{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = | caption = | genre = | creator = | starring = Jon Hein | theme_music_composer = | opentheme = | country = United States | num_seasons = 1 | num_episodes = 10 | list_episodes = | runtime = 30 minutes | network = Destination America | executive_producer = Alison Mouledoux<br>Fay Yu<br>Matt Sharp | director = Meghan Smith | company = Sharp Entertainment | first_aired = {{Start date|2012|6|3}} | last_aired = {{End date|2012|7|25}} | related = }}
'''''Fast Food Mania''''' is an American television series that aired in the United States on Destination America. The series premiered on June 3, 2012 and ended on July 25, 2012, with a total of 10 episodes over the course of 1 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fast Food Mania Episode: "Cult Favorites"|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/fast-food-mania-2012/episode-1-season-1/cult-favorites/375813|accessdate=16 November 2012}}</ref>
==Premise== The series features its host, Jon Hein, traveling around the United States and visiting various fast food restaurants.<ref name="Lovece2012-05-30">{{cite news |last=Lovece |first=Frank |date=2012-05-30 |title=Long Islander stars in 'Fast Food Mania' |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/long-islander-stars-in-fast-food-mania-b07952 |newspaper=Newsday |accessdate=2024-04-13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413114659/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/long-islander-stars-in-fast-food-mania-b07952 |archivedate=2024-04-13 }}</ref><ref name="Owen2012-06-01">{{cite news |last=Owen |first=Rob |date=2012-06-01 |title=Former Pittsburgher, Jon Hein, to host food show |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2012/06/01/Former-Pittsburgher-Jon-Hein-to-host-food-show/stories/201206010177 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |accessdate=2024-04-13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413114643/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2012/06/01/Former-Pittsburgher-Jon-Hein-to-host-food-show/stories/201206010177 |archivedate=2024-04-13 }}</ref> Hein discusses the history of the restaurants, along with how their food is prepared. For example, Hein may visit the cities of a restaurant's origin (such as Corbin, Kentucky for Kentucky Fried Chicken), or the restaurant's headquarters (such as Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine, California).<ref>{{cite web|title=Destination America Digs into Nostagia and Pop Culture Cuisine with "Fast Food Mania"|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/05/07/destination-america-digs-into-nostagia-and-pop-culture-cuisine-with-fast-food-mania-389203/20120507da01/|accessdate=16 November 2012}}</ref> Meghan Smith directed the series.<ref name="Nelson2012-04-20">{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Katie |date=2012-04-20 |title=Lodi's A&W to be featured on new TV show |url=https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_68f179f9-997a-5b76-9456-8e9f91081885.html |newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel |accessdate=2024-04-13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413115122/https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_68f179f9-997a-5b76-9456-8e9f91081885.html |archivedate=2024-04-13 }}</ref>
Fast-food chains avoided airing commercials during the show. They were concerned that the impact of their ad would be diminished when the show profiled a competitor. The first episode featured White Castle, Whataburger, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC.<ref name="Steinberg2012-05-28">{{cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2012-05-28 |title=Plenty of Burgers 'Fast Food Mania,' but Not in Ad Breaks |newspaper=Advertising Age |volume=83 |issue=22 |id={{EBSCOhost|76244086}} }}</ref>
==Episodes== {{Episode table |background=93DB70 |overall=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=
{{Episode list |Title=Cult Classics |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|6|3}} |EpisodeNumber=1 |ShortSummary=Devoted fast food customers are profiled. Restaurants featured: White Castle, Whataburger, and Chick-fil-A. |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=Beyond the Bun |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|6|3}} |EpisodeNumber=2 |ShortSummary=Jon focus on fast food items that are hamburger alternatives. Restaurants featured: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Domino's Pizza, and Taco Bell. |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=The Drive-Thru |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|6|10}} |EpisodeNumber=3 |ShortSummary=Jon tries to find the fastest drive-thru in the country and see if the drive-thru is faster than ordering inside. He also visits the most extreme drive-thrus. Restaurants featured: Wendy's, Jet Bar-B-Q Kansas City, Cowgirls Espresso, Starbucks, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=Extreme Burgers |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|6|17}} |EpisodeNumber=4 |ShortSummary=Jon searches the country trying to find the most extreme hamburgers. Restaurants featured: Five Guys, Wendy's, and Fatburger. |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=Fast Food Originals |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|7|11}} |EpisodeNumber=5 |ShortSummary=Jon travels to the original restaurants of popular American fast food chains. Restaurants featured: Dunkin' Donuts, A&W, and Nathan's Famous. |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=Extreme Menu Items |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|7|11}} |EpisodeNumber=6 |ShortSummary=Jon searches for the most extreme fast food menu items. Restaurants featured: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hardee's/Carl's Jr., and Elevation Burger. |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=Fast Food Tech |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|7|18}} |EpisodeNumber=7 |ShortSummary=Jon looks for the most innovated fast food preparation technology. Restaurants featured: Carl's Jr., Chick-fil-A, and Krispy Kreme. |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=Breakfast for Fast Food Champions |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|7|18}} |EpisodeNumber=8 |ShortSummary=Fast food breakfast items are profiled. Restaurants featured: Dunkin' Donuts, Sonic Drive-In, and Cinnabon. |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=Extra Special Service |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|7|25}} |EpisodeNumber=9 |ShortSummary=Some Fast Food places will go so far out of their way to serve their customers, you'll want to re-think getting that food to go! Watch how White Castle, Sonic and Dairy Queen exceed all expectations and really bring you that extra special service.<ref name="tvguide1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/fast-food-mania/videos/375813|title=Fast Food Mania | TV Guide|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref> |LineColor=93DB70 }} {{Episode list |Title=Extreme Locations |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2012|7|25}} |EpisodeNumber=10 |ShortSummary=From amazing beach front real estate, to the greenest fast food joint in the country, to behind the maximum security walls of the Pentagon, fast food can be found in some of the most surprising and unique locations on Earth.<ref name="tvguide1"/> |LineColor=93DB70 }} }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:2012 American television series debuts Category:Fast food Category:English-language American television shows Category:Destination America original programming Category:Television series by Sony Pictures Television
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