Comments on: An invitation to bring it

An invitation to bring it

dammitjim — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:26:28 -0800

Parody is... also a sincere form of flattery, in the advertising biz. Sonic's ad agency, after a couple of dud trys at viral marketing to complement their popular campaign, decides instead to jump on all the parodies that people are posting on YouTube, then recognize some of the better ones, also on YouTube.

By: dammitjim

dammitjim — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:26:46 -0800

For those who aren't familiar with Sonic, it's a drive-in fast-food chain in the US (mostly in the South), which has carhops bring food out to its customers' cars, a style of eating popularized in the 1950's and featured in American Grafitti. Sonic doesn't put their ads online, but a few of the recent ones can be viewed at the "their popular campaign" link above. Also worth noting is that the actors playing the married couple apparently ad-lib most of the dialog, which Molly Erdman, the Second City alum who plays the wife, relays in this cute interview with a former school.

By: ninjew

ninjew — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:32:55 -0800

I got tired of seeing ads for Sonic on TV. "I don't live anywhere near a Sonic" I'd yell. "That ice cream treat looks good", I'd say, to no one. "Stop torturing me." I drove 140 miles to a Sonic. This might have seemed like a completely idiotic idea. But I had a completely willing accomplice. I've already got a couple more recruits for the next journey. So maybe their advertising works. I'd started wondering if they were intentionally running the spots outside their markets in order to drive hapless consumers crazy.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:35:16 -0800

Hey ninjew, Yvan eht Nioj!

By: rolypolyman

rolypolyman — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:43:59 -0800

Anyone remember their older marketing campaign? During much of the 1990s they played up an American Graffiti cruising theme, with Frankie Avalon as spokesman. It's interesting that campaign is retired -- I wonder if that and the new ad campaign means "cruising" in the traditional sense is dead now and Sonic is just a place to get food.

By: Lucinda

Lucinda — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:47:36 -0800

ninjew > our family went to North Carolina for vacation and one of the things my sister and I INSISTED WE MUST DO was go to a Sonic. There was no discussion.

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:54:31 -0800

ninjew, I can totally sympathize. Two years ago I drove out to California to attend E3. Or so I said. E3 was fun, lots of fun, don't get me wrong. But, oh, the In-N-Out burgers. My secret shame.

By: konolia

konolia — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:55:00 -0800

I am five minutes-WALKING DISTANCE-from a Sonic. Envy me.

By: dammitjim

dammitjim — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:57:12 -0800

Their food is pretty good. Also good: Steak n Shake, a smaller chain in the Midwest. Here is an old-timey photo of a Steak n Shake, when they also still did carhop service. Note the neon sign saying "Takhomasak," a word that puzzled me throughout my childhood. It means "Take home a sack," you know, as in take-out, but styled to look like a Native American word, I guess.

By: blucevalo

blucevalo — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:01:29 -0800

Closest Sonic to me is 20 miles away. Alas. In-N-Out is pretty good, but nothing compared to Sonic.

By: jquinby

jquinby — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:06:57 -0800

Cherry limemade, for the win. I hear tell that Braum's makes it better, but there aren't any 'round here.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:10:37 -0800

You know what I like, is Vernor's ginger ale, but it seems like you can only get it in Detroit.

By: joedan

joedan — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:11:19 -0800

In-N-Out is pretty good, but nothing compared to Sonic. BLASPHEMY!!!!!!

By: YoBananaBoy

YoBananaBoy — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:11:28 -0800

Having supped in both Sonic and In-N-Out, I must submit to what-a-burger.

By: quin

quin — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:13:54 -0800

Despite the fact that I've been seeing ads for them for ages, I just looked it up, and apparently there isn't a Sonic in the entire state of Wisconsin. Why are they spending money to advertise here?

By: doctorschlock

doctorschlock — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:14:39 -0800

I don't have a car so I'm gonna suffer. Me: Hey! Mr. Busdriver? (ignoring the sign that reads: Do not talk to driver while he is operating the bus.) The driver turns his head to answer and we crash. We end up in Sonic Heaven. Britteny Spears is on roller skates and she takes our orders. I get a transfer from the dead busdriver. As I am leaving he says. Busdriver: You gonna finish those fries?

By: DU

DU — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:14:42 -0800

I used to live in a town with a Sonic. It was OK. 100% better than regular fast food, but that's not saying much. Also, I totally remember begging my parents to take me to Steak n Shake. I think I was imagining they served Shake n Bake, which I also begged them to buy. (We never did either thing.) I still love the crunchy outsides of food.

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:16:44 -0800

There's actually a What-a-Burger, a Sonic, and a Steak-n-Shake all on the same block about 2 miles from me. No In-n-Out around here though.

By: birdherder

birdherder — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:19:23 -0800

Why are they spending money to advertise here? At a certain point, it is cheaper to buy national spots than all of the local areas they do business in. I live within 5 minutes WALKING DISTANCE of TWO (2) Sonics. The current cookie shake thing is delicious, but on a hot gross day like today nothing is better than a Rt44 Diet Cherry Limeade.

By: evilangela

evilangela — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:22:27 -0800

I actually just bought a 12-pack of Vernors a week or so ago. At a grocery store in the Seattle suburbs. So no, it's not just limited to the Michigan area any more. Which makes me glad, as it shows how horrible Canada Dry Ginger Ale really is. Oh, and Whataburger is horrid. I ate there once on a trip to Texas with my dad. Both of us decided we'd never touch one again after that.

By: misha

misha — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:33:02 -0800

Steak N Shake is okay, and so is Sonic. Krystal's cheeseburgers were what used to get me going, though. I remember when one opened up here, I was six months pregnant, and it was packed, and I made my poor husband wait in a drive-thru for half an hour because I had this intense craving for a mustardy Krystal's cheeseburger. MMMM. You know who has the worst ads? The Checkers' Drive-Thrus. Slogan? "Ya Gotta Eat." WTF?

By: Bugg

Bugg — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:37:10 -0800

I drove 140 miles to a Sonic. --ninjew Also good: Steak n Shake --dammitjim I personally have to admit to driving 240 miles for Steak 'n Shake during college with three similarly crazy friends. They've recently (last few years or so) expanded out to Dallas, where I'm living now, but nobody here really understands why I make a big deal out of it. I guess you had to grow up with it (St. Louis)... As for Sonic, you can't drive a block here without passing one. Definitely better than your average fast food joint, but not something I obsess over. I guess it helps if they're not convenient enough to burn out on. Of course, the one thing I really miss is White Castle. Why is everyone laughing?

By: breaks the guidelines?

breaks the guidelines? — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:41:48 -0800

I would drive out of my way for a strawberry limeade.

By: Bugg

Bugg — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:43:54 -0800

Oh, and Whataburger is horrid. I ate there once on a trip to Texas with my dad. Both of us decided we'd never touch one again after that. --evilangela Were you drunk? If not, you're doing it wrong. Trust me.

By: Pope Guilty

Pope Guilty — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:51:00 -0800

Steak and Shake recently arrived in Dallas, and my Indiana-born and raised brother has been deeply amused at his friends' novelty at it.

By: the_royal_we

the_royal_we — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:53:09 -0800

So, does the fact that I live within about 10 minutes of Steak-n-Shake, five minutes from Braum's and within walking distance of not one but two Sonics make my position enviable? Does that fact that I am in the buckle of the bible belt change anything? You might have to beat some proselytizers back with a stick for your cherry limeade. They're thick here.

By: Quonab

Quonab — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:56:40 -0800

Cherry limemade, for the win. I hear tell that Braum's makes it better, but there aren't any 'round here. Nowadays, both of them only use about a third of the limes that they used to put in them. Even asking for extra lime, and getting charged a fee, you just can't get the limeade you used to be able to get. And get off my lawn.

By: sergeant sandwich

sergeant sandwich — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:58:24 -0800

when i was a kid my little brother's best friend was named travis. his mom worked for steak-n-shake and was the one who made up all the weird 'n kooky advertising. like the weird little voice saying "beancrock" at the end of their commercials - that was travis' mom. takhomasak! (they also made the best damn vanilla malts ive ever had anywhere. is that sad? i dunno. they're pretty goddamn good. beancrock, not so much.)

By: solid-one-love

solid-one-love — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:00:55 -0800

Few things that I like more than quirky regional fast-food chains. Whataburger is good -- big, big burger and bun, and none of this mayo, ketchup or relish bullshit -- mustard and veggies. That's it. I ate at Burgerville twice, the last time I was in Portland. Smallish burgers, but they had cherry lemonade. And they bill themselves as using sustainable, local ingredients. Many full-service 'serious' restaurants could learn from them. Damn, I want me an In-n-Out burger.

By: erikgrande

erikgrande — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:06:33 -0800

Burger fans in Dallas looking for something new might want to check out Mooyah, which opened in Plano a few months ago. The name is stupid, but they serve a good fast food burger.

By: The Bellman

The Bellman — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:26:51 -0800

SonicBlue.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:32:26 -0800

Dammit, dammitjim! I know you! For about 30 years! Check my profile.

By: angeline

angeline — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:34:31 -0800

Sonic's ads never did anything for me, but I sure like their cherry creamslush. Mmm. I grew up with Whataburger, Sonic and Braum's, but Steak and Shake is a pretty new phenomenon to me. Good food there, but I do wish their fries weren't those tiny matchstick affairs. I like a proper fry.

By: konolia

konolia — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:54:34 -0800

When I was pregnant with my son (I lived in Pensacola at the time) I CRAVED Whataburgers. With jalapenos. We don't have Whataburger in Fayetteville, NC. Sad.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:00:46 -0800

I second solid-one-love's mention of Burgerville. I love the fact that you can get real cheddar cheese on the burger instead of American cheese. Also, I like that they have hallibut fillets and hallibut fish and chips instead of cod or pollock.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:01:57 -0800

Oh, and I live 8 minutes away from a burger place that selects and grinds their own chuck in house, so you can have your crummy burger chains.

By: drezdn

drezdn — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:33:15 -0800

Quin, I'm with you. Though, compared to the one time I tried Sonic (Providence RI), there are far better local burger places here (Kopps, Bellas, Oscars, and even Culvers).

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:36:24 -0800

Sonic's burgers are pretty damn mediocre, but the cherry limeade and tater tots make up for them. I'll take a Steakburger, Double-Double, or Butterburger over a Sonic burger any day of the week.

By: cobra_high_tigers

cobra_high_tigers — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:42:25 -0800

Any North Carolinian would tell you that Cook Our trumps them ALL. Cheddar style bacon cheeseburgers and over 35 kinds of milkshakes? yes PLEASE.

By: cobra_high_tigers

cobra_high_tigers — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:42:41 -0800

damn. Cook Out, I mean.

By: quin

quin — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:51:45 -0800

That's all right drezdn, they can have their Sonics, we can rest in the comfortable knowledge that we have Leon's. Suck it haters, we got the place they based Al's from Happy Days on. (food's pretty good too.)

By: empath

empath — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:56:22 -0800

Do I get to be the first one to mention Five Guys in a fast-food thread?

By: Dormant Gorilla

Dormant Gorilla — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:05:20 -0800

Oh god, they just opened a Five Guys in Brooklyn, and it's so goddamn good... they've gotten my order wrong every single time I've been in there and I don't even care, that's how good it is. My boyfriend and I must be the last Sonic's virgins on the planet- we stopped at one in Virginia and just wandered in the door because we had no idea it was drivethrough only. The entire staff turned and stared at us like we had cacti growing out of our skulls. We had to hang our heads in shame and back slowly out the door. I do not like things that are different.

By: Biblio

Biblio — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:06:27 -0800

There's a Sonic in Providence??? My kids are going to be thrilled. We ate at one in Arizona last week and they craved more for the rest of the trip. In fact, the frisbee that was came with the kids meal keeps showing up in our Grand Canyon pictures.

By: Rangeboy

Rangeboy — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:24:29 -0800

There aren't a lot of things I miss from the time I lived in Missouri, but Steak-n-Shake is one of them.

By: BobFrapples

BobFrapples — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:36:23 -0800

Five Guys has recently come to Atlanta and it is, indeed, THE BALLS.

By: nomisxid

nomisxid — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:44:11 -0800

Sonic burgers are only good on the half-price nights. The real reason to head out to sonic is for a foot-long chilli-cheese coney and a rootbeer float. Your choices of food suck. I've emailed Sonic before about the unfairness of exposing deprived Seattle-ites with advertising for the unavailable nectar, saddly their response did not include a timeline for when sonic would make it out this way.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:56:34 -0800

Missouri boy here. Within a mile or less of a Sonic and Steak-n-Shake. I'd much prefer an In-n-Out.

By: absalom

absalom — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:24:02 -0800

Man, some people may think this town is a reeking cesspool, but they don't see the real charm: Chick-fil-A, Krystal, Krispe Kreme, Sonic, Steak n Shake, Popeyes, and a million BBQ joints pepper the landscape. City not recommended for the weak of heart.

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:36:21 -0800

I'm in Oklahoma, land of Sonics, and although they make fine cherry limades,I'd trade every last one of 'em for an In-n-Out. Here in Norman, there's a similar drive-in establishment called Classic 50's. Many years ago, despite the fact this town already had Sonics in two other locations, Sonic put a restaurant in right next door to them. Impressively, the Classic 50's is still there today, and the Sonic just moved across the street and a few stores down.

By: kamikazegopher

kamikazegopher — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:24:14 -0800

I was a carhop at Sonic for 2 years in high school. I live in LA now, and I want me some tater tots!!!!

By: sugarfish

sugarfish — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:07:25 -0800

When we went to Iowa for a long weekend, Sonic was compulsory. I hadn't been since I moved to IL and the commericals were pure torture. I have also been known to drive to Wisconsin for Chick-Fil-A. For drunk food, though, I dearly miss Taco Cabana. Oh, god.

By: the_royal_we

the_royal_we — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:24:36 -0800

Oh hi Dr. Zira! I live in OKC - moved from Norman about 6 months ago: I had totally forgotten about the Classic 50's/Sonic rivalry that continues in Norman! People get really, really upset about that, huh?

By: Alterscape

Alterscape — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:48:23 -0800

We just recently got a Five Guys in Frederick, MD, but then I moved. Now I have a Sonic, though, so s'all good. Mostly.

By: konolia

konolia — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:23:55 -0800

We have a Five Guys-haven't tried it yet, but I think I will.

By: 1f2frfbf

1f2frfbf — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:55:19 -0800

I will trade every Sonic in a ten mile radius from my house (that's three for those keeping count) the Bojangles and the Popeye's nearby for even one In-N-Out within 400 miles. I stopped at one on my last trip out west and instantly became a convert. Just thinking about it makes me hungry, so I'll throw in an old school Hardee's just to sweeten the deal.