# Kool-Aid Man is refreshed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532 "2013-04-12T18:46:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/1 "2013-04-12T18:46:47Z")
Kool-Aid is unveiling a new look for its big red mascot Monday… > [@](#): > > …now be computer-generated and take on the personality of a celebrity trying to show he’s just a normal guy. In past ads, the character was played by an actor in foam costume and had little to say or do besides crashing through a wall with a big, smiley face. > > Erica Rendall, senior brand manager at Kraft Foods Group, says the new ads are intended to fill in the blanks in Kool-Aid Man’s character so people can relate to him. > “He said a few things here and there (in the past), but he really didn’t have a developed personality” Pardon me, but has anyone here felt that their life was diminished because they couldn’t form a meaningful relationship with Kool-Aid Man? He smashes thirst. End of message. It’s a drink mix and it’s as well known as Jell-O, Oreos and Kleenex. Can’t advertisers just stick to facts instead of wasting our time with smoke and mirrors? Tell me how cheap is is in comparison to pre-flavored water, tell me how many flavors you have, let me know something about how it’s packaged. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/2 "2013-04-12T19:07:14Z")
Wonder how much M&Ms sales went up after they anthropomorphized them with CGI? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/3 "2013-04-12T19:16:53Z")
I have never wondered what Kool-Aid man does when he isn’t smashing through walls. There are no blanks in his life that I need filled. Besides, drinking the kool-aid is a real danger zone for them to avoid. Was he in a cult? A cult leader? What? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/4 "2013-04-12T19:16:54Z")
[Picture.](http://host.madison.com/business/kool-aid-man-gets-a-new-look-and-a-personality/article_9304a947-05ec-5965-a313-fb1af11ae88d.html?comment_form=true) ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/5 "2013-04-12T19:42:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Picture.](http://host.madison.com/business/kool-aid-man-gets-a-new-look-and-a-personality/article_9304a947-05ec-5965-a313-fb1af11ae88d.html?comment_form=true) Oh, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/6 "2013-04-12T19:46:37Z")
If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to start an urban legend that the change was precipitated because an impressionable young boy tried to crash through a brick wall just like his soft drink idol, and his parents sued Kraft for _all of the money_ and won. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/7 "2013-04-12T19:54:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to start an urban legend that the change was precipitated because an impressionable young boy tried to crash through a brick wall just like his soft drink idol, and his parents sued Kraft for _all of the money_ and won. Oh yeah, I heard about that case too! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/8 "2013-04-12T19:55:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to start an urban legend that the change was precipitated because an impressionable young boy tried to crash through a brick wall just like his soft drink idol, and his parents sued Kraft for _all of the money_ and won. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/9 "2013-04-12T19:57:47Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is this true? I read it on the internet from two different sources. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/10 "2013-04-12T20:01:13Z")
Too bad that the Human Torch wasn’t there to save the kid. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/11 "2013-04-12T20:26:13Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Kool-Aid is unveiling a new look for its big red mascot Monday… > > Pardon me, but has anyone here felt that their life was diminished because they couldn’t form a meaningful relationship with Kool-Aid Man? He smashes thirst. End of message. > > It’s a drink mix and it’s as well known as Jell-O, Oreos and Kleenex. Can’t advertisers just stick to facts instead of wasting our time with smoke and mirrors? Tell me how cheap is is in comparison to pre-flavored water, tell me how many flavors you have, let me know something about how it’s packaged. I’ll go one further and say the whole charm of the character was the lack of depth. “I’m thirsty!” _CRASH_ “OH YEAAHHH!” (Hands out Kool-Aid ((which everyone pronounces koo-laid for some reason))) “Thanks Koo-Laid man!” (Waves goodbye) fade out. The brevity is what keeps him from being creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/12 "2013-04-12T21:29:59Z")
I can’t believe that in this day and age, and what with First Lady “Stop Being a Fattie” Michelle Obamas’ campaign against fatties, that a company would use an obese beverage pitcher to promote their sugary drink. For shame. ---
**Author:** ![Recusant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Recusant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recusant)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/13 "2013-04-12T22:10:12Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I can’t believe that in this day and age, and what with First Lady “Stop Being a Fattie” Michelle Obamas’ campaign against fatties, that a company would use an obese beverage pitcher to promote their sugary drink. For shame. And people wonder why other nations look down on the US. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/14 "2013-04-12T22:10:37Z")
I always felt that the Kool-Aid Man was really trying too hard to be popular. I mean, crashing through walls? Who does that? He’s never just invited to the kids’ parties. They only call him when they’re thirsty or coming off a sugar high or just want to see walls knocked down. I’m looking forward to learning more about his back story. Was he always a wall-crasher, or what led him down that path? I’m betting it has to do with his complicated relationship with his parents, NeHi and Moxie. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/15 "2013-04-12T23:49:45Z")
Yanno what I could go for? A nice Hawaiian Punch. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/16 "2013-04-13T01:49:11Z")
Sure! BOOM! ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/17 "2013-04-13T03:21:06Z")
Well, there was his early childhood when he was a sippy cup. Then when he was in the army and was a canteen; then when he went through that phase where he explored his sexuality (what with having no genatalia, he stopped being a pitcher and was a catcher); then that time he was in the hospital and was an IV bag; and finally when he grew old and had to have a colostomy bag on his side and an oxygen tank pushing bubbles through him like a hookah. But it’s been a good life. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/18 "2013-04-13T03:24:34Z")
Going to slide this over to Cafe Society since it’s primarily talking about Kool Aid and things associated with it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/19 "2013-04-13T03:29:46Z")
I heard it was neck and neck between CGI and [this guy.](http://www.ugo.com/image/63661/kool-aid-man-costume) At least they ditched the [denim dungarees:](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7508871&highlight=kool#post7508871) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532/20 "2013-04-13T03:46:46Z")
[Just had to link to this.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktmYHre8F6E) [And this.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NsCRi-eHGA) [And this.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAJ5Dpjxo0k) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-man-is-refreshed/655532.md?page=2)