McDonald's Arch Deluxe: The Big McFlop with Rachel Dratch and Jared Freid | 16

The Big Flop

Wondery

Society & Culture, Comedy, Business

4.6 • 884 Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2024

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

With their popularity waning in the mid 90's, McDonald's became concerned that they weren't pandering to adults enough. So they did the very adult thing of having a middle-aged crisis, and started spending too much money on something they didn't need. After pouring hundreds of millions into the fryer developing a "burger for adults," McDonald's stock prices dropped by 70%. The golden arches were tarnished for the first time in decades...and not even a dancing Ronald McDonald could help.

Comedians Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock) and Jared Freid (Jared Freid: 37 & Single, JTrain Podcast) join Misha to digest the massive marketing mishap of McDonald's Arch Deluxe.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to the Big Flop early and ad-free.
0:05.3	Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:20.0	It's May 9th, 1996.
0:24.0	Location?
0:25.7	Radio City Music Hall, New York City.
0:28.4	The decor dazzles, the music swells.
0:31.2	And out come the glamorous Radio City Rockettes,
0:34.9	dressed as toy soldiers, kicking their way across the glittery stage.
0:39.5	But they're not alone.
0:41.0	McDonald's mascot, Ronald McDonald, is arm in arm with the fabulous dancers,
0:46.9	dressed in a blue tailored suit, keeping step along with them.
0:51.2	His fancy, oversized red shoes kick up and down, up, then down. His golden bow tie
0:57.6	catches the lights. The bizarre scene delights the audience, but the McDonald's executives watching
1:03.9	are just hoping this expensive stunt pays off, because at this point in time, McDonald's,
1:10.3	the restaurant giant, is somehow shrinking.
1:16.8	Its sales and reputation have been declining at an alarming rate. For too long, they imagine
1:23.1	adults have viewed the brand as primarily catering to kids. So it's time for a rebrand.
1:29.6	McDonald's will spend more than $200 million launching an adult-only burger,
1:35.9	setting off one of the most embarrassing marketing disasters in fast food history.
1:41.4	Dressing up their famous clown mascot and making him dance is just the beginning.
1:51.8	We interrupt regular programming for this McDonald's commercial break.
1:55.7	Okay, everyone, this is our great new taste of McDonald's, and we need a name for it.
	...

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