McDonald's called its moon-faced late-night advertising character Mac Tonight.
Mac Tonight debuted in 1986 in a McDonald's advertising campaign designed to promote evening dining. The character had a crescent-moon head, sunglasses, and a tuxedo-like appearance, creating a distinctive visual identity separate from Ronald McDonald and the McDonaldland cast.
His commercials became especially memorable because they used a version of the song “Mack the Knife.” The campaign connected McDonald's with dinner and late-night occasions rather than concentrating only on daytime fast food.
Mac Tonight is sometimes mistaken for a permanent McDonaldland character. He was primarily a campaign mascot associated with a particular advertising period, and his use declined after legal controversy involving the song's rights. That limited role distinguishes him from the company's long-running characters.