The Burger KingOn the surface, my nomination seems silly, perhaps even a waste. The Burger King is not, in fact, a real person, so why would I make a "goofy" choice when I could pick someone like John Smoltz or Skip Caray? Well, the people who get the King (not the people who say, "Ugh, it's just creepy. It's not funny, just stupid.") appreciate when he pops up on TV in between unfunny, unoriginal commercials. The folks at Burger King have stuck with him since they first used him to introduce that "controversial" breakfast sandwich they had (or still have).
But the King represents so much more. For most of my life, Burger King has been, by far, the last fast food burger place I'd go to, and I imagine the same goes for many people. It wasn't because I really disliked their food, it just wasn't the popular choice. Things have changed, my friends. The BK Stacker is my favorite burger right now: two patties, cheese, bacon, and a "special sauce." It's pretty great that I don't have to ask them to leave off the vegetables. It's just a damn good burger, and the fries are underrated, too.
The King also is a testament to the enormous potential that exists between creative marketing efforts and the embracing of America's business oppurtunity. You don't have to try to make me feel like a better person, McDonald's, by patting me on the head for eating one of your forced salads. No need to talk in an NFL voice, Taco Bell, to sell me a steak enchilada. No, you take a giant, smiling mask on a tiny, robed body, place him in weird situations, and you tell me to have it my way. Burger King has really reached new highs with these new Xbox games. Shameless product placement in a video game package? Exactly. And who is going to buy these games? People that get it. People that like a little fun in their capitalism. This company is doing all the right things to make money, and the customers love it.
Beach Music and Boat Shoes Man of the Year - The Burger King. For inventive humor, good American food, and the celebration of capitalism.
But the King represents so much more. For most of my life, Burger King has been, by far, the last fast food burger place I'd go to, and I imagine the same goes for many people. It wasn't because I really disliked their food, it just wasn't the popular choice. Things have changed, my friends. The BK Stacker is my favorite burger right now: two patties, cheese, bacon, and a "special sauce." It's pretty great that I don't have to ask them to leave off the vegetables. It's just a damn good burger, and the fries are underrated, too.
The King also is a testament to the enormous potential that exists between creative marketing efforts and the embracing of America's business oppurtunity. You don't have to try to make me feel like a better person, McDonald's, by patting me on the head for eating one of your forced salads. No need to talk in an NFL voice, Taco Bell, to sell me a steak enchilada. No, you take a giant, smiling mask on a tiny, robed body, place him in weird situations, and you tell me to have it my way. Burger King has really reached new highs with these new Xbox games. Shameless product placement in a video game package? Exactly. And who is going to buy these games? People that get it. People that like a little fun in their capitalism. This company is doing all the right things to make money, and the customers love it.
Beach Music and Boat Shoes Man of the Year - The Burger King. For inventive humor, good American food, and the celebration of capitalism.
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