Mac Tonight was the moon-headed character in McDonald's late-1980s advertising campaign for its nighttime menu.
McDonald's introduced Mac Tonight in 1986 to promote evening dining and the company's extended operating hours. The character had a crescent-moon head, wore formal clothing, and sang a modified version of the song “Mack the Knife.” His appearance gave the campaign a distinctive lounge-singer style that contrasted with McDonaldland's usual cartoon cast.
The campaign became especially recognizable because of its musical presentation and unusual visual design. Mac Tonight was not intended to replace Ronald McDonald; he served a separate advertising purpose focused on dinner and late-night visits.
Mac Tonight is sometimes confused with ordinary McDonaldland characters because both appeared in McDonald's commercials. He was a campaign-specific mascot rather than a permanent member of the core fictional world. The character's name is also a pun on the phrase “back tonight” and the restaurant's nighttime focus.