Does this new Wendy’s commercial shot on South Congress finally make Austin cool? [VIDEO]
Everyone knows that a city hasn’t really made it big until it stars in a fast food TV commercial–amiright? So if Real World Austin or the controversial Austin-centric McDonald’s mural didn’t make us cool enough, a new commercial for Wendy’s might help finally put Austin on the map. Stitching together hip things like vintage clothing, a retro catchphrase, and consumer-friendly trendy South Congress, the commercial shows that not only is Austin probably the coolest city in the US, but that Wendy’s understands Y-O-U!!
Check it:
If you’re the type that skips commercials, here are the meaty bits:
Some waifish (maybe German?) tourist is visiting Austin. Trying to fit in, he visits New Bohemia on South Congress and looks for a vintage tee. To NewBo’s credit, I’ve never seen a cardboard box of discounted clothing.
The German dude probably hasn’t seen the 80′s commercial from which this quote came; rather, he chooses the shirt because he thinks the words are funny.
As he buys the shirt, the cashier is the first in a series of folks to ask the dumbfounded dude,”Where’s the beef?” For the record, This girl’s outfit is too mainstream for NewBo. Them folks have style and class.
As he crosses Monroe heading north on South Congress, the dude ditches his dreary duds and puts on his new, hip shirt.
I can’t help but notice that there are no cars parked on South Congress. Apparently no one wanted to be caught on video trying to awkwardly back-in park.
This shot confuses me. First off, when did Allen Boots start selling vintage clothes and antique spinning wheels? And second, is this business guy propositioning the tourist?
Seriously: Fellas, how would YOU interpret a guy ogling your bare midriff as he says, “Where’s the beef?” To be honest, depending on how drunk/stoned I was, I might just head over to the parking garage behind Hopdoddy and make a few extra bills–naw mean?
Oops, he’s heading south now. When did Off the Wall, a clothing store, or Big Top, a candy store, start serving salads and burgers?
What’s more confusing: Having everyone you encounter shout your shirt at you OR walking down South Congress and then magically being teleported to 6th and Congress?
(Side note: Some coworkers and I were walking on the opposite side of 6th when they shot this! OMG! ALMOST FAMOUS, Y’ALL!!)
Now he’s down at the end of Rainey Street at the Mexican American Cultural Center. One too many drinks at Clive bar? And again, another awkward encounter with a lonely man. Get a clue: Just walk around the corner, show him your beef, take the money and run.
Man, this commercial is more geo-temporally effed up than an episode of LOST. For realz: He’s back walking alongside of the South Congress Baptist Church!!
After a few more blocks, he discovers the Wendy’s at SoCo and Ben White. In lieu of showing the actual Wendy’s store from the commercial, we present you with this close-up of plastic-looking cheese.
Insider’s tip: There’s now a P.Terry’s right across Ben White. It’s healthier and local.
Gotta give Wendy’s some props: It takes balls to shoot a commercial in the heart of Whataburger territory. And while it’s nice that y’all shot a commercial in Austin, Wendy’s, in the end, no matter how many commercials you shoot here, I’m gonna keep hittin up my local burger places, like P.Terry’s and Hopdoddy. And if I’m feeling really like I need some fast food, I’ll be hittin up Texas-based Whataburger.
A couple of reasons why P. Terry’s and Hopdoddy kick ass:
- P.Terry’s uses “All-Natural Black Angus beef; hormone-free, antibiotic free while raised on and all-vegetarian diet.” Their chicken burgers come from locally-raised chickens. Plus, P.Terry’s is about the same price as the big chains.
- Hopdoddy, to me, is the future of restaurants. Not only do they source all of their meats locally, but they also bake their own buns (including gluten-free) daily, and compost or recycle everything.
- On September 21st, 2011, Hopdoddy raised $15,376.68, 100% of their sales on that day, for victims of the Bastrop fires.
- On October 1st, 2011, P.Terry’s donated all profits from its 5 locations, $15,143.17, to the Austin Children’s Shelter.
And that, friends, is why Austin is cool. 
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Omigosh. Is that the idiot boyfriend from Modern Family? I can’t bring myself to watch the commercial – thanks for making it so I don’t feel I’ve missed a damn thing – but it sure looks like it from the stills. And “naw mean?” elicited a solid chuckle. In closing, Yay Hopdoddy! Yay P. Terry’s!
Hysterical! Wonderful critique! I thought the commercial was cute.
I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEE this post, man. One, I can’t believe Wendy’s had the balls (like you said) to even do a commercial for their sub-par food in Austin and I can’t believe they think it’s gonna keep us from eating good burgers at P Terry’s, Hopdoddy or some other place that actually sources local goods and uses all-natural NON-hormone injected beef.
But I’d probably suck dick for crack to have one of those “where’s the beef” shirts.
Thanks, April!! Buy local! Be proud!!
And I think you should aim higher
Oh come on now…..aim lower.
Nice article, but seriously….Whataburger over Wendy’s? Gross! Wendy’s is far better tasting. Also don’t forget Mighty Fine, for a quick bite. But really, with P Terry’s, who needs all these other places?!
No matter how it tastes, it looks like plastic. P. Terry’s FTW!!
What-a-shit over Wendy’s because of it being a TX company. They are both craptacular food and both made of horrible ingredients. Is Wendy’s 24 hours? (I don’t eat that shit anymore.) If not, there’s another reason to suggest What-a-shit over Wendy’s.
I did used to love the TX Double Cheeseburger w/extra mustard from that little pig-tailed bitch, but I stopped eating ALL of those places long ago. When I want a fastfood burger it’s P Terry’s. Mighty Fine would be better if you could get better cheese and veggies. but that’s my own schtick. I don’t like the crappy american/plastic cheese that P Terry’s uses either. I just went off on a stoner tangent..sorry.
This post is wonderful. Also, I’m pretty sure t-shirt guy is Dylan from Modern Family.
Dude, that is TOTALLY the idiot boyfriend from Modern Family (Dylan is his name, I believe). I live on South Congress and I first first saw this watching Modern Family on hulu. My mind was blown.
OH YEAH! It does look like that guy–but skinny white dudes all start to look the same after awhile.
This is a national commercial. Only Austinites, the kind who shorten words and names at every opportunity (eg., “NewBo,” “SoCo,” etc.) are going to recognize any of these locations. No one is going to know (or care) that Big Top is a candy store. It’s a commercial. It’s Hollywood. Suspend your disbelief for a mere 30 seconds, and be happy for the fact that this fast food chain opted to employ some of our UT film students rather than shoot in Los Angeles.
Whump whump. You missed the point. Try again!
This may be the best thing you’ve ever written. So damn funny. Me and Rob saw this commercial and did a brief running commentary earlier in the week, but you totally nailed it.
April- so you’d suck dick for crack AND a t-shirt? Steep offer.
Thanks, Zack!
Zach: Dude. I’m a cheap date! That’s a bad-ass shirt! I was there for the 1st go-round of that slogan. #IamOld
Soco stuff shot early in the AM judging from shadows. Probably a Sun AM judging on the parking sitn. Good thing for them they didn’t show the Wendy’s from a distance. Only folks that walk around there take shopping carts with them. Still a cute ad, gotta admit. Not cute enough to make me go to Wendy’s but not bad.
I auditioned to be in this commercial. When the casting director told me to pretend I saw a cute boy and to flirt by saying “Where’s the Beef?” I knew there was no way in hell I would be cast for this.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAA
I like the geographical skips, only an Austinite would care and it makes for a fun game with drunk friends. Or perhaps it’s an homage to Slacker – north side, west campus, 5th/Lamar, hyde park, 6th/lavaca, where will the hipsters guerilla shoot next?!?
I would love to see the Wendy’s homage to Slacker! LOL
A) I LOVE this post,
B) April is *cracking me up* over here with her comments … “I just went off an a stoner tangent.”
