"Checkers and Rally's 2 with Tom Scharpling" is Episode 312 of Doughboys, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Checkers and Rally's 2 with Tom Scharpling" was released on August 5, 2021.
"Tomorrow… with Tom Scharpling" - @doughboyspod
Synopsis[]
Tom Scharpling (The Best Show) joins to discuss drive-thru burger chain Checkers and Rally's, to explain the challenges of dining out while pescatarian, and to discuss his new book It Never Ends: A Memoir with Nice Memories! Plus, Quincy Chamber of Commerce representative John Quigley Adams stops by to discuss the local economy.
Nick's intro[]
Mason-Dixon Line
When Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon surveyed a colonial border in 1763 to resolve a dispute created by conflicting land grants from two Kings of England, it's impossible the frontiersmen could have gleaned its ultimate significance, and it's unlikely that they thought their names might endure two-and-a-half centuries later. But the Mason-Dixon line that separates Pennsylvania and Delaware above from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia below demarcates perhaps the biggest political and cultural divide in the U.S. - the border between North and South.
But another factor also clues the nation, instead between East and West: capitalism, often due to regional brands being absorbed by national ones. As such, identical or near-identical products will use different names to try on a nostalgic connection, while sharing corporate leadership and distribution chains.
Dual horned-up burger brands Carl's Jr. and Hardee's split their names roughly at the border of the Rocky Mountains; the same goes for two popular, creamy, white substances: ice-cream brands Dreyer's and Edy's, and mayonnaise brands Best Foods and Hellmann's.
But a more ad hoc approach seems to govern the locational distribution of dual fast-food burger brands with 900 restaurants - one founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1985; the second founded in Mobile, Alabama in 1986 - and the two formally merged in 1999. Original plans called for the brand named for motor sports to rule the Midwest and the brand named for the board game to have the Southeast as its domain, but those were scrambled over time as the parent company expanded to the Coasts. A map posted on the non-pornographic subreddit r/MapPorn shows the chaotic distribution in place today, including a dozen states that have both brands.
As for why two versions of the Big Buford and Seasoned Fries purveyor persist in the first place? Perhaps it's due to corporate history.
Rally's was purchased by a larger chain in 1996 before being sold back to Checker's in 1999. That chain? Carl's Jr. / Hardee's.
This week on Doughboys, we return to Checkers and Rally's.
Fork rating[]
The first time The Doughboys reviewed Checkers and Rally's was back in 2018. For that visit, Nick rated it 3 forks and Mitch gave it a 2.95.
| guest / host | ordered | rating |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Wiger |
|
1.75 forks |
| Mike Mitchell |
|
1.75 forks |
| Tom Scharpling |
|
1 fork |
Spoonman's Bite of the Night went to the Caramel Cheesecake Sundae.
With these scores, Checkers and Rally's joins the Broken Plate Club.
John Quigley Adams[]
After Scharpling leaves, John Quigley Adams, the Chambermaster of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, joins the show for an interview. He is not related to John Adams, nor John Quincy Adams.
He is on the show because the Quincy economy has taken a huge hit lately. These famous Quincy restaurants have had to close: Nom Nom Brady's, John Krasinski's Pizza, Teddy Chewski's, The Greens Monster, Vince Wilfork and Knife, Grill Russell, Grill Belichek, Ted Grilliams, Vince Grillfork, Dave Portnoy's House of Chicken Tits, Larry Turd, Mark Wahlburg's burger place, and 23 of the 66 Dunkin' Donuts.
Thus, John Quigley Adams formally requests Mike Mitchell returns to Quincy.
He also requests that all Doughboys fans cancel Mitch, so he is forced to return home.
Roast Spoonman[]
Martin Scorsese
| “ | Martin Scorsneezy | ” |
–Kyle Bacchi | ||
Quotes[]
| “ | Nick: Mitch, you must have a take on this... Mitch: Oh, I got a take on everything! |
” |
–Mitch's hot takes | ||
| “ | You know what? I'm just gonna say, fuck the British. I just wanna say that for a minute. I'm still steamed about the Revolutionary War. Those fucking Red Coats. | ” |
–Mike Mitchell's hot take | ||
| “ | What if Earth, Wind & Fire were playing a concert with the band Heart and then Roger Waters showed up? Do you think that would summon Captain Planet? | ” |
–Mike Mitchell | ||
The Feedbag[]
| Are there any family dishes from your childhood that you loved but would never dare to eat now?
Or even just dishes that seem odd or dated, now that time has passed? (-Erin G in New Brunswick) | |
|---|---|
| Nick Wiger |
|
| Mike Mitchell |
|
| Emma Erdbrink |
|
Related Episodes[]
| Checkers and Rally's episodes | Mookie Blaiklock episodes |
|---|---|
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Photos[]
