Comments on: Subservient chicken

Subservient chicken

mildred-pitt — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:01:26 -0800

Subservient chicken - modern advertising...

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:07:55 -0800

Apparently the chicken is unaware of the benefits of self-abuse. Or it ain't that subservient.

By: bk

bk — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:10:24 -0800

that is way too fucking creepy

By: iconomy

iconomy — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:12:36 -0800

I get a big "Chicken may be performing actions unsuitable for all audiences" when I tell him to strip. Drats. He shakes a mean tailfeather, I have to give him that.

By: filmgoerjuan

filmgoerjuan — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:14:02 -0800

Evidently the chicken has the Clapper™

By: onlyconnect

onlyconnect — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:14:47 -0800

Wow. I love you, mildred-pitt. That was completely bizarre. (fwiw, the chicken would lay and sit and dance when I told him to, but did not seem to understand when I told him to put himself on a sandwich.)

By: wendell

wendell — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:20:36 -0800

waiting for stavros to discover this one...

By: rafter

rafter — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:44:20 -0800

That's weird, onlyconnect, he made himself a decent enough sandwich for me. He likes playing hide and seek, too.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:47:18 -0800

I'm scared. Especially since I used to wear a chicken suit quite similar to that one for high school basketball games. He ran into the wall when I told him to. bk - are you creeped out because the chicken apparently claims affiliation with you?

By: armoured-ant

armoured-ant — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:58:31 -0800

Is this *real*? Or just a really well executed simulation?

By: armoured-ant

armoured-ant — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:59:05 -0800

Actually, fuck that. The real question is; Why is he wearing a suspender belt?

By: onlyconnect

onlyconnect — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:00:32 -0800

rafter, you're right!!! I just put too many words (like "yourself") into the command! He can also convincingly fake his own death and at least attempt a handstand. However, like most chickens, he refuses to vacuum.

By: headless

headless — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:01:52 -0800

he'll dance, he knows the egyptian and the electric slide, but advertising apparently isn't yet shameless enough for the macarena on preview: i guess the testing has begun

By: headless

headless — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:02:51 -0800

and he's got something against vegans...

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:14:15 -0800

Sweet Jesus, this is a freaky little bit of website. But it's not real. Type "book," and it will go poke around the bookself in the background. Type "blanket" and it goes into a scripted blanket routine, rather as if it were bullfighting. "turn off the light" has it turn in place, while "lights off" turns off the lights. However, it is possible that there's a live actor on the feed, reacting to wholly unique questions, ie.) those that the scripts can't parse. These questions could then become part of the script database. Very smart, that, if that's what they did.

By: briank

briank — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:19:21 -0800

Well, when I told him to lay spread-eagled on the floor and cluck, he didn't do it, he just bent over and touched his toes.

By: anathema

anathema — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:29:15 -0800

He looks like he belongs in a Jan Svankmajer film.

By: Ufez Jones

Ufez Jones — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:32:06 -0800

Well, okay then....moving on from that one.

By: jeremias

jeremias — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:34:12 -0800

Try the following command "Go poo poo"

By: Ynoxas

Ynoxas — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:37:15 -0800

He can do jumping jacks, play peek-a-boo, and moonwalk. He's my chicken of the year!

By: steef

steef — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:38:33 -0800

dear metafilter: is there a polite way to refuse a proposal of marriage from a subservient man in a chicken suit? i don't want to hurt his subservient chicken feelings, and would like to remain subservient chicken friends. signed, meant to type "merry."

By: anastasiav

anastasiav — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:43:26 -0800

This is crazy and awesome and a fantastic first post. How on earth did you find this? (Maybe I don't want to know) I however, can't get the chicken to do a damn thing. Possibly my dial up is too slow....

By: carter

carter — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 18:56:13 -0800

hint: try 'burger' ...

By: dobbs

dobbs — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:20:40 -0800

i had him breakdance, do a handstand, pee, scratch his balls, fart, and make a sandwhich. the sandwich was the best part. here's another advertising chicken. [link leads to site with embedded quicktime movie].

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:21:14 -0800

I've waited 32284 posts for this...

By: carter

carter — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:24:08 -0800

'Artichoke' produces an interesting response.

By: Decypher

Decypher — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:25:14 -0800

This is an amazing link.. Thank you for reminding me how much I love Mefi.

By: dejah420

dejah420 — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:25:40 -0800

Obligatory snark...I bet it goes really well with pepsi blue... Me? I love the smell of viral marketing...smells flame broiled, no? I wonder if we can get a side order of gnome? Registrant: CRISPIN PORTER & BOGUSKY (NVBIGTBBUD) 3390 mary street office 300 MIAMI, FL 33133 US CP&B specializes in viral marketing, doncha know. Burger Overlord is no doubt cackling with glee about it getting placement on the blue.

By: Bag Man

Bag Man — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:26:32 -0800

Drunken chicken?

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:28:52 -0800

magnificent find, mildred-pitt, truly bizarre. I asked him to flip me the bird and he did so with relish.

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:31:44 -0800

also: push up.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:32:04 -0800

"Do you like McDonalds?" got me a pair of fingers, I think!

By: jb

jb — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:35:43 -0800

Thinking it was just a recording, I typed simply "dance" and "skip" and the chicken obligingly danced and skipped. But then I typed "do a handstand" thinking, I wondered if they programmed this? And then the chicken did - and I started to be very scared that I was playing with a real person. So I typed "Thank you" and left quickly. I might be wrong (I'm still not quite sure), but I can't imagine that it is very good advertising to make your potential customers feel creeped out.

By: oog

oog — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:52:16 -0800

truly, truly stunning. if this is advertising of the future, then sign me up for every product in the universe.

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:53:50 -0800

leave

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:54:13 -0800

Also, I'm a much better juggler.

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:59:15 -0800

And apparently the chicken is Catholic. Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch.

By: brownpau

brownpau — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:00:07 -0800

A few tests: take the cushions off the couch He took two cushions, and is now on the floor, attempting to successfully sandwich himself between them. Literally. Now he is putting them back on the couch. Brief flash as it returns to default position. take the chair from behind the bar He looks behind him, presumably at the bar, then looks back. Does nothing. flap your left wing. left wing only, please. He flaps his right wing. Well, it's my left, I guess. Similar result for asking him to flap his right wing. watch TV He sits down and appears to watch TV. take a tape from the TV stand He stands on the couch. This isn't live. No way.

By: brownpau

brownpau — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:01:19 -0800

One more that clinches it for me: do four jumping jacks. only four. He goes and does nine.

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:02:38 -0800

vogue

By: punishinglemur

punishinglemur — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:03:23 -0800

Of course it's not live. They could never keep up with all our sick, perverted requests in real-time. Speaking of sick, perverted requests, ask it to make love.

By: elpapacito

elpapacito — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:05:36 -0800

Mh I guess it's a simulation which reads orders like "sit down" I asked twice and it made different sittings, but then it restarts exactly at the same frame. Bah...but curious link thanks mildred

By: brownpau

brownpau — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:08:23 -0800

I asked it to turn the camera around to show the rest of the room, and now, despite its not being live, I am officially creeped out. That costume is freaky. He didn't turn the camera, though.

By: whatnotever

whatnotever — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:10:55 -0800

You want creepy, try "camera." Oh, brownpau beat me to it.

By: carter

carter — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:32:16 -0800

room elephant somersault brush

By: Zbobo

Zbobo — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 20:36:05 -0800

Is he incarcerated? Check the ankle... and type in house arrest. Is he trying to liberate himself? Also enjoyed seeing this one upon loggin' in: "You are logged in as: zbobo / logout There have been 6159 links and 158658 comments posted since your last visit" Anybody have me beat?

By: donth

donth — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:07:37 -0800

do the ymca gestures

By: horsewithnoname

horsewithnoname — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:08:11 -0800

The chicken does a serviceable cabbage patch. His tai chi, however, is awful.

By: anathema

anathema — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:09:20 -0800

Garters This shit is messed up.

By: onlyconnect

onlyconnect — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:17:38 -0800

From the Crispon Porter + Bogusky site that Dejah420 linked (under the Burger King link there): In 1954 Burger King came up with a great idea, allow the customer to customize their hamburger. And in 1973 they called it "Have It Your Way". They even created a catchy jingle to explain it (go ahead sing it, we know you know it). While it hasn't been on the air for over 21 years, "Have It Your Way" is still remembered. And mass customization is the mega trend that will shape the next century. Well, we know a good thing when we sing it. So we're bringing "Have It Your Way" back. Of course, we're giving it an extreme makeover. Right now every smart brand is trying to find ways to make it easy for the customer to personalize their products. Why? Because it empowers the consumer by putting them in control. And they love you for it. We believe Burger King was the originator of this mass customization and we believe it's time we helped them take back their throne. Thus, the site's opening message joke to the user is, "Get chicken the way you want it." But dejah, it's clear from the site itself that it's supposed to be related to Burger King -- the site links to bk.com. I don't think they're trying to hide that it's advertising. It's just really odd and engaging advertising. (Also, maybe the garters are meant to fit in with the subservience theme? Or maybe they're just holding up the chicken leg costume.)

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:26:31 -0800

Pumpernickel (pump) Pomegranite (Pom?) Flashdance (dance?) escape house arrest (rest?) The Sky Is Falling (give her a heartattack!) This is Good Stuff. Kind of like a text adventure game. Figure out the puzzle of "what did they think of?"

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:30:52 -0800

Crispon Porter + Bogusky also gets results. LOL. Best of all was still "McDonalds", though.

By: anathema

anathema — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:32:18 -0800

Well, it is a "she." If you type "garters" she suggestively tugs at them. that is way too fucking creepy posted by bk at 8:10 PM EST on April Yeah, too fucking creepy that someone named bk is commenting in this thread.

By: horsewithnoname

horsewithnoname — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:35:16 -0800

Not only is the chicken a "she," I think it's also Muslim. Try 'Pray'.

By: donth

donth — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:37:15 -0800

air guitar

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:48:31 -0800

Hey, it's a living. The pay isn't great, but I get lots of exercise, at least.

By: anathema

anathema — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:52:54 -0800

Since when do Muslims make the sign of the cross?

By: horsewithnoname

horsewithnoname — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:57:47 -0800

weird...that wasn't the gesture I got when I typed 'pray'.

By: George_Spiggott

George_Spiggott — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 22:35:01 -0800

"bowling" and "hopscotch" work...

By: onlyconnect

onlyconnect — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 22:37:33 -0800

The same command sometimes sets off one of a few different scenarios. "Pillow fight!" can get you several different fighting sequences -- but it's even better without the exclamation point -- "pillow fight" gets you the chicken tearing three of the pillows off the couch and throwing them on the floor, or some strange fencing maneuver, or the chicken attacking itself with a pillow. Also, "circle" gets a couple of different responses, one of which (where chicken approaches the camera) is a little scary. Given his reaction to McDonalds, he has a surprisingly positive feelings for Colonel Sanders. However, asking him to poke out his eye doesn't make him very happy.

By: moonbird

moonbird — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 23:24:34 -0800

zen

By: Stauf

Stauf — Wed, 07 Apr 2004 23:49:25 -0800

Ha! This is fun! He does the worm too...

By: Satapher

Satapher — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 00:01:13 -0800

im glad you guys figured out that it isnt live. ... ...

By: Stauf

Stauf — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 00:03:10 -0800

oh, and headless, he will do the macarena; though it's important to note that he only did it for me when I told him to "dance like a nerd" =P

By: dg

dg — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 00:18:52 -0800

Once you are looking for it, you can see that, when the action you have requested ends, there is a slight "jump" as it returns to its original position and then, while it is just standing there looking like it is moving slightly, you can see that it is a series of stills rotating, rather than actual video. Still, good fun.

By: Marquis

Marquis — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 00:28:18 -0800

He'll heil hitler, but not without warning you about it. And dg (et al), while i don't think this is done live, the fact that there's a static "default post" doesn't impact either way, IMHO. Even if it WAS live, he'd be doing a bunch of things for other people at any given time, and would need to give you a "default image" while he attends to their needs. (I'm still toying with the idea that someone behind the scenes pulls out a recorded action when it's appropriate, OR tells the chicken to act out a new one if it's something new.)

By: papercake

papercake — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 07:01:58 -0800

I wonder if this really IS an ad for BurgerKing? I'd think it'd be branded much more and there'd be a much more limited "vocabulary." And the production values are pretty bad. I mean, it's in a crappy basement, the chicken suit looks like they picked it up for $1.25 at a yard sale, and nobody even bothered to move the coil of wires in the lower left part of the screen.

By: caution live frogs

caution live frogs — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 07:16:56 -0800

"lay an egg" gets some convincing squatting, but sadly no little egg. ah well.

By: Ufez Jones

Ufez Jones — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 07:39:05 -0800

It's either really cool or really lame how many actions that people in this thread tried -- either to avail or not -- that I did.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 08:04:09 -0800

Type in "wonderchicken" and it takes a bow. I guess it is stavros. Glad you found work, buddy! And congratulations on a fantastic first post, Sir Mildred.

By: archimago

archimago — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 08:14:00 -0800

However, like most chickens, he refuses to vacuum. I feel strangely satisfied that I am not the only person who tried to get him to do some cleaning.

By: t r a c y

t r a c y — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 08:54:09 -0800

the bar chair by the floor lamp and the cushions on the sectional sofa keep shifting around without being touched by the chicken... weird product placement: the ektorp sofa and chair from ikea. heh.

By: codger

codger — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 10:01:04 -0800

The response to "rebel against your corporate overlords" isn't quite what I had expected.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 10:12:45 -0800

I don't think it's product placement. The gal's gotta have some furniture in her living room. Given she's desperate enough to dress up like a chicken, Ikea isn't much of a surprise. I use the feminine, because chickens are female. Roosters/cocks are male. Though truth is, I'm pretty sure it's a guy in that getup.

By: mwhybark

mwhybark — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 10:22:29 -0800

the first time I accessed the site, he got up off the couch before facing the camera. Afterwards, that action did not repeat. Others?

By: esoterica

esoterica — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 10:42:35 -0800

bong hit turn off lights cartwheel smoke pushups get drunk (multiple things) basketball baseball leave I'm wondering if they're collecting actions that he can't currently do and will be adding them to his repertoire over the next couple of days... "macarena" definitely works now.

By: t r a c y

t r a c y — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 10:51:03 -0800

Given she's desperate enough to dress up like a chicken, Ikea isn't much of a surprise. i own the ektorp sofa and chair thanks very much, hmmph. uh... come to think of it my partner often does call me miss prissy.

By: adnanbwp

adnanbwp — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 11:21:25 -0800

try "Arnold". What other personalities can u get it to mimick.

By: adampsyche

adampsyche — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 11:24:13 -0800

Ask him to do a handstand.

By: danherwig

danherwig — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 13:28:49 -0800

sex Cry Sleep breakdance exercise chill relax spin shoot gun touch toes jumping jacks clean up leave Fly watch tv sit die bathroom read dance light fight egg air guitar spin shoot gun touch toes jumping jacks clean up leave sing turn off lights

By: of strange foe

of strange foe — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 14:40:37 -0800

Wow, it even did 'cry wolf' in a convincing manner. Don't know why he/she sit down before 'touching toe' though. The costume is freaky.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 21:09:20 -0800

I asked it to "tell me the time" and s/he came up to the camera and showed me the lack of a watch. WTF! Also asked "Paint" and got an interesting response. Breakdance was interesting too. Too freaky, indeed.

By: anathema

anathema — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:14:44 -0800

Subservient Chicken's X-Rated Bits Exposed by Code. This is good.

By: donth

donth — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:30:43 -0800

The BoingBoing post also links to the complete list of commands.

By: donth

donth — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:34:25 -0800

easter egg: crispin

By: anastasiav

anastasiav — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 23:05:04 -0800

The BoingBoing post also links to the complete list of commands. here

By: elwoodwiles

elwoodwiles — Fri, 09 Apr 2004 00:28:48 -0800

"Show me the money"

By: tracicle

tracicle — Fri, 09 Apr 2004 13:37:36 -0800

Also does the moonwalk.

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Fri, 09 Apr 2004 19:37:29 -0800

All the direct links are going to the same clip of the chicken waving his finger in my face. I'd say they fixed whatever people were using to RE the site.

By: quasistoic

quasistoic — Sun, 11 Apr 2004 03:40:42 -0800

I thought it was interesting (coming from not just any burger joint, but the Burger King) that his/her reactions were the same for "BSE", "mad cow", and "go crazy". He did, however, get angry and pace around the room the first time I mentioned "mad cow disease", as expected.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 13:34:10 -0800

http://www.subservientchicken.com/vids/ and/or http://www.subservientchicken.com/clips/ are wide-open for your perusal pleasure.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 18:56:01 -0800

All the clips are the same, afaict.

By: Masi

Masi — Sun, 18 Apr 2004 11:37:46 -0800

If you click on them from the boingboing list, yes. But if you click them from http://www.subservientchicken.com/vids/, no.