 Brian
& Kirk (Applebee's Guys) - Food-loving musicians who just can't stop
singing the praises of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar, the world's casual
dining leader, with over 1600 restaurants in forty-nine states. The mission of
the Applebee's Guys is to travel the world (in a conversion van) and spread
the news about Applebee's through beautiful music. Kirk, with the frizzy hair,
plays the guitar in the act; Brian, with hat and vest, plays the bass.
Applebee's ad tagline is "Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood."
According to Applebee's Guys bio, Brian is a New Jersey native. He prefers to
sing about chicken and seafood. Kirk, on the other hand, hails from Ohio. He is
partial to beef tunes. Both Brian and Kirk now live in Los Angeles.
Reportedly, Kirk came West to be "the first restaurant singer, spokesman,
actor, model in People Magazine. Brian aspires to be an "idol to restaurant
groupies everywhere."
The boy's lively, upbeat performances blend familiar pop culture songs with
lyrics relating to the Applebee's chain. In March 2006, the Applebee's
restaurant chain introduced a "Shrimp Sensations” advertising campaign in which
Brian and Kirk promoted the franchise's shrimp offerings by singing their
version of "The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle." The commercial aired during the NAAC
Basketball Tourney.
In a later commercial, Brian and Kirk perform a rendition of Bobby Darin's "Mack
the Knife." That spot included the animated image of a "Dead Celebrity" (Sammy
Davis, Jr). Here are the lyrics:
"Oh it's the steakhouse. Yeah!
At Applebee's, babe!
Inspiration every night.
Hangin' with the cool cats.
Sammy you know where it's at
(Sammy Davis, Jr.
appears in the lounge acknowledging the two singers on
stage.)
Steakhouse Inspirations
Are out of sight
Grillin' and Crab Cakes
Chicken Asiago
Steakhouse Inspiration at Applebee's
...Steakhouse steak is BACK!!!
Not everyone was appreciative of the the
Applebee's Guys nostalgic remakes. Some web forums posted comments
like "Those Applebee's guys need to be stopped"; " If I hear those
guys again, I'll shove soup ladle's into my ears"; and "I want to
banish those '2 'Vandy' grads" to some desert island!"
Columnist Richard Roeper, wrote in his March 23rd, Chicago Sun-Times
column "If I hear that 'Gilligan's Island' parody song one more time,
I just might go Elvis on the TV set."
The current commercials, produced by Foote, Cone & Belding, are a
continuation of Applebee’s successful ads that used popular music –
and sometimes parody lyrics – to promote its food products.
Previous 2005 campaigns featured such songs as "Simply Irresistible”
by late rocker Robert Palmer; “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate; “Do
You Love Me?” by The Contours; “Fever” by Peggy Lee; “No Particular
Place” by Chuck Berry; and “Pick Up Man” by Joe Diffie.
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