Swedish Chef Ornament is Out

[Gonzo's Chicken]

I picked up the new Swedish Chef ornament at my local Hallmark last night, I didn't know he was out yet. I wanted to let everyone know because I know Statler and Waldorf sold out quick last year.

 

[MuppetCrazy]

I picked up the new Swedish Chef ornament at my local Hallmark last night, I didn't know he was out yet. I wanted to let everyone know because I know Statler and Waldorf sold out quick last year.

Sweet! I know I had a heck of a time getting the Statler & Waldorf last year because I waited too long. Maybe I'll head over to one today........

 

[frogboy4]

Got mine too! I almost thought they were doing two this year, but apparently Animal is for 2010. Looks pretty. TP had a photo of it.

 

[Drtooth]

I didn't get mine yet... i usually get these things for Christmas...but anyway

Anyone else notice this? They seem to have based the scene off the Swedish Chef Palisades toy Playset... even has the same exact floor and kitchen counter top... towel rack as well. Not saying this "cheapens" anything, I still want this... but I just found it odd.

 

[frogboy4]

I didn't get mine yet... i usually get these things for Christmas...but anyway

Anyone else notice this? They seem to have based the scene off the Swedish Chef Palisades toy Playset... even has the same exact floor and kitchen counter top... towel rack as well. Not saying this "cheapens" anything, I still want this... but I just found it odd.

Yeah, I would have preferred a more original-looking piece, but it's very well done. The Statler & Waldorf design is unique and so is 2010's Animal sculpt. I'm actually surprised they created their own patterns for those ornaments. One thing is for certain - these are quality pieces and interesting character choices. The design is thoughtful too. Now that we know 2010 is Animal, I'm thinking they'll do Bunsen & Beaker after that. Then it's anyone's guess, but I would prefer a Rowlf. It's just so cool that they aren't doing yet another Kermit and Piggy.

 

[Drtooth]

Well... I'm getting the impression they had to use it mainly because it was the only real reference that has a floor. I don't recall any Chef skits where the floor is clearly shown... I'm guessing someone had (or at least had seen) the playset and thought that it was accurate to the show and used that for reference.

Unless somehow they incorporated the Palisades toy line into the Muppet style guide as far as props are concerned.

 

[ElecMayhem]

Actually, little known fact -- The Jim Henson Company (and subsequently, the Walt Disney Company) often provided the Palisades figures to other licensors to use as reference, instead of their traditional maquettes. Note that there are a slew of products featuring Gonzo in the same outfit as the Series 2 Palisades Gonzo, which (I think) Ken made up. Fun-4-All used it for their danglers:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Small-SUPER-GON...634c1b6b4&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_1647wt_1167

Likewise, The Hamilton Collection used Sam the Eagle from Series 4 as reference for their motorcycle collection... which is why he's wearing his Sam Arrow costume:

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/File:SamEagleMotorcycle.jpg

I gather that practice is still going on -- yay, Palisades! So, I am not too surprised to see the Kitchen playset patterns repeating here.

 

[Drtooth]

WOW!

So... when we thought they were just stealing from Palisades back then, they really DID have approval to use them? Wow. I had a hunch they did, but I didn't think it was really the case.

 

[bazooka_beak]

Hm, I'll have to tell my dad. He's a huge SC fan

 

[APRena]

Hm, I'll have to tell my dad. He's a huge SC fan

Hah. Same with my mom. She can do an almost perfect impression, too. It's kind of scary, yet entirely awesome. BORK! BORK! BORK!