Three or four people are standing in line at the burger factory; at the counter being served is this short, somewhat stocky wimpily unassertive guy. Behind him is this old codger who looks like the old guy with the pitchfork in “American Gothic”.

As the big fluffy bun is opened, the wimp looks down and says “uhhh…”, as the old guy snaps his head back up and snarls, with dentures rattling, “Where’s the Beef?!”

Then the ad went into its selling point before returning to the customers, as the young wimp mumbles “I don’t mean to be rude [or some such, I forget the line but it was there to indicate his utter passivity]…but, where’s the beef?”. As he says “where’s the beef”, the old codger starts nodding and then interjects “The BEEF!”

I saw that version before I saw Clara Peller’s, and to me that will always be “the” version.

this was featured in the simpson’s episode ‘please homer dont hammer em’

THAT made me lol ;D

“It’s a nice, fluffy bun” was supposed to be the funny line everyone remembered.

Peller was hard of hearing and so couldn’t tell when to say her line. Someone hunkered down behind the table and yanked on her skirt when it was time for her to speak. She belted out the line and history was made.

Phrase is still used…a great Ad legacy

-Doc