Whiplash Strikes In Taco John's Effort

First there were the Spongmonkeys singing off-key for Quizno’s. Now, regional fast-food chain Taco John’s is hoping to stir up buzz in a similarly eccentric manner with Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey, the star of new ads from Kerker that break this week.

In the initial spot from the Minneapolis independent, Whiplash rides a dog through urban and country landscapes, coming to the rescue of a customer who has dropped his burrito. As the sombrero-wearing primate passes off the burrito, the customer says, “Thanks, little monkey dude.”

Other spots in the effort, tagged, “A whole lot of Mexican,” will run in a serial format, said Kerker cd Chris Preston.

The ads seek to show the company’s passion for its product, said Brian Dixon, vp of marketing for the Cheyenne, Wyo.-based