toys that made us season 3

[Earth 2 Chris]

Yeah it had way too much snark, like right out the gate you're told three times Star Wars sold better. Why do that?

Also, they really wanted to paint Mego as a joke and Marty a fool, I know for a fact that segment wasn't accuratley edited and that story they told was BS.

I wondered how Marty felt about that as soon as I watched it.

Lego was overall very positive, but I wonder how that Lego company archivist felt about seeming like some zealot saying "the system" over and over? Yeah, it made for a fun running gag, but I wonder how the butt of these jokes feel about such editing "tricks".

[huedell]

Yeah it had way too much snark, like right out the gate you're told three times Star Wars sold better. Why do that?

Also, they really wanted to paint Mego as a joke and Marty a fool, I know for a fact that segment wasn't accuratley edited and that story they told was BS.

I know I may come across oblivious as far Internet social skills as evidenced in the last couple decades... but that naivete obviously stretches into this kind of thing.

I'll have to re-watch that Star Trek episode from the POV you described... when I watched it originally, the only time I felt anything truly negative/malicious was pressing Marty on the company's demise, and having him appear blase about its questionable end.

Actually, on further thought, that was one moment that made me more questioning Marty's ethics, than questioning if he was a fool. I mean, it wasn't something that bothered me for more than a moment, but I remember that.

The passing Star Wars stuff? I must be numb to it by now

I do remember thinking it was actually a good thing they put it in there as I had never heard it documented to that extent. I didn't notice the repetition, although I don't doubt it was there.

[palitoy]

I thought the star trek episode was the worst of the series. It focused way too heavily on the negative, and they always pull that one fan in for interviews(who I believe is being made fun of in some respects) . And you are right. After that episode, they can go any direction with the others.

Yeah it had way too much snark, like right out the gate you're told three times Star Wars sold better. Why do that?

Also, they really wanted to paint Mego as a joke and Marty a fool, I know for a fact that segment wasn't accuratley edited and that story they told was BS.

[huedell]

Another vote for Hot Wheels... and wouldn't Tonka Trucks be a good one, too?

I never had one but it seems that those trucks were a huge part of the industry at one point.



Oh.... and a whole doc series called The Home Video Games That Made Us with Atari 2600, Intellivision, Nintendo and Sega as a first season

[kerowack]

I thought the star trek episode was the worst of the series. It focused way too heavily on the negative, and they always pull that one fan in for interviews(who I believe is being made fun of in some respects) . And you are right. After that episode, they can go any direction with the others.

[mego]

These toy lines aren't really my thing, but I've gotta say - I've enjoyed every episode of this show. For some reason, the stuff I'm not initially interested in happens to be fascinating. I'm really looking forward to another season of wacky toy history!

[huedell]

I'm sure the wrestling one will focus on the Hasbro WWF figures, but wrestling figures have been a staple of the toy aisle since the early 1980s. Outlasting tons of other stuff and are arguably Mattel's biggest license today. Pretty obvious inclusion, with clear areas of focus. Batman, while a good topic, isn't really able to focus on any one area. The longest Batman toylines are directly connected to movies and cartoons from Kenner with short life spans. So as a topic, I feel like it would be all over the place. The wrestling one will obviously touch on a bunch of stuff, LJN, Remco, Hasbro, Jakks, etc, but still less all over the place than a Batman episode would be.

After the unique "all over the place" aspect of the Star Trek episode, I wouldn't be surprised at any approach to a licence like Batman...actually, I had ben thinking... why not compliment the Star Trek episode with, instead of a Batman episode, a DC episode, followed by a Marvel episode?

[ODBJBG]

I'm sure the wrestling one will focus on the Hasbro WWF figures, but wrestling figures have been a staple of the toy aisle since the early 1980s. Outlasting tons of other stuff and are arguably Mattel's biggest license today. Pretty obvious inclusion, with clear areas of focus. Batman, while a good topic, isn't really able to focus on any one area. The longest Batman toylines are directly connected to movies and cartoons from Kenner with short life spans. So as a topic, I feel like it would be all over the place. The wrestling one will obviously touch on a bunch of stuff, LJN, Remco, Hasbro, Jakks, etc, but still less all over the place than a Batman episode would be.

Power Rangers strikes me as bland. Unless it's all about the Japanese toys, there's not much nostalgia for the original PR toys in the US. They were generally pretty terrible and were only bought because kids loved anything PR. But the toys themselves have always been a sour spot with PR fans. Now in Japan there's some cool stuff, but doesn't seem to be the focus of the show even though they have talked about Japanese stuff (particularly in the Transformers episode) most people haven't even seen the Japan PR merch.

[TheMegoGuy]

The Power Rangers show could actually be really good depending on how far they dig back. I think the five man concept began in 1978 and were connected to Marvel, so depending on how that one is handled, it could be the best one.

I thought the Mego Popy Battle Fever J figures were early Power Rangers?

[noelani72]

^^this! good point.

[huedell]

If it’s well produced, it can still be a good watch even if it’s not a toy line you collected.

The Barbie episode for me was one of the most entertaining and educational. Whereas I’ve sort of forgotten what they did with the Star Wars episode, since I’ve been to that well so many times.

I do understand disappointment with not seeing “our” toy lines represented, but I wouldn’t write it off completely.

This isn't Facebook... but I have to LIKE your post. Its exactly how I feel.

[Mary Canary]

I actually watched the Hello Kitty episode last night. It was the only one of the series I hadn't seen, and I actually really enjoyed it. I don't think you have to be a fan of a specific toyline to still get some entertainment value out of this show. Just a love of toy-related things and toy history. Which tells me I'll probably end up watching and liking the wrestling one too, even though I could care less about wrestling. I do remember working at Kay Bee in the early 90s and the WWF (or was it WWE?) figures sold really well.

Power Rangers also hit the US market during my Kay Bee days. I remember parents braving an ice storm and rushing through the store after the gate went up on Black Friday morning to score Rangers toys. They've been around for 20 years pretty much non-stop. I've seen people complain Voltron deserved a show first, but how long was Voltron around for vs. Power Rangers? And maybe the show will touch on things like Voltron and Battle of the Planets.

TMNT and MLP are both toy giants. I can see Hot Wheels and Matchbox getting a future episode, even though I'm not a fan (not really a fan of any of these 4 newly announced lines, but see comment above about enjoying the show anyway). Jem fans have been campaigning for that property to get an episode. I mean, there are sooo many they could do. I think as long as people keep watching the show, they'll keep creating new episodes and maybe your fan-favorite (Batman, DC, Marvel, Thundercats, Universal Monsters, Micro Machines, Strawberry Shortcake, etc. etc. etc.) will eventually get a turn.

[Werewolf]

...then where's the Smurfs ep?

That would be good!

[hedrap]

The Power Rangers show could actually be really good depending on how far they dig back. I think the five man concept began in 1978 and were connected to Marvel, so depending on how that one is handled, it could be the best one.

That's what I was thinking. It should connect to Kamen Rider. The irony is Kamen appeared on the same day as Mazinger, so we're back to 70's toys, Shogun Warriors and everything begat from that.

[palitoy]

The Power Rangers show could actually be really good depending on how far they dig back. I think the five man concept began in 1978 and were connected to Marvel, so depending on how that one is handled, it could be the best one.