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Don't touch that dial: Test Pattern tunes into television, movie, music and pop culture links, as well as gossip and idle chat from around the Web.

Every week, msnbc.com entertainment producers Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, Denise Hazlick, Paige Newman, Kurt Schlosser and Anna Chan weigh in on topics ranging from TV commercials to movie hype to the latest celebrity blunder. We're not ashamed to admit our love for bad TV or reveal what's on our iPods, and invite you to join the conversation via your comments.



Multi-link Monday

Posted: Monday, June 04, 2007 6:01 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under:

Welcome to our first Multi-link Monday of June! With summer in sight, it's even easier to use these distracting time-waster sites to keep from working. I won't tell your boss if you don't tell mine.

• I saw this site mentioned in Rolling Stone and had to check it out: Fast food: Ads vs. Reality shows both a photo of a fast-food item as seen in the restaurant's ads, and contrasts it with the real-life smushed and smaller burger (or whatever) that you're actually served when you go there. Some of them are not that far off (the Subway sub looks pretty similar to its ad) and some are pretty humorous (the Arby's roast beef and cheddar looks like it was run over in the drive-thru).

• We all know about Jump the Shark, but what about just plain sharks, jumping? These photos are pretty amazing. (Thanks to Mark for the link!)

• Most disturbing Halloween costume EVER.

• This baby panda is absolutely freakish looking when he's first born, but he sure gets cute after a while. (Via Metafilter.)

• Reader-submitted link, from Joy: "If you are celeb-obsessed and ever wondered what your favorite stars would look like morphed together, MorphThing.com is the coolest site. You can even use your own photos and morph them with your friend or other stars. It's a cool way to waste an hour!"

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Comments

Re: the fast food ads vs. the real thing.... The Whopper and the sausage McMuffin both seem to bear a striking resemblance AudreyII from Little Shop of Horrors. Creepy yet hysterical!

JE, Detroit (Sent Monday, June 04, 2007 9:57 AM)

That dog costume is SO wrong!!

Tina, Torrance, Ca (Sent Monday, June 04, 2007 3:26 PM)

Fast food: Ads vs. Reality - In both photos, the Burger King enormous omelet sandwich looks dangerous.

Donald, Mojave Desert, Californina (Sent Monday, June 04, 2007 3:26 PM)

There are people whose sole job is to make food for picture ads. Some high percentage needs to be actual food, but they commonly use glue and other inedible materials to make the food look appetizing. So, it's not completely fair to compare the two.

John Doe, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Monday, June 04, 2007 4:57 PM)

Did John Doe just say it wasn't fare to compare the two? How do you figure that? It is suppose to be the FOOD you are buying!! Misleading to ads say the least...

Elvis, USA, Earth (Sent Monday, June 04, 2007 5:20 PM)

Loved all the links! I'm always a softie for pandas.

Bill McGovern.Hoosick Falls,N.Y. (Sent Monday, June 04, 2007 9:41 PM)

JE, Detroit read my mind. As soon as I saw that burger, I said Little Shop Of Horrors!!!!! LMAO! JE, you rock! I thought I was delusional but at least you share my vision.

Mae Mae, Tampa, Fl 33619 (Sent Monday, June 04, 2007 11:06 PM)

The food links are funny, but I'm not sure it qualifies as "misleading advertising," unless you are completely naive about the ingredients in these entrees. If the teenagers who make the fast food in reality prepped the food for ads, you probably would not buy the product. If you want food that looks as picture perfect as the ads, settle for something that costs a little more than $2.99.

Danielle, FL (Sent Tuesday, June 05, 2007 10:13 AM)

Another good way to waste time is to check out www.missouritrailertrash.com. Some of these are pretty ingenious!

Charlotte, Addieville, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 05, 2007 11:03 AM)

actually, when I wored @ mc donald's and the store manager told me that all the food in the pictures were all rubber! And thats why they all looked nice and tasty.

Told Ya (Sent Tuesday, June 05, 2007 11:49 AM)

that dog costume just ruined years of fantasies from 30-something men. Whoever came up with that needs some serious therapy

Mary, Norton, Ks (Sent Thursday, June 07, 2007 12:00 AM)

The McDonalds Fish sandwich looks the same. Is that a good or bad thing?

Angus (Sent Thursday, June 07, 2007 7:44 AM)

On the same website as the Princess Lei costume, there's a "Shalom Pups" costume. It comes complete with a Talith with a white Star of David and a Yarmulke. One jarring note: the doggie models they picture wearing this are a Weimaraner and a Daschund. Uh...both breeds are German in origin!?!?

Krista, Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Wednesday, June 13, 2007 4:36 PM)



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