Is McDonald’s Grinch Happy Meal coming to the U.S.? Because we want it.

We want our Grinch Happy Meal!

We all love the Grinch, so it’s no surprise a McDonald’s Happy Meal with  Grinch face box that comes with Grinch plushies has gone very viral.

The good news? It’s possible to get one!

The bad news? That’s true ONLY if you live in the United Kingdom, and it’s through Dec. 31.

So, is it coming to the United States? That we don’t have an answer for, so it may not happen this holiday season for the U.S.

But perhaps all the social media shouts will be heard by execs who will send the Grinch Happy Meal our way soon enough.

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McDonald’s Spicy Chicken McNuggets should be a permanent menu item, but they’re back for now

Yum.

(This post has been updated with new information.)

McDonald’s knows what it’s doing.

By offering menu items like the famed McRib or the Grimace milkshake (shudder) for a limited time, the demand gets driven up, people buy the product and by the time it’s gone, the chain has created serious buzz. It’s smart marketing.

So here we are with Spicy Chicken McNuggets. People are desperate for them to be a permanent menu staple, but alas: they are “back for a limited time with a spicy breading that adds a real kick to the fan favorite Chicken McNuggets.” (UPDATE: I’ve been informed that they’re a regional offering in places like Phoenix, Dallas, New York, Houston, Memphis elsewhere.)

Sounds really good. Go get ’em before they all run out.

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Mets fans were so thrilled to see Grimace while riding the subway to Citi Field

Thanks to the New York Mets, today is not a normal day in New York City.

Thanks to the New York Mets, today is not a normal day in New York City.

For the first time in over 3,000 days, the Mets are set to host a playoff game beyond a wild card appearance in the MLB postseason. As many fans made their way to Citi Field in Queens, one very special guest joined a few of them on the train.

It was the McDonald’s character Grimace, who has served as a good luck charm for the team during the magical 2024 season. Fans seemed beyond excited to see the large purple mascot.

GRIMACE: Why the Mets love this McDonald’s character, explained

This moment looked incredibly exciting for everyone involved, Grimace included.

There are 11 cars on the 7-line train that will have custom decals devoted to Grimace, per the MTA:

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McDonald’s is finally bringing the Chicken Big Mac to the US

If you’ve ever wanted a Chicken Big Mac, now’s your chance. Here’s when you can finally get it.

If you’re one of those McDonald’s fiends who’ve been dreaming about a chicken version of the fast food joint’s classic Big Mac sandwich, fret not. Your dreams are finally a reality.

The concept is pretty simple. It’s a Big Mac with two fried chicken patties instead of burger patties. Everything else on the sandwich is the same.

For the first time ever — and for a limited time — the Chicken Big Mac will be sold in the United States.

The new twist on the sandwich is coming to McDonald’s restaurants nationwide on October 10, the brand announced via Twitter.

The Chicken Big Mac isn’t necessarily a new thing. It’s been around in other countries in limited stints. It was released for a limited time in the United Kingdom in 2022, according to CNN, and was a hit.

It has also been briefly available in certain cities in the US before, but never for an extended period. This time, everyone will be able to try McDonald’s new variation of the sandwich while it’s here.

From ‘Air Jordan’ to ‘Hare Jordan’: David Falk, longtime agent of Michael Jordan, talks back-to-back Ad Meter wins in early 1990s

The longtime agent of Michael Jordan and marketing pioneer sat down with USA TODAY Ad Meter at SEICon in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Somewhere at the intersection of creating commercial concepts over beer and sushi and Super Bowl advertising infamy awaits David Falk, one of the most influential figures not just in sports marketing but also in USA TODAY Ad Meter lore.

The famed agent of Michael Jordan and the man behind the iconic “Air Jordan” branding sat down with Ad Meter while in Las Vegas, Nevada, for SEICon to take a nostalgic look at advertising’s biggest stage.

For Falk, the view is rather unique.

He has been part of two winning commercials in the Super Bowl ratings, taking the top spot in 1992 with Nike and in ’93 with McDonald’s.

That alone is impressive, even more so considering it’s two different brands. But Falk’s help with the marketing vision for each concept—a thoughtful mix of Looney Tunes and, finally, saying that it was OK not to have Jordan as the lone star of the show—still holds up in pop culture today, spotlighting how impactful the campaigns were and are.

“What those commercials became was more than simply advertising,” said Falk. “It became culture.”

First up was Nike, which had been working with Jordan since 1984. At that point, the famed “Shoe Deal” progressed from the early stages to a global trend, with the Swoosh and Jumpman logo combining for a proverbial marketing slam dunk.

The origin story, as Falk noted, was more gorilla-style than polished blockbuster, though. In the early days, he and Nike created commercial concepts over sushi and beer until the brand suggested they “get some real ad power in here.”

What followed that marketing nudge was a literal trip down a rabbit hole, one that landed at the lucky foot of Bugs Bunny ahead of the 1992 Super Bowl.

But a cartoon in a commercial? With Michael?

“It was very tough because people don’t realize that with a green screen, you’re standing in front of a blank screen, you’re there by yourself—there’s no human interaction, no back-and-forth,” Falk explained. “You have to figure out what direction you are talking to, and you have to do multiple takes.”

Though it was a questionable production move with complex ideas, Falk had confidence in his client. By 1992, Jordan had been doing commercials for eight years, and his personality and on-camera presence were just as impressive as his talents on the court.

“He was great at it,” Falk exclaimed.

So, there was little doubt that Jordan couldn’t handle such a strange shooting schedule. (And to be fair, Bugs Bunny had over 50 years of television work under his belt, so his ability to keep up with the frantic pace probably wasn’t a concern either.)

With first-time Super Bowl commercial director Joe Pytka taking the reins, Nike, Bugs, Michael and David set off to create the campaign.

Then, showtime!

After the clock ticked down to zero during Super Bowl 27, the Dallas Cowboys were the champions. And so was Nike’s “Hare Jordan,” taking the top spot in the Ad Meter ratings while creating history as the first winning ad ever to have an animal of any kind in a leading role.

It was a major hit, but Falk and Jordan were just getting started.

One year later, McDonald’s entered the Super Bowl scene.

This time, there wouldn’t be any green screen or production days spent figuring out the logistics of an animated rabbit. But it did involve a co-star, an actual human named Larry Bird.

That presented a philosophical problem more complex than any roadblocks during previous campaign.

Larry Bird in a commercial? With Michael?

“For most of Michael’s career, we never let him be in ads with anyone else,” Falk revealed. “I always wanted Michael to be by himself. I didn’t think he needed any supporting characters.”

However, his admiration for Bird helped sway the marketing pendulum ever so slightly, and Jordan’s respect and relationship with the Celtics legend was strong enough for Falk to see the connection.

“The contrast in personalities… I thought it was a great idea, so I broke my own rule and allowed another person to be in the commercial,” said Falk.

The McDonald’s commercial concept would be one of the exceptions—and what an exception the campaign turned out to be, one of the greatest games of HORSE ever.

The Super Bowl spot, titled “The Showdown,” turned out to be another winner, this time making Ad Meter history as the first ad ever to get a rating of a collective 9 (out of a possible 10).

Like most of his career, Falk’s entry into the Super Bowl Sunday rush was a success: Two years, two ads, two Ad Meter wins, and two footnotes of historical trivia.

But, as he noted before, there was more to both of the campaigns when looking through the lens of the advertising roadmap that has sped along in the 30-plus years since then.

The pioneering efforts of both spots helped move the advertising needle in a new direction. Only a few years later, Pepsi produced a winning formula that starred animated bears dancing to the Village People’s “YMCA.” That was followed by creative campaigns looking to push boundaries while packing the 30 seconds with star power, which has transformed in today’s marketing world to include ensemble casts of all-time greats.

“That’s a testimony to the creativity of the people who created the commercials,” said Falk.

And the creative success for Falk and Jordan didn’t stop there, of course.

He saw more to the ’92 storyboard, a progression that eventually turned into the 1996 hit movie “Space Jam,” directed by Pytka. And he still enjoys hearing people, himself included, say “nothing but net” after making a solid point or shot, whether that’s on the basketball court, the golf course, wherever.

As for the Super Bowl commercials today, Falk is definitely a fan and enjoys seeing the massive audience element as a way to present campaigns and capture attention in a streaming-heavy world.

“As it gets bigger and bigger, I think one of the most fun parts of the Super Bowl is the ads,” he began. “It’s become the Super Bowl of Commercials.”

Noting but net, David. Nothing but net.

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Imagining the MLB fandom of other McDonald’s characters now that Grimace is a Mets fan

The McDonald’s characters can’t get enough MLB

The New York Mets Grimace-fueled seven-game win streak sadly came to an end on Wednesday night as the Texas Rangers won, 5-3.

It capped off an extremely weird, and completely in-character run for both the Mets and their fans, who channeled the energy of the large purple monster’s first pitch a week ago. By the end of the streak McDonald’s account on X (formerly Twitter) was even posting Mets content.

Now listen, when a multi-billion dollar enterprise is linking up with a pro baseball franchise, there are few teams with lower floors than the Mets from a PR perspective. One day you’re beating every team and the next you have a player throwing their glove into the stands out of frustration.

Yet Grimace is but one of (far too) many characters in the McDonald’s-verse. Now that we’ve established as canon how much these creatures love baseball we have no choice but to wonder about the fandoms of Grimace’s colleagues.

Some were easier to figure out than others.

Uncle O’Grimacey: Boston Red Sox

Grimace’s Irish uncle is responsible for the Shamrock Shake and is so obviously a Red Sox fan. In fact, young Grimace and Uncle O’G spent many fond days bonding over their shared hatred of the New York Yankees. Grimace would never root for the Red Sox himself, of course, but he’s happy for his kinfolk each time Boston gets another W over the Bronx Bombers.

The McNugget Buddies: Minnesota Twins

They’re just here for a good time, not a long time — much like the Twins every October. These wannabe Mr. Potato Head Happy Meal toys ooze Minnesota Nice. Look how thrilled they are despite being packed into a box that can barely contain them all. Only Twins fans can find that kind of joy in otherwise dire circumstances. I’d bet anything two of The McNugget Buddies are named Paul and Minnie.

Officer Big Mac: Texas Rangers

Officer Big Mac is a season ticket-holder of the Texas Rangers. He considers the 2023 World Series the second-most life-affirming moment he’s experienced after that time he narrowly escaped death at the hands of Ronald’s ATV and then celebrated with McDonald’s breakfast.

Mayor McCheese: St. Louis Cardinals

Mayor McCheese’s Cardinals fandom actually began as a giant misunderstanding. You see, he saw The Gateway Arch and assumed all of St. Louis was just a giant McDonald’s. Though sometimes it can smell that way, the Mayor stuck with the St. Louis through good and bad, all while trying to enforce all the unwritten rules of baseball despite wielding no actual power.

Captain Crook: Pittsburgh Pirates

Captain Crook just wants to hang out with his friends and eat Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. He’s also a pirate himself, sure, but he was born in 1971, the same year Roberto Clemente led Pittsburgh to a World Series title. That kind of thing just sticks with a kid/McDonald’s mascot.

Ronald McDonald: Oakland A’s

Game respect game. The biggest circus in baseball is the perfect draw for fast food’s biggest clown.

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McDonald’s Grimace showed Mets fans what happens when something goes right this season

Well, at least somebody at Citi Field knows how to entertain the fans.

In honor of his June 12th birthday, McDonald’s beloved purple mascot Grimace threw out the first pitch at Citi Field on Wednesday night.

The fact that a gigantic purple blob threw a baseball within the same vicinity of home plate gave the New York Mets fans in attendance some hope that at least something might go right in their ballpark this season.

Sad days fill the stands at Citi Field this season as the lowly Mets are 28-37 and fully en route to another lost season.

Nothing seems to go right for New York these days, so the McDonald’s mascot that looks like a radioactive, low-key thicc Chicken McNugget throwing a decent first pitch at Citi Field has to count for something.

Maybe the Grimace first pitch will spark some good luck for Mets fans, or maybe it’ll just inspire them to drown their sorrows with a Grimace Milkshake if their local McDonald’s will bring it back just for them.

If not, well, there’s been enough grimacing at Citi Field this season. Maybe this will make Mets fans smile for once.

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McDonald’s now selling Krispy Kreme has everyone dreaming of making Quarter Pounders with donut buns

Everyone wants to put Quarter Pounders on donuts now.

Just when you thought you didn’t more donuts in your life comes this news: McDonald’s is teaming up with Krispy Kreme to serve the sugary stuff to customers starting with some stores that will serve them later this year with a full rollout by the end of 2026.

This is good news for those of you who like donuts, and if you like McDonald’s coffee, this seems like a good way to combine those two things. Apparently, this was tested at 160 McDonald’s in Kentucky, so we already know it’s going to work.

But folks already have a life hack: They want to make the donuts as buns for burgers:

Yum.

 

Jason Kelce surprised his favorite McDonald’s employee by kindly signing her Eagles jersey

Jason Kelce is the man.

While Philadelphia Eagles legendary center Jason Kelce might be stepping away from the game, news of his possible retirement didn’t keep him from showing love to his favorite McDonald’s employee.

Fox 29 in Philadelphia shared the heartwarming story this week of McDonald’s employee Danielle Bonham, who developed a friendship with Kelce each time he checked in to get some food at the Broomall McDonald’s location.

The two have gotten so chummy that Kelce stopped by on Wednesday to sign one of Bonham’s Kelce Eagles jerseys for her help in making his McDonald’s runs always go swimmingly.

“I’m forever grateful and very fortunate to have crossed paths with him as many times as I did, and I just wish him nothing but the best,” Bonham said about the encounter, via Fox 29.

This was such a cool gesture from one of the most beloved players in the NFL, and it also make us a little hungry for a McDonald’s breakfast sandwich while we’re at it.

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The McDonald’s-inspired Hamburglar, Birdie and Grimace shoes Crocs just released are the creepiest things ever

These shoes all have eyes and they stare back at you.

It’s not hard to make an ugly pair of Crocs. The shoes are just generally hideous pieces of footwear.

They’re basically just wearable thumbs for your feet. Did anything about that last sentence sound aesthetically pleasing? Your answer should be no. If it is yes, please let me know immediately and send me your location so I can inform the authorities of your whereabouts. Thanks.

Anyway, I digress. The point of this article isn’t to tell you that Crocs are ugly. You know that already.

What I’m here to inform you is that McDonald’s and Crocs have collaborated to make some of the most heinous pieces of footwear I’ve ever seen.

The brands released four pairs of Crocs — three clogs inspired by McDonald’s, Hamburglar and Birdie as well as another pair of fuzzy slides inspired by Grimace.

Here’s a look.

Yikes, right? I don’t know what’s worse — the fact that these all exist or the fact that they also have eyes. It makes them even creepier. Grimace, in particular, is just staring into the depths of your soul and telling you to go buy a Big Mac right now.

Grimace was already creepy as is. I don’t need his eyes staring right back at me from my feet. That’s weird.

Listen, man. If you’re into these, more power to you. But you’ll never catch me in a pair.