M&M’s

Jukka Aho · Post by **Jukka Aho** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:39 pm

Paid a visit to the local Minimani, and they had these large promotional signs up saying: M&M’s – vihdoinkin Suomessa! (“M&M’s – in Finland, at last!”)

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen M&M’s here before, or at least they have been available on the ferries to Sweden (and probably in specialty stores, such as Behnford’s), but just thought to post this “heads up” in case someone is craving for them and has been previously unable to find them. I saw the “peanut” variant (yellow bag) and the “choco” variant (brown bag) on the stands.

**Sponsor:**

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:23 am

Thanx.
M&&
M&&my

Jukka Aho · Post by **Jukka Aho** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:18 am

Truth be told, I might not have paid much attention to this promotional campaign if it hadn’t been for a much earlier exposure to product placement. When I was a kid back in the beginning of the 80’s, I got this illustrated novelization of Spielberg’s E.T. – the Extra Terrestrial (by William Kotzwinkle and Melissa Mathison) as a present. Or the Finnish edition of the same book, of course.

I only saw the actual movie years later, but that was OK because the novel was lavishly illustrated with large color stills taken from the original film – so it was almost like watching the movie itself. As a novelization, the book included an extended version of the story; describing, for example, the thoughts and feelings of the characters. It also had a larger page/spread size than typical novels, because of the pictures.

Anyway, unlike in the movie, where the plot involved E.T. being fond of Hershey’s Reece’s Pieces (another brand not well known in Finland, and an often-quoted example of successful product placement in movies), the novelization had that candy replaced with M&M’s. (Apparently Mars, Inc. wanted their share, too, having missed their chance the first time around.) They even explained the appearance in detail, down to the “m” letter on them. So, for the longest time, I knew E.T. supposedly ate “M&M’s” – in the book version of the story, anyway. But I was left wondering what kind of candies they actually were, as the brand was not available locally. (I did not get to sample M&M’s until much later in my life when I visited the US.)

Somehow, it was nice to see the brand now being available locally. Even though it’s not “comfort food from home” of any kind to me (unlike perhaps to some others on this forum), and I don’t usually even buy chocolate, it brought back some memories. As a kid, it certainly would have been cool to suddenly get the overseas “E.T. candy” on the shelves of the local stores.

• • •

Another thing which sounded intriguing and mysterious to me, at the time, was the description of the kids in the movie (or book) playing Dungeons & Dragons... Later on, though, I had some friends who were into RPGs themselves, and had the rulebooks and all for both the D&D and the AD&D, so that part of the story didn’t remain as a cultural mystery for quite that long.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:57 pm

yeah, D&D asnd M&M is a mystery to me too... a bit like some limey talking of Dr.Who and I'm all "what the dalek is that?"

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:25 pm

Pursuivant wrote:yeah, D&D asnd M&M is a mystery to me too... a bit like some limey talking of Dr.Who and I'm all "what the dalek is that?"

hahah - What in Davros' name are you talking about?

New expressions I will certainly be introducing into the English world.

(Bloody hate Dr Who...well any Brit Sci-fi crap).

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:17 pm

Jukka Aho wrote:Paid a visit to the local Minimani, and they had these large promotional signs up saying: M&M’s – vihdoinkin Suomessa! (“M&M’s – in Finland, at last!”)

As if "we" had actually been drooling in anticipation...

Still, I guess it's a change from having to chew on unsweetened birch bark, or yellow snow.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:34 am

Tasted the locally available M&M's today and didn't rate them at all, they just don't taste as good as they should.
Not sure why though...

Xochiquetzal · Post by **Xochiquetzal** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:38 pm

I thought they tasted quite fine.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:38 pm

Pete wrote:Tasted the locally available M&M's today and didn't rate them at all, they just don't taste as good as they should.
Not sure why though...

reminds me of an old one.
A newlywed couple is starting their life together, and the husband is adamant in getting some oatmeal porridge in the morning. He eats his porridge but always sighs "ah, just not quite as mommy made it." The wife gets annoyed of hearing this "not as good as mommys porridge." so one morning she leaves the pot on the stove and the oatmeal burns through. She slams the poridge on his husbands plate... the husband tastes and his eyes start to glow... "oh darling, just as mommy made it!"

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:58 pm

Pursuivant wrote:reminds me of an old one.
A newlywed couple is starting their life together, and the husband is adamant in getting some oatmeal porridge in the morning. He eats his porridge but always sighs "ah, just not quite as mommy made it." The wife gets annoyed of hearing this "not as good as mommys porridge." so one morning she leaves the pot on the stove and the oatmeal burns through. She slams the poridge on his husbands plate... the husband tastes and his eyes start to glow... "oh darling, just as mommy made it!"

Hahaa, nah it's not like that, i was just underwhelmed by them that's all.
Up until recently i had a really big bag of them bought from OS and every now and then i'd have a few.
The taste is fresh enough in my mind to know how they should be, plus i ate them alot back in Oz.

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:04 pm

M & Ms are crap....I am just glad I can get Skittles here....

But, i am banned from eating them as the sugar gets me hyper like a small child and then I get boisterous...so the GF won't allow me to eat them.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:43 pm

you need to cut back on the blue ones

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:07 pm

Haha...Usually so.

Think it's actually the green ones. Whatever Es they use for 'lime' sends me funny.

Skittles are really addictive too. Quite scary to be honest.

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:29 pm

M&M´s are edible, but nothing special... not a patch on their larger European cousins ... Minstrels.

And Dr Who is the best thing since slice bread ... just finished watching the penultimate episode of series 4 on iPlayer about 10 mins ago.

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:14 pm

Minstrels are American and European....

But there is also black minstrels from Trinidad...Or are they white minstrels?

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