Love fast food? You'll want to watch "Fast Food Mania," a new show from Discovery Communications network that debuts June 3. It'll appear on an entirely new cable channel, Destination America, which launches next Monday.
According to a release, the show promises to offer "essential tips for navigating the ever-winding drive thrus and ordering secret menu items, as well as delve into never-before-seen test kitchens of some of America’s favorite chains." There'll also be some interesting fast food tidbits and trivia, like this one: The inventor of KFC's signature red and white bucket was none other than the owner of another popular fast food chain, Dave Thomas of Wendy's. Thomas, it turns out, once operated one of KFC's largest franchises.
The first episode of "Fast Food Mania" highlights fast food favorites like White Castle, Whataburger and Chick-fil-A, the series will also explore eatery chains like Sonic, Dunkin Donuts, Domino's, Taco Bell and Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island, NY. But notably absent from the list are mega-chains like McDonald's and Burger King.
Ad Age spoke with Destination America's VP-national sales manager James Levitt, who said that the show itself excites fast food clients, "but in terms of participating in the show itself, that is not what excites them the most."
Writes Ad Age's Brian Steinberg: "No fast-food or quick-service restaurant chain will advertise in the program, fearful of having the effectiveness of any advertising damped by the show's focus on a rival in any of its segments." Levitt said, however that such companies were booking ads for other time slots on the Destination America schedule.
Radio personality Jon Hein -- who coined the "Happy Days"-inspired phrase "jump the shark," by the way -- will serve as host. Hein is most notable for his time with "The Howard Stern Show," on which Hein has long professed his love for fast food. He previously co-hosted a radio program called "Fast Food Show" on Sirius/XM.
Hein had a mini-feud over his new gig with Jason Kaplan, his "Fast Food Show" co-host, who said Hein intentionally kept Kaplan out of the loop during auditions. Both spoke with shock jock Howard Stern about the dust up, which you can check out in the video below.