Rick Bayless and Burger King - Part 2

[hollywood]

Oh, that's tasteful. And fits right in with, you know, the family-friendly atomosphere.

That was my first reaction. Then I thought, well, maybe if you're a desiccated old guy a juicy burger is as good as it's gonna get anymore.

[Fat Guy]

Okay, get this: I was just asked to be in a commercial for some sort of dietary supplement for "big and tall" people. I said no. I'm holding out for Burger King.

[fresco]

Did you talk money first--but no, of course, if it's a dietary supplement, it would be slim pickings, wouldn't it?

[Fat Guy]

Actually I said no without hearing about the money, and they asked me how much it would cost to get me to say yes. I'm thinking about it. I'd definitely need at least a hundred bucks.

[Varmint]

Okay, get this: I was just asked to be in a commercial for some sort of dietary supplement for "big and tall" people. I said no. I'm holding out for Burger King.

Steve, it was for "big and tall people." You only meet one of the criteria.

[MatthewB]

Actually I said no without hearing about the money, and they asked me how much it would cost to get me to say yes. I'm thinking about it.

Take one for the team.

It would make for a long & lively thread.

[Fat Guy]

Okay, maybe I should do it. But only if it doesn't devalue me in the eyes of the Burger King people.

[chefsteban]

yo..if you take that endorsement gig...that makes you fair game for Rick Bayless...or Tasteless bayless as we call him in these parts.

[Fat Guy]

I just feel these supplements are a step in the right direction. Given that, it would be immoral for me not to do this ad. By the way I'm giving the money to charity.

[ExtraMSG]

Don't get kicked out of the CC (Corpulent Collaborative).

"You ain't fat....you ain't nothin'" ~ Weird Al

[hollywood]

By the way I'm giving the money to charity.

Charity begins at home. The Lord helps those that help themselves. Go for it, FG.

[Mark Sommelier]

This article is online at the Washington Post website. egullet and specific people are quoted extensively:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...0-2003Dec2.html

The article is about the furor sparked by his endorsement of BK.

[bourdain]

Further evidence that Bayless is a complete wanker and douche bag--thoughtfully proved by the man himself.

Hey, Rick! Suck my fucking dick!

Edited December 3, 2003 by bourdain (log)

[bourdain]

Oh..I forgot to add the incentive...I'll PAY you forty dollars...

[bourdain]

And if anybody finds out--you can give it to charity.

[Jason Perlow]

Further evidence that Bayless is a complete wanker and douche bag--thoughtfully proved by the man himself.

Hey, Rick! Suck my fucking dick!

So like, tell us how you really feel, Tony.

[tanabutler]

Add R. Ray to the pile of pimps or whores or what have you. Or does she even count? Isn't she like the Jan Brady version of someone who actually cooks or writes for a living?

From the article:

Like Bayless, she was paid six figures for her endorsement, a fee she calls typical. "The commercials served a purpose. They showed that there are some healthy options. I don't think either Rick or I [was] doing it for the money," she adds.

Are you KIDDING ME? Wait. Does the six-figure amount include a decimal point?

Too bad they quoted Steve KLC (whom I nevertheless respect, divergent views notwithstanding) defending Bayless.

The essence of the Post article for me was the Clark Wolf quote:

But Rick has been respected for many years as a food historian, a culinary anthropologist and a passionate purist. If he's going to shock us, it better be for a good reason and done well. And these commercials are cheesy. He's just being a shill."

And Bobby Flay turned BK down. Add back one point of begrudged respect to Bobby "I fart in the general direction of your Iron Stadium" Flay.

Time for another letter to the Chefs Collaborative.

[tanabutler]

I forgot.

He says he's received "hundreds of support letters" and only two negative e-mails about the ad

TWO NEGATIVE E-MAILS?

Oh re-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alllly?

I don't buy that for one single itty-bitty tiny weeny second.

Anyone here care to inform the Post of conditions to the contrary?

[jhlurie]

Ray cheerfully admits that people don't see her as a serious chef, which is why her commercials for Burger King's Savory Mustard Chicken Sandwich drew so little comment.

In a strange way, I actually get back a smidgen of respect for her because of this stance. At least she has some self-awareness about being more of a phenomenon than a talent.

Like Bayless, she was paid six figures for her endorsement, a fee she calls typical. "The commercials served a purpose. They showed that there are some healthy options. I don't think either Rick or I [was] doing it for the money," she adds.

But... that comment might stop that respect dead in its tracks. Admittedly she says "think", but how does she know what was in Bayless' head?

[tommy]

But... that comment might stop that respect dead in its tracks. Admittedly she says "think", but how does she know what was in Bayless' head?

she doesn't know. she thinks. it's her opinion, which may very well be based on a lot of different things that she didn't go into in that interview or quote.

[Jason Perlow]

I forgot.

He says he's received "hundreds of support letters" and only two negative e-mails about the ad

TWO NEGATIVE E-MAILS?

Oh re-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alllly?

I don't buy that for one single itty-bitty tiny weeny second.

Anyone here care to inform the Post of conditions to the contrary?

We've heard this line before. On eGullet, its "The users support me via PM!"

[Jason Perlow]

Dammit, you bastards squashed my dreams of having a Rick Bayless Q&A.

[Mayhaw Man]

On one hand, he says, "it's good to focus on more healthful food, and the sandwich is better than most of the stuff at Burger King." But Bayless has created a credibility gap, Clark adds. "Emeril can endorse Crest toothpaste because Emeril never claims to know a lot about food. But Rick has been respected for many years as a food historian, a culinary anthropologist and a passionate purist. If he's going to shock us, it better be for a good reason and done well. And these commercials are cheesy. He's just being a shill."

I believe that Emeril has been claiming to know about food nightly for about 10 years on the Food Network. What the hell is this guy talking about? Does he mean that EG is immune from criticism because he is endorsing a non food product ( I would agree with that, but I don't remember ever thinking, "Hey! That Emeril sure has some shiny choppers!" so I am not sure why he would make me want to buy toothpaste)?

Bayless comes off as smarmy (I gave it all to charity so all bets are off and I am above criticism because of the shield of charity) and defensive. Those two emails must have been pretty rough to put him on the defense given the "thousands" of positive ones he recieved.

I'd like to see some of the positive ones while we're at it-

"Hey Rick, I was thinking about Frontera Grill tonight, but after I saw you whooping it up at Burger King I decided that whole sit down dining thing was overrated and we headed on over to BK for some real South of the Border Flavor"

or

"We were in town for the weekend and had reservations at Tampoopoo or Tamponoloco or whatever the hell that place of yours is called, but since you said that BK was so good we decided to go there instead. The food is good and the name of the place is much easier to pronounce".

[Jinmyo]

Oh my.

That sandwich just won't stay down.

[hannnah]

FWIW, the Post's taste test pretty much agreed with everyone else's...

"Not great."