the hamburger prison that you could climb into?)
posted by jeather at 11:34 AM on January 17, 2011
Mister Fabulous, are you sure you aren't talking about Big Mac the policeman?
posted by Ike_Arumba at 11:36 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ike_Arumba at 11:36 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
If I put my name on one online petition, that would be one. This would be two? Unless I only did one, in which case this would be one. I'm confused. Not signing, but confused.
posted by fixedgear at 11:43 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by fixedgear at 11:43 AM on January 17, 2011
Mister Fabulous, are you sure you aren't talking about Big Mac the policeman?
I stand corrected. However, I don't recall the one in my hometown being open in the middle. I remember it being very dark inside with just the hole at the top.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:49 AM on January 17, 2011
I stand corrected. However, I don't recall the one in my hometown being open in the middle. I remember it being very dark inside with just the hole at the top.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:49 AM on January 17, 2011
Huh. Sid and Marty Krofft claimed that Mayor McCheese was a ripoff of HR Pufnstuf.
Paul Simon claimed that the HR Pufnstuf theme song was a ripoff of the 59th St. Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy).
Los Lobos claimed that Paul Simon literally stole songs from them.
Has McDonalds claimed that anybody ripped them off? Has anyone claimed that Los Lobos ripped them off?
posted by Flunkie at 11:55 AM on January 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
Paul Simon claimed that the HR Pufnstuf theme song was a ripoff of the 59th St. Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy).
Los Lobos claimed that Paul Simon literally stole songs from them.
Has McDonalds claimed that anybody ripped them off? Has anyone claimed that Los Lobos ripped them off?
posted by Flunkie at 11:55 AM on January 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
As Mayor of the Altered State of Drugachussettes, I declare this campaign....awesome!
posted by prinado at 11:56 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by prinado at 11:56 AM on January 17, 2011
Pushed aside by corporate interests? I heard he came down with mad cow disease.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:02 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:02 PM on January 17, 2011
You know, I was really inspired by his positive and hopeful campaign, but now I can't help but grimace.
posted by Kabanos at 12:30 PM on January 17, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 12:30 PM on January 17, 2011 [6 favorites]
Screw your junk-food wannabe mayor. As probably the biggest non-stoner fan of H.R. Pufnstuf, I'm glad that the Kroffts got theirs back.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:25 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:25 PM on January 17, 2011
I will gladly sign your petition on Tuesday for a hamburger today.
posted by Sailormom at 1:29 PM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Sailormom at 1:29 PM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
I wrote McDonalds a letter and asked them to bring back "Birdie the Early Bird" and asked for an autographed photo, but I guess she's too important to have time for her fans. My letter was ignored.
posted by cjorgensen at 1:33 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by cjorgensen at 1:33 PM on January 17, 2011
In the early 90s, I helped plan the Hamburglar's wedding (he married my bitchy boss). It was an interesting event to say the least.
Robble Robble Robble. That is all.
posted by miss lynnster at 2:38 PM on January 17, 2011
Robble Robble Robble. That is all.
posted by miss lynnster at 2:38 PM on January 17, 2011
"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
(attributed)
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:18 PM on January 17, 2011
(attributed)
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:18 PM on January 17, 2011
Civ 3 told me Mao Tse-tung said that.
Civilization would not lie to me.
posted by The Whelk at 4:31 PM on January 17, 2011
Civilization would not lie to me.
posted by The Whelk at 4:31 PM on January 17, 2011
Civilization lies to you every day. The Colonel is the only man we can trust.
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:39 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:39 PM on January 17, 2011
Not without Grimace and Fry Guys. As long as it's not Mac Tonight, though.
posted by IndigoRain at 5:53 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by IndigoRain at 5:53 PM on January 17, 2011
Grimace freaks me out. What the fuck is that thing?
posted by deliquescent at 6:55 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by deliquescent at 6:55 PM on January 17, 2011
Based on more recent literature, it appears Grimace may be a carbosilicate amorph who doesn't morph much.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:19 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:19 PM on January 17, 2011
In 1973, the Kroffts successfully sued McDonald's, arguing that the entire McDonaldland premise was essentially a ripoff of their television show. Specifically, the Kroffts claimed that the character Mayor McCheese was a direct ripoff of their character, "H.R. Pufnstuf" (a mayor himself). McDonald's initially was ordered to pay $50,000. The case was later remanded as to damages, and McDonald's was ordered to pay the Kroffts more than $1,000,000 when the case was finally settled in 1977. As a result of the lawsuit, the concept of the "magical place" was all but phased out of the commercials, as were many of the original characters.
posted by moorooka at 12:20 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by moorooka at 12:20 AM on January 18, 2011
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posted by basicchannel at 11:19 AM on January 17, 2011