Defunctland: The History of McDonald's Mac Tonight
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2024
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All amusement parks need restaurants right? In this minisode, Kevin talks about the history of the now-defunct McDonald's advertising character, Mac Tonight.
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2:25 S M O O T H C O O L J A Z Z P E N I S
"Despite the melody being an archaic murder ballad, Ball saw its potential for McDonald's advertisements as it possessed the word 'mac'."
There's a retro McDonald's like 20 minutes from my house and they have a Mac Tonight animatronic and he doesn't work anymore, but he used to when I was very young and now they just dress him up for the holidays.
Yes, I FONDLY remember the Mac Moon. When this campaign to put McDonalds in the late night Drive Thru business launched in October of 1986, I was 3 and a half. Since I was still technically a toddler, I LOVED Mac Tonight. So much, that I remember getting a Mac Tonight Toy in a Happy Meal. One Saturday in September of 1988(The 24th I recall), Mom drove me to the Corte Madera Mall about 45 minutes away from our hometown in Novato. That whole time during the trip, I played with the toy and even sat near a Concession Stand with Mom playing it. When she decided to pick up some food from the Food Court and some Sweets for me, I got distracted and left the Toy on the Mall floor.
When we left for Home in about 15 minutes into the ride back, I SUDDENLY realized I left the Toy at the Mall. Being 5 of course, I pleaded with and begged Mom to drive back and get my toy. She told me "Sorry, Your too late. It's likely gone. Another Kid might of found it laying around. I'm afraid its finder's keepers loser's weepers".
I spent the entire night with a Sad look on my face. I was very bummed losing that Toy. I didn't cry once over it, oddly.
Anyway, I still LOVE Mac Tonight. He's Classy, he's a bit creepy, but he's charming. I also love how the Ads make it looks like your going to a Classy Restaurant, but in reality, its a Shitty,Mediocre overrated fast foot joint.
Mac Tonight is probably their best mascot, anyone who can make McDonald's of all things actually seem somewhat classy has talent that shouldn't go unappreciated
The Moon Man animatronics are the most interesting part of this entire thing to me. I would never think McDonalds of all places would feature a life size and singing animatronics!
Dunno if its still open but I know a mcdonalds here in arizona that has dinosaur animatronics.
It is curious that they bothered to put Mac in as an animatronic to , considering how long he actually ended up sticking around. I suppose that speaks to just how popular he was! Makes me wonder if they considered a mascot switch between him and Ronald.
I remember the Mac Tonight ads as a kid, but never saw the animatronics or the costume character at McDonald's (I remember sometimes seeing Ronald or the others show up in costume). It's interesting to hear that some locations had animatronics though. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise at that time.
I wish we could've got a Moonman game like we got a Pepsiman game, that'd be cool.
So even in his first roles Doug Jones was wearing costumes
It’s like the man was born to wear them
Don't forget Mac Tonight's titular role in the Enjoy Yourself music video
"The advertisers wanted the same cult following for their character that Max Headroom had garnered."
...I think they succeeded at least four times over.
He’s also the most Vaporwave mascot in fast food history
kinda a shame he didnt touch briefly on Saint Pepsi and how he used mac tonight in his vaporwave
mrdrpeper I watched the video expecting him to say that :(
That's actually how I found out about Mac Tonight, and the whole reason I watched this.
a trans girl invented vaporwave
🌙
👔
👖
"Not related to the racist meme"
Wait, what?
*Searches Google*
Oh. Oh no...
Love the idea of this, you definitely should consider doing a thing on defunct mascots!
How about the old scary ass ronald mcdonald
LARRY HAS SPOKEN!
I fully endorse it!!!
Jesus, I swear Larry Bundy is under every video I watch, lol
How about a video on the Hamm's Beer Bear?
Also I can say from experience that Mac is absolutely terrifying in person.
RT the animatronic used to scare me to death as a kid
Agreed! They had a walkaround character come to my elementary school a few times when I was a kid and I was quite creeped out by him. You could see his cold dead eyes from the side, behind the shades and it was very creepy.
It made me have a huge fear of mascots and things of that nature, I still can't be around one to this day
Heather Deer I totally agree. Creepy!
he also eats deer
I've been to the worlds biggest McDonalds in Orlando as recently as last year and they have a working animatronic of the character playing the piano and singing songs. I ate in the room it's in, which was on the second floor (via elevator) and there's a 5 minute performance every 10=15 minutes or so. I recorded some video of it which I have yet to upload.
You should upload it so we have a record!
I just had dinnah.
Ricardo Acosta Stop trying to force this meme please.
2:48
Nowadays Wendy’s is notable for her smug sassy role on Twitter.
TVBForever Wendy superior moonman inferior.
Don’t forget Arby’s social media really likes anime.
The Arby's account puts _way_ more effort into, like, making dioramas out of papercraft and onion rings and shit. If I had to choose one poor intern whose job is to make their employer look hip on the social medias, I'm thinkin' Arby's.
Lol Exactly
TVBForever holy shit rock critic and here too!?
Someone forgot to mention Saint Pepsi....
I love Mac Tonight! He was one of my favorite pop culture advertising characters of the 80's. I loved his look, his smooth style, the "grown up" feel of the commercials (being a kid at the time). Later on he was the obvious inspiration for Pleasure Island's own Moon Man character at Disney World (actually almost an exact copy without sunglasses). I'm SO saddened to here about these terrible things done and said using Mac as a negative mascot, which I had never heard of until this video. I don't understand why people are they way they are and want to corrupt an innocent character like that. I for one, will still have fond memories of Mac Tonight the way he should be.
My college theatre prof was in a Mime Troupe with Doug Jones, she talked about him all the time, she is so proud of his accomplishments
I was always fascinated by Mac Tonight... The advertising style of the character always reminded me of the 'cool' Joe Camel artwork you would see back in the '90s. While I never became a smoker, I have to admit to having been somewhat impressed by both campaigns. I was not aware of the fact that Doug Jones had been the actor to portray Mac, nor had any awareness of the twisted usurping of the character via meme, that would follow. As always, this was another great and informative video! Happy New Year!
LOL-so we know you arent a smoker, but are you a late night McD eater? I like listening to old time radio shows, and they usually have the original adberts in them (depending on the source)-well, i have NO interest in smoking, but man do they make it seem like a good thing to do!! I actually know a few of their "jingles"-esp because certain programs were usually sponsored by a single company (often cigs), and you woudl hear teh jingle at LEAST once er program (often more). If you like old advertising, you might try looking up the video of all the commercials played during the star wars holiday special...thats kinda interesting to see! (and the holiday special itself is a must suffer, i mean WATCH, for any sci-fi nerd! Chris stuckmann also does a great hilariocity review of that-just cracks me up!
I member' having the same thoughts at the time about Mac T
you forgot Mac Tonight in 1998 - 1997 was in NASCAR as well.The Mac Tonight paint scheme came back in 2016 for a one race deal.
Nascar Fan 77 Great point! That Jamie McMurray car looked amazing.
I had a Hot Wheel of it as a kid. Probably came with a Happy Meal
Totally Kyle I have that exact one sitting on my desk as I type this
I'm sure a lot of people would come back for a one-race deal.
I honestly had no idea the "Moon Man" meme was a thing
I love Doug Jones. A lot of people here probably aren't even aware they know his work. He was also the dead guy in Hocus Pocus which I'm sure people here have watched it
I'm a big fan of Bobby Darin, so this has always been one of my favorite ad campaigns. While I can see why Dodd wanted to sue McDonalds, I've always thought of Mac Tonight as a nice callback to Bobby.
Many years ago a local McDonald's caught fire necessitating extensive work. When it reopened it was totally decked out with Mac Tonight with complementing colors and decorations. Quite neat to see one so different at a time when almost all McDonald's looked identical. It has since been rebuilt to a standard style, but 'specialty' McDonald's are not as hard to find anymore.
Ah, a defunct mascot! I love it. I have a little Mac Tonight Happy Meal toy. He's driving a boat for some reason.
Yes, I FONDLY remember the Mac Moon. When this campaign to put McDonalds in the late night Drive Thru business launched in October of 1986, I was 3 and a half. Since I was still technically a toddler, I LOVED Mac Tonight. So much, that I remember getting a Mac Tonight Toy in a Happy Meal. One Saturday in September of 1988(The 24th I recall), Mom drove me to the Corte Madera Mall about 45 minutes away from our hometown in Novato. That whole time during the trip, I played with the toy and even sat near a Concession Stand with Mom playing it. When she decided to pick up some food from the Food Court and some Sweets for me, I got distracted and left the Toy on the Mall floor.
When we left for Home in about 15 minutes into the ride back, I SUDDENLY realized I left the Toy at the Mall. Being 5 of course, I pleaded with and begged Mom to drive back and get my toy. She told me "Sorry, Your too late. It's likely gone. Another Kid might of found it laying around. I'm afraid its finder's keepers loser's weepers".
I spent the entire night with a Sad look on my face. I was very bummed losing that Toy. I didn't cry once over it, oddly.
Anyway, I still LOVE Mac Tonight. He's Classy, he's a bit creepy, but he's charming. I also love how the Ads make it looks like your going to a Classy Restaurant, but in reality, its a Shitty,Mediocre overrated fast foot joint.
This is one of those things I thought I made up in my head as a kid then confirmed it was real many years later
I’ve actually seen a statue of Mac Tonight in a McDonalds in Wisconsin and I never knew who he was or why he was there. Now I know
Mackenzie Yeiter There’s a statue of him at the “World’s biggest McDonalds” in Orlando too. It had the uniqueness of being very out of date with a Bill Cosby standee (before the sexual assault controversy) and a Mac Tonight statue.
Mackenzie Yeiter I think I've been to that location! He doesn't move, but he's at the center of the dining area.
Where in Wisconsin?
Happy New Year everyone! If you’re confused why this isn’t a theme park attraction, it will make much more sense after the Future of Defunctland podcast and possible live stream this Sunday.
Also, this is a history video, not a political piece or a lecture in meme theory. I am not giving you my political opinions and I don’t care what yours are. We are all here because we enjoy themed pop culture history.
Defunctland, you're a racist.
Defunctland happy new years
Defunctland what racist meme?
Defunctland looks like Jay Leno 😂
Is it possible to reclaim the character, or is the damage permanent? Just tired of seeing things that we remember as being pure (or, at least, purer. It IS an advert after all) corrupted by fools and said corruption being allowed to stand...😔
I remember that on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Leno would mention his own resemblance to the character a few times and there was a logo that had Leno's face on a crescent moon as a nod to the character.
mac tonight seems like the kind of guy you can just chill and smoke a joint with.
Strong Bad was this guy for Halloween! Don'tcha remember?
"Oh, it's a good time
For large-headed monstrosities! OH!
To sell you cheeseburgers! HEY!
Strong Bad Tonight!"
Tbh I would have never known of mac tonight without moonman meme, and that was way before /pol/ revitalizing the meme. Wish you would have touched on his use by vaporwave communities/artist as that is arguably what has contributed to his most recent revitalization as well, not just /pol/ memes.
The ironic thing about the vaporwave revival is that vaporwave is supposed to be super anti-corporatist yet the moonman meme out shun it in this regard 1000 fold.
Don't forget the St. PEPSI version of Mac Tonight
I've been recommended these videos by CZcams many times and never watched them before, to be honest, as I've watched similar channels with high hopes and was sorely disappointed by them. However, I've just subscribed after watching this and am gonna binge all of these on my next few days off. Fantastic stuff and look forward to the wonderful ride that is Defunctland!
Finally the history of my boy saint pepsi
Or sun levi lol he used this footage for the song
E N J O Y_Y O U R_S E L F
It came out right at midnight for me
Nol Dur lucky
Nol Dur East coast is true coast.
SAME
I want Mac's jacket...
Mac Tonight was actually Liquid Snake.
Listen to how Liquid says Brother.
It's exactly how Mac says Dinner.
Before Eli became obsessed with the whole resessive genes thing, he worked as a nighttime performer for a popular fast food restauraunt.
I can't look at Mac Tonight & not be reminded of Max Headroom.
::Watches video::
Holy shit, no wonder......
Your old....
mmysama what's the problem? lol everyone here will be old xD
Look up The Saint Pepsi video Enjoy Yourself and enjoy yourself.
Wait MacTonight was the fishman in the Shape of Water?
Based timeline
Saint Pepsi's Enjoy Yourself video uses Mac Tonight and I feel it makes Mac Tonight pure again
I was just gonna mention that Vaporwave song. To be honest, I like Enjoy Yourself.
no one cares what you like, homestuck nerd
"antifa"
That's where I know moon man from
Lol it got taken down because of “hate speech” fuck CZcams man
D I N N U H
I
N
N
U
H
Rest in peace Mac Tonight. We'll miss you, space cowboy.
I remember meeting Mac Tonight when I was a kid, in the 1980's he was huge and I was super stoked to meet him.
2:26 Wow, I really heard that wrong.
I just made a giant masterpiece for all the defunct land nerds
I see what you did there...
Late 80's to late 90's commercials, when there was still a heavy reliance on practical effects, were so good with each one having a distinct style.
This ad campaign introduced me to the song "Mack The Knife" when I was fifteen. I hunted up my folks' Bobby Darin album to listen to the genuine article. :-)
Loved this, Kevin! Thank you! A few other things worth mentioning: That 2007 commercial promoted some locations being opened 24 hours, and it did run regionally in the states. I specifically remember a custom commercial made for Seattle. The character did reappear nationwide to a small extent around the late 00's and early 10's (I can't say what year off the top of my head) to promote the late night menu. Also, he had his own Happy Meal toys in the late 80's.
The meme doesnt defeat the character for me. I remember him from adverts and visiting restaurants with the animatronic, which i could do from all my dog show travelling, sometimes many states at atime
True it doesn't defeat the character but it sure does show how petty and fucked up the alt right is trying to ruin a icon .
eaglerocks123 The meme is older than the alt-right movement. And it's a bit silly to say they're trying to "ruin an icon" don't you think? 4chan already did a good job with that in 2007. And the alt right was doing the only thing they knew how to do: meme.
eaglerocks123 I don't think the meme is advertising rascisim I think it's funny because it's just so stupid.
If you heard the lyrics to those song you will realize that it's is over the top parody of racism.
eaglerocks123 The alt-right didn't even start the meme bro
Please tell me I'm not the only one who heard "A smooth, cool, jazz penised."
Missy Barbour
Haha I heard it too. Enunciating pi-AN-ist is very important...
Doug Jones was my college basketball mascot, Charlie Cardinal, at Ball State University in 1982. He did this from 1980-82. It was cool to see him on the floor, bringing life to that character. I just KNEW that kid would be going places.
There was so much 50s nostalgia in the 80s.
The first CZcams video of 2018. Good on you.
no it's not
You should definitely do more videos like this
Defunct mascots/ ad campaigns!
*D I N N A H !*
Love this!!! Thank you! I was making a Mac Tonight costume for a convention when someone brought up the Moon man memes, and my heart was broken. That Mac Tonighy figure is actually in Orlando, and was one of the reasons that inspired me to do a costume in the first place. I decided to do Mayor Mccheese instead because I didnt want anyone misconstruing what I was going for. Keep up the good work with this series!
I never dreamed you would actually cover this! Wonderful. Happy New Year as well you have become one of my favorite channels. Keep up the fantastic work, hope 2018 treats you as you so obviously deserve. Your work improves my life, thank you so much .
What's that? A new Defunctland episode? Oh yeah.
The picture at 4:17 is of the McDonald's I used to frequent as a kid! It's not the "Solid Gold" McDonald's anymore, though. They remodeled it as a regular McDonald's.
moonman, moonman, cant you see? McDonald's at 2 am is the only meal for me
Okay, but did that last comment on the real meme being the way he says Dinner remind anyone of another meme-y character? KING HARKINIAN/MAC TONIGHT OTP!
Thomas Johnson no.
I wonder what’s for dinnah?
Mah boi... DINNA is what ALL true warriors strive for!
Side note, love the idea of doing defunct characters as well as attractions, maybe they can be walk arounds in defunctland VR?
moon man moon man cant you see?
people stole the idea from tv
I remember seeing a mac tonight statue with piano and such at a mcdonalds when I was younger. Odd part is, I was born in 2001. Do some mcdonalds still have him there?
Defunctland talking about Jesus? I'm okay with this.
He was way cooler than Ronald. I wanted to be Mac when I was little.
Mac tonight is one of the most interesting food mascots, while being defunct but still relevant, definitely would love more mascots maybe one on other McDonald's characters.
Also, D I N N A H!
LETS GO HAVE DINNAH AT MCDONALD
Nothing like another video from defunctland to celebrate the new year!
Saint Pepsi Mac Tonight > Moonman
YES
Ｅ Ｎ Ｊ Ｏ Ｙ Ｙ Ｏ Ｕ Ｒ Ｓ Ｅ Ｌ Ｆ
I agree. That's what I've associated Mac Tonight with.
That's the true meme.
Too bad Vaporwave is dead
Leave it to jerks to ruin something.
I remember the ads back in the day though they were pretty cool I would not mind a cameo on a Mc Donalds ad one of these days. :)
MCDONALD'S needs the magic back
The irony of it is, it was a black guy who made the Moon Man meme in the first place.
Tis but a shitpost.
Have you ever seen an American /pol/ meetup photo it's always like 70% Asians and Hispanics. Yeah I know that the moonman meme was made before /pol/ but it's still pretty funny.
Moonman isn't even really alt-right. It's all (mostly) as a joke. Most fucking Moonman videos have a disclaimer in either the video or the comments saying it's a joke and isn't intended to be taken seriously. So what if a few alt-righters used the meme? It's like Pepe: just because a few "racists" used a meme it doesn't make the meme itself alt-right.
I've never heard of a moon man or Mac tonight 😂
He came to my store. I left for boot camp in 1989, and when I came home on leave... he was no more.
6:12 this just in, The King from YTP sued Mac Tonight for catchphrase Dinner!
I didn't think you could be sued over a parody.
Typically you can’t. The argument by Darin’s son was that Mac Tonight used his fathers trademarked gestures I a way that was copying and not a parody. McDonalds definitely had a good case
Thank you for the clarification and quick reply :)
Music copyright is semi unique
I was watching the ball drop on tv and 40 seconds before it dropped, there was a communication error
GeorgiBachi OH NOEZ! WE NEED TV FOR NEW YEARS!
I first found out about Mac Tonight in the 2014 Homestar Halloween special: I Killed Pom Pom. He was a costume worn by Strong Bad, and I didn't know he was a McDonalds mascot at the time. That is, until the Nostalgia Critic brought him up in one of his annual Nostalgic Commercial videos. But I guess McDonalds opening late hours was a big thing back in the day, whereas now some McDonalds restaurants are open 24/7. Imagine if they had used Mac Tonight to promote that!
I always correlated Mac Tonight with Max Headroom and now I know why. Love 'em both!
There is a Mac tonight animatronic at the Orlando McDonald's and it still works and play songs
The Mac Tonight at "The Most Magnificent McDonald's in America" was re-skinned to be a Ronald McDonald in the late 90s, and removed by 2005, but most of the 24hr McDonald's in the surrounding area that were remodeled gained neon Mac Tonight signs.
A few of the Mac Tonight animatronics were retrofitted into a lion character named Rory (I believe that was his name). No I don't know what a lion has to do with McDonald's either. The animatronic was nearly identical but with a swapped out head and a new showtape.
"World's most magnificent McDonald's". Built 1989 Warren, OH
i can't unhear Saint Pepsi's Enjoy Yourself when i see Mac Tonight
also what moonman meme idk what that is
Moonman lmao
I always thought that those commercials had a little bit of charm to them.
I do not envy the job of policing moon man shitposts in this comment section
Spyromancy598 moon man moon man can't you see
can't you see?
can't you see?
People still say that meme!?
Shit
serves him right for censoring.
Great video! Branching out into other kinds of defunct things is an awesome idea. Also, I'm very impressed with how you handled the sensitive topics involved.
I vaguely remember the Mac Tonight ads.
I was completely unaware of the Moon Man meme.
This hit me harder in the nostalgia feels than i thought it would, i have vague memories of this ad being on TV in the early 90s in Sweden.
It’s hard to listen to the song and not hear Moon Man.
>:(
Ugandan Knuckles Yeah sadly
Best Defunctland minisode so far! I loved each little bit you explained. Keep rockin'!
Doug Jones?! My jaw hit the floor upon hearing this. Keep up the good work Defunctland!
I fondly remember seeing one on those animatronics in the wild at the hight of it all. I had no idea he had been co-opted by the hateful. I’m taking it back.
The true positive meme is the usage of Mac in the Saint Pepsi video for Enjoy Yourself
The use of Mac Tonight's video in Enjoy Yourself by Saint Pepsi was perfect, I love that character
I wonder how the Darin estate feels about the Moon Man meme...