Coca-Cola Freestyle with Chris Gethard

"Coca-Cola Freestyle with Chris Gethard" is Episode 310 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Coca-Cola Freestyle with Chris Gethard" was released on July 22, 2021.

## Synopsis

Chris Gethard (*Beautiful Anonymous*, *The Chris Gethard Show*) joins the 'boys to talk New Jersey eats and all things soda before a breakdown of the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine. Plus, a special edition of Slop Quiz.

## Nick's intro

"*Well-known technology leaders who have seen it claim the invention is more significant than the internet or the PC.*"

This is from a January 2001 piece about a mysterious device, then called "IT" or "I.T.", created by Dean Kamen, a virtuosic inventor whose previous patents include the automated insulin pump. With tech impresarios Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos serving as investors and advocates, IT was pitched as "poised to transform the world" with cities redesigned around it and Kamen on track to become the wealthiest man on Earth.

Today, it's difficult to convey exactly how much hype surrounded IT, and just how deflated the public was by the ultimate reveal.

IT, or I.T., was in fact the "individual transport," a motorized scooter marketed to the public as the Segway. Far from its revolutionary promise, the Segway ended up as a mildly successful novelty mostly used by dorkwad tourists, famously a visual punchline as the chariot of Paul Blart, mall cop.

But though the Segway never lived up to the impossible hype of IT, inventor Kamen continued to conceive new devices, including a water purifier targeted at the developing world named Slingshot. A pre-built box with the ability to filter clean water for up to 300 people per day while using "less electricity than a hair dryer," the ambitious device needed the know-how of a global partner to reach populations in need. And so Kamen approached the largest beverage distributor in the world, Coca-Cola.

The makers of Coke and countless other beverages were intrigued, but, being asshole capitalists, weren't about to just help people for nothing. So in exchange for building and distributing his next-gen water filter, Coca-Cola enlisted Kamen in the creation of their smart soda fountain featuring a touch screen and dozens of options.

First released in 2009 and becoming a movie-theater lobby staple, the Coke/Kamen deal-with-the-devil proved a lasting hit with children and child-like adults enamored by the seemingly endless liquid-sugar combinations. (In fact, 127, according to *Serious Eats*.)

Today, with machines in sixteen countries, a new version released in 2019, and a Pepsi-branded clone gaining steam, the sleek cherry-red smart fountain seems here to say.

As for the machine once called IT? Usurped by new generation of smaller, app-powered rental scooters, in June of last year, the Segway ended production for good.

This week on *Doughboys*, Coca-Cola Freestyle.

## Fork rating

Instead of a restaurant, today's episode is focused entirely on the Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine.

Mitch went to the CityWalk AMC movie theater (where he saw *Black Widow*) and had popcorn; Nick went to a Burger King and got some fries.

Like they do with the restaurants, they also rate it out of 5 forks (you *can* eat a soda with a fork).

* Coca-Cola Raspberry
* Barq's Vanilla Root Beer
* Mello Yello Peach
* Sprite Grape
* Fanta Lime
* Minute Maid Orange Lemonade
* Dr. Pepper Cherry Vanilla
* Surge Cherry Rush
 Mike Mitchell
* Powerade Strawberry
* Mello Yello Limeade
* Pibb Xtra Cherry
* Diet Barq's Vanilla Root Beer
* Coca-Cola Cherry
 Chris Gethard
* Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla

## Slop Quiz - Ooh-I'm-Full Anonymous edition

In Slop Quiz, Nick presents a food-related exam (pop quiz) and Mitch and the guest compete for superiority.

Today's theme was about celebrity quotes about food.

Nick presents a food-related quote from a celebrity, and Mitch and Chris try to guess which celebrity said it.

## Quotes

**Chris**: You sounded so scared.

## The Feedbag

 Nick Wiger
 Mike Mitchell
third row
 Chris Gethard