Hershey has launched an attack upon itself. A limited edition attack anyway. In an attempt to drum up interest again in the Whatchamacallit, civil war has broken out with the challenger Thingamajig. These two chocolate candy bars will duel it out on drug store counters across America. And I would like to preface this by saying in all my years, I have not actually ever eaten a Whachamacallit.
Which tastes OK? Which name is crazier? Which one do males aged 18-32 like best?
The incumbent, Whatchamacallit, boasts a peanut flavor crisp, caramel and rich chocolatey coating. Anyone else thinks that sounds really cheap? Peanut flavor? Chocolatey? Ick.
The challenger, Thingamajig is “made with chocolate, cocoa crisps, peanut butter.” That sounds pretty promising…
Hershey’s Thingamajig takes on the Whatchamacallit
Packaging
Whatchamacallit has the peachy colored wrapper with the name emblazoned across the front in a spikey and curvy format. I like it. It punches me in the face and makes me want to eat it.
Thingamajig is a red wrapper with the name in a splashy chocolate colored pool in the same curvy font. The limited edition label makes me want to hurry up.
Winner: Whatchamacallit. I need my chocolate candy to yell at me.
Appearance:
Awww, separated at birth. The Whachamacallit has more ripples, but face it, they’re at least fraternal twins.
Winner: Tie. It’s the same bar.
Appearance Inside:
Whatchamacallit was harder to cut, but cut cleanly, show casing a clear layer of caramel, rice crisp and chocolate. Thingamajig broke apart messily, but those same layers are there, caramel, chocolate crisp rice and chocolate.
Winner: Whatchamacallit. It’s pretty, neat and color coordinated.
Smell:
Whatchamacallit has hints of caramel and fake-ish chocolate. Thingamajig smells like peanut butter and chocolate.
Winner: Thingamajig. If you don’t faint at the scent combo of chocolate and peanut butter, you’re not human.
Can the Thingamajig Candy Bar Best the Whatchamacallit in Taste?
Taste:
Whatchamacallit is nice and soft with a gently crispy crunch. The caramel is like a mouth pillow and even though I know the chocolate is chocolately coating, it’s not really making a difference to me right now.
Thingamajig has a nice soft initial bite with the same crunch. I can’t really tell that the crisp rice is chocolate over the non chocolate crisp rice. The peanut butter is light, yet prevalent and with a sweet chocolate aftertaste kick.
Winner: Whatchamacallit. I guess even when you start from zero, the classic prevails. The Thingamajig is almost too sweet and the caramel is just too good against the peanut butter.
Overall winner Whachamacallit with a 3-1-1 score!
Now if they could just invent the Dohickey with chocolate, chocolate crisp rice, peanut butter and caramel. With a cherry on top.
March 29th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
[...] Still, it was good, and it’s too bad it’s a limited edition. For more reviews, see Cocoa Heaven and A.V. Club’s particularly impressive [...]
March 29th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I LOVE THE THINGAMIJIG!!! i T JUST MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH. THE THING THAT I HATE IS THAT I CAN ONLY FIND IT AT WAL-GREENS AND DONT SHOP THERE THAT OFTEN. I WISH THEY WOULD SELL IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Yeah, Walgreen’s was where I picked it up, featured item of the week on the counter by the registers!
April 5th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Boy you must be crazy. Thingamajigs rock! The whatchamacallit’s crisp is too sharp in the mouth. The thingamajig’s REAL CHOCOLATE also helps it stand out. A refined palette can discern the difference.
April 7th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Interesting marketing strategy. I wonder how it will turn out.
April 13th, 2009 at 12:27 am
I came across the Thingamajig in a bodega in Bushwick. As a life long Whatchamacallit lover, I HAD to try it. I liked it, but not as much as Whatchamacallit. Yet. I’m gonna get a dozen of each and see what I think when April comes around. And who lost interest in the Whatchamacallit to begin with? SHAME ON YOU!
April 13th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I LOVE THINGAMAJIGS!!!! After the first one, I went back and bought 20. Yes, I ate all 20.
Over a week or so, but still. They better be kidding about “limited edition,” cuz I gotta monkey
on my back now! Plus, I addicted my friends at work, and they would kill mei f we could’nt get anymore. I DID love Whatchamacallits, but I think now the divorces is final! Oh, yeah, I did go buy 20 more, just in case. This is killing my weight watchers program, but so worth it!;-)
April 14th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Lol. Sounds like I should be buying stock in Hershey for the duration of the Thingamajig!
January 14th, 2010 at 12:30 am
I wish you would keep both cuz I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!