Taco Bell unleash new chihuahua mascot

By +Brad Naylor

Do you remember Gidget the Taco Bell dog who became famous across America for the catchphrase "¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" which means "I want Taco Bell". Gidget was retired from Taco Bell duty in 2003 amidst claims of animal cruelty and forced cannibalism from people who believed that the dog actually ate Taco Bell food. Taco Bell say he was retired because sales were falling.

Gidget retired in 2003

Taco Bell sales have continued to drop even though they continue to improve and add to their menu, even bringing out a breakfast option so you can spend your entire day on the toilet satiate your early morning taco cravings. Yum! Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell were looking for a way to revitalize their restaurant and they decided to bring the chihuahua out of retirement.

Sadly, Gidget died of a stroke in 2009 and was unavailable to pick up the role he was once famous for, so Yum! looked around the animal actor agencies and found a spunky young chihuahua called Sam Evil who was perfect to play the role of a slightly more aggressive and down to earth chihuahua in a new advertising campaign.

He looks mean enough to eat Whiplash, the Cowboy Monkey

Sam Evil has already been a hit with test audiences thanks to his chihuahua snarl and angry catchphrases like "Stay your hands off my Taco!", "Are you looking at my Gordita?" and "¡Chupa mi Chalupa, puta!". Everybody seems to love watching this 4 pound puppy act all tough defending his burrito from passing strangers. I saw a clip of the new TV commercial and I thought it was humorous, but not laugh out loud funny. It won't make me go to Taco Bell, but it also won't stop me from going there either.

Even with fast food sales in general on the decline, maybe there is just enough humor and nostalgia in Taco Bell's new advertising to rekindle America's love for Mexican fast food and to help us spend more time on our favorite porcelain pedestal. Live Más, Caca Más.

What are your memories of Gidget? When is the last time you ate Taco Bell? Do you have a story about soiling yourself after eating a 1/2 pound combo burrito? Share your experiences and comments below.