Clockwise from bottom left: The Mother Of All Lies (TIFF), Bobi Wine: The People’s President (National Geographic), The Eternal Memory (Screenshot: YouTube), and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+)Graphic: The A.V. Club
In the age of the internet, the world has become smaller, more connected—and a lot messier.
In the age of the internet, the world has become smaller, more connected—and a lot messier.
- 12/27/2023
- by Brent Simon
- avclub.com
A new documentary looks back at the 80s toy craze and the battle over who really created the dolls in the first place
Black Friday is said to have originated in Philadelphia in the 1960s, when members of the city’s police department used the term to describe the chaos that broke out when droves of suburbanites flooded downtown to shop on the day after Thanksgiving. The American tradition swelled to monstrous proportions in the early 1980s, when grainy and horrifying footage of citizens knocking each other to the ground became a fixture of holiday-weekend local news.
These sharp-elbowed consumers were keen to scoop up Atari consoles, Swatch watches, and Cabbage Patch Kids, the doughy dolls with close-set eyes and the signature of a man named Xavier Roberts inked on their bums. Film-maker Andrew Jenks’s zesty Billion Dollar Babies, narrated by 80s child and Doogie Howser, M.D. star Neil Patrick Harris,...
Black Friday is said to have originated in Philadelphia in the 1960s, when members of the city’s police department used the term to describe the chaos that broke out when droves of suburbanites flooded downtown to shop on the day after Thanksgiving. The American tradition swelled to monstrous proportions in the early 1980s, when grainy and horrifying footage of citizens knocking each other to the ground became a fixture of holiday-weekend local news.
These sharp-elbowed consumers were keen to scoop up Atari consoles, Swatch watches, and Cabbage Patch Kids, the doughy dolls with close-set eyes and the signature of a man named Xavier Roberts inked on their bums. Film-maker Andrew Jenks’s zesty Billion Dollar Babies, narrated by 80s child and Doogie Howser, M.D. star Neil Patrick Harris,...
- 11/23/2023
- by Lauren Mechling
- The Guardian - Film News
"What are we supposed to say? 'You've been good, but Santa ran short.'" Abramorama has debuted a trailer for a documentary film called Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids, made by filmmaker Andrew Jenks. It premiered at last year's Tribeca Film Festival, with a "theatrical-only extended version" out this fall. Doll hospitals, cabbage "births," a four-year legal battle over the origin of the idea and a Billion-dollar toy brand that put the wheels of modern-day Black Friday shopping riots into motion. The unbelievable true story you never knew about the toy craze that started it all, the Cabbage Patch Kids. Narrated and executive produced by Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris, the film features the first interview with Cabbage Patch Kids creator Xavier Roberts in over 20 years as well as interviews with journalist Connie Chung, and former Coleco marketing head Al Kahan.
- 9/20/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Abramorama has acquired North American distribution rights for the feature-length documentary “Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids” from NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and Believe Entertainment Group.
The film is directed by Andrew Jenks (“The Zen of Bobby V”) and charts the meteoric rise of the dolls that set in motion the modern day Black Friday craze. It is narrated and executive produced by Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris.
“Billion Dollar Babies” includes the first interview with Cabbage Patch Kids’ creator Xavier Roberts in over 20 years, as well as sit-downs with journalist Connie Chung,and former Coleco marketing head Al Kahan. The film world premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Festival. Abramorama is planning a theatrical release for this fall.
According to the official description, “before the Cabbage Patch Kids, no one could have imagined a world where police would need to break up fights between rampaging adults in toy stores.
The film is directed by Andrew Jenks (“The Zen of Bobby V”) and charts the meteoric rise of the dolls that set in motion the modern day Black Friday craze. It is narrated and executive produced by Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris.
“Billion Dollar Babies” includes the first interview with Cabbage Patch Kids’ creator Xavier Roberts in over 20 years, as well as sit-downs with journalist Connie Chung,and former Coleco marketing head Al Kahan. The film world premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Festival. Abramorama is planning a theatrical release for this fall.
According to the official description, “before the Cabbage Patch Kids, no one could have imagined a world where police would need to break up fights between rampaging adults in toy stores.
- 7/19/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
NBCUniversal is bringing the nostalgia this weekend with a documentary about the popular 1980s dolls, the Cabbage Patch Kids, with Neil Patrick Harris narrating the special. According to The Wrap, Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids will trace the success story of the dolls from the marketing of BabyLand General Hospital in Georgia, where children “adopted” the dolls and pledged to love and care for them, to the business deal that gave rise to utter retail pandemonium. It will also cover the ongoing dispute over who originated the idea. Xavier Roberts, whose Little People soft-sculptured dolls inspired the Cabbage Patch Kids, will be interviewed in the documentary. Other figures appearing in the doc include Della Tolhurst, who served as president of Roberts’ company for over three decades; veteran journalist Connie Chung, who provides insight into the media frenzy; Roger Schlaifer, who sold the licensing rights to Coleco; and Al Khan,...
- 6/9/2022
- TV Insider
If you’re looking for a dose of 1980s nostalgia, you’re in luck.
A documentary about the Cabbage Patch Kids is set to drop this weekend from NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and Believe Entertainment Group.
Narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, “Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids” tells the success story of the dolls, from the marketing of BabyLand General Hospital in Georgia, where children “adopted” the dolls and solemnly pledged to love and care for them, to the subsequent business deal that gave rise to utter retail pandemonium. The documentary will even dive into the fundamental dispute over who originated the idea.
Also Read:
Apple TV+ Launching ‘Peanuts’-Driven Summer Kids Line-Up
Cabbage Patch Kids creator Xavier Roberts said down for an interview, which is included in the documentary. Others featured include Della Tolhurst, who served as president of Roberts’ company for more than three decades; veteran journalist Connie Chung,...
A documentary about the Cabbage Patch Kids is set to drop this weekend from NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and Believe Entertainment Group.
Narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, “Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids” tells the success story of the dolls, from the marketing of BabyLand General Hospital in Georgia, where children “adopted” the dolls and solemnly pledged to love and care for them, to the subsequent business deal that gave rise to utter retail pandemonium. The documentary will even dive into the fundamental dispute over who originated the idea.
Also Read:
Apple TV+ Launching ‘Peanuts’-Driven Summer Kids Line-Up
Cabbage Patch Kids creator Xavier Roberts said down for an interview, which is included in the documentary. Others featured include Della Tolhurst, who served as president of Roberts’ company for more than three decades; veteran journalist Connie Chung,...
- 6/8/2022
- by Katie Campione
- The Wrap
Presented by:
This story appears in the Den of Geek x eBay special edition trading card magazine.
Garbage Pail Kids gave birth to my anti-authority streak. I was in fifth grade waiting for art class to start and showing off my prized Ashcan Andy to enraptured classmates when my teacher walked in the classroom, sighed, confiscated the card and proceeded to rip it up. “This junk has no place in an art room,” she stoically declared as Andy was transformed into sad confetti before my eyes. Years later, I came to realize that this demonstration was all about jealousy – these cards had instantly engaged students in art in a way that her years of teaching never could.
And let me be clear here: Garbage Pail Kids are most definitely art. Often grotesque and always eye-catching, the unfortunate children showcased on these cards fostered an interest in painting, illustration, and design...
This story appears in the Den of Geek x eBay special edition trading card magazine.
Garbage Pail Kids gave birth to my anti-authority streak. I was in fifth grade waiting for art class to start and showing off my prized Ashcan Andy to enraptured classmates when my teacher walked in the classroom, sighed, confiscated the card and proceeded to rip it up. “This junk has no place in an art room,” she stoically declared as Andy was transformed into sad confetti before my eyes. Years later, I came to realize that this demonstration was all about jealousy – these cards had instantly engaged students in art in a way that her years of teaching never could.
And let me be clear here: Garbage Pail Kids are most definitely art. Often grotesque and always eye-catching, the unfortunate children showcased on these cards fostered an interest in painting, illustration, and design...
- 7/31/2020
- by Chris Cummins
- Den of Geek
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.