These bizarre McDonald's branding decisions prove that the Golden Arches is prone to a few PR misfires, creative collaborations and misguided company choices. From axed advertisements to clever cross-branding campaigns, this collection has it all. Click through the pages below to see them for yourself.
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McDonald's TV Network
In an attempt to keep its dine-in customers programmed properly, McDonald's introduced its new TV network. Its programming will target local communities and feature rotating entertainment pods.
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Man Day
McDonald's China raised eyebrows with its Man Day promotion, which gave male customers half off their second burger on Wednesdays. The campaign celebrates McDonald's introducing 100 percent real beef into its burgers.
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Gualtiero Marchesi Partnership
Chef Gualtiero Marchesi has three Michelin stars under his belt, and McDonald's recruited him to create a tiramisu dessert and two gourmet hamburgers for a seasonal promotion at McDonald's locations in Italy. One featured sweet-and-sour eggplant strips and salted ricotts, while the other contained bacon and salted spinach.
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Super-Sized London Olympics Restaurant
McDonald's is preparing for the 2012 Olympics with a super-sized London location. The 32,000-square-foot restaurant can seat 1,500 and will be the corporation's largest store yet.
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SpongeBob SquarePants Freak-Out
This McDonald's Japan ad features kids going bananas over the SpongeBob SquarePants toys distributed with the kids' meals. The video clip went viral, albeit for the wrong reasons.
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Talking Lemons
To promote its McCafe Strawberry Lemonade, McDonald's called on "The Sopranos" actor Steve Schirripa to voice a talking lemon.
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McDonald's Canada Makeovers
About 1,400 McDonald's Canada restaurants are getting a makeover that'll cost the fast-food giant $1 billion dollars. The lucky locations will get leather seats, fireplaces and plasma TVs.
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Rockaway Wronged
McDonald's angered New York City residents with a train ad that, according to some, insinuated that no one would want to go to Rockaway. The ad was pulled immediately, and McDonald's issued hasty apologies.
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McDonald's Happy Box
The new McDonald's Happy Box promotion in the U.K. boasts that the kids' meals are the ultimate source of happiness.
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Dollar Drink Days
McDonald's Canada promoted its Dollar Drink Days in Vancouver with a clever ice sculpture filled with loonies. As the ice melted, customers could use the loonies to buy drinks.