So vacuum-sealed vomit was made in the 50's.

Hmm. I learned something today.

This reminds me of the Mitch Hedberg joke about Pringles being a tennis ball company, but were delivered potatos instead.

@AlteredBeast:

I think Pringles' initial intention was to make tennis balls. But on the day that the rubber was supposed to show up, a big truckload of potatoes arrived. But Pringles was a laid-back company. They said "Fuck it. Cut 'em up."

I did know these awful things were invented in the 50's. But I didn't know about the unsold turkey thing. Either way, they still taste like crap, almost like they were left over from the 50's.

@AlteredBeast:

"I think Pringles' initial intention was to make tennis balls."

So a Pringle's can hold how many SERVINGS of potatoes?

If you think TV dinners are bad you've never be able to stomach MRE's.

TV Dinners aren't that bad. Once you find a proper brand that suits your pallete, I see no shame in consuming those products (I would prefer the ones without the plastic/glass shards though). I just wish they came in sensible portions.

@Parapraxis: But isn't part of Pringles' "thing" that they are made from reconstituted potatoes, not actual potato slices?

@gatewaytoheaven: I like the ones made by Amy's Organics. The portions aren't ridiculous and their presence on Target's freezer shelves means it's easier for me to have food in situations where I can't go to a restaurant or make my own, like out-of-town workshops.

@gatewaytoheaven: I enjoy Lean Cuisine. Much better variety than the other brands.

@Mr_D: maybe you missed the part where they said it was a "joke" by Mitch Hedberg R.I.P.

@JulesNoctambule:

"I like the ones made by Amy's Organics."

At the risk of sounding like a shill, Amy's rocks.

Just like the soup post come on people. Tell how you make them cheaper :D

Odd thing is my little one gets one a week. She likes them. I do not. I see it this way, if she will get a Rib Eye stake dinner. I can give her fish sticks.

@trk182: The best MREs (e.g. chili mac, beef ravioli) beat most TV dinners, in my opinion. But if you're talking about Country Captain Chicken, I agree.

@AlteredBeast: I just added you as a friend, because anyone who likes Mitch Hedburg kicks ass in my book.

@JulesNoctambule: I can't get into TV dinners anymore, but given the opportunity I will eat pizza rolls all night long.

@Ben_Q2: LOL.. never thought of it that way. there's nothing wrong with giving a kid something like this as a treat. now if you start feeding them these for dinner every night, I will call CPS on you. :)

@regcrusher: They may be lean, but they make up for that with sodium. Hope you don't have high blood pressure, or that stuff will give you an aneurism.

I remember eating TV dinners back in the 70's once in a while... good times, bad food.

The first Swanson TV Dinner - made up of three sections containing turkey with cornbread dressing and gravy, sweet potatoes and buttered peas - went on sale in 1953 priced at 98 cents.

Ten million of the cartons, innovatively packaged to look like a TV screen complete with knobs, disappeared from US shop shelves in 10 months, as viewers settled down to munch as they watched number one show I Love Lucy.

@downwithmonstercable: "Dogs are forever in the push up position."

@gatewaytoheaven: Michelena's are pretty cheap and have "sensible portions" - i.e., like 10 ounces of food - 300 - 400 calories.

@JulesNoctambule: Amy's are good, but insanely expensive.

@varro: Another reason that I love the fact Target carries them! They're really cheap there, almost half the price I see them marked in most stores. I remember one time when the 'meatloaf' meals were two for three dollars and I stocked up for inexpensive work lunches.

@trk182:

90's era MRE's yes...today's no.

The MRE of today is MILES ahead of what was around for Gulf War I.

@gatewaytoheaven: While not actually a TV dinner, Stouffer's frozen lasagna is fairly edible from time to time, I find.

@downwithmonstercable: Ditto. Now I have to stop typing, because I have a roll of Lifesavers in my pocket and pineapple's next.

@Blueskylaw: Strangely enough, you can still get TV Dinners for around $1...It's the one inflation proof item it seems.

Genius! That guy better have gotten rich off that. Although probably not.

@mrmysterious: Amen, brother. Hell, I take MRE's camping now.

Yeah, but at what quality are you getting that crap for $1. I mean, come on, if McDonalds can't afford to have the Double Cheeseburger on the menu for $1, what does that tell you?

@audiochick: I was finishing a comment on my smartphone but I'm being stopped by mall security and refused a receipt for my donut. Oops.

@ludwigk: The Safeway brand has a kick-ass vegetarian lasagna. Unfortunately, I moved and the Safeway that I live near now doesn't carry them.

@Ben_Q2: Yeah, I used to love the tv dinners, so I got them as a treat every now and then. Now, I don't know why I liked them.

@trk182: The absolute worst is the ham slice, you can put tobasco, cheese, or anything else you can find on that piece of meat, it still tastes like crap.

@Jonbo298: Actually I have noticed that they have finally seemingly bumped up to 1.25 solid. You can still even get Turkey (though with mashed potatoes, gravy, and veggie). Of course for $1 back then you were getting a tray that people would regularly reuse for following TV dinners (that were home packed from leftovers).

Honestly frozen dinners were much better before the microwave. You can still oven them, and they will generally taste better, but the companies have changed flavor profiles, and such to work well when prepared in a microwave.

@samurailynn: I liked Kid Cuisine, they came with a prize in them.

@ViperBorg:
keep in mind... that was 1953 when it was introduced at that price

@KyleOrton: Shoulda ducked him by taking the temporary stairs...

@trk182: Modern MREs are actually pretty good. WAY better than Swanson's TV Dinners at least...

@varro: ugh, Michelena's dinners are 99cents each at my supermarket, and they are worse than elementary-school-lunch. F-ing DISGUSTING.

@downwithmonstercable: Yeah, I remember those. For some reason my mom didn't like getting me those ones. Those and lunchables. Perhaps they're just way too expensive for what you get.

@Mr_D:

Yeah. They are basically potato paste cooked into a stackable shape and salted like all hell. In fact , several countries inculding one that I will not name that lies between Canada and Mexico , made them change from calling themselves "Pringles Newfangled Potato Chips" to "potato crisps" a few years back.
Oddly , for as long as they have been around,Pringles have never been a real money maker for Proctor & Gamble. In many years ,they have lost lots of $$ because their cost to produce is so high. I love 'em. Especially the Pizza , Spcy Guacamole and Salt & Vinegar varieties...

Maybe they should tie the marketing in with the latest fad of video games. I'm thinking: Gamefuel add'on pack.

@yasth: Good point. I try to always make everything the slowest way possible. Left over pizza is nasty in the microwave, delish in the oven

@audiochick @startertan @KyleOrton:
I hope the next time I move I get a real easy phone number, something that's real easy to remember. Something like two two two two two two two two. I would say "Sweet." And then people would say, "Mitch, how do I get ahold of you?" I'd say, "Just press two for a while. And when I answer, you will know you have pressed two enough."

And all of a sudden, people became fat.

@downwithmonstercable: I'll always have a soft spot for the Kid Cuisine brownies..

I thought that everyone in the '50s drank their dinner. When they weren't smoking their cigarettes, that is.