80s toy icon Teddy Ruxpin (from Words of Wonder) makes his return after (at least) 15 years of exile. Almost all children who grew up in the 80s remember Teddy Ruxpin as the source of many fond memories of their childhood. There was nothing else like it on the market before, and nothing has come close to replicating the magic of the robot bear or his pal Grubby.
Where has Teddy been for the last 15 years you ask? While many say it was hibernation, this is partially true. In between hibernation, Teddy went into exile after a major dispute with both Words of Wonder executives and friends Grubby and Newton Gimmick. “I was never sure what went on, but I recall getting the call form Teddy at the Grundo jail”. Said Grubby. “Supposedly he put some profane language into effect in the WOW office and threw several punches after the executive didn’t let him break his recording contract. He wasn’t to grateful for me bailing him out either,” Grubby continued. “He accused me of being a “WOW hugger” and told me to “F-off”, because I made the choice to stay with WOW that he apparently wasn’t to happy with”. After a major fight between the two, Teddy went into exile in a far a way land. When he arrived at his new location (which was miles away from Grundo), he found a safe place to hibernate. But don’t believe the entire 15 years was consumed by a long hibernation. Rumor has it that Ruxpin’s activities in between hibernations included Heroin, mustache growing and a shorting of name to “Ted Ruxpin”. “Ted” had also given up writing children’s songs at the time and switched to penning Dylanesque protest songs, where the main focus was Desert Storm as well as the War on Terrorism. More inside information also confirms he was a player for a period of time. This turned off fans who year after year looked forward to new children’s programs from who used to be America’s favorite bear. While Ted continued to write and perform new material, it just wasn’t what the fans and critics wanted. Ted was shunned by the media for the majority of this time.
Thankfully, last year saw Ruxpin sobering up, changing his name back, reconciling with friends Grubby in Gimmick and signing a new contract with Backpack Toys. “I know I made some bad choices in the past years” Ruxpin said with a emotional tone to his voice, “And I would do almost anything to take those years back. I’m happy to get back to writing for the kids. It’s what I was put on this planet to do.”
[Now] 20 year olds who grew up with Ruxpin couldn’t agree more, and are looking forward to not only passing on their memories of Ruxpin to their children, but having him there with the kids so they can generate memories of their own.
The new Teddy Ruxpins (which ditch the old cassette tape method of loading the programs and now uses digital MP3 technology) are set to hit stores this September. You can preorder now at www.teddyruxpin.com.
Although I was born in 87’, I still grew up with this great toy, as my older brother was a child when it was around. I loved playing with it an the mass amount of tapes we had. Misfortune struck through when he one day called it quits. I’m glad he’s back for a new generation. Who knows, maybe I’ll buy one for nostalgic purposes!
Anyone else have fond Ruxpin memories to share?
Last edited by Parrot Monkey on July 12, 2005 7:41 pm, edited 3 times in total.
I so had a Teddy Ruxpin when I was a kid..I loved it to death...it's actually still in the attic somewhere...how frigin' coool is this. Hell Im gonna buy one just for me
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz & i'm fine
I hope Backpack goes all out with this and also brings back the accompanying Grubby robot as well as the cartoon. A new cartoon/episodes would be great, but re-syndicating the old one would also do fine.
I still own many small figures as well as a play mat of Grundo.
Man, we bought Words of Wonder stock thinking this toy would be hot...Then Worlds of Wonder filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990 and went out of business soon afterwards. The stock certificate was sort of cool though. I wonder if people buy those things on eBay?
BahamaBreeze wrote:Man, we bought Words of Wonder stock thinking this toy would be hot...Then Worlds of Wonder filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990 and went out of business soon afterwards. The stock certificate was sort of cool though. I wonder if people buy those things on eBay?
A nice, informing, fuzzy bear that provided both education and entertainment at the same time was a freak? I guess the moving eyes and mouth really freaked you out at the time.
I hate Chucky, he creeps me out. And I can't believe how many LITTLE kids at school watch all the Chucky movies. And oddly enough, most of them are afraid of the dark too.
Brown Eyed Girl wrote:I hate Chucky, he creeps me out. And I can't believe how many LITTLE kids at school watch all the Chucky movies. And oddly enough, most of them are afraid of the dark too.
Ditto.. and Teddy R doesn't do anything for me either.
rednekkPH wrote:Does it come with original artwork, and liner notes to give credit to the sweatshop employees who assembled it?
On the first pages of the books (at least the old ones I have from the mid 80s) they actually do credit the writers of the story, music, lyrics, all the voice actors, the artists, the robot programmers and many others.
So to answer your question the toy itself I don’t think includes that but each program/cartridge does. So there.
I have an original Teddy Ruxpin book (the toy is long gone because i think it caused me to wet the bed for about 6 years when it started talking in the middle of the night during a sleepover at a friend's house)...I have read it to my son on occasion. I think I'm gonna burn it now.
And I can't believe how many LITTLE kids at school watch all the Chucky movies. And oddly enough, most of them are afraid of the dark too. 
