Do you remember the Taco Bell dog???
I do, and I miss him...or her! The Taco Bell chihuahua was a popular advertising campaign and mascot used by Taco Bell in 1998. The Chihuahua is a breed commonly associated with Mexico, so are the tacos and burritos they serve (shocking right). In commercials, the dog sometimes depicted as a Mexican Revolutionary wearing a beret or as a bandit wearing a sombrero spoke the catch phrase "Yo quiero Taco Bell!"
FYI: The voice over work for these commercials was provided by Carlos Alazraqui, who also does voices on fantastic shows like Sponge Bob Square Pants, The Fairly Odd Parents, Reno 911, Family Guy and many others.
The dog grew so popular, that toy figures of the dog were produced (yes, I had a few of those stuffed animals that when you squeezed them they said funny shit), and "Yo quiero Taco Bell!" became a recognized phrase of pop culture. The dog also started two other catch phrases, "Drop the chalupa!" - my personal favorite - and "Viva Gorditas!" 
The dog was wildly popular, but some Latin Americans accused the dog of being an ethnic stereotype. Taco Bell denied this but stopped showing the dog in advertisements in 2000. I really loved that dog, and loved those commercials. I understand why Taco Bell stopped that campaign (easier than lawsuits), but I really didn't see the problem with them. I am not Latin American, but the food they are selling is Mexican(ish) and chihuahuas also originated in Mexico and are named after Chihuahua the largest state in Mexico. So what is the deal? The commercials were representing things that made sense according to the product they are trying to sell. I am curious what Latin's (and everyone else) thinks about this old advertising campaign.
I want Taco Bell to bring back the chihuahua...anyone want to join my revolution???
72 comments:
I had one with a rose in his mouth. He said, "I thiinnk I'm in loooove." In that little accent he had. Loved it. :-)
Taco Bell has the worst commercials now since the dog was put out.
Bring the dog back!!!
BTW, I have never been to TB and I have no plans to, but I just can't stand what they have now for commercials.
PS, Are you in with the new Experiment? The one with pictures?
We don't have Taco Bell in England, in fact we don't really have TExMex fastfood at all. Even when I lived in the US I didn't ever eat there, but that was because I was told various stories about the poor quality of the food -- tho I did develop a taste for TexMex in general. I also had the dog toy you described, he would say "I love you" when you squeezed him or something like that.
I'm reliably informed though that what we consider Mexican food is nothing like actual Mexican food, and remember going to a classy Mexican restaurant for my birthday several years ago and being confused there were no tacos, burritos etc. In this way, Latin and Central American countries probably get sick of people expecting that food, or being 'known' for it above anything else.
I can also see why some groups would object to the use of the dog -- his voice and the look are stylistically very similar to stereotypes of the "lazy mexican", whether intentional or not.
Mr Mutley fucked his arse and all his fur dropped out. Ah.
Yo quiero el perro de Taco Bell tambien.
Never been to a Taco Bell, we don't have them.
I think one appears in Demolition Man.
We don't have Taco Bell here...d'oh!
Kelly:
I had that one too! So so cute!
Mike M:
I would love to be a part of The Experiment II...what do I have to do???
Thanks for joining the revolution! I will be sending TB a letter with signatures! Just need to collect 9,998 more!
Geico actually brought him back as they were interview mascots. The TAco Bell Dog is coming out of the office as the Gecko is going in and he says, "Aw great! A talking Gecko!"
It was funny!
FeverDog:
No TB is nothing like authentic Mexican food, but still I love me some tacos and burritos! I do see how it is offensive, but I rather like it...this is coming from a WASPY white girl!
Ratty:
Is that why he alwasy smelled bad???
Jeannie:
No clue what that means!
Crushed by Ingsoc:
Your not missing much, my friend actually avoids the tummy trouble and throws her Taco Bell directly into the toilet!
Crashdummie:
That is kind of sad! I actually like Taco Bell!
FlyinFox:
I think she was in the Reese Witherspoon movies too...can't remember the name...blonde something!
I have no clue how someone can feel offended by such a cute doggie!!
Chooo-chweet!!
:-p
Can you believe it, I've NEVER eaten at TB's? I've heard so many stories about it and the recent e-coli thing didn't help matters either. For the very same reason, I avoid KFC too!
I want my food squeaky clean and if possible, organic!
Yoda:
Picky picky picky! A bit of dirt and grime keeps your immune system strong!
I think we have stuff just as bad here.
Gone off McDonalds since they started doing all tghat deli crap.
Crushed:
What kind of deli crap??? They don't do that shit here! We just get their weird salads!
No quiero Taco Bell.
Although, I think they should bring back the Eric Estrada commercial when he says, "You got a license for that taco?"
As a Mexican woman I am HIGHLY offended by this post! Just kidding! lol Seriously, I have no idea why people got their panties all bunched up & stuff. Just one more reason to exercise the right to sue I guess? lol
Cherry Ride:
Yeah, those were pretty good too!
Cece:
You almost made me shit out my taco! The last thing I want to do is piss of a Latina! He he! It doesn't take much to bunch up people's panties!
I liked the dog, but I thought from a marketing standpoint that he might be a little close, subliminally, to "mystery meat," which we always suspect tacos are made out of.
A Taco Hell® closed in Atlanta on the corner of Windy Ridge and Cobb Parkway, about 3 miles south of the famous Big Chicken and right across from their ally, KFC. I almost blogged about it: I don't think I have ever seen a Taco Hell close before!
Their food cost is so low, and it's not like you have to have a JD from Harvard to work there--what possibly went wrong??
For the fecally challenged, here is another job opportunity.
Yo Quiero Taco Bell!
A lot better of an add campaign than that fourth meal shit.
Jenny--Guess what! I have an inside source as my brother and two of my younger cousins work at the Taco Bell here.
--snow
Yo Queiro Jenny
Viva la revolution.
We never had the add's in Oz, however I have been saying it for years as an old work mate of mine for a Festival had one which recited it. So that was what I said whenever someone would ask where we going for lunch! Nobody got it! (considering there is one Taco Bell in the downtown area!)
I don't know about hiring shits, but it's a prerequisite for promotion in a lot of IT shops.
Love the pup but not TB :)
Keshi.
I really don't get how a DOG could advertise a restaurant. We don't have Taco Bell down here, and I'm starting to be glad about that ;)
LOL you crack me up! hope you are having an excellent thursday!
The creepiest thing about gradually transforming into a bloated middle-aged cretin is the freakish time compression that goes on. See, you being a still-vital person in your 20s, you can accurately see that the Taco Bell Dog is a creature in THE PAST. Whereas for a bitter old fart like myself, the TBD exists in a kind of generalized present that encompasses everything since, say, when that cool new band Nirvana started happening.
I made a reference to the TDB earlier today, in fact, and it was meant as a contemporary reference. It's fucking sad.
I just liked it because chihuahuas crack me up, they're so nervous and shaky.
Holy chalupas Batman, you mean it has been 9 years? Time flies...one burrito at at time! Bring 'em back, I say!
We don't have Taco Bell here, but I think we should now I've seen the commercial! :)
It's the society we live in. Like everything is becoming "political" so no one can make jokes anymore.
I miss that little fella. He was the Che Guevara of fast food. It's funny how no one in England takes offense to the Burger King with his immensely oversized head.
Zen:
THere's not much meat to eat on a Chihuahua! He he he Taco Hell!
Zen:
That is a great sign! I wonder what 16 year old got fired for putting that up?
Captian:
I hate that fourth meal shit...so stupid!
Snow:
Do they eat at TB anymore...or are they scared to eat it after working with it???
Yo Queiro Champagne!
Aussie:
I think around my area people would get that even if they haven't ever eaten it!
Cappy:
The more of a shit you are...the more you shit on other people! Shit!
Keshi:
I am a big fan of both!
Steph:
Then you have escaped the e coli scare...lucky you!
Shibari:
I crack myself up...which is at times a problem! I am having a great Thursday...I hope you have an even better Friday!
Michael5000:
I love cretin old farts! They make me feel young! Just kidding! I also was a fan of Nirvana, but when I think about Kurt, I am alwasy like, "damn that was so long ago...remeber back in the day???" Thanks for your comment!
Sunshine:
Like they are on crack! I usually find them quite disturbing looking with those eyes popping out of their heads...but the TB one was really cute!
Variant E:
Holy Chalupas Batman....fuck me...that made me laugh!
Akelamula:
Those commericials make we want TB! The current ones don'teven turn my head!
Namesarehardtopick:
It fucking sucks! Everybody has to "watch what they say" so they don't get shot or slapped with some bullshit lawsuit! Fuck that!
Michael C:
The King...creeps me out...how he never talks, but stares in your window with birds on his head, with the perpetual perv smile on his face....oh, how he scares me!
And they've stopped doing mayonnaise!!
Why, I don't know. If you wanted healthy food, would you go to McDonalds?
I am a little late on this one but I am sure it will come to no surprise that I dislike the commercials. I understand that parody is funny and I admit to enjoying it too. However the dog played up so many stereotypes liek the "Lazy mexican" and the "latin lover" when you are a peoples who havetrouble gaining respect it must be hard to see your culture reduced to tag lines and plush toysthat play up everything you are not. Also using a major revolutionary leader is as offensive as Abraham Lincoln selling KFC. TV land would never stand for that but when it is another culture it seems to be ok.
I think sueing mightbe a little extreme as I am sure Taco Bell was not intentionally trying to hurt people. Like most I think they just did not recognizethe power they had to stereotype an entire group of peoples.
If they were going to sue you would think they would sue Taco Bell for making food that makes people shit and calling it Mexican. It should getits own classification like heywant to get some laxative food, yeah lets go to Taco Bell.
That little dog should be shot.
That is all...
Crushed by Ingsoc:
Mayo is the least of McDonald's worries!
Silly. Maybe they should ban cowboys from US advertising as it might be stereotyping mid-western people. How offensive!!!
Sarah:
I totally understand where you are coming from, and "get you" about things like this! I was actually thinking that you were boycotting my blog b/c of this one! Don totally loves the dog and he is Mexican...well only 50%!
JJ:
Don't hurt the dog! The dog doesn't know any better!
Pub Man:
Good one!
Don't worry, ole king burger freaks me out too. I won't even go into the dream I had where Jack from Jack in the Box chased me into a McDonalds with a meat cleaver!!
John Stamos, huh???
;-)
Michael C:
Yeah, Stamos is hot! There aren't Jack in the Box around here, but if you gave Stamos that meat clever...yum!
Wow,
No Jack in the Box? They have some of the best ads on TV.
If I do give Stamos the meat clever, I promise I'll just get out of the way ;-)
Michael C:
I think you might want to stick around to watch that flesh fest!
Your problems must be few and far between if a dog with a Mexican accent offends you!
We'll go to any lengths imaginable to be victims.
Thanks for the memories of that fine piece of pop culture, Jenny. And screw those who snuffed it out prematurely.
Bug's Butt:
I hear the dog is doing quite well for herself on Geico and in the movies! Taco Bell has gone down hill since they snuffed her out!
Actually, this might work. If you keep ole Johnny occupied, I can play drums for the Beach Boys! Woo Hoo!!!
Michael C:
I can do that!
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