Intelligent comment (as always, Pharm). The smoking gun in the Shoney's case was a statement of a (very) senior manager, who entered a Shoney's with a large percentage of black wait staff and made a comment that "We need to lighten up the atmosphere in here a bit." Perhaps it is not a coincidence that Shoney's is not doing very well these days.
I understand, however that Shoney's is the "low-cost restaurant" algore claims to be eating at regularly (and was mis-quoted by "no-terrorists here" Reuters as stating that he was opening up a low-cost restaurant). Al could very well be pigging out regularly at Shoney's. It would certainly explain all the weight he has put on. Have you ever had a Shoney's all-you-can-eat-breakfast-trough?
Boy, I haven't been to a Shoney's since I was in school in Ohio! I have never seen one anywhere in NY State.