Expert: Mel - 12/1/2008

Question
Hi Mel! I have 3 questions about the Peach Pit Mega Burger.

1. What is in a Mega burger?
2. Would a mega burger be the same size as a double cheeseburger from McDonalds or the Big Mac from McDonalds?
3. Do any of the characters ever actually eat a Mega Burger? I can only think of 2 episodes. In season 3 Kelly tells her mom she picked one up on her way home then she takes a bite of it. In season 7 Claire is eating one when Steve comes to see her at the Peach Pit.

Answer
Hi Claire,

This is what's in a Peach Pit "Megaburger", in order from bottom to top:

Half Bun
Burger Patty #1
Burger Patty #2
One Slice of Swiss Cheese
One Slice of American Cheese
Tomatoes
Lettuce
Bermuda Onions (optional)
Half Bun

Apparently, no secret sauce.  Also in the episode, "The Pit and The Pendulum" (2.24), it's revealed that Marilyn Monroe was the one who thought to add the Swiss cheese and used to eat these burgers at the fictional diner all the time.

As for comparing its size to that of McDonald's double cheeseburger and Big Mac, I'd say it's somewhere in between but more the size of the Big Mac.  

I believe there are more instances where characters actually eat the burger than Kelly in "Senior Poll" and Clare in the S7 episode you mentioned, but it is pretty rare.  Usually, fries will be eaten instead, as in "Rave On"/S5, with Valerie, and various instances towards the end of S4 where Andrea would be talking and holding a fry (she was pregnant, so we often saw her eating).  Actually, I think Donna eats fries during a Peach Pit sorority meeting in "Moving Targets", S4, and Kelly does in S10, "I'm Using You Cause I like You".  Anyway, Donna also runs out of the diner, frantic and with a partially eaten hamburger in one hand in "Senior Week", S7. Tuna melts, chef salads, and regular sandwiches were also popular among the crew, which make it easier to get around this, particularly for castmembers that are vegetarian.  You bring up a good point, cause I'm drawing a blank for most of the characters when it comes to actually seeing them eat a megaburger, particularly David and (ironically) Brandon.  There are some instances where one is brought over to a character as comfort food (Steve in "Chuckie's Back", S2, Kelly in "Home and Away", S3, Brandon in "Life After Death", S5) but the meal isn't touched.  What we saw mostly at the Peach Pit was probably coffee drinking (or mock coffee drinking).       

Thanks for the question!

All the best,

Mel