{"id":56,"date":"2023-04-11T19:05:30","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T19:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-835188-4283456.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=56"},"modified":"2023-04-11T19:05:31","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T19:05:31","slug":"mcdonalds-mac-tonight-commercial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/mcdonalds-mac-tonight-commercial\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring the Iconic McDonald&#8217;s &#8216;Mac Tonight&#8217; Commercial (1987)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>McDonald&#8217;s &#8216;Mac Tonight&#8217; Commercial, first aired in 1987, quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The commercial featured a crescent moon pianist wearing sunglasses who played the song &#8220;Mack the Knife.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The character known as <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mac_Tonight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mac Tonight<\/a> was created for McDonald&#8217;s to promote their late-night menu, which was introduced to compete with other fast-food chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The commercial was so popular that it spawned a line of merchandise, including plush toys, t-shirts, and even a video game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mac Tonight became an iconic figure of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the commercial&#8217;s catchy jingle and memorable character design have made it a nostalgic favorite for many people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite its popularity, the Mac Tonight campaign was eventually discontinued by McDonald&#8217;s in the early 1990s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the character has continued to live on in pop culture, with references and homages appearing in various media over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"McDonalds Mac Tonight 1987\" width=\"1290\" height=\"968\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jxqVlmjmguE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Launch of the Mac Tonight Campaign<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1987, McDonald&#8217;s launched a new advertising campaign featuring a character named Mac Tonight. The campaign was created by the advertising agency Leo Burnett and was aimed at promoting the fast-food chain&#8217;s late-night hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The commercials featured a catchy jingle and a character that quickly became a pop culture icon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Concept Behind the Mac Tonight Character<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mac Tonight character was designed to be a cool, laid-back, and sophisticated musician who played the piano and sang the famous song &#8220;Mack the Knife.&#8221; The character was portrayed as a crescent moon with a face, wearing sunglasses and a suit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The concept behind the character was to create a connection between McDonald&#8217;s late-night hours and the nightlife of big cities. The character was played by actor Doug Jones, who would later become known for his work in films such as &#8220;Pan&#8217;s Labyrinth&#8221; and &#8220;The Shape of Water.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The commercials featuring Mac Tonight were a huge success, and the character quickly became a <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress-835188-4283456.cloudwaysapps.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cultural phenomenon<\/a>. Mac Tonight merchandise, including T-shirts, hats, and toys, was sold at McDonald&#8217;s restaurants across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the Mac Tonight campaign was a huge success for McDonald&#8217;s, helping to promote the chain&#8217;s late-night hours and attracting a new generation of customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"974\" height=\"816\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress-835188-4283456.cloudwaysapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-1.png\" alt=\"McDonald's 'Mac Tonight' Commercial\" class=\"wp-image-61\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-1.png 974w, https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-1-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-1-768x643.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 974px) 100vw, 974px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Popularity and Reception of the Commercial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1987\/11\/29\/business\/the-making-of-mac-tonight.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mac Tonight<\/a>&#8221; commercial campaign was a huge success for McDonald&#8217;s. The character of Mac Tonight, a crescent moon pianist who wore sunglasses and a suit, quickly became a cultural phenomenon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The commercials aired from 1987 to 1997, and during that time, McDonald&#8217;s saw a significant increase in sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The commercial was not only popular in the United States but also in other countries where McDonald&#8217;s had a presence. The commercial was well-received by the public and critics alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The catchy jingle, &#8220;It&#8217;s Mac Tonight,&#8221; and the character&#8217;s smooth demeanor and musical talent were all praised. The commercial won several awards, including a Clio Award for best animation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legacy of the Mac Tonight Campaign<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; campaign had a lasting impact on popular culture. The character of Mac Tonight became a cultural icon, and the jingle became a well-known earworm. The character even had his own line of merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, and toys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The campaign also paved the way for other successful McDonald&#8217;s campaigns, such as the &#8220;I&#8217;m Lovin&#8217; It&#8221; campaign, which launched in 2003. The success of the &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; campaign showed the power of advertising and the impact it can have on a brand&#8217;s sales and reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; campaign had a significant impact on McDonald&#8217;s and popular culture. The character of Mac Tonight became a beloved icon, and the jingle became a classic earworm. The campaign&#8217;s success paved the way for other successful McDonald&#8217;s campaigns and showed the power of advertising to shape a brand&#8217;s image and reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Controversy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Racial Stereotyping Allegations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; commercial faced allegations of racial stereotyping due to the fact that the character, a moon-headed jazz musician, was voiced by a white actor, Doug Jones. Some critics argued that the portrayal of a Black jazz musician with a crescent moon head was reminiscent of the racist caricatures that were common in early 20th-century American media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Appropriation Criticisms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the racial stereotyping allegations, the &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; campaign also faced criticism for cultural appropriation. Many argued that the use of jazz music, which has roots in African American culture, as a <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress-835188-4283456.cloudwaysapps.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marketing tool<\/a> for a fast food chain was inappropriate and disrespectful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the controversy, the &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; campaign was a success for McDonald&#8217;s, and the character became a cultural icon of the late 1980s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the allegations of racial stereotyping and cultural appropriation are still debated today, and serve as a reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity in advertising and media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; commercial was a groundbreaking advertising campaign for McDonald&#8217;s. The character of Mac Tonight, a moon-headed pianist, was a unique and memorable addition to the brand&#8217;s marketing efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through its use of catchy music and creative visuals, the &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; campaign successfully captured the attention of audiences and helped to differentiate McDonald&#8217;s from its competitors. The character of Mac Tonight became a cultural icon and is still remembered fondly by many today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the &#8220;Mac Tonight&#8221; campaign was ultimately discontinued, its impact on the advertising industry and popular culture cannot be denied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The campaign&#8217;s success serves as a testament to the power of creative marketing and the importance of standing out in a crowded marketplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>McDonald&#8217;s &#8216;Mac Tonight&#8217; Commercial, first aired in 1987, quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The commercial featured a crescent moon pianist wearing sunglasses who played the song &#8220;Mack the Knife.&#8221; The character known as Mac Tonight was created for McDonald&#8217;s to promote their late-night menu, which was introduced to compete with other fast-food chains. The commercial [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":59,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[31,55,16,56,45],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62,"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions\/62"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rememberthatcommercial.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}