# Why did all the McDonaldland characters disappear **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2021, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369 "2021-05-04T13:08:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/103 "2024-02-29T15:29:36Z")
Does he have to be a person in a costume? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/G1ZYN46hfyo/maxresdefault.jpg "Michelin Commercial (August 2023)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1ZYN46hfyo) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/104 "2024-03-02T19:00:23Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > Me? I’m rooting for Doug and Limu Emu to have a serious accident to ring down the media curtain and join the choir invisible. They’re certainly headed down a dark path: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/sI3RhwSF8mo/maxresdefault.jpg "LiMu Emu & Doug - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI3RhwSF8mo) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/105 "2024-12-01T08:12:35Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > cereal commercials seem to have less focus on the mascots and are more directed at the parents. Although the Cheerios people still do use that manic cartoon bee to hawk their honey-flavored products. Another factor in the case of McDonalds might be the fact that the lead mascot was a clown, and people basically detest clowns now. That definitely is a change from when Ronald McDonald first appeared. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/106 "2024-12-01T16:17:31Z")
Is McBobo’s food so good that you would make your whole identity revolve around stealing it? How scary was the neighborhood where the first restaurant was located? Hamburglar stole sandwiches. The Fry Guys similar motivations. And even Grimace was said by some to be about stealing shakes. However one feels about clowns, did such kleptophilia inspire modern government? Won’t somebody think of the children? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/107 "2024-12-01T16:24:03Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > How scary was the neighborhood where the first restaurant was located? Hamburglar stole sandwiches. The Fry Guys similar motivations. And even Grimace was said by some to be about stealing shakes. However one feels about clowns, did such kleptophilia inspire modern government? Call me a reactionary, but this never happened with the Burger King. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/108 "2024-12-01T16:37:23Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Call me a reactionary, but this never happened with the Burger King. No, you just woke up with the Burger King in your bed. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/109 "2024-12-01T20:57:05Z")
I wonder if I was remembering this thread when I felt mildly surprised at seeing a couple of McD’s characters - Hamburglar and Grimace - riding in a vehicle along with the Ronald McDonald balloon in this year’s T-day parade. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/110 "2024-12-01T21:00:30Z")
Oh, yeah. That was multiple levels or weird. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/111 "2024-12-01T21:00:46Z")
Hamburglar and Grimace are two characters which McDonald’s has updated and brought back (in a limited way) in the past few years. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/112 "2024-12-01T21:03:24Z")
I remember Hamburglar’s first reappearance as being in a radio spot, him repeatedly saying “robble” and some guy translating. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/113 "2024-12-02T16:51:47Z")
I can see it. The Burger King possesses quite a Whopper for those who appreciate such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/114 "2024-12-02T16:56:42Z")
Not what I picture when they say “have it your way”. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/115 "2024-12-02T18:29:50Z")
What was the meme? You had it your way. Now it’s _his_ turn. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/116 "2024-12-17T02:35:22Z")
Speaking of strange BK promotions, I miss The Subservient Chicken. Don’t know how many chicken sandwiches that sold, but it sure was fun to play with. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/117 "2024-12-17T06:06:56Z")
McDonalds would not pay the ransom Hamburglar demanded. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/118 "2024-12-17T06:36:14Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > I can see it. The Burger King possesses quite a Whopper for those who appreciate such a thing. Hey, a king has to exercise his droit du seigneur. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/119 "2024-12-17T08:16:26Z")
> [@El\_DeLuxo](#): > > The Subservient Chicken … was a Burger King promo? I had quite a few hours of fun with that in the early 2000s (as far as I can recall) and had no idea it was an ad. I thought it was just another silly fun thing on the internet. We did not have Burger King in South Africa then. Not sure if we even have it now\*. But certainly the ad aspect wooshed over my head. \* just checked, we do. I don’t eat a lot of fast food. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/120 "2024-12-17T09:50:48Z")
Yes, I, too, was startled to find that the Chicken was a promo for BK. About the only indication on the site was that if you told him “Eat a Big Mac” he’d mime sticking his finger (yes, the Chicken had _fingers_) down his throat and gagging. You could also download a printable chicken mask from the Subservient Chicken’s website. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/121 "2024-12-17T17:20:10Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Call me a reactionary, but this never happened with the Burger King. Heck no. Burger King land is a lot, lot different. Take it away Hootie: > **[Burger King TV Ad Tender Crisp Sandwich with Hootie (Darius Rucker)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctnUCg2Sdqk%2F)** > > Burger King Cowboy Video - Hootie sings as a cowboy a song for one of the most wildest creative commercials for Burger King. This is the Full Length version.... ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369/122 "2024-12-18T03:20:52Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > … was a Burger King promo? Yes, it was. At that time (~2004), Burger King (in the U.S., anyway) wanted to reshape their tired brand image, and had hired a new ad agency (Crispin Porter & Bogusky), which were known for their unusual, sometimes risky, work. Subservient Chicken was one of the first things they did for BK. IIRC, CP&B were also responsible for the “creepy King” series of ads for BK. > **[Case Study - Burger King: Subservient Chicken Brand Campaign](https://thebrandhopper.com/2024/03/12/case-study-burger-king-subservient-chicken-brand-campaign/)** > > Dive into the story of Burger King Subservient Chicken campaign, the viral phenomenon that revolutionized online marketing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-all-the-mcdonaldland-characters-disappear/941369.md?page=7)