Short Takes
Staff -- Playthings, 3/1/2002
Birthday spud
The first TV-advertised toy turned 50 last month. Garfield's Jim Davis and AARP president-elect Jim Parkel helped celebrate the 50th birthday of Mr. Potato Head. Hasbro will work with Operation Smile, a not-for-profit that provides corrective surgery to children in developing countries, in its 50 Years of Smiles promotion. The quinquagenarian also received a lifetime membership to the AARP.
Wabi Bear phone home
Combining wireless telephone technology with the teddy bear, Wabi has developed a techno-savvy teddy. Parents can impart a personal message, via phone, to the bear. The bear will giggle to let the child know there is a message waiting. The call may be placed anywhere in the continental United States for $0.10 per minute.
The next BTL?
Beginning as interstitials on New York public TV station WLIW in 2000, Dittydoodle Works is scheduled to hit the air as a half-hour show in April. Commonwealth is already on board to develop a variety of products. Responding to the popular mall appearances by the cast in the New York metropolitan area, FAO's Manhattan and Westchester, N.Y., locations carried Commonwealth plush during the 2001 holiday. The show will be music-based: "Not typical 'kids' music," says Executive Producer Cory Rosenberg, "parent-friendly kids music." Seven-time Emmy Award-winning Sesame Street writer Mark Saltzman has signed on to the project.
