Taco Bell Chihuahua gets kicked to the curb.

July 19, 2000 11:48 AM

Taco Bell Chihuahua gets kicked to the curb. I'm happy and not too surprised by this. There's only so much mileage you can get out of a talking dog. Now, if I could just get the phrase "drop the chalupa" (as well as its alternate meaning, [dec 19th entry]) out of my mind....
posted by jkottke (12 comments total)

I always had my own biological connotation for "Drop the Chalupa", albeit an excretory one. ("Hey, Fred, where's your bathroom? I really need to drop a chalupa!") It seemed like a natural reaction to getting the runs at the border.
posted by harmful at 11:54 AM on July 19, 2000

I have that connotation too-- usually when I'm walking the dog (not a chihuahua, btw) and she's taking too long to do her business. ("Aw, come on, drop the chalupa already!")

Huh huh, huh huh... poop!
posted by smeat at 12:48 PM on July 19, 2000

My wife and I have been encouraging family members to adopt that expression too. It's perfect for the purpose, and sidesteps the whole issue of why people take a shit when it's much more accurate to say they are leaving one.
posted by rcade at 1:30 PM on July 19, 2000

What a fascinating tangent.

What intrigues me far more than the news itself, which I haven't read, but the fact that somebody not only cares about this, but cares enough to write an article.

Would you believe me if I told you that I have never, ever, seen any chihuahua commercial? What kind of weirdos actually watch TV any more, anyway?
posted by fable at 9:22 PM on July 19, 2000

Taco Bell apparently spent millions promoting their rat-dog, only to find that their advertising campaign had the exact opposite effect of what they were trying to do - increase sales ... economics ... yadda yadda ... plop. I'm glad that the chalupa - big stink that it is - has finally been dropped on that creepy bug-eyed, insectoid mutt. Good riddance.

On another tangent, my boyfriend's roommates and I had searched for one of those awful "Yo quiero Taco Bell" posters about two years ago. After having obtained it, we stapled it to the wall, and replaced the slogan with "Yo quiero cock." It seemed to be more appropriate, given the hungry expression on the creature's face. Come on, say it with me: "Yo quiero cock! Yo quiero cock!"
posted by evilmaryellen at 7:56 AM on July 20, 2000

"creepy bug-eyed, insectoid mutt. "

Hey you creepy bug-eyed people! I own and breed Chihuahuas and they are adorable!!! Here is a link...come on! How can you insult this cutie pie!?

http://www.geocities.com/fab4gal/Img14.jpg

posted by FAB4GIRL at 10:14 AM on July 20, 2000

Well, it wouldn't be the first time that a mascot took on a life of its own, requiring t-shirts, stuffed dolls, and the like, only to fail to help sales.

I don't think it hurt sales, except in the sense that they maybe slacked off on advertising that would better hit their target audience. Taco Bell has always been much more of a males 18-25 demo than any other fast-food joint. Anything that doesn't appeal to them probably won't help the bottom line. (Of course, they keep hoping that things like the chihuahua will broaden that demographic a bit.)
posted by dhartung at 11:33 AM on July 20, 2000

I liked Conan O'Brien's take on the decision. "It's not that we didn't like the dog as a spokesperson. We just liked him a lot better as a taco."
posted by tomorama at 1:06 PM on July 20, 2000

Hey Fab4Girl, I have nothing against real chihuahuas. I DO have something against ugly computer-generated, weird-mouth-twitching creations. It's kinda like how babies are considered cute by most, while Baby Geniuses is just ... well, scary.
posted by evilmaryellen at 1:10 PM on July 20, 2000

Awwwww ok! I get what you're saying! I'll admit! The Taco Bell dog had nothing on my chihuahua! ;-)

Oh and Baby Geniuses! I agree....very scary!
posted by FAB4GIRL at 1:52 PM on July 20, 2000

Salon has an interview with the out-of-work mascot. You know, despite everybody referring to the chihuahua as male, I'm pretty sure that "he" is really a female dog named Gidget. Ain't that a bitch?
posted by harmful at 7:47 AM on July 21, 2000

My dad tries to not be "rude, crude, & socially inacceptable", so instead of saying "I've gotta go poop" or "I've gotta go take a dump", he says "I've gotta go big job"
posted by premiumpolar at 2:10 AM on July 24, 2000