Monday February 11 12:29 AM ET
More ``Simpsons'' goodies set to hit the shelves By Josef Adalian
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Mmmmm ... merchandising.
As the 2002 Intl. Toy Fair gets under way in New York this week, Fox is preparing new products related to its long-running hit cartoon comedy ``The Simpsons (news - Y! TV).'' Coming soon to shelves near you: Deluxe Dancing Homer Santa, Homer Soap-on-a-Rope and a ``Simpsons''-themed version of Pictionary.
``This past holiday season was the strongest Christmas yet for Simpsons merchandise at retail,'' said Peter Byrne, executive VP of Fox Licensing and Merchandising. ``In 2002, we're rolling out the most extensive line of Simpsons toys, collectibles and gift products to hit retail shelves in years.''
The show's continued primetime success, as well as last fall's release of the first season of ``The Simpsons'' on DVD, seems to have inspired toy and collectible manufacturers: the coming months could see the largest collection of new ``Simpsons'' products since the show's first few seasons, when seemingly every 12-year-old in America owned a Bart Simpson T-shirt.
Bart's still popular, but Homer -- as well as several supporting characters and even guest stars -- are now generating interest from toymakers.
For the first time, Playmates Toys is releasing animatronic dolls featuring the voices of several celebs who've made guest appearances on ''The Simpsons'' -- including Danny DeVito, Joe Mantegna, Albert Brooks and the late Phil Hartman. And Basic Fun is releasing a ``Tunnel of Love'' set of windup figures in which Mr. Burns and loyal servant Smithers circle each other in swan-shaped boats.
One of the biggest sellers, however, could be Gemmy's line of Homer-themed dancing dolls.
Inspired by the Dancing Santa and the singing fish crazes of recent years, the company is releasing a Deluxe Boogie Homer (watch as Homer gets down to the Sugarhill Gang's ``Rapper's Delight''), Hula Homer, Dancing Skeleton Homer and the aforementioned Dancing Santa Homer.
For those who prefer their ``Simpsons'' undistilled, Fox is expected to release the second season of ``The Simpsons'' on DVD in mid-May.
Reuters/Variety REUTERS
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20020211/en/television-simpsons_1.html
ScottSPM