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Oak Brook, IL - Fast food giant McDonald's continues
to fine tune the new adult marketed Go-Active! Happy Meal,
adding bottled water, a better tasting salad and slightly
more adult-themed prizes.
"We are currently testing several new features of the
adult Happy Meal as well as a slightly edgier version of Ronald
McDonald," said McDonald's publicity chief Judy Tennison.
"We have also replaced the current exercise pamphlet
and stepometer with a coupon for half hour session at a participating
Asian massage parlor." (California and Las Vegas only).
McDonald's corporate office was most excited
about the introduction of the new spokesman, who they are
optimistic adults will have a much easier time identifying
with, rather than the current version of Ronald McDonald,
still popular with kids around the world.
"Right now we're calling him Oswald McDonald
-- Ozzy for short," Tennison said. "In our focus
group studies, many of the18-to-34 year-olds found him much
more appealing in a sexy and dangerous way. We think he may
be end up being a sort of cross between [Limp Bizkit frontman]
Fred Durst and Freddy Krueger of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street'
films."
Beginning in August, Oswald McDonald will
be featured in a string of commercials consisting of a mini-dating
show, where the new spokesman will be searching for a lucky
bride among the most fervent McDonald's customers.
Many critics of McDonald's question the new
marketing strategy, saying that the healthier, more adult-oriented
Happy Meal came a little too late and only after a recent
documentary focused on the unhealthy, high fat content of
traditional McDonald's offerings — something the corporate
office still denies.
"The important thing is we've listened
to what our older customers want, and it's clear what they
want is healthier food and the ability to receive oral gratification
for under five bucks. Now they can."
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Top:
The new, more adult spokesman Oswald McDonald. Bottom: last
year's McVibrator was recalled after several choking incidents.
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