The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald: Scared Silly

This video was available only at McDonalds, but seems to be an attempt to turn Mcdonaldland characters into a new Nicktoon - the characters here look like they ought to be in Rugrats or Hey Arnold. It's not really a Halloween special - just a vaguely Halloween-themed episode of a six episode series that you could buy with a happy meal. So, technically, it's not a special. In fact, this cartoon is not very special at all.



"Silly" is the operative word here, not "scared." The plot involves Ronald, Birdie and the gang going camping in the Far-Flung Forest, singing irritatingly catchy songs along the way (written by the same guys who made most of the Rugrats music, and, strangely enough, formed the core of the band Devo. This is not their best work). It's really not very Halloweenish at all, in fact.

Based on the comments of other viewers, some kids really seem to enjoy this, but adults will have an awfully hard time sitting through it. This is probably the video in the collection that is the LEAST required viewing, but completists who have to have a copy can find it online for under a buck without too much trouble.

Interestingly, a good decade or so before, there was ANOTHER thing called "Ronald McDonald Scared Silly" - a 30 second commercial that was in every way superior to this "special." Here it is!



And here's another McDonalds commercial - watch to the end, and you'll see an add for "Boo Buckets." I had the orange one in my basement for YEARS.



And, just to prove I know my McDonalds, here's a link to a poem I wrote: Howl (for Mayor McCheese).