# WTF, Colonel Sanders? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 13, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556 "2017-05-13T22:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/1 "2017-05-13T22:27:52Z")
Whose decision was it to turn Colonel Sanders into some mindless, redneck football fan? (Loads of contradictions there, I know.) I’ve seen the new commercials, and I’m sure the original Colonel is spinning in his grave. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/2 "2017-05-13T23:03:07Z")
Went to lunch with my mother yesterday, moderately nice place. Pull up front, park in the handicap spot (her car, her decal). I say “Hey look, it’s Colonel Sanders!” Guy about 70, stocky but not really fat build, white hair, white goatee walking out of the place. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/3 "2017-05-13T23:42:38Z")
The entire point of the new series of ads seems to be to have a “new” version of the colonel with every cycle. That’s why they’re played by different actors. He was a football fan because that was the gimmick for that cycle. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/4 "2017-05-14T00:09:47Z")
This isn’t your father’s Colonel Sanders. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/5 "2017-05-14T03:15:53Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Whose decision was it to turn Colonel Sanders into some mindless, redneck football fan? (Loads of contradictions there, I know.) I’ve seen the new commercials, and I’m sure the original Colonel is spinning in his grave. Welcome back to America, **Siam Sam** , where “contradictory” and “redundant” mean _different_ things… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/6 "2017-05-14T03:50:18Z")
While I find the campaign mildly unsettling, I do think that casting George Hamilton as the Extra Crispy Colonel was a stroke of genius. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/7 "2017-05-14T06:49:37Z")
Sounds like I missed some of these “cycles.” The one I’m seeing now is not pleasing. But I suppose [it could be worse](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356705/Fried-chicken-takeaway-called-Hitler-opens-Thailand-comes-complete-logo-Nazi-leader-bow-tie.html). ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/8 "2017-05-14T09:43:55Z")
The colonel signed some really nasty non-compete agreement when he sold the operation. he decided the new owners had ruined the recipe and started a new chicken shop. he could not use his name, his likeness or reference the KFC name in any way. meet Famous Chicken (whatever - the first word was Famous. he’s been spinning for going on 50 years now ---
**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:** [May 14, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/9 "2017-05-14T12:55:43Z")
Just be thankful you missed the cycle where [a WWE Superstar acted like he wanted to fuck a basket of chicken tenders.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Df32JHWjs) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/10 "2017-05-14T13:50:03Z")
I like KFC on occasion, I don’t really care about what their spokesman looks like. I think it’s a wee bit creepy to be impersonating a dead guy though long dead historic figures like Lincoln or Washington are okay. I would be a bit put off by a JFK impersonator selling toothpaste or what not. Harland Sanders will be dead 37 years later this year, can’t believe it’s been that long. I always thought he should have been cremated and turn into Colonel Cinders but that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/11 "2018-08-06T18:08:13Z")
How about [Jason Alexsanders](https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/913726002)? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/12 "2018-08-06T18:15:00Z")
I liked the complete-with-tan George Hamilton as Col. Sanders. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/13 "2018-08-06T18:25:51Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I like KFC on occasion, I don’t really care about what their spokesman looks like. I think it’s a wee bit creepy to be impersonating a dead guy though long dead historic figures like Lincoln or Washington are okay. I would be a bit put off by a JFK impersonator selling toothpaste or what not. Harland Sanders will be dead 37 years later this year, can’t believe it’s been that long. I always thought he should have been cremated and turn into Colonel Cinders but that’s just me. Yeah, hard to believe the Colonel kicked the bucket that long ago. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/14 "2018-08-06T20:12:13Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Whose decision was it to turn Colonel Sanders into some mindless, redneck The historical Harland Sanders \*was \*pretty rednecky. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/15 "2018-08-06T20:14:10Z")
Reported for wrong forum, should be in deep fat fryer. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/16 "2018-08-06T20:36:16Z")
I don’t like the commercials, but the reason I don’t eat there anymore is because the stores are all dirty and the chicken itself is skinny and not very good. The legs are bare bone except for this puny little top. They should work on those problems and then just show us the food. Save the money they’re paying some actor to act like an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/17 "2018-08-07T00:24:20Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I don’t like the commercials, but the reason I don’t eat there anymore is because the stores are all dirty and the chicken itself is skinny and not very good. The legs are bare bone except for this puny little top. > > They should work on those problems and then just show us the food. Save the money they’re paying some actor to act like an idiot. Yum! Brands had $3.6 billion in revenue in 2016. That the quality of their food does not meet your standards would appear to be of little concern to them. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/18 "2018-08-07T00:33:47Z")
Yep, I guess I’m in the minority. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/19 "2018-08-07T00:36:25Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Yep, I guess I’m in the minority. You’re just afraid to stand up to the majority. In other words, you’re chicken. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2018, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-colonel-sanders/786556/20 "2018-08-07T02:56:10Z")
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