Ah, good old Applebee's, the place where suburban friends go to eat when one of them is really fussy and hates  sushi, barbecue, Chinese, Italian, seafood, Mexican, or anything else that doesn't belong on a menu alongside potato skins. Good old Applebee's, where poverty-stricken college kids gather by moonlight to gorge themselves on half-price appetizers. Yes, our good old Applebee's is attempting to move up-market, if its pleasant (but bland) current ads on TV are any indication. I couldn't find one on YouTube, but they look a lot like their Web site: www.applebees.com

I remember their ad campaign from last year, just after IHOP took over the chain. A spunky talking apple (voiced by comedian Wanda Sykes) repeatedly urged potential diners to "Get it together, baby!" by going to Applebee's. Notwithstanding the fact that that slogan could be applied to ANY product or service, the ads had a manic feel to them, as if Applebee's' new owners were desperate to create any sort of identity for the chain. They were a bit bizarre, but at least they were memorable...in fact, some YouTubers have created some terrific parodies:

 

 

 

 

"I don't wanna get it together!!"

Will the talking apple ever return to the airwaves? It's too soon to say whether it's been banished forever or if it's just on sabbatical, but taking into consideration the fact that Applebee's was originally known as "T.J. Applebee’s Rx for Edibles & Elixirs," the continued blandening of its corporate image and the demise of the apple seems the more likely outcome.