Simpsons VS Arbys

[DumHonkey]

I have never heard anything about why Arbys is a Joke to the writers..

"I'm so hungry, I could eat at Arby's..."

"If I can keep down Arby's, I can keep down you..."

So, 2 questions, I know there are others, but I can't remember them...

1) What are the other Arbys Quotes?
2) Anyone know why they like to make fun of this?

[Kiyosuki]

Its tough to explain really, and I can't get into the writers' heads. But what I can say is generally among at least my little niche in the world, Arby's is kind of one of those chains like Yoshinoya that you kind of associate with the word "ghetto". Like its some bizzare lower step than even McDonalds.

[DumHonkey]

Oh. LOL.

I was just wondering if they ever mentioned it.

[Red_Dragon]

I know there was another one:

Lisa: Why does the dog have human girlfriends?
Marge: People do crazy things when they're in ads Lisa, like eat at Arby's.

As for why, I guess they just don't like the food there.

[Captain Edwell]

And one more, from "A Milhouse Divided":

"A possum drowned in the pool. You have any garbage bags?"
"Just throw it over the fence. Let Arby's worry about it."

Even though I've never eaten at Arby's, I find this running gag inexplicably hilarious.

[brody]

I simply think it's because Arby's is one of those "B-fast food chains" for lack of a better term.

[Barnyard]

i like arbys

[Bobo]

...They don't like Arby's?

[That Jerk]

Classic Simpsons humor, mocking an arbitary chain for no reason. Just like
"Where'd you get that shirt?"
"Sears."
"GET HIM!"

or

"It's Country Time lemonade. There's never been anything close to a lemon in it! I swear!"

[Gatorgod]

Some folks might find this hard to believe, but the jokes might be stemming from an actual Paid endorsement from Arbys itself. Its sometimes done in a reverse psychology way of drawing attention to the franchise ...under the "Theres no such thing as Bad publicity" theory. Mentioning Arbys in the Simpsons in Any capacity is far better than never being mentioned at all.

1: The sudo-negative Arbys jokes make people "Product aware"

2: The Simpsons producers get away with making alittle endorsement cash without the audience being aware that an Fast Food Ad was shoved in their faces before the commercial break even started.

..Not saying this is Absolutely So,.. Just that this thing has been done before in the advertising world.

[flamingtuna]

Oh, and also THOH 17 had an arby's bit! It was when Homer turned huge.

[coltonwiggum]

^Thanks for sharing that with us who haven't seen the episode yet.
I love these jokes. Where I live, EVERYONE hates Arby's. Well, not really hates... but dislikes. The food is sick. I actually ate there once, and YECH! One of the Arby's in London (Ontario) actually closed because no one went there.

[Patches O'Houlihan]

^Thanks for sharing that with us who haven't seen the episode yet.
I love these jokes. Where I live, EVERYONE hates Arby's. Well, not really hates... but dislikes. The food is sick. I actually ate there once, and YECH! One of the Arby's in London (Ontario) actually closed because no one went there.

Arby's is different.

I think it's because it's a place where it seems only old folks visit. I don't know of anyone under 30 who really likes that place.

[aoife]

Arby's is kind of one of those chains like Yoshinoya that you kind of associate with the word "ghetto".
Hahaha, this has to be one of the best quotes on the board, ever.
I am guessing Yoshinoya is Japanese fast food, so what is it like? What kind of foods to they serve?

[Sniper Squirrel]

Yeah, like when Wiggum put a Dominoe's pizza sign on the cop car

[DumHonkey]

^Thanks for sharing that with us who haven't seen the episode yet.


I havent seen it. What made me start the thread was seeing this one joke on IGN's WII message boards.

It was an add running in the top right corner.

[Kiyosuki]

Yeah, like when Wiggum put a Dominoe's pizza sign on the cop car

I heard that particular scene is taken out of UK broadcasts of I doh'bot because of their advertising contract with Dominoe's over there. If thats true it makes it even funnier considering the thread. lol

Hahaha, this has to be one of the best quotes on the board, ever.
I am guessing Yoshinoya is Japanese fast food, so what is it like? What kind of foods to they serve?

Yoshinoya is this Beef Bowl chain that was actually sort of popular in the mid 90's, even had a very brief ad campaign on TV. But it dropped off the radar really quickly and for good reason, the food is atrociously bad. The only places I see them now tend to be...kind of really run down little mini markets where you least suspect to find them.

Yoshinoya exists in Japan too, but even over there its barely hanging on. Its been years since I had their food but I can tell you that it was a lot of lettuce.

A LOT of lettuce, with some meat and this kind of funky sauce on top of rice. The beef is never of great quality either, it made me sick once and I never get sick over food. I think people realized generally how bad it was. Japanese resturaunts that don't cost a fortune and serve actual Beef Bowl's became a little more widespread too.

I cannot stress to you enough how bad their food is.

[ravenscroft]

I heard that particular scene is taken out of UK broadcasts of I doh'bot because of their advertising contract with Dominoe's over there. If thats true it makes it even funnier considering the thread. lol

Heh, yeah it is.

[Sniper Squirrel]

I know in syndication, they edit the joke about Milhouse and Bart finding a Monkey in a Pier one basket

[Haoie]

They poked only 1 joke at Denny's, to my recollection.

[J-Spot]

Let's not forget the infamous Butterfinger gag in Sweets and Sour Marge. So much for that endorsement deal.

Also, I love Arby's You can't find a better mozzerella stick in a fast food restaurant.

[sacrelicious]

They poked only 1 joke at Denny's, to my recollection.
"I expect that kind of talk at Denny's, but not here!"

I don't know any base for the Arby's thing, but they do it with a bunch of other "lesser" brands as well, like Fresca.

[Straka]

I agree.
They are doing this alot. Just like recently poking fun at Polish people. o.0

[Sniper Squirrel]

"If I can hold down Arby's I can hold down you"

[TriforceBun]

I think Arby's is pretty decent (I've only eaten there once, though). It probably works well as a gag because, to me, it's a non-traditional place to make fun of. McDonald's and Taco Bell are cliche. Arby's is that place that everyone knows about but no one really goes to very often.

[camelenchilada]

"If I can hold down Arby's I can hold down you"

Haha, yep, they did it again.

[Speedy Boris]

Heh... http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=115493

[Reservoir Dog]

I didnt read anyone elses posts because I'm in a hurry and there are too many so someone might have mentioned this but, I think that the simpsons are making fun of Arbys because they are advertising on tv more.

[Count Fudgula]

It could be for a number of reasons, probably they don't like the food or it's just fun to constantly make fun of a chain like that.Heh, I love when they make fun of fox

Homer: I invested in something called News Corp......
Lisa: DAD THATS FOX!
Homer: AHHH UNDO UNDO

[coltonwiggum]

^Actually, I think somewhere on the board there's a thread about all the FOX jokes from The Simpsons.

[kid_presentable]

Arby's is yucky.

[Kiyosuki]

Everytime I've gone into an Arby's...the few times..they've always had this distinct smell...

Its not food. I can't put my finger on it but it creeps me out a little.

[Lady_Simpson]

It probably works well as a gag because, to me, it's a non-traditional place to make fun of.
I agree with this one. Jokes about McDonalds or Dairy Queen, for example, would just seem horribly cliche. Being a slightly lesser known food chain makes it so much funnier, somehow.

That said, I also think the whole "no publicity is bad publicity" could likely be, too.

[lindsay]

I have never understood the Simpsons hate for Arbys. Arbys is one of my favorite fast-food reasturants. The one near my house is probably one of the nicest fast-food places. It doesn't even look like your normal fast-food places. It looks like a ski lodge or something. They even bring your food to you, if you eat it there.

But then again, I have been to really gross Arbys too. I guess I'm just spoiled from my really nice one.

[joshweinstein]

Hi, everybody!

The issue of Arby's is one I wanted to talk about on the commentary for "A Milhouse Divided" but we were all talking so much on that one I didn't get a chance to.

Anyway, as I was there at the birth of the whole Arby's thing, let me try to explain it. And it's actually a combination of factors:

One thing that Bill and I love (as do a number of our fellow writers from that era) is the humor of getting something just right -- where there's not really a joke, but just some detail that seems to capture something so perfectly that it's funny. That was combined with the idea that every detail in Kirk's new life was supposed to be, well, sort of sad (his furniture in the apartment - modelled in part after furniture I had in my first apartment, the fact that he's neighbors with Jerry from the sewing store, Starla the temp from KZUG, etc.). So it just seemed perfect that his apartment would be in the type of place that would be right next to an Arby's.

Another example of this type of humor is in "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badaasssss Song" where Skinner offers Bart a "Diet Caffeine-Free Dr. Pepper". No joke there, just the fact that it seems to be exactly the type of drink Principal Skinner would have at his house.

Of course, part of the appeal of the Arby's joke to me is also the fact that Arby's is so rarely made fun of. Those of you who noted that a joke about McDonald's or a similar place wouldn't be funny are totally correct.

I don't remember who originally pitched the Arby's line, but I've always loved it, as do I all the aspects of Kirk's life.

On a side note, Bill and I went to an Arby's about a year ago and it was actually quite good. I like to think someone at Arby's watched our episode and kicked the company into shape, but I know that's probably not true. And no, we were never contacted by anybody from Arby's, before or after. Which is too bad. We would've loved to get free sandwiches.

Okay, gotta go. Bill and I do plan to do a Q&A soon, but we're just really busy for the next month or so. Thanks, as always, for all the nice comments you guys have made about our episodes.

[DumHonkey]

My thread got a response from show writer / producer.........

Sweet.

[coltonwiggum]

This is off topic, but could does anyone here know what Bill and or Josh are working on currently?
BTW, Josh reminds me of Brendon Small/Melissa Bardin Galsky in the way he speaks and interacts with people/fans.

[TheFlandersMan]

Wow, that is really cool.

Man, Josh you're awesome. :D Seriously, You have to be a real stand-up guy to go out of your way and connect with the fans like that. I really admire your work and I look forward to another Q&A session.

[Gatorgod]

Gosh! Now I feel bad about post 10

In my defense it didn't seem that far-fetched from a show bizness point of view. When the Mom in the movie Poltergeist hums the Budweiser theme song as she made the kids bed, Spielberg and company got alittle $$$ cha-ching for it. When M.J. Fox walked past a sign saying "Eat California Raisins" in the movie Back to the Future .. The producers got paid a small bundle from raisin growers to have it seen in what was sure to be a popular movie.
(any brand name product that just "Happens" to appear in a Spielberg film didn't get there for free)

It turns out this isn't the case with the Simpsons & Arbys, But I wouldn't blame them for making alittle scratch on the side if it were. :sly:

[kid_presentable]

Josh Weinstein is always my favorite to listen to on any commentary :)

[joshweinstein]

Gatorgod-

Please don't feel bad.

I always enjoy any conjecture about what's behind various jokes -- as a fan of the show, I do the same thing. And as a writer, when people discuss something I wrote (or was somehow involved with as the case is here), it makes me feel good.

And since the Arby's line has always been one of my favorites, I'm just happy there was such an in-depth discussion about it. That's what makes NHC so great!

Okay, gotta go! Thanks to every single person who posted here.

[camelenchilada]

wow, cool.
i didn't know josh still posted here.

[Dental Plan!]

He doesn't post here often, but I think he still checks this site pretty regularly. Anyway, I hope the next Q & A is in the next two weeks, because I'm going to South Africa from the end of November til the middle of January. But from what Josh said, it sounds like it's over a month away. Another Q & A missed by me...

Anyway, on topic, when I used to live in Canada there was an Arby's down the road from me. I loved it, but when my sister recently went back there she said it tasted like crap...

[Qetzlcoatl's Choice]

Its sometimes done in a reverse psychology way of drawing attention to the franchise ...under the "Theres no such thing as Bad publicity" theory.

Good points, Gator. For extra credit homework, see the "Boost Mobile" episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

I've always thought Arby's was ok, not something I get the craving to eat very often, but just about everyone I know has had a meal there and been sick to their stomach afterward at least once.

[gross-out warning]

The office manager at my last job used to work at Arby's at one point, and told me about a mystery they had where the plastic packages of refrigerated meat would occasionally come in with a slit cut in the side of them. He solved the whodunit when he came in one day and found the delivery guy having his way with the contents of the package.

Nasty.

[altoids30]

Good points, Gator. For extra credit homework, see the "Boost Mobile" episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

I've always thought Arby's was ok, not something I get the craving to eat very often, but just about everyone I know has had a meal there and been sick to their stomach afterward at least once.

[gross-out warning]

The office manager at my last job used to work at Arby's at one point, and told me about a mystery they had where the plastic packages of refrigerated meat would occasionally come in with a slit cut in the side of them. He solved the whodunit when he came in one day and found the delivery guy having his way with the contents of the package.

Nasty.

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I sure hope he was pulling your leg.

I'll never be able to stomach Arbys again after reading that.

[Sniper Squirrel]

I once had a friend who worked at Taco Bell, he told me that the type of meat they used was labeled "Grade D: but edible", reminded me of the Springfield cafeteria Grade F meat (mostly circus animals, some filler)

[Qetzlcoatl's Choice]

According to snopes, your friend is misinformed:

http://www.snopes.com/food/prepare/badmeat.asp

[Xt'Tapalatakettle]

Another example of this type of humor is in "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badaasssss Song" where Skinner offers Bart a "Diet Caffeine-Free Dr. Pepper". No joke there, just the fact that it seems to be exactly the type of drink Principal Skinner would have at his house.


I always loved this line for the reason you mentioned. No, I'm not kissing up to you!

With that being said, please come back to the show! :D

[Gatorgod]

Good points, Gator. For extra credit homework, see the "Boost Mobile" episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
[gross-out warning]

The office manager at my last job used to work at Arby's at one point, and told me about a mystery they had where the plastic packages of refrigerated meat would occasionally come in with a slit cut in the side of them. He solved the whodunit when he came in one day and found the delivery guy having his way with the contents of the package.

Nasty.Eeyow! http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/gatorgod/GatorIcons/Gatorgod11.gif ..This must be more common than we might care to think! I saw a Marylin Manson interview once were he was remembering how he and a punk buddy of his made love to the pizza dough at a Domino's when they where younger, ...said they placed it back into freezer so the guys that tossed the Pizzas the next day would use it.

[BradysMom]

I've always liked Arby's. Maybe it's because there aren't that many of them here in Canada.

So cool to see Josh Weinstein on here too!

[Speedy Boris]

A lot can change since 2004, when I made that thread at TZ. I..... don't really care for Arby's anymore. Something about the way they spice their chicken just doesn't sit well with me.

[Route_401]

I don't find anything special about Arby's. They're still stuck in the 1980s as far as food standards go...and like one of the other posters I'm in London, Ontario and there's only a couple locations left in a metro area of 440,000. Quizno's has gone way beyond them, and they're not much more expensive.

In Canada they promote themselves quite a lot on TV. I still have the "Roundup!" promo stuck in my head from some years ago.

[Kiyosuki]

Wow, even actual Simpsons writers responded to this thread.

I'm telling you, nothing brings humanity together quite like antagonizing Arby's. :D