Sonic Drive-In 2 with Alana Johnston and Norm Sousa

"Love Week ❤️: Sonic Drive-In 2 with Alana Johnston 🔪 and Norm Sousa" is Episode 385 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Love Week ❤️: Sonic Drive-In 2 with Alana Johnston 🔪 and Norm Sousa" was released on February 16, 2023.

## Synopsis

Lovebirds Alana "The Knife 🔪" Johnston and Norm "Mr. Taste" Sousa join the 'boys to talk Valentine's Day and Canadian chains before continuing **Love Week** ❤️ with a review of Sonic. Plus, a brand new segment, The Chewlywed Game.

## Nick's intro

“*Yuji Naka Has Been Arrested For Alleged Insider Trading.*”

This partial headline was published in November of 2022, another chapter in the ongoing ignoble fall of the co-creator of one of video gaming’s most iconic characters. After joining Sega as a programmer at the age of nineteen, Naka-san saw a rapid rise to gaming’s highest tier of talent, having a significant role on major franchises like *Space Harrier* and *Phantasy Star* in his early 20s.

And then, in 1991, at just 26 years old, he and collaborator Naoto Ohshima unleashed the game that would make his career: a speed-focused side-scroller starring a blue hedgehog with track shoes and a ‘tude — his love of chili dogs would become canon in later entries. The game’s blockbuster success immediately made Naka-san a sought-after superstar, lured away from, and then back to, Sega, where his team named for the character would create critical favorites like *Nights Into Dreams* and early MMO progenitor *Phantasy Star Online*.

But Sega’s mismanagement of its console hardware and sloppy handling of its key franchises led the company to recede from feisty Nintendo competitor to third-party also-ran, and Naka-san’s career similarly lost its luster. In 2003, following the commercial collapse of Sega’s Dreamcast console, he released his game *Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg* for the Nintendo GameCube, to mixed reviews — arguably his last gasp at relevance. Most recently, Naka-san bears the shame of directing 2021’s unplayable bomb *Balan Wonderworld* — and his indictment for multiple mobile-game related stock-hustling schemes.

Nevertheless, his contributions to gaming history remain immense. And the peak of his speedy rodent mascot’s relevance was arguably its first sequel, a 2D-platforming masterpiece released in 1992 for Sega’s Mega Drive console, known as the Genesis in North America. Similarly, the second live-action feature film based on the property was a major box-office hit in 2022.

So will our Sonic sequel follow the trend?

This week on *Doughboys*… we celebrate Love Week ❤️ with a return to Sonic Drive-In.

## Fork rating

The first time The Doughboys visited Sonic was in October 2021, as part of **Dogdoughbarkfest**. Everyone gave it 5 forks and it made the Platinum Plate Club, even though Nick only ate a hot-dog bun and a bunch of sides.

* Chili Cheese Coney
* Chili Cheese Tots
* Fritos Chili Cheese Jr. Wrap
* Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Mini Blast
 Mike Mitchell
* Footlong Quarter Pound Coney
* Spicy Steak and Bacon Grilled Cheese
* Fritos Chili Cheese Jr. Wrap
* Grape Slush, add Nerds
* Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Mini Blast, add Mini M&M's
 Alana Johnston 🔪
* All-American Dog
* Tater Tots
* Sonic Mini Blast made with Butterfinger
 Norm Sousa
* Corn Dog
* French Fries
* Sonic Blast made with Snickers
 shared
* $1.99 Soft Pretzel Twist
* Mozzarella Sticks

With these scores, Sonic is removed from the Platinum Plate Club!

## The Chewlywed Game

In this new segment just for **Love Week** ❤️, The Doughboys play the Chewlywed Game, hosted by Amelia Marino!

One person from each team will leave the room while the other answers questions about their relationship. The teammate returns and answers the same questions and they see if their answers match! Which team knows more about each other?

First up, Nick and Norm leave the room, so Mitch and Alana 🔪 answer some questions.

Nick and Mitch win The Chewlywed Game!

## Snack or Wack: Dip or Shit

In Snack or Wack, the Doughboys taste a snack item and rate it either 'snack' or 'wack' (though today, they use 'dip or shit').

In this episode, they try Doritos Cool Ranch Jalapeño Dip.

Everyone seemed to enjoy it, even though Susser ate most of it. They tried the dip with various types of Doritos.

 Mike Mitchell
 Alana Johnston 🔪
 Norm Sousa
 Evan Susser

## Quotes

**Mitch**: I found a video of me singing Charlie Brown instead.

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
 Alana Johnston
 Norm Sousa
 Amelia Marino

## Related Episodes

* 385. Sonic Drive-In 2
* 137. Carl's Jr./Hardee's 3
* 166. Pink's Hot Dogs
* DD. Wiger Alone
* 190. Smoke's Poutinerie
* BC7. Cornbread
* DD. It's A Wigerful Life
* DD. Wige Hard
* THON21. Doughathon
* DD. The Mitchy Clause
* DD. Water 3: Snow
* DD. 7/11 Challenge
* 385. Sonic Drive-In 2
* 385. Sonic Drive-In 2

## Photos

Chili Cheese DogChili Chese Dog, Chili Cheese Tots, Fritos Chili Cheese Jr. WrapSonic CheeseburgerSonic ReceiptAlana Johnston 🔪, Marinara Sauce, seat belt, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough BlastBacon Cheeseburger Toaster, $1.99 Soft Pretzel Twist, Corn Dog, Mozzarella Sticks/French Fries/Tater TotsGrape Slush with Nerds