Denny’s Nannerpuss Is the Meme That Never Was | Eater

"In 2009 during a Super Bowl spot, an absurd character called Nannerpuss—a googly-eyed, tentacled banana—became a brief cult phenomenon tied to a chain’s Grand Slam breakfast. The puppet felt like an early, organic example of Internet irreverence: people made memes, bought handmade Etsy valentines, and shared the joke, but the buzz didn’t translate into genuine affection for the restaurant. When the brand tried to capitalize by giving Nannerpuss a Twitter account, the stunt backfired as the character began posting increasingly disturbing and inappropriate content. Overall, the campaign is remembered more as a fleeting, lovable oddity that highlighted how brands would later learn to weaponize viral culture rather than as an effective piece of marketing." - Jaya Saxena