After 20 Years, Chuck E. Cheese Is Getting A Makeover

[Brian Damage]

Chuck E. Cheese has been given the pink slip.

The company that operates the chain of children's pizza restaurants is retiring the giant rodent's outdated image -- and the man who voiced its character for nearly two decades. CEC Entertainment Inc. says it plans to launch a national ad campaign Thursday with a revamped image of Chuck E. Cheese as a hip, electric-guitar-playing rock star.

It's just the latest makeover for the 35-year-old mascot, which started life as a New Jersey rat who sometimes carried a cigar.

CEC Entertainment, based in Irving, Texas, is struggling to revive sales at its more than 500 pizza restaurants, which offer games, prizes and a musical variety show. In May, CEC said revenue at its locations open at least a year fell 4.2 percent in the first quarter and lowered its outlook for the year.

According to ShowBizPizza.com, a Chuck E. Cheese fan site, the man who voiced the mascot in restaurants and commercials since 1993 learned of his replacement only after coming across "Chuck's Hot New Single" online and realizing it was sung by someone else. The fan site late last week published a Facebook post by Duncan Brannan, the mascot's former voice.

Brannan could not be reached for comment. But in the post, he writes that part of his assignment when he first took on the role was to transform Chuck E. Cheese from "a joke-telling, sometime off-color New Jersey rat" to a lovable, mainstream mouse.

He notes that there were various signs in recent months that suggested he was being pushed out, but that he was assured by the company that he was still the voice of Chuck E.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/03/chuck-e-cheese-to-transform-into-rock-star-to-update-image/#ixzz1zc2XwvAq

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/2012/07/chuck_e_cheese.jpg

http://global.fncstatic.com/static/ChuckECheese.jpg

[Brian Damage]

Duncan Brannan, who has voiced the mouse for 19 years, claims that the news of his being replaced by pop-punk frontman Jaret Reddick came as a "complete surprise" and was "hurtful."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chuck-e-cheese-makeover-duncan-brannan-jaret-reddick-344677?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fpopeater+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Popeater+Feed%29

http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/files/2012/07/Brannan.png

[hawkeye123]

That is sad too hear.I spent many of birthdays at Chuck E Mr.Cheese's and, always had a great time.I think they should leave the charecter alone.If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[yankeesrj12]

The new one is awful. It's not the Chuck E. Cheese I grew up with. :(

[retrofan05]

That is sad too hear.I spent many of birthdays at Chuck E Mr.Cheese's and, always had a great time.I think they should leave the charecter alone.If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Revenue has fallen 4.2 percent. So, apparently it is broke.

[hawkeye123]

Revenue has fallen 4.2 percent, so apparently it is broke.



That sucks,but it could really have more to do with the economy then the mouse.All i know for sure is i preferred the old mouse.

[Schmoopie]

The new one is awful. It's not the Chuck E. Cheese I grew up with. :(
I couldn't agree more!

I don't get why cartoons have to look so 'realistic' these days. Whatever happened to the cute drawings and so forth? I mean those Pixar movies were cute at the beginning but now practically all cartoons have gone to that format! It's a shame, really that computers have replaced drawings.

I still think it's hilarious that the first time I ever went to Chuck E Cheese is when I was a senior in high school! My church youth group went there for dinner one night and I just loved it!

[hawkeye123]

I don't get why cartoons have to look so 'realistic' these days. Whatever happened to the cute drawings and so forth? I mean those Pixar movies were cute at the beginning but now practically all cartoons have gone to that format! It's a shame, really that computers have replaced drawings.


I don't get it either.I would much prefer the cartoon drawings.I think Disney and Warner Bros perfected it.

[Tubehead]

I hand't been since chucky was iin it they need to bring bACK the robots now theyjust got ttv ireocmeddavid and buster iits more for adluts it kindo fl ikhcucky cHEES i wish they would bring bily bob back.

[Tubehead]

DO you know why they got rat problem? cuse theyselltoo manychees pizza

[catlover79]

I grew up with Chuck E. Cheese and went to many a birthday party there. I hate it when they change mascots' looks. I think it was fine the way it was. BOOOOOOOOOOOOO...:mad:

[fol_fan1989]

I grew up with Chuck E. Cheese and went to many a birthday party there. I hate it when they change mascots' looks. I think it was fine the way it was. BOOOOOOOOOOOOO...:mad:
Me, too.