"mascots" news and stories

It's tea season in our house and I noticed something missing from Celestial Seasons' Sleepytime tea package: the Sleepytime Bear's family.

You know the Bear: dozing in front of the fire, cat in his lap. Used to be you saw Mrs. Bear and the kids on the side panel, headed off to be while dad dozed. Now the whole family has gone mysteriously missing and Mr. Bear has acquired a big blue radio -- a touch that just screams midlife crisis.

This change in personnel got me to thinking about other iconic food mascots and the makeovers they've received. Today we'll start with the women, with pride of place going to that fictional earth mother, the dark goddess of America's ready-made food unconscious, Aunt Jemima.

Photo: Flickr / Roadsidepictures

Her name is Butterworth. Mrs. Butterworth. And after 40 years of mystery, she's ready to reveal her first name to the world.

Slashfood reported in June that Mrs. Butterworth's had launched a contest asking participants what they think the company's iconic spoke-bottle's first name might be, accompanied by a short statement as to why. The co-winners, 15-year-old Shayla Doty, of Logansport, Ind., and Cynthia Harmon, 44, of Champaign, Ill., each independently found their way to "Joy" -- as well as $500 and a year's supply of syrup.

Said Miss Doty, "The father-to-be, Mr. Butterworth, was in favor of the name Yvonne, while the mother-to-be felt she was more deserving of a name that would remind them of what a precious jewel she would be -- Opal. Having not settled on a decision the day their giggling baby girl arrived, the doctor suggested "Jocelyn," meaning "the merry one." A light bulb lit above Daddy Butterworth's head, and he suggested combining the first letter from all three names, J-O-Y."

Ms. Harmon contended that, "Growing up, Mrs. Butterworth was teased by classmates who called her 'Joy Buzzerworth' in reference to a popular practical joke item called a joy buzzer that shocked people when they shook hands. When Mrs. Butterworth's introduced her syrup to the world, she didn't want anybody to think about Joy Buzzers, and just wanted them to love her thick and rich and buttery syrup, and so she decided to leave out her first name."

Still, Slashfood wonders -- did she meet a Mr. Butterworth and tie the knot, or is Missus just a nickname? Share your best guesses in the comments below.

Contest results will be posted at mrsbutterworthssyrup.

William and Mary's new Tribe? Photo: aliciagriffin/flickr

Go spears, go! That could be a new chant for College of William & Mary students, if administrators approve an asparagus stalk as the school's next mascot.

Known collectively as the Tribe, the sports teams of the Williamsburg, Va., school have been without furry representation since a 2006 NCAA ruling eliminated its feathered Native American logo, the Associated Press reports. Since April, the school has solicited suggestions for a new mascot. Submissions close on June 30.

Of course, the school wouldn't be the first to adopt a food as its mascot ... ever notice how these anthropomorphized eats always seem to be on the offensive?

Fanpop came up with the brilliant, although somewhat unsettling by its very nature, idea of determining the creepiest fast-food mascots of all time. And there have been some scary ones. Number one on the list is The King, the Burger King mascot who seems to spend the majority of his time lurking, creeping, sneaking and turning people off actually visiting the restaurant for fear of encountering him. The other dubious icons on their list include the "Quiznos Rat/Hamster Thing," The Dominos Noid, Jack (from Jack in the Box), Grimace, Colonel Sanders, Mister Softee, Modern Ronald McDonald, Old-School Ronald McDonald (proto-Ronald) and the Tastee Freez Twins.

I actually kind of like the commercials that star Jack, especially when compared to other fast food commercials. The standard of writing is higher and Jack's delivery is usually great. The other choices, however, all seem like they deserve to be here. Anyone have a favorite from these contenders?

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