McDonald's is an
ever-changing beast of a corporation. Every few years the company introduces a
new image and campaign to accompany it. Remember Super-Sizing? What about "I'm
Lovin' It?" And can't we all still recite, "Two all beef patties special sauce lettuce, cheese
pickles onions on a sesame seed bun?" One group yearns for a particular
character from a particular campaign to make a return: Mayor McCheese.
The
group, which is in no way affiliated with McDonald's, desires the "return of a
magical advertising icon of [their] childhood to TV commercials and print
advertising." They have started an online petition and groups on Facebook and
Twitter in order to make an impact on McDonald's. A discussion on their
Facebook page raises an interesting question, "Which others should they bring
back AFTER they bring back the Mayor?" After all, what good's a mayor without
any citizens to preside over? Let's take a trip down memory lane and remember
the former residents of McDonaldland.
Grimace - The large purple character
began as an evil figure in McDonaldland who stole milkshakes and sodas with two
sets of arms. Soon after that his evil qualities disappeared along with his
extra set of arms and he became Ronald's simple but well-meaning best buddy.
Though it has been rumored that he is a taste bud there is no definite answer
for what Grimace actually is.
The Fry Guys - Like Grimace, the Guys
began as evil characters called Fry Gobblins who stole and ate French fries.
They were changed into friendly fry creatures in the 1980's and joined by
female versions. Appearing to be balls made of fries with only legs and eyes
the Fry Guys (Fry Kids when you are including the females in the group)
remained a popular fixture in the burger-verse until the mid-90s.
The Hamburgler - The thief-with-a-cape
only desired one thing: hamburgers. He began as an older man with a long
crooked nose and gray hair. It wasn't until the mid-80s that he transformed
into the boyish, read-headed miscreant that we know and love whose muttered
catchphrase of "robbie robbie" took the nation by storm.
Officer Big Mac - Mayor McCheese's
second in command, the Officer was known to wear a small had on his bun head
and remained mostly silent. Those of us who have spent time in a McDonald's
Play Place will know him as the face of the barred burger jail.
The McNugget Buddies - The buddies were
exactly what it sounds like they were: anthropomorphized McNuggets. They were
introduced in the late 80s and used mostly as fodder for Happy Meals where
their outfits reflected the time of year of whatever McDonald's was promoting
at the time.
Birdie the Early Bird - One of the younger of
the characters and the first to be definitely female, Birdie was introduced in
1980 in order to promote the new breakfast foods. Though she wears flight
goggles and a scarf like the Red Barron she is shown to be a poor flyer and a
generally clumsy pigtailed bird thing.
