"Popeyes 4 with Van Robichaux" is Episode 346 of Doughboys, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Popeyes 4 with Van Robichaux" was released on April 21, 2022.
"Tomorrow… with Van Robichaux" - @doughboyspod
Synopsis[]
Van Robichaux (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fist Fight) joins the 'boys to discuss Jacques-Imo's and Postmates robots before a review of Popeyes. Plus, the 'boys give up treats they hold dear in the return of My Snackrifice.
Nick's intro[]
Subway, McDonald's, Starbucks, Yum! Brands (aka. KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell): these are, respectively, the world's four largest fast-food companies.
Restaurant Brands International
The fifth? Restaurant Brands International, a Toronto-based holding company that has its origin in the 2014 arranged marriage of stalwart Canadian coffee-and-donut shop, Tim Horton's and American Whopper-purveyor, Burger King (aka. "McDonald's' Pepsi").
In 2017, this new fiefdom further grew its territory by acquiring the second-largest U.S. fried-chicken chain founded in Louisiana in 1972 by eccentric entrepreneur Al Copeland. In 1975, the restaurant had rebranded with a name Copeland claimed was inspired by Gene Hackman's character in the hit film, The French Connection - though that seemed conveniently designed to evade a copyright* claim via the beloved spinach-chugging cartoon sailor man.
And in 2019, after becoming enmeshed in the RBI empire, the poultry chain launched its own chicken sandwich designed as a Chick-fil-A killer; an event that would prove this past decade's most seismic event in fast food. The resulting long tail of copycat chicken sandos even led Burger King to launch its own breaded-bird-in-a-bun varietal, speaking to the surreal late-capitalist dystopia where corporate partners under the same ownership ostensibly compete for market share.
In 2021, Restaurant Brands International grew once more, sucking up sandwich shop, Firehouse Subs, like a conglomerate Kirby.
But as companies combine into a handful of corporate entities, themselves owned by an even-smaller handful of investment firms, can they retain the unique identities that made them so valuable in the first place?
This week on Doughboys, we return once again, to Popeyes.
[*should be 'trademark.' -ed.]
Fork rating[]
The Doughboys have reviewed Popeyes three previous times. The first time, back in 2016, Nick gave it 4.5 forks and Mitch 3.5. A few years later in 2018, they returned to try the then-new Chicken Sandwich, and both Nick and Mitch gave the restaurant 5 forks and it made the Golden Plate Club. They tried it again in 2021, and once more Nick and Mitch gave it 5 forks, but it was removed from the Golden Plate Club regardless.
Popeyes also made a deep run in the 2017 Tournament of Chompions: Chicken Fight, when it defeated Church's and KFC (in the Full Bird region), then lost to McDonald's in the Semi-finals (but with some weird technicalities, Popeyes advanced anyway). In the Finals, it came in second to Wendy's.
| guest / host | ordered | rating |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Wiger |
|
5 forks |
| Mike Mitchell |
|
5 forks |
| Van Robichaux |
|
5 forks |
| James, the Tech Guy | - | 4 forks |
James, the Tech Guy offered his Popeyes score, but Nick ignores it and places Popeyes in the Platinum Plate Club. He also puts on the Doughboys Lock, permanently setting Popeyes in the Platinum Plate Club and it cannot be removed.
Fork rating[]
| guest / host | new religions being started by Coco and Soul |
|---|---|
| Bug Mane | 0 forks |
My Snackrifice 2[]
Creed "My Sacrifice"
The Doughboys next do their second annual My Snackrifice episode. The first was in this episode.
| “ |
Hello there, Wiges, let's eat again! |
” |
–"My Snackrifice" by Mike Mitchell | ||
They Doughboys decide which food item they have to avoid for six months (until Mitch's birthday). The potato snackrifice lasts until 2023.
| category | Nick's Snackrifice | Mitch's Snackrifice | Van's Snackrifice |
|---|---|---|---|
Chicken
|
Wendy's | Popeyes | Wendy's |
potatoes
|
mashed potatoes | baked potatoes | fries |
Healthy Protein
|
almonds | almonds | almonds |
Dips
|
guacamole | guacamole | guacamole |
Roast Spoonman[]
Dante's Inferno
| “ | Dante's DiGiorno | ” |
–Ian | ||
| “ | The Uncrustable Hulk | ” |
–Ian's alt | ||
| “ | Ate-all-a the Hon-ey | ” |
–Ian's alt | ||
Notable Moments[]
- This episode contains the first ever mistake by Emma Erdbrink.
- Bug Mane (aka. Mr. Slap) arrives at Mitch's to deliver his message and a gift bag (and slap some stuff).
Quotes[]
| “ | Forget Spoonman and Burger Boy. We're Milfhunter and Hog Seeker. | ” |
–Nick Wiger | ||
| “ | Mitch: One of my big issues in life is that you're weird. Nick: One of my issues is you're weird! |
” |
–The Doughboys | ||
| “ | You're part of the MCU: The Mitch Comedic Universe. | ” |
–Mike Mitchell, to Nick and Van | ||
The Feedbag[]
| “ | Everybody always asks the question 'which famous or historical figure would you invite to dinner?' My question for you is, what would you want to eat at the dinner? | ” |
–Sidney | ||
| guest / host | food to eat with your dream celeb dinner |
|---|---|
| Nick Wiger | a party at a pizza parlor |
| Mike Mitchell | steak from a classic old steakhouse |
| Van Robichaux | Popeyes |
Photos[]
