Which came first the toy or the tie in?

[jimsmegos]

I recently picked up a couple Welcome Back Kotter figures from our pal Merlyn1976 and got to remembering and reflecting. When these first came out I was but a wee lad and really had no interest in the show but saw the figures near the Mego's and was treated to a Horshack when it was discovered that all the 'cool' figures were sold out. At that point I got curious and asked about the show and then watched it one night with the aunt who got me the Horshack. The show was okay but the Horshak was still cool. It was the scarf that did it really. Flash forward 30+ years later...

Thanks to Bif Bang Pow's Venture Brothers figures I gave the show a shot after purchasing a loose Brock and Dr. Venture. Hooked on both ever sense.

Exhibit 2:

The Mego Spock episode of Big Bagn Theory again worked it's Mego magic and due to it I watched the show for the first time and again hooked.

So the question- Am I a total oddball in this 'toy before the tie in' relationship or are there others out there like me that are far more interested in the toy than its original source?

[cjefferys]

I have Mego Starsky and Hutch figures sitting on my shelf, and I don't believe I've ever watched an entire episode of the TV show.

I instantly fell in love with the Shogun Warrior robots when I was a kid, but didn't see any of their cartoons (or even knew they existed) until I was an adult. And in some cases (ie. Gaiking, Daimos) I still have yet to see the original anime that they were based on, but still love the characters and their toys.