RIP Toys R Us!

As Toys R Us closes its doors we look back at some of the memorable and exclusive Muppet related goodness the iconic toy store has brought us over the years.

If that wasn't enough, we've even sprickled the article with Toys R Us Muppet ads!

The Blues Brothers 

In 1980, The Blues Brothers featured a chase scene in a mall with a Toys R Us store. Before being driven through, Fisher Price's Muppet and Sesame Street plush were prominently featured with a patron even asking the clerk "Do you a have Miss Piggy?"

You can watch the entire scene below:

Best Friends Plush

In 2002, Fisher-Price made a line of Sesame Street exclusive Toys R U plush. Each toy featured two characters, sewn together.

Tuxedo Kermit

Palisades' Tuxedo Kermit Action Figure was sold exclusively through ToyFare Magazine and Toys R Us in 2002 as well. 

Charity Appearances

Kevin Clash and Elmo appeared at the 2003 Toys R' Us Children's Fund.

Animated Storybooks
The 2008 Sesame Street Animated Storybooks Flutter By, Butterfly and Imagine... A Wish for Grover were originally Toys R Us exclusives.

 

CD Samplers
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol CD Sampler was released with A Sesame Street Christmas Carol exclusively through Toys R Us in 2006.

The Muppet Whatnot Workshop

From 2009 - 2015 Toys R Us owned and operated FAO Schwarz, and in 2008 opened The Muppet Whatnot Workshop, where you could create your own Muppet. 

Brooke Shields Builds her own Whatnot

Not only did FAO Schwarz have an entire Muppet section dedicated to the Whatnot Workshop, beginning in October 2011, Whatnot kits were also sold exclusively at FAO Schwarz and Toys R Us. 

In 2011, FAO branded Muppet puppets could also be found at Toys R Us locations. 

After FAO closed, some Toys R U locations sold The Muppet Whatnot Workshop bags!

Minimates
In 2015, The Toys R Us carried an exclusive Formal Kermit and Piggy Diamond Select Minimates set.

In 2015, Toys R Us also carried a regular and  "Lab Accident" Bunsen and Beaker 
Minimates sets.

2016 saw the release of two exclusive Pigs in Space Minimates sets...

as well as a Tuxedo Kermit and Animal Minimates set. 

Garthim 
Funko's Dark Crystal Garthim ReAction figure was a 2017 Toys R US exclusive.

Sprocket
And last but not least, right before Toys R US announced they were closing in the spring 2018, they released this exclusive Funko Pop! of Fraggle Rock's Sprocket . 

In addition to these exclusives, Toys R Us sold all kinds of other Henson related toys and games over the years featuring characters from Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Muppet Babies, Bear in the Big Blue House, Dinosaur Train, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, The Muppets, and more.  

As Toys R Us goes out of business, we are reminded that not only we not want to grow up, but we'll always be Toys R Us kids. 

The Dark Crystal Deluxe Vinyl Soundtrack - Exclusive Picture Disc!

ThinkGeek has a new vinyl picture disc version of The Dark Crystal soundtrack.

The exclusive, limited edition, picture disc features the main characters on the front and a shard on the back.

Only 500 will be made available starting this Friday on ThinkGeek's website. 

This Game Show Featuring Alex Trebek Had An Entire Muppet Category!

What is Jeopardy? That's right, last night Jeopardy had an entire Muppet category.

For $200...

For $400...

“He may have told us his name, but we didn’t understand him. 

So we know him by his nationality.”

For $600...

For $800...

For $1000...

How'd did you do?

Two of last night's three contestants, Jeff Witte, an electrical engineer from Fort Collins, Colorado and Kelly Griffin, a teacher from Brookhaven, Mississippi got each of the question they picked right. 

To see how the game played out and to see the answers check out this impressive Jeopardy archive.  

UPDATE:
Jeopardy posted video of the segment:

Thanks to Chris Harris from The MuppetCast for the heads up and photos. 

Muppet Thought of the Week - Uncle Deadly's Stylish Spectacle!

You won't have to pay for Uncle Deadly's Muppet Thought of the Week!

Happytime Murders Gets New Release Date!

STX Entertainment has pushed The Happytime Murders back, but don't despair it only for a week

The Henson Company's R-rated puppet noir film was originally supposed to arrive on August 17 but STX moved another of their film's to that date and presumably doesn't want to compete with itself.

The Happytime Murders will now be released August 24

Muppet Babies Come to Disney Stores!

They make their dreams come true, and now they're at a Disney Store near you!

Plush dolls based on the new Muppet Babies reboot are now available and all the major characters are included, sans Nanny's legs. 

Baby Kermit comes in his blue and white frog embroidered shirt and shorts combo.

Baby Piggy comes in her pink jumper and bow.

Baby Gonzo is wearing red overalls over a yellow chili pepper shirt.

Baby Fozzie has his yellow and red outfit, compete with a plush (non-spinning) propeller hat.

Animal comes with a camo hoodie and "ripped" jeans. Interestingly, the jeans aren't actually ripped. The ripped area is actually sewn on!

Finally, the newest member of the Muppet Babies Summer Penguin who comes in her blue, sun emblazoned, turtle-neck sweater skirt.

All are fairly well made, though like past Disney Store Muppet plush each is slightly
different, so you may have to find the one that looks just right. 

These had just arrived at my closest Disney Store, and were behind on one of the unused registers. No Muppet Babies signs or any of other items. The tags, are a slight disappointment, as they're basic Disney Store tags and don't have any not Muppet Babies branding or the character's names.  

Hopefully the Muppets will someday warrant an official section inside Disney Stores, like Star Wars, but until then we'll have to make our dreams come true with these plush. 

Each is $14.95, but they are currently on sale for $12 when you buy 2 or more. 

They're unfortunately not available online yet, but you can search for the closest Disney store to you here.

Thanks to Sebastiano Ricci for the head's up!

Fraggle Rock Mini-Series #2 Now Available!

The second issue of Archaia's four part Fraggle Rock miniseries comes out today! 

Our friend, and major Henson fan, Jay Fosgitt supplied not only the art, but wrote the story as well! 

The story Jay came up with revolves around bullies. Check out the official description as well as the first few pages below. 

When a gang of bullies cause trouble in Fraggle Rock, Gobo and friends will need to find a way to teach these Fraggles the values of kindness and community.

It looks like another great entry into both the Fraggle and Fosgitt libraries. Hopefully Jay will get to play in the Fraggle or other Henson sandbox again soon.

The issue is available at comic book shops and through Amazon now.

You can also pre-order the the entire hardback collection, which comes out November 27th, on Amazon.