I admit it. This post isn't so much about a marketing campaign so much as it is about how fast food companies can put marketing dollars behind what I refer to as the "taco-bell-ization" of America's quick service food industry.

What is taco-bell-ization? It's a concept that Taco Bell has proven successful for years: (1) take a core set of ingredients (e.g., ground beef, flour tortillas, cheese, and some type of sauce), (2) put these ingredients in some configuration (e.g., a taco, a burrito, a quesadilla), and (3) market the configuration as a brand (e.g., Crunchwrap Supreme, Meximelt, Grilled Stuft Burrito).

So what's the big deal? It obviously works well with Mexican fare. The deal is, other franchises have gotten to such a desperation point of coming up with new offerings, that they're taking their ingredient list and forcing the same concept with it. In this case, KFC. I've seen the offerings for a few months now and hoped that this would quickly pass by the wayside. Last night I sat through a commercial and almost had to yack from the visuals. KFC is now offering KFC Famous Bowls which feature... you guessed it... the staples from a KFC menu, all mixed up in a bowl.

Take mashed potatoes, add fried chicken, some corn, and top it off with some cheese and white gravy. You've just created American food at its lowest level. I am not sure if I am more upset about stealing a concept (especially one that is not easily transferable), the resulting concoction (Famous Bowls), or that marketing is skillfully being used to position the product as hip, cool, and a "must have" for American stomaches.

It's only a matter of time before the other giants of quick serve dining take this concept and run with it. Be on the lookout for the Whopper Bowl... coming soon to a drive through near you!