The Burger King 2116850 225038393 2008-07-11T16:16:32Z Philip Trueman 3150196 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/67.174.94.18|67.174.94.18]] ([[User talk:67.174.94.18|talk]]) to last version by Jerem43 {{Infobox Advertising | name = The Burger King | image = [[Image:Creepy King Bed.png|250px]] | caption = The Burger King, as seen in [[Burger King]]'s ''Wake Up with the King'' commercial. | agency = Crispin, Porter + Bogusky | client = Burger King | title = Wake Up with the King | product = Whopper | product2 = Product tie-in | product3 = Enormous Omelet Sandwich | year = 2003-Present }} '''The Burger King''' is a character created as its [[advertising]] [[mascot]] for the international [[fast-food restaurant]] chain [[Burger King]] who became famous in numerous television commercials, including the [[Burger King Kingdom]]. ==History of the King== [[Image:Sitting king.png|left|thumb|Representation of the original ''Burger King''.]] [[Image:Sitting King v2.png|thumb|Second version of the original ''Burger King''.]] [[Image:theoldking.jpg|right|thumb|Updated version of the Kids Club ''Burger King''.]] The first iteration of the King was part of Burger King sign at the first store in [[Miami]], [[Florida]] in 1955. Later signs had the King shown sitting on a "burger throne" as well as atop the BK sign while holding a beverage. In the late 1960s/early 1970s Burger King started using a small, animated version of the King in its children's advertising. The King was featured in a series of advertisements in which he would visit a Burger King outlet for an interview with a television reporter or see a former court wizard who now worked for the chain. In all ads the King would present children with small gifts or buy them some Burger King food. The original animated King was soon replaced by the "Marvelous Magical Burger King" (sometimes shortened to just the "Magic Burger King"), an actor named [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0321543/ Dick Gjonola] appearing as a red-bearded king who ruled the Burger King Kingdom and performed magic tricks that were mostly sleight-of-hand, but sometimes relied on camera tricks. This campaign paralleled [[McDonald's]] [[McDonaldland]] children's commercials, which featured "[[Ronald McDonald]]", "The Hamburglar", and "Mayor McCheese", along with other characters and mascots. The children's ads featuring the King were phased out by the late 1980s in favor of the [[Burger King advertising#Kids Club|BK Kids Club Gang]] ads. ==Return of the King== The [[Miami]] based advertising firm of [[Crispin Porter + Bogusky]] (CP+B) took over the advertising account of Burger King on [[January 27]], [[2003]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=14482 |title=Burger King Corporation Selects Crispin Porter + Bogusky As Lead Creative Advertising Agency |author=PRNewswire |publisher=HispanicBusiness.com| date=[[23 January]] [[2006]]}}</ref> They began using a [[caricature]]d variation of the Burger King character from the Burger King Kingdom advertising campaign, now simply called "the King". An employee at Crispin Porter + Bogusky found a 1970s era, over sized King head for sale on [[eBay]]; originally used as an inspiration for brainstorming, it was eventually decided to restore the head and use it in a campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2107697/ |title=Burger King is resurrecting a dubious icon. Why? |author=Seth Stevenson |publisher=[[Slate.com]] |date=2004-10-01 |accessdate=2007-10-09 }}</ref> Employing the advertising technique called [[Viral Marketing]], CP+B's ads generated significant word of mouth and for its new use of what various trade publications and Internet articles labeled "the Creepy King" persona, an appellation that BK has come to favor and CP+B uses in its ads.<ref name=heavyweights>{{cite episode |url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_iz/episode/0,3195,FOOD_31138_56604,00.html |title=Big Burger Business: McDonald's and Burger King |series=[http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_iz/0,3195,FOOD_31138,00.html Heavyweights] |network=[[Food Network]] |airdate=2008-04-21 |season=2 |number=3 }}</ref> In this incarnation, "the King" is an actor who wears an over-sized, grinning mask that is similar in appearance to the King played by the actor Dick Gjonola. The ads feature the King appearing in various, random places, such as in bed with people or behind doors and walls, only to offer these people some sort of Burger King product. The ads have caught on with the public and The King has become very popular. On the Internet, The King is something of a [[internet meme]] ([[List of fads|fad]]) with jokes about his huge head, and frequently portrayed as a fiend with monstrous intents, often accompanied with the catchphrase "Where is your God now?". ===Usage=== * In 2005, The King appeared on several spoofs on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''. * In October of 2005, Burger King began to sell [[Halloween]] masks resembling The King and Burger King's [[viral marketing]] character [[The Subservient Chicken]]. There was little promotion on these masks, as Burger King's website<ref>[http://www.bk.com/#menu=1,-1,-1 Burger King Corporate Web Page]</ref> had no link to the bkmasks.com website and no [[commercials]] were aired advertising them. Nonetheless, the masks quickly sold out, and some masks were also sold on [[eBay]] for hundreds of dollars. Some of the sellers on eBay also included a King [[robe]] and [[medallion]], which the original purchase from www.bkmasks.com lacked. In October of 2006, the masks were again sold for the Halloween season. Unavailable for some time, the masks are now available again through Burger Kings online shop.<ref>[https://shop.bk.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=3 Burger King Masks at the Burger King online Store]</ref> The general merchandise store has replaced the Burger King Masks site, and all old links now point to this page. {{Infobox Advertising | name = The Burger King | image = [[Image:bk king simpsons.jpg|250px]] | caption = The King in a Simpsons/Burger King commercial. | agency = Crispin, Porter + Bogusky | client = Burger King | title = The Simpson's Movie King | product = Product tie-in | product2 = | product3 = | year = 2006 }} * Although the advertisements were mainly shown in North America, advertisements featuring The King surfaced on [[Channel 4]] in the [[United Kingdom]] as well as in [[Germany]] in early January 2006. The King appeared not to catch on with the UK market and was seemingly retired there after only two brief commercials (featuring him at an ATM and as a pole dancer). However, he returned in summer 2006 as part of Burger King's ''[[Superman Returns]]'' campaign. * In September 2006, Burger King began using the original animated King design from the late 1960s and early 1970s commercials on its cups, bags and in non [[tie-in]] kids advertising. The second generation King is portrayed as a sarcastic type who sometimes gets in trouble for his mischief making adventures, and appears as a simplistic [[hand puppet]]. * In July 2007, The King appeared in several commercials promoting ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'' as a Simpsons' character, complete with four fingers, yellow skin and an [[Malocclusion|overbite]]. * The ad campaign for the BK Homestyle Melt sandwiches, depicted a group of women, presumably mothers, who have attempted to kill the King though various means such as putting a hit on him, or attempting to run over him with a car. It is implied this is done because the new products are moving in on the women's territory, home cooked meals. * The character has appeared in the [[tie-in]] promotion of the film ''[[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith]]'', commercials for a cross-promotions with the [[NFL]] and [[DirecTV]]'s NFL Sunday Ticket sports subscription package. An animated version was used for a tie-in with ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]''. * A further series of advertisements featuring [[Brooke Burke]], which premiered during [[Super Bowl XL]], featured the King orchestrating an elaborate Broadway-style show called "[[the Whopperettes]]" &ndash; women dressed as burger condiments and toppings in a [[Ziegfeld Follies]] type production. The "Have it your way" slogan and "Creepy King" comment also made its way into the lyrics. * In a 2007 commercial to promote the restaurant chain's new Western Whopper sandwich, the King is shown in full royal attire against an obviously fake backdrop of a [[Southwestern United States|Southwestern]] [[desert]], doing a [[jig]]-like dance to [[banjo]] music. His head is slightly modified so that he wears a [[handlebar mustache]] in the style of the [[Old West]], and is juxtaposed with shots of Burger King customers who, upon consuming a Western Whopper, acquire similar mustaches regardless of age or gender. * In 2007, Burger King introduced a television advertising campaign in which a Burger King restaurant in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] told customers that the company had stopped selling the Whopper sandwich. The ads showed the startled reactions of customers that Burger King would discontinue selling its most popular sandwich. A second round of related commercials showed actual customers who had ordered a Whopper instead being provided with a [[Big Mac]] from [[McDonald's]] or a hamburger from [[Wendy's]]. After the customers complained to the Burger King restaurant manager, the King would emerge from the kitchen with a Whopper on a silver platter. All of the commercials that aired featured excerpts from a full-length video which can be seen at the official "Whopper Freakout" website [http://www.whopperfreakout.com/ here]. * In a 2008 commercial, which takes place in the [[future]], a [[retro-futuristic]] [[robot]] version of the Burger King delivers a new breakfast wrap to a person who is waking up. The purpose of the advertisement was to market Burger King's new Cheesy Bacon BK Wrapper. ===Burger King Movie=== It has now been confirmed that the Burger King will be starring in his own [[feature-length film]], ''The Burger King'', and that the company, [[Burger King]], has lined up a studio and distributor for this film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/AreGeicoCavemenReadyForPrimeTime.aspx |title=A brand-name reminder |author= |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=2007-03-05 |accessdate=2007-10-04 }}</ref> ==NFL commercials== Beginning in 2005, commercials featuring The King were created by digitally altering classic [[National Football League|NFL]] game footage. The King is [[superimposition|superimposed]] over players, making it appear as though the King was involved in the play. Some of the players the King has been imposed over include [[Steve Young (athlete)|Steve Young]], [[Deion Sanders]], and [[Moe Williams]] (receiving a [[lateral pass]] from [[Randy Moss]]). He has also been depicted performing the [[Lambeau Field#The "Lambeau Leap"|Lambeau Leap]] and [[Gatorade shower|dumping Gatorade]] on the head of former [[Miami Dolphins]] head coach [[Don Shula]]. These commercials were referenced on the [[ESPN]] program ''[[Sportscenter]]'', when The King was facetiously dubbed an [[NFL Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Rookie Of The Year]] candidate (despite, as noted, the fact that he is shown playing for multiple teams). In August 2006, a commercial debuted showing The King holding a press conference with his "[[sports agent|agent]]", [[Drew Rosenhaus]]. ==[[Advergaming]]== [[Image:Sneak King cover.png||right|thumb|200px|''[[Sneak King]]'' cover]] The first appearance of The King in a video game was in the boxing game ''[[Fight Night Round 3]]'' from [[EA Sports]] which was released on all-formats, starting with the [[Xbox 360]] release in February 2006.<ref>Michael Donahue, "Forced Guests: Cameos that make us sceam 'Yessss!'" in ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' 226 (March 2008): 34.</ref> The King was available as the in-ring round guy, and later he was selectable as your boxing manager (his speciality was giving you "Heart"). There were also persistent rumors that he could be played as a boxer using a [[cheat code]]. However, some fans of the game regard his cameo as an example of excessive [[product placement]].<ref name="clickz">{{cite web |url=http://www.clickz.com/3627232 |title=Burger King Makes Foray into Mobile Phone Gaming |author=Fred Aun |publisher=[[ClickZ]] |date=2007-10-08 |accessdate=2007-10-09 }}</ref> In October 2006, Burger King announced that it would be releasing three video games for the [[Xbox]] and [[Xbox 360]] consoles, starring The King and other mascots, such as the Subservient Chicken. In ''[[Pocketbike Racer]]'', the mascots face off in a [[minibike]] race. ''[[Big Bumpin']]'' has them trying to defeat each other in a game of [[bumper cars]]. Finally, ''[[Sneak King]]'' has players control the Burger King in a [[third-person perspective]] [[stealth game]], where the King must sneak up behind hungry people and offer them Burger King products. Players are graded on how elaborately they deliver the food. The games were available at Burger King restaurants from [[November 19]] to [[December 24]], [[2006]]. They were priced at $3.99 each ($4.99 Canadian) with purchase of a value meal, and have each been rated "E for Everyone" by the [[ESRB]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6159158.html?tag=lastword;link |title=Burger King orders up Xbox games |author=Brendan Sinclair |publisher=[[Gamespot]] |date=2006-10-02 |accessdate=2007-10-08 }}</ref> While the games are now unavailable in stores, Burger King is still selling the games through its online store.<ref>[https://shop.bk.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=5 The Burger King shop Games page]</ref> The games remain priced at $3.99 each, but they are now available as a set for $10.99. All three received low ratings from various game critics.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/sneakking/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review Sneak King isn't a good game, but it's so crazy and so cheap that it still manages to be weirdly compelling.] [[Gamespot]] review of Sneak King</ref><ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/driving/pocketbikeracer/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabs&tag=tabs;reviews Pocketbike Racer is a bad kart-racing game that's often broken.] Gamespot review of Pocketbike Racer</ref><ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/driving/bigbumpin/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabs&tag=tabs;reviews Big Bumpin' might have worked as a part of a large minigame collection, but on its own, it's sort of lame.] Gamespot review of Big Bumpin'</ref> The newest gaming venture is a series of games that will be developed by [[Seattle, Washington]] based mobile content provider [http://www.Mobliss.com Moblis]. The games, designed to run on mobile phones, will be promoted in US locations on menus and packaging and will be introduced spring of 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theregister.com/2007/10/08/burger_king_mobiles/ |title=Do you want a high-score with that? |author=Bill Ray |publisher=[[The Register]] |date=2007-10-08 |accessdate=2007-10-08 }}</ref> Mobliss describes game play for the first game ''will involve vying for the role of the King's protégé by facing challenges and progressing in the virtual world of a Burger King-themed city''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2007/10/05/burger-king-taps-mobliss-to-develop-mobile-games |title=Burger King Taps Mobliss to Develop Mobile Games |author=Mark Hefflinger |publisher=Digital Media Wire |date=2007-10-08 |accessdate=2007-10-08 }}</ref> The games will be purchased and downloaded using an SMS shortcode, and should be available on all major US carriers as Mobliss has direct publishing agreements with [[Sprint Nextel]], [[AT&T Mobility]], [[Verizon Wireless]], [[Alltel]] and [[T-Mobile (USA)]].<ref name="clickz"/> ==References== {{reflist}} ==See also== * [[Ronald McDonald]] * [[Fast food advertising]] ==External links== *[http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/83/ RetroJunk.com] A 1985 Burger King Kingdom commercial featuring the Burger King and the Duke of Doubt on [[Retro Junk]]. *[http://www.tvacres.com/admascots_burger_king.htm TV Acres.com] The evolution of The Burger King *[http://sevendollarbeer.com/sneakking.html sevendollarbeer.com] A review of the 2006 XBOX video game Sneak King {{Burger King}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Burger King, The}} [[Category:Burger King advertising]] [[Category:Burger King characters]] [[Category:Corporate mascots]] [[Category:Fictional kings]] [[Category:Internet memes]]