Dairy Queen with Michael Cassady & Paul Rust

"Dairy Queen with Don't Stop or We'll Die" is Episode 181 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Dairy Queen with Don't Stop or We'll Die" was released on November 29, 2018.

## Synopsis

From the band Don't Stop Or We'll Die, Michael Cassady and Paul Rust join us to review a chain known for its frozen mixed treat: Dairy Queen. Plus, another edition of The Wiger Challenge.

Check out their album *Dazzle Me*, out now!

## Nick's intro

On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. The next day, December 8, the very same day FDR would deliver his fiery "date that will live in infamy" speech, the US military commandeered office space in Walt Disney's Burbank, California studio - a key wartime mobilization on the critical front of propaganda.

Disney would become America's chief producer of animated propaganda during World War II, crafting artful comedic and dramatic shorts on divergent themes like the strategic usefulness of aerial bombing, the importance of civilians paying income tax to fund the war treasury, and the horrors of Nazi indoctrination of German youth. In one of the studio's most famous shorts, 1942's *Der Fuehrer's Face*, Donald Duck imagined being a living cog in the Nazi war machine, a desperate hungry existence where he was worked to insanity at a German artillery factory.

The success of cartoon propaganda was replicated in peacetime during the post-War economic boom. And the 1950s saw the birth of the so-called "spokestoon," existing cartoon characters licensed to lend their brands to consumer products.

The Donald Duck who was drafted to denigrate the Axis was reassigned to be the SpokesDuck for orange juice, helping market liquid citrus to children. In the '60s, the neolithic animated Flintstones were used to market vitamins and Pebbles-variant cereals, as well as Winston cigarettes in TV commercials that depicted Fred and Barney puffing away during smoke breaks at Slate Rock and Gravel.

And in 1971, a beloved midwest purveyor of hot eats and cold treats sought to expand its market share by attaching the cartoon star power of Dennis the Menace, a toe-headed, slingshot-toting scamp who good-naturedly pestered his cranky retiree neighbor in his eponymous comic strip. Dennis would serve as the frozen-sweets purveyor's spokestoon for over three decades, elevating the chain during some of its most critical waves of expansion, including in 1985 when it introduced its enduringly popular signature dessert: the mega-thick soft serve with mix-ins goodie called The Blizzard.

But in 2002, shortly after another generation-defining sneak attack on America, the chain severed ties with the mischievous youth, as Dennis the Menace's "aw shucks" schtick had grown corny in comparison to potty-mouthed tykes like *Family Guy*'s Stewie Griffin and *South Park*'s Eric Cartman. Still, today, Dennis the Menace continues in syndication in over 1000 newspapers, and his former corporate partner thrives with nearly 7000 treat centers, braziers, and Grill & Chill fast-food restaurants across the globe.

This week on *Doughboys*, we return to Dairy Queen.

## Fork rating

The Doughboys reviewed Dairy Queen once before this episode, albeit that trip was just a rating of DQ's desserts, not the full menu. That time, Nick gave it 4 forks and Mitch rated it 3.5.

* Fries
* Cheese Curds
* Iced Tea
* Oreo Hot Cocoa Blizzard Treat (mini)
* Chili Cheese Dog [Natalie's order]
* Strawberry Banana Blizzard Treat [Natalie's order]
 Mike Mitchell
* Mountain Dew
* Reese's Outrageous Blizzard Treat
 Michael Cassady
* M&Ms Milk Chocolate Candies Blizzard Treat
 Paul Rust
* Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard Treat
 Mitch, Michael & Paul shared
* Chili Cheese Dog

## The Wiger Challenge

In The Wiger Challenge, Nick presents Mitch and the guest with a mystery beverage and they try to guess what it is. The closest guess is declared the winner.

For this episode, the mystery drink was Lester Fixins Sweet Corn Soda.

They all note that the drink smells like corn, and that it tastes disgusting.

 Michael Cassady

## Quotes

**Nick:** Well...
**Michael:** Have you gotten your arms stuck in a tree looking for honey? How many times today?
**Mitch:** Today? Two or three times.

## Related Episodes

* 181. **Dairy Queen 2**
* DD. Pie Noon: Confection Selection
* 292. Pie Noon: Semisweet Finals 2
* 293. Pie Noon: Finals
* DD16. Zingin' and Jinglin'
* 146. The Slice is Right: Semifinals Round 2
* 181. **Dairy Queen**
* DD. The Doughboys Christmas Singalong!
* 244. Mac Attack: Finals
* 278. Burger King 4
* THON21. Doughathon
* 343. Hero's Journey: Sub-Optimal: Finale
* 382. Jack in the Box 2
* 421. Boo's Philly Cheesesteaks
* 97. Chicken Fight: Finals
* 100. Nugget Power Hour
* DD42. A Very Doughboys Christmas
* 181. **Dairy Queen**
* DD. Wiger Alone
* DD. Xi'an Famous Foods
* 228. White Castle
* DD. Garfield's Thanksgiving
* DD. It's A Wigerful Life
* 244. Mac Attack: Finals
* 278. Burger King 4
* DD. A Garfield Christmas Special
* DD. Wige Hard
* THON21. Doughathon 2021
* DD. Hey Spooky Buddies
* DD. The Mitchy Clause
* 343. Hero's Journey: Sub-Optimal: Finale
* DD. Garfield's Halloween Adventure
* DD. Gorko's Planet Clergmas Spectacular
* 382. Jack in the Box 2
* 421. Boo's Philly Cheesesteaks

## Photos (via @doughboyspod)

Oreo Hot Cocoa Blizzard TreatStrawberry Banana Blizzard TreatFlameThrower GrillBurgerCheese CurdsChili Cheese DogsFlameThrower GrillBurger and FriesGrill & Chill