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Saturday, December 04, 2004

This post is titled Inflatable SpongeBob Characters Disappearing From Burger Kings by author SoulJah.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- There is a nationwide rash of thefts of 9-foot-tall and 9-foot-wide SpongeBob SquarePants inflatables propped on the roofs of Burger Kings.

More than 50 SpongeBob-nappings have been reported from Florida to Utah since the pop icon started appearing on fast-food restaurant rooftops in a promotional tie-in with his movie Nov. 11. Employees at a Burger King near Palatka are among the latest to report the theft of the $500 balloon last weekend.

"We don't have any theories. SpongeBob SquarePants is kind of a fad. It could be a childhood prank or an adult trying to get a fad item for Christmas," Putnam County sheriff's Lt. Steve Rose said Wednesday. "If any leads come across, we will follow up in hopes of making an arrest."

As part of the promotion, 4,704 inflatable SpongeBobs weighing 50 pounds were ordered for restaurants nationwide, said a Burger King company spokesman. The animated movie and TV star brought to you by Nickelodeon is featured on Burger King children's meals, watches and toys.

The bigger-than-life sized versions of "The SpongeBob Square Pants Movie" star seem to have turned up on eBay, selling for as much as $1,000.

The use of SpongeBob SquarePants is aimed at young males, which is "the hardest market to get to," said Jim Twitchell, a professor of advertising and English at the University of Florida.

"SpongeBob is an idea character. He's not just a kiddie character. He's a transcendent icon, and the fact that he works in a fast-food place is even better," he said.

Twitchell suspects young men are behind most thefts of the famous Krabby Patty flipper.

"From a marketing point of view, stealing generates value," he said. "They will show up in fraternity houses for sure."

Burger King is not actively pursuing the missing inflatables, said a Burger King spokesman, who refused to be identified.

"At the moment, it is sort of a very amusing phenomenon. We hope it is just a prank, and the SpongeBobs come back."

Miami-based Burger King Corp. has 7,956 stores in the United States, and about 7,000 participated in the promotion. Not all of them ordered balloons.

Source : http://www.local6.com/news/3962890/detail.html

"SpongeBob is an idea character. He's not just a kiddie character. He's a transcendent icon, and the fact that he works in a fast-food place is even better,"

A transcendant character... The legions of fans from ordinary adolescents to mega celebrities can't be all wrong...

Posted by SoulJah at 8:43:00 AM

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