Carl's Jr Gets Butthurt Over Butt Joke

jitb_angus.png

Under the playful slogan "Where's the Angus," Jack in the Box released an ad in which Jack shows JITB employees where sirloin is located on a cow.

In the ad, one employee points out that the competition is selling Angus Burgers and asks where "the Angus area of the cow" is located. After a pause, the puzzled Jack, standing beside the, uh, rear region of the illustration, says, "I'd rather not." End spot with the usual brand roll-up.

But the cute schoolyard poke is not the funniest part. Apparently the butthurt (read: peevishly pissed-off) CKE Restaurants, whose Carls Jr. chain pushes the Angus, is taking Jack to court.

The paperwork claims the ad (and others under the same slogan) creates "The erroneous notion that all cuts of Angus beef are derived from the anus of beef cattle."

Before you point and laugh, step back and remember how upset you felt when some boy looked at you and asked if you had a pencil sharpener. And you totally fell for it. Then and only then can you fully conceive of the private angst the Angus-pushers must be suffering.

See ad at MSNBC.com.

by Angela Natividad    May-30-07   Click to Comment   
Topic: Bad, Brands   

Enjoy what you've read? Subscribe to Adrants Daily and receive the daily contents of this site each day along with free whitepapers.



Comments



Comments

While I think it is not terribly useful for Carl's to complain about the ad, I can understand why they do. Sadly, there are a lot of mouth-breathers out there who order triple patty, triple cheese monster burgers, and who really think that angus and anus are synonymous.

The truly sad thing is that Jack in the Box, whose commercials are a lot more enjoyable than their food, would stoop to this mindless, grade-school attempt at humor.

I can imagine the copywriter who came up with this spot giggling his way through it. It had to be a young male, older guys and all women would have more class than to play the "private parts" card.

What saddens me most, however is that the client actually approved the spot. Shame on you, Jack management, for thinking this was smart strategic marketing. To a lot of consumers out there who think there is more to life than bodily functions, you are the real butt of this joke.

Posted by: John Michelet on May 31, 2007 1:44 PM

Carl's Jr needs to stop whining (and suing), roll up their sleeves and duke it out. That is what competition is all about. So they said your burgers come from the ass end of a cow, turn around and say something about their burgers. The heated competitiveness would probably help sales at both places.

Posted by: Bevo on May 31, 2007 3:16 PM

Bevo,

This illustrates your (well-made) point. And I don't think they're even real: http://www.adrants.com/2007/01/bmw-sends-jaguars-backward-with-tail-betw.php

Posted by: Angela on May 31, 2007 4:03 PM

I thought the Angus Burger was at Burger King?

Posted by: pins on May 31, 2007 4:04 PM

c'mon John, the ad is funny and is consistent with the humor that's been normal since the Mr. Box, formerly only seen in the drive thru, was reincarnated as an executive burger slinger. i've got to call BULLSHIT on your "older guys and all women would have more class..." statement. i believe that the senior citizen copy writers you referred to recognize that the anus angle in the war against angus is obvious and should not be denied.

pins, it is true that Burger King and McDonald's are also selling angus burgers. Jack called out "Hey FATTY!" in a room full of fat chicks and Carl's Jr was the only one stupid enough to turn around.

Posted by: sayten on May 31, 2007 5:53 PM

Sayten: You should've written the post.

Posted by: Angela on June 1, 2007 2:12 PM