Checkers and Rally's 2 with Tom Scharpling

"Checkers and Rally's 2 with Tom Scharpling" is Episode 312 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Checkers and Rally's 2 with Tom Scharpling" was released on August 5, 2021.

## Synopsis

Tom Scharpling (*The Best Show*) joins to discuss drive-thru burger chain Checkers and Rally's, to explain the challenges of dining out while pescatarian, and to discuss his new book *It Never Ends: A Memoir with Nice Memories*! Plus, Quincy Chamber of Commerce representative John Quigley Adams stops by to discuss the local economy.

## Nick's intro

When Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon surveyed a colonial border in 1763 to resolve a dispute created by conflicting land grants from two Kings of England, it's impossible the frontiersmen could have gleaned its ultimate significance, and it's unlikely that they thought their names might endure two-and-a-half centuries later. But the Mason-Dixon line that separates Pennsylvania and Delaware above from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia below demarcates perhaps the biggest political and cultural divide in the U.S. - the border between North and South.

But another factor also clues the nation, instead between East and West: capitalism, often due to regional brands being absorbed by national ones. As such, identical or near-identical products will use different names to try on a nostalgic connection, while sharing corporate leadership and distribution chains.

Dual horned-up burger brands Carl's Jr. and Hardee's split their names roughly at the border of the Rocky Mountains; the same goes for two popular creamy white substances: ice cream brands Dreyer's and Edy's, and mayonnaise brands Best Foods and Hellmann's.

But a more ad hoc approach seems to govern the locational distribution of dual fast-food burger brands with 900 restaurants - one founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1985; the second founded in Mobile, Alabama in 1986 - and the two formally merged in 1999. Original plans called for the brand named for motor sports to rule the Midwest and the brand named for the board game to have the Southeast as its domain, but those were scrambled over time as the parent company expanded to the Coasts. A map posted on the non-pornographic subreddit r/MapPorn shows the chaotic distribution in place today, including a dozen states that have both brands.

As for why two versions of the Big Buford and Seasoned Fries purveyor persist in the first place?

Perhaps it's due to corporate history.

Rally's was purchased by a larger chain in 1996 before being sold back to Checker's in 1999. That chain? Carl's Jr. / Hardee's.

This week on *Doughboys*, we return to Checkers and Rally's.

## Fork rating

The first time The Doughboys reviewed Checkers and Rally's was back in 2018. For that visit, Nick rated it 3 forks and Mitch gave it 2.95.

	+ no bacon
* Fry-Seasoned Monsterella Stix
* Funnel Cake Fries
* Vanilla Classic Milkshake
 Mike Mitchell
* Crispy Fish Sandwich
* Spicy Chicken Double
* Baconzilla!
* Chili Dog
* Famous Season Fries
* Fry-Seasoned Monsterella Stix
* Fanta Fruit Punch Slushie
* Caramel Cheesecake Sundae
 Tom Scharpling
	+ Famous Seasoned Fries
	+ Soda

**Spoonman's Bite of the Night** went to the Caramel Cheesecake Sundae.

With these scores, Checkers and Rally's joins the Broken Plate Club.

## John Quigley Adams

After Scharpling leaves, John Quigley Adams, the Chambermaster of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, joins the show for an interview. He is not related to John Adams, nor John Quincy Adams.

He is on the show because the Quincy economy has taken a huge hit lately. These famous Quincy restaurants have had to close: Nom Nom Brady's, John Krasinski's Pizza, Teddy Chewski's, The Greens Monster, Vince Wilfork and Knife, Grill Russell, Grill Belichek, Ted Grilliams, Vince Grillfork, Dave Portnoy's House of Chicken Tits, Larry Turd, Mark Wahlburg's burger place, and 23 of the 66 Dunkin' Donuts.

Thus, John Quigley Adams formally requests Mike Mitchell returns to Quincy.

He also requests that all *Doughboys* fans cancel Mitch, so he is forced to return home.

## Quotes

**Mitch**: Oh, I got a take on everything!
**Nick**: You're kind of the Takemeister. Some people serve hot cakes, you serve hot takes.
**Mitch**: I am the Takemeister. Makin' takes!
**Nick**: Sir Takes-A-Lot.
**Tom**: Johnny Takes.

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
 Emma Erdbrink

## Photos

Fully Loaded Fries (no bacon)Vanilla Classic MilkshakeFunnel Cake FriesFry-Seasoned Monsterella StickFry-Seasoned Monsterella StixRed Gold Marinara SauceCrispy Fish SandwichFry-Seasoned Monsterella StixFanta Fruit Punch SlushieFamous Seasoned FriesCaramel Cheesecake SundaeSpicy Chicken DoubleChili DogBaconzilla!