Do you remember the Secret Life of Toys?

[Rachel]

A series called "The Secret Life of Toys" that was around in the mid-eighties? All I remember is that there was a stuffed tiger called Rugby and it was about these toys who came to life and had their own adventures when they were alone. It had a spin off movie called "The Christmas Toy" also.

Anyone else remember this?

[SillyRed]

yes, the teddy bear had a facelift, and Mew had no wheels

[WiGgY]

I remeber that show. I think it reran on nick back when they had all the muppet stuff. Too bad they got rid of it. At least the muppet children shows were entertaining. Maybe I just got too old but some of this new stuff is aweful.

[MikeBatesmen]

I actually thought the series came later.

The doll was different too. In the movie she was Apple and then on the show she became Cherry. Its actually re-running on ABCKids if you get it. They also have Bear in the Big Blue House, The Hoobs, Seasme Street, and Construction Site which was Henson's Bob the Builder, before Bob the Builder came out.

[Cantus Rock]

ABCKids is running Henson shows?? Do you get it?!?

I love "A Christmas Toy," and I love that which I remember from "The Secret Life of Toys." I believe the series was a spin-off of the movie though, Rachel.

Mike, if you do have ABCKids and are able to tape the show, email me ASAP. I am very good with deal making when it comes to Muppet material.

-Matt

[SillyRed]

The Christmas Toy was a 1 hour tv special.

[Cantus Rock]

Eh, yeah you are correct. I was just going with the flow of the thread really, but yes, it is a special, rather than a movie.

At any rate, Mr. Batesman don't let further thread chatter hinder your emailing me!

-Matt

[JaniceFerSure]

I remember The Secret Life of Toys & The Christmas Toy.It reminded me sort of Raggedy Anne & Andy A Musical Adventure,where the toys come to life. I liked Mew.

Here's a plot summary for Secret Life of Toys:
A group of toys (including wise old Balthasar the bear, 'plush' Rugby the tiger, Raisin the doll, and Mew, the cat's toy mouse) come alive while the children are away, having adventures and living life by a strict set of rules - first of which is "Never let the children know you can move."

Here is The Christmas Toy plot summary:
When no people are around, the toys still play in the playroom. But since a toy will be frozen forever if a person catches it out of position, they have to be very careful. It's Christmas Eve, and Rugby the Tiger remembers how he was the Christmas Toy last year, and thinks he's going to be unwrapped again. And it's up to Apple the Doll, whom Rugby supplanted as favorite toy, to tell him what's in store. But Rugby won't believe her, and tries to get into the Christmas package and lets Meteora, Queen of the Asteroids loose. Unfortunately, she doesn't know she's a toy, and thinks she's landed among aliens. And it's up to Apple, Mew (the Cat's toy mouse), and the other toys to get Rugby out of the box and Meteora back in it before they're found and frozen.

[KermieBaby47]

Good description Janice. This was one of my favorites when I was little. Haven't seen it available for a few years now. When the series started, they also changed the little mouse character, he didn't have arms in the special, but they added them for the series. Great, great movie, not bad at all as a show either!

[Xerus]

I remember enjoying The Christmas Toy when I was a kid. And the Secret Life of Toys was okay too. But I wish they would've kept Apple in it though. And I was also disappointed that Steve Whitmire wasn't voicing Mew like he did in the special.

But I'm glad Dave Goelz was there to do Rugby and Ditz the Clown just like in the special. And Jerry Nelson came back to do Balthazar the Bear. And Jerry also played the kids' father on the show too. Even though his face was never shown.

[Land Strider]

Wow, did "The Secret Life of Toys" really air that long ago? I loved to watch it on the Disney Channel when I was younger, and still remember the theme song. But I had forgotten about it when it stopped airing, until "Toy Story" came out, and I was trying to remember why the idea of toys coming to life seemed so familiar. Ah-ha!...The Secret Life of Toys!

I'll have to check to see if I get ABCKids, because I'd love to see it again.

-Kim

[McFraggle]

Originally Posted by Land Strider

Wow, did "The Secret Life of Toys" really air that long ago? I loved to watch it on the Disney Channel when I was younger, and still remember the theme song. But I had forgotten about it when it stopped airing, until "Toy Story" came out, and I was trying to remember why the idea of toys coming to life seemed so familiar. Ah-ha!...The Secret Life of Toys!

-Kim

I've always thought "Toy Story" reminded me on "The Secret Life of Toys" and "The Christmas Toy." I too used to watch it on the Disney Channel when I was younger. Man in the early to the mid-90s the Disney Channel was littered with Henson shows they even aired the animated Fraggle Rock.

[Joggy]

I have almost all the episodes of Secret Life. I actually really like it... it almost has that warmth from Fraggle Rock.

There were six main characters: Balthazar, the old and wise teddy bear. Rugby Tiger. Mew, the little cat toy. Raisin, the tomboy doll (in my opinion Louise Gold's best character ever). Ditz, the dimwitted clown. And Hortence, the always worrying rocking horse (a beautiful puppet!)

Some of my favorite episodes are "Disappearing Ditz", in which Magician Rugby makes Ditz 'disappear' but has trouble making him appear again; "Who Shares Wins", where Mew becomes invisible for the other toys because the children didn't share him; and "I'm Gonna Tell On You", where Raisin accidentally tapes over the children's cassette tape story and Bratty Rat (Jerry Nelson) threatens to tell on her - after all, she broke a very important 'nono': "Never destroy anything belonging to the children!"

Actually, there were two episodes where Mew had a high pitched voice like Steve's. But that was probably too hard on his performer's voice, so he gave him the mouse voice that he'd use on Mopatop's Shop's Moosey Mouse later on.

[bobhopesite]

It remeber that it was on Disney channel.

[Muppetsdownunder]

I remember this show well and it used to be on ABC TV here in Australia (different to american ABC) a few years back. I didnt even realise it was a henson show til a few years ago!