Terri: I’m so hungry I could eat at Arby’s!
– Das Bus (The Simpsons Season 9 – Episode 14)
Lisa: Why does a dog have human girlfriends?
Marge: People do crazy things in ads. Like eat at Arby’s.
– Old Yeller-Belly (The Simpsons Season 14 – Episode 19)
Homer: If I can keep down Arby’s, I can keep down you!
– Treehouse of Horror XVII (The Simpsons Season 18 – Episode 4)
Marge: Ooh, I’m getting a message from your father’s fantasy football league. I must still be logged in as him. Lenny used the “uck” word.
Lisa: Mom, it’s trash talk. You know how guys say mean things to their friends, the way women say nice things to their enemies.
– The Wreck of the Relationship (The Simpsons Season 26 – Episode 2)
The Simpsons writers make fun of Arby’s disproportionately to other fast food restaurants, but why? Internet research suggests everything from “Matt Groening got food poisoning there once” to “Arby’s deserves it because they suck” – I’m sure the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Despite my obviously terrible eating habits, I never eat Arby’s. Perhaps The Simpsons have subconsciously influenced my fast food choices over the years? Quite a few readers have requested this, so I decided to do something crazy and eat there for once! A reader also wanted me to make a roasted boar with slime on a rock, but there are limits to what I can do. Anyway, I got the Beef ‘n Cheddar, Curly Fries, and a Pepsi:
I felt ok after eating this, but I certainly didn’t get violently ill. It probably helped that I went during the lunch rush so I don’t think my food had been sitting around for long. The curly fries were hot and fresh, plus the seasoning is pretty tasty. I liked the sandwich less; I think it was the “cheddar” sauce that was the most unappealing to me. So overall? Meh. It wasn’t great, it wasn’t terrible. I wouldn’t have to be starving on a deserted island before I would consider eating Arby’s, but I’m not going back when there are so many other fast food options available.
Cromulence: 5 Monkey Butlers out of 10
No Fuss, No Muss Arby’s From: A Milhouse Divided (The Simpsons Season 8 – Episode 6) / Das Bus (The Simpsons Season 9 – Episode 14) / Old Yeller-Belly (The Simpsons Season 14 – Episode 19) / Treehouse of Horror XVII (The Simpsons Season 18 – Episode 4) / The Wreck of the Relationship (The Simpsons Season 26 – Episode 2)
If only Arby’s hadn’t stopped doing their 5 for 5 deal. Sure it was a bit bad for buisness on their end but 5 roast beef sandwiches for 5 dollars, that’s a heck of a deal.
And on the topic of fast food you could do a No Muss, No Fuss featuring Burger King’s Whopper. There were at least two commercials for that featuring The Simpsons for a while. Not to mention the Butterfinger commercials featuring Bart. They’re both Simpsons related so why not?
Agreed on the Butterfinger especially, it has been so long since the advertising tie in – but I still remember it!