Who gives a Hoot(ie)?

If you've watched anything on both network and cable TV in the last few weeks (and you didn't TIVO through the commercials) you must have seen, by now, this bizarre commercial for Burger King.
It's part of an ad campaign for their new, limited run, Tendercrisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Sandwich ( that's one, long ass name for a sandwich!)

The ad takes place in a colorful, magical looking land where the streets are paved in bricks of Cheddar Cheese and where beautiful sexy babes (portrayed by Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, FHM models and former "Wild On" host, Brooke Burke) dance and cavort lavishly enjoying eating their sandwiches. (there's also something about winning the lottery, that strange looking King that we've seen in previous Burger King ads and guys eating french fries, but I was too busy looking at the women)

You'd think that that would be enough, but you'd be wrong! Centering the ad, wearing a colorful cowboy costume and singing the catchy jingle (sung to the tune of "Big Rock Candy Mountain") is Darius Rucker. Yes, THAT Darius Rucker, the former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish.

If you were alive in 1994 you couldn't avoid hearing any of the tracks from Hootie and the Blowfish's monster debut album Cracked Rear View. (I thought about putting a link here to Amazon where you could order it, but who here doesn't own a copy?) This album was HUGE, and I can only imagine that Darius and the rest of the band made a pretty penny off of it. Sure, their follow ups didn't come close to matching their premiere success (though what could) but has it come to this? Is mister Rucker this hard up for scratch that he's allowed himself to be dressed up as a modern day Roy Rogers and hawking the latest artery hardening confection from Burger King?

Perhaps the biggest question is what made Burger King choose him? Would no modern day pop star do the ad? Couldn't they find a more obscure singer from the 80's or 70's?

My guess is that it has something to do with the hot looking babes and his band had the word Hoot(er) in it. And hey, what better way is there to sell a white meat chicken "breast" sandwich?