Over the weekend, I stopped in at a Taco Bell for a quick lunch, and I noticed their FourthMeal advertising campaign. As if we pudgified Americans NEEDED another meal, the FourthMeal is touted as "The Meal Between Dinner and Breakfast," and Taco Bell has extended its hours into the wee morning hours.
Now, I've been out of college now for eight years, but I still remember many of my bar-hopping extra-curricular activities, and any stop in at a fast food joint after midnight was all about satiating the munchies, and had nothing to do with plugging a Fourth Meal into the day.
Does anybody else just cringe simply by SAYING FourthMeal? Don't you think Taco Bell should just admit that they're catering to the drunk/stoned after bar hour crowd? Would you be more inclined to pop in for a Munchies Meal, or maybe a Sober-Up Sojourn?
Instead of "The Meal Between Dinner and Breakfast," I'd be far more direct. My marketing slogans would be somewhere along the lines of: "Drunk? Have a Taco!" or "Try Our Stoner's Special!"
ForthMeal, man, how stupid is that?
Posted by Ryan at October 10, 2006 10:43 AM | TrackBackFourth Meal is a really stupid ad campaign. Americans are fat already, stuffing another deep fried and dribbled in grease meal to the list is a bad, bad idea.
I stopped considering fast food as a viable food option several months ago and have not looked back but I do get a craving every so often.
A more honest campaign would probably do better too. "Munchies from partying like a rock star? Hit up Taco Bell and get rid of your change AND your munchies at once!" Damn, I think they need to pay me for that one.
Posted by: Johnny at October 10, 2006 12:54 PMThere's a whole bunch of marketing campaigns where they come up with a name for a supposedly-common phenomenon and then tout their product as the appropriate response for said phenomenon. It's like some copywriter somewhere jerks off to the thought of getting people to incorporate the words "Three O'Clock Slump" or "Pink in the Sink" into their daily conversations.
I blame Seinfeld.
Posted by: DG at October 10, 2006 07:31 PMI'm just glad they are open at night, I get off at 1 am, and sometimes I'm starving, and can't make anything at home to eat because it would wake up the hubby, he has to get up at 5 am, so it's one of the few options.
Pink in the sink? WTF?
Yeah, DG's gonna have to explain that one. I can't help there.
Posted by: Ryan at October 11, 2006 08:29 AMIt was a phrase that appeared in ads a year or so ago for mouthwash or toothpaste or something. It was supposed to be a clever phrase to describe bleeding gums (and not Bleeding Gums Murphy).
Posted by: DG at October 11, 2006 03:19 PMOn board our ship, while underway we would have a '4th meal,' starting at midnight called 'MidRats,' a contraction of Midnight Rations. Usually a choice between canned ravioli and hot dogs.
Taco Bell has gone to Taco Hell lately...
It's been years since I could order a Beef Burrito and not have to explain what it is (a burrito with beef, sauce, onions and cheese ONLY) and what it is NOT (a 'supreme' get that lettuce and sour cream the fuck away from my food!). I usually have to order a Bean Burrito, minus the bean, plus beef.
Or, around here; 'Sin frijole, con carne.'
Posted by: Rob@L&R at October 12, 2006 08:31 AMStoopid trackbacks aren't working. Have to do this manually...
http://www.striderweb.com/blog/...
Stumble It!
