Chick-fil-A with Noël Wells

"Chick-fil-A with Noël Wells" is Episode 131 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger, with Noël Wells. "Chick-fil-A with Noël Wells" was released on November 29, 2017.

## Synopsis

Actor, comedian, and director Noël Wells (*SNL*, *Mr. Roosevelt*) joins the 'boys to share her experience growing up with Texas cuisine and to talk about their recent experience with Chick-fil-A. Plus, a Reese's edition of Snack or Wack.

## Nick's intro

In the midst of Barack Obama's re-election campaign against Republican Mitt Romney, a uniquely American political controversy erupted: a beloved Southern chicken-sandwich restaurant founded and owned by a Southern Baptist family was exposed for its financial support for organizations that opposed gay marriage. As the eatery faced boycotts from outraged liberals, the fried-bird joint found a champion who volunteered to defend its honor - former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee, a rotund religious conservative who'd followed his failed 2008 Presidential run by taking that cozy gig always available to out-of-work Republicans, *Fox News* contributor, leapt into action, declaring August 1, 2012 "Appreciation Day" for the chicken chain. He called on anti-gay conservatives to swarm the restaurant and binge order chicken sandwiches to send the message that bigotry is indeed financially sustainable.

The movement was perhaps the initiation of the now-common practice of expressing political beliefs via corporate allegiance, and the chain's sales did rise in the aftermath, though Huckabee's call to oppose gay rights by eating fast food was perhaps the easiest possible ask for the bottom of the Republican demographic. But the so-called success of that event was short-lived as the chain's CEO, Dan T. Cathy vowed to abandon the debate entirely and the company no longer financially supports anti-LGBT lobbying efforts.

These days, the controversy in the rearview mirror, and marriage equality settled law in the U.S., the increasingly irrelevant Huckabee resorts to tweeting sub-open-mike-caliber topical jokes that are alternately hacky and indecipherable. One example: "*Hillary shows contempt for people in her basket. I think she blew a gasket. Her campaign headed for a casket.*"

Huckabee's Twitter mentions after these limp attempts are filled with a GIF equivalent of boos and hisses, along with ever-present variations of "your son killed a dog," a reference to Huckabee's large son, David, torturing and murdering a stray dog as a 17-year old Boy Scout camp counselor.

Though perhaps Huck's more toxic legacy is his daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the deceptive mouthpiece for the Trump administration.

A proven failure as a politician and a father, that Governor Huckabee still maintains anything resembling influence is an indictment of the entire American political system.

But politics aside, how is the food and service at the chain Huckabee once championed as a cause célèbre?

This week on *Doughboys*, we return to Chick-fil-A.

## Fork rating

On the Doughboys initial visit to Chick-fil-A, Nick rated it 4 forks and Mitch gave it 4.5. It made the Golden Plate Club by score, but was denied due to the restaurant's politics. This time, it did not make it on its own merits.

* Chicken Sandwich
* Chick-n-Strips
* Waffle Fries
 Mike Mitchell
* 1/2 Spicy Chicken Deluxe
* Chicken Sandwich
* Grilled Nuggets
* Waffle Fries
* Garlic & Herb Ranch sauce
 Noël Wells
* Chicken Sandwich
* Nuggets
* Waffle Fries
* Zesty Buffalo sauce

## Snack or Wack

In Snack or Wack, The Doughboys have a snack and rate it 'snack' or 'wack.'

For this episode, they try the Reese's Crunchy Cookie Big Cup.

 Mike Mitchell
 Noël Wells

## Quotes

**Mitch:** Why?
**Nick:** I'd rather have fried chicken.
**Mitch:** FUCK OFF. I'm sick of your shit.

## #hashtags

* #GiveMeS'more vs. #GiveMeS'mless
* #Marshburnows
* #StripShow vs. #StripTease

## The Feedbag

Would you be willing to eat at a restaurant with a sordid history? What circumstances would prevent you from eating at one of your favorite restaurants?

## Related Episodes

* 92. Chicken Fight: Sandwich Region
* DD1. Chicken Fight: Fat Chance Kitchen
* DD3. Chicken Fight: Fat Chance Kitchen Round 2
* 131. **Chick-fil-A 2**
* 174. Octdoughberblessed: Chick-fil-A vs. In-N-Out

## Photos (via @doughboyspod)

Chicken SandwichChicken SandwichGrilled NuggetsFrosted Lemonade