"Messy Swedish Chef" Action Figure Coming to SDCC!

Diamond Select Toys announced their line of San Diego Comic Con exclusives including a "Messy" version of their deluxe Swedish Chef action figure. 

"Bork bork bork! The Swedish Chef has caused a kitchen catastrophe in this exclusive variant action figure from the Muppets Select line. With food splattered all over his apron, he comes with a slew of food and dishes, plus a table to cook on and even a chicken! Packages in a full-color window box with fifth panel."

Diamond Select Toys' Deluxe Swedish Chef action figure was sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios will cost $30 and the con will be limited to 500 pieces. 

Diamond Select Toys Swedish Chef Figure Coming VERY Soon!

After being first shown almost 2 years ago, Diamond Select Toys' Swedish Chef action figure is finally has a release date. 

According this post by DST on Facebook, comic book stores will be stocking our favorite master of culinary catastrophe tomorrow!

To house all the accessories and to presumably make it more easily shippined and placed on shelves, the case for the figure is different then the rest of the Diamond Selects action figure line.

Instead of a hanging card, it's a square box with a door that reveals the figure inside. 

You can get yours in person at your local comic shop, directly though Diamond Select Toys, and many other retailers, beginning tomorrow!

Pre-order Diamond Select's Swedish Chef figure!

When last we spoke with the fine folks at Diamond Select, they told us they were working on getting the 4th wave of figures released. 

Well, today a pre-order link for the Swedish Chef was unveiled through Big Bad Toys!

So far it's not clear if this is an exclusive to Big Bad Toys (though if it is, I'm sure they'd announce it on their site).

UPDATE: According to Diamond Select's Zach Oak "It should be offered at other retailers soon."

It looks like they're using the Swedish Chef to test the waters to see if there is high enough demand for the figures on a character by characters basis.
UPDATE: Oak confirmed our theory "We are trying a one-at-a-time approach. Chef first, we thought he was strongest. Encourage pre-orders."

The Swedish Chef is great figure to do this with and hopefully it will lead to the rest of the series being released. 

Head on over to Big Bad Toys and pre-order your Swedish Chef!

Diamond Select’s Fourth Wave of Muppet Figures "Shelved"!

Well Muppet fans, we have some sad news to report. According to a friend and fellow muppet fan who worked with Diamond Select on their Muppet action figure line, the next wave has been "shelved until they can get enough "retail interest" ". 

Below is the announcement:

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, the official word from the big cheese at DST and their forum is that the Muppets wave four has been shelved until they can get enough "retail interest" or they find a way to direct-market these. They're all perfected and ready to go into production, so there's no additional work that they require. While I am disappointed, I am not surprised. Diamond is an amazing company with amazing products and I'm very grateful about all they've done thus far. Honestly, from top to bottom - nobody is Palisades. Nobody ever will be. It's an impossible comparison because it had one of the biggest product cheerleaders ever in Ken. I've never seen someone care as much and put as much of himself in any creative field than he did. That guy never slept in those years. I'm not sure if he even sleeps now. I think he's probably superhuman. That said, I don't think there's much we can do and messaging me for help won't do a darn thing, unfortunately. If you feel the need to message anyone, go to Diamond Select's facebook page and mention the Muppets figures daily until they relent. It might not do any good, but I think it's important for all of us to finish what we start as creative people. Creative companies are no exception, but things happen that are even beyond their control. Peace all.”

As you may recall, wave 4 consisted of fan favorites Sam Eagle, Rizzo, Dr. Teeth. Zoot, and The Swedish Chef. Below are the prototypes we saw for the line at Toy Fair.

They look amazing, right? You want them in your collection, right? 

What can you do about? 

First, if you haven't bought any of the figures yet (and why haven't you??), Please do so! They're fantastic. The love and attention to detail is just as good, and sometimes even better than even the much loved Palisade's line.

You can order them from Amazon (which helps support this blog), Entertainment Earth and other retailers. 

Both sites also still have pre-order links for Wave 4. Use them. Tell retailers you want them by ordering them!

Second, if you already bought the figures, buy them again! Get any you've missed or buy one or five for friends and family. The holidays are coming and they make great gifts.

Third, as noted above "If you feel the need to message anyone, go to Diamond Select's facebook page and mention the Muppets figures daily until they relent."

We can't recommend using all three options above enough.

Help get wave 4 to Muppet fans around the world!

Swedish Chef in new Tower Of Terror Holiday Projection!

The Swedish Chef, and a few other Disney characters, star new videos as part of Disney's Hollywood Studios Tower Of Terror Holiday Projection!

Inside the Magic sat down Tom Vazzanna, one of the show's creator discusses the show in-depth.

You can see their entire recording of videos and projections below. 

DVR Alert: Miss Piggy and Swedish Chef on Master Chef Jr. Tonight!

Miss Piggy and the Swedish Chef will be appearing on Gordon Ramsay's cooking show Master Chef Jr tonight. 

Check out a clip to spur your appetite:

Set those DVRs for Master Chef Jr tonight  8 pm (EST) on FOX. 

Swedish Chef Plays with PAM!

The Muppets have a had long tradition of appearing in commercials. This week Conagra Foods released two new ads for PAM featuring everyone's favorite culinary calamity - The Swedish Chef!

Both ads come in 30 and 16 second varieties. Bon Appetit!


The Swedish Chef Makes Sautéed Vegetables: (30 Seconds)

The Swedish Chef Makes Sautéed Vegetables: (16 Seconds)

The Swedish Chef Makes Croquembouche: (30 Seconds)

The Swedish Chef Makes Croquembouche: (16 Seconds)

 For a Throwback Thursday bonus, check out the chef is this 2012 ad for Bounty:

First Look: More Muppet Tsum Tsum!

As we first reported a few weeks ago, Muppet Tsum Tsum are coming soon to Disney Stores and the first images of Miss Piggy and Animal appeared shortly thereafter. 

Now, thanks to a eBayer in China we have our first look at a few more characters in the Muppet Tsum Tsum line.

Kermit:

Rowlf:

and The Swedish Chef:

Update: We now have a look at Fozzie as well!

Thanks our friend Nate for sending us the link. We'll keep you posted when more pop up!

Hallmark Collection 2015: Part 10 - Wave 3!

There are a few new Muppet items to found at Hallmark. 

As previously reported there are now Rowlf and Swedish Chef CUBEEZ:

 Which look great, and even have nice side graphics as well. 

Two new inspirational desk sayings featuring Beaker and the Swedish Chef:

These are fantastic and instead of making up quotes, like the Kermit and Piggy silhouettes, use the characters actual (albeit nonsensical) words to create the inspirational message. 

There are are also two framed illustrations. "Love is worth the leap" uses similar (or even a somewhat reused) graphic as the LED candle, but in color with an expanded view of the swamp around them. 

"Together days are happy days" is a great recreation of the bicycle scene from The Great Muppet Caper, and even features Janice and Floyd!

 

"Moi is out" is a door hanger to let people know you're not home at the moment. The "i" is dotted with a rhinestone to give it a more Piggy feel. 

Another Piggy item is the "Miss Piggy Beauty Sleep Mask." Make anyone have Miss Piggy's eyes while they get their beauty rest. 

The most surprising item is this Kermit log desk calendar:

The log is crafted really well. The month and days look like they were carved out of wood as well which is a nice touch. They reuse the "Time's fun when you're having flies" line from the clock, which, I guess is an attempt to have them match when used in the same room. 

Personally, I think using "Someday you'll find it" would have worked better. 

I was a little disappointed that the Kermit figure looked a little too much like the 2013 ornament.

But overall it's a great piece and a welcome addition to any desk or Muppet collection. 

So far these items are only available in Hallmark stores and not online, but we'll update the post with links when they are.