A new photo has been released showing the finished Mr. Potato Head animatronic at the Toy Story Mania ride at Disney. It looks really cool…I can’t wait to see it in action. I hope Disney releases a Toy Story Mania version of the toy with the same parts as the robotic one.

See picture Here

Something I haven’t talked about recently is packaging changes. That is, small changes Hasbro makes to Mr. Potato Head packaging or accessories from year to year. The changes in question are subtle enough not to be noticed by the average consumer, but they stick out like a potato in a carrot patch to those of us who know our tubers. So far this year I have seen several small detail changes in the marketing of the same Potato Head toys from last year.

1. The Spider Spud has black stripes on his red suit. However, the one sold in the 2 pack (along side the black Venom Spud) has silver stripes.

2. The Sweetheart Spud originally was sold with the smiling teeth mouth. This year it has the red lips.

3. Several of the Potato Head character specific models were re-released in yellow boxes. No change in the toy, just a new box.

4. The Spud Bunnies have a new blue background package, the front cardboard packaging is different, and the blue bunny now has the eyelash eyes. This is the second or third time they have changed the bunnies. They changed the name once and the eyes every year.

5. Several of the holiday related Potato Heads (Santa Spud, Trick or Tater etc) that originally were sold in boxes are now sold on blister cards. They still sell standard Potato Heads in boxes, why did they change the holiday ones?

I know these changes seem small, but my question is “what’s the point?” You can’t tell me that these items are expected to fly off the shelves faster in their second or third year of release because they come with a different mouth or different color background. Does Hasbro really spend money with focus groups to learn that the white eyes scare people but the eyelash eyes attract them?
It seems to me these changes are geared toward collectors. They know we can’t sleep at night if our Spider Spud doesn’t have the black stripes AND the silver ones. They know that no self respecting collector would have a Spud Bunny but not a Spring Bunny.

I say “Hasbro, STOP IT!” You’re killing our bank accounts and we’re running out of room. We don’t need 8 of the same toy just because you changed a box printing order. We want to spend our money on different Potato Heads, (i.e. Taters of the Lost Ark) not different packages or colors.

Who am I kidding, you know you got me. Just please…keep it to a minimum. I’ve got to go now, I’m on my way to Target. I like how that new Potato Head bunny is looking at me.

(edit….After arriving at Target, I noticed that the Spud Bunny was indeed different! The ears are now much smaller and are flat. The old ears formed a hook.)

I know this probably isn’t new, but I found a very funny commercial on one of Hasbro’s websites. Watch it until the end!

Click here to see commercial

A giant Taters of the Lost Ark makes an appearance at the 2008 New York Toy Fair. Watch that whip buddy!

Here are some more details about the Taters of the Lost Ark set for release in May. The biggest new detail is the fact that the Fedora hat play’s music!

 News release from Hasbro:

MR. POTATO HEAD: TATERS OF THE LOST ARK(Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Ages 2 & up; Available: May 1, 200 Always ready for an adventure himself, MR. POTATO HEAD is eager to join Indy on his next big dig.  MR. POTATO HEAD: TATERS OF THE LOST ARK features a treasure trove of accessories, including a “leather” jacket and Indy’s iconic whip and fedora – which plays the classic ”Raiders March” when placed atop the fun-loving spud’s head.  MR. POTATO HEAD: TATERS OF THE LOST ARK comes with potato body and a total of 12 mix ‘n match parts.

At the Hartford Wolf Pack’s GEICO Connecticut Cup battle with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday, February 23rd (7:00), the first 5,000 fans into the XL Center will receive a free Wolf Pack Mr. Potato Head doll.

I mentioned last year that Disney is building a new ride in California and Florida called Toy Story Mania. There will be a giant animatronic Mr. Potato Head in the preshow of the ride. Finally, there is a picture of the Mr. Potato Head robot during construction. Click Here for the article!

Great news just reported in the USA Today. Our first new Potato Head of the year has been announced, and it’s a doozie! To coincide with the release of the new movie “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” Hasbro will release the all new Mr. Potato Head: Taters of the Lost Ark! The toy will officially hit stores on May first, but I know it will be a huge hit at the Toy Fair in February. The toy comes with 12 mix-and-match parts inspired by Indiana Jones, including the jacket, whip and famous fedora. Thank you Hasbro….Thank You!!!

Everett Silvertips Hockey Mr. Potato Head Night - January 9th

If you live in Washington State, you might want to head to Comcast Arena in Everett for the Silvertips game Wednesday. It’s Mr. Potato Head night, with the first 1000 fans receiving a Silvertips Mr. Potato Head, complete with green jersey.

 First It Was A Movie…

The Orlando Sentinel has an article about the new Toy Story Musical show that will debut on a Disney cruise ship in April. Pictured in this article is the Mr. Potato Head that will appear in the show.

Read full article Here

We Wish Them Luck!

Here is an article about a group of soldiers shipping out to Iraq. In the article, it mentions one of the soldiers has a good luck Mr. Potato Head packed for the trip.

A few weeks ago I posted a video of Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee posing for pictures with Mr. Potato Head. Now here’s the complete story from the Washington Post about the famous traveling spud along with the pictures of him and all his candidate friends.

Student’s Toy Ploy Brings Smile to Candidates’ Faces