Baywatch (Box on left: Pamela Anderson, Box on right: Barbie)
The doll pictured on the left is based on Pamela Anderson's character CJ was released in 1997 by Toy Island. This Baywatch series also had dolls of Mitch, Stephanie as well as a CJ deluxe set that included a lifeguard training play set. This doll as well as the others in the series are horribly ugly and don't come close to looking like the characters they represent. The right picture shows Baywatch Barbie who was released in 1994 and looks so much nicer. She comes with both the famous Baywatch bathing suit as well as the causal off work outfit and it includes the actual TV logo on her clothes.
The Beverly Hillbillies (Elly May Clampett)
Mattel released this doll in 2010 much to the dismay of Donna Douglas who played the character Elly May in the Beverly Hillbillies. Donna claims that she never gave Mattel permission to market the doll or use her to promote it. She sued for $75,000 for each of four alleged violations. The lawsuit has since been settled but the financial terms were not revealed.
Beverly Hills 90210 (Brenda, Dylan, Kelly, Brandon & Donna)
They were made by Mattel in 1991 and each come with swimwear. Mint in box they are worth about $50 a piece but I have to ask... Why the heck did Mattel leave out Steve, Andrea & David?
Bewitched (Samantha)
This doll was released by Mattel into Barbie's Pink Label Collection in 2010. There have been many other versions of this doll released (including more Barbie editions) but I just love this version because the retro Barbie face makes Samantha look so retro glam!
The Bionic Woman
This doll was released by Kenner in the mid 70's. This first edition doll features the outfit she is wearing on the opening credits and her ears make a "ping" sound when you turn her head side to side just like on TV. In an interview in 2010 Lindsay Wagner describes how measurements of her face were used in order to create her likeness in the doll.
Blossom (Vinnie, Joey, Blossom & Six)
Tyco Ind. released this set of four dolls in 1993 with Vinnie (Blossom's boyfriend) being the most rare to come across. Mint in box they are worth about $35 a piece. I'm still not sure why they had a Vinnie doll and not her oldest brother Tony since Vinnie only came into the show at the end of season 2 and Tony is around for the full series. Any chance it's because the character Tony was a recovering drug and alcohol addict?
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Gentlemen & Buffy Summers)
Sideshow Collectibles released these "Hush" episode dolls back in 2002. All the figures are 12" tall and feature 20 points of articulation to accurately get their likeness. Hush is the only Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode to be nominated for both an Emmy Awards in the Writing In A Drama Series category and a Writers Guild of America Award.
Charlie's Angels (Box on left: Sabrina, Kris, Kelly. Box on right: Sabrina, Kelly & Jill)
This rare gift set features all three Charlie's Angles and was released by Hasbro back in 1977 after season 1 since it features Cheryl Ladd who replaced Farrah Fawcett when she left the series. In 2009, Mattel released a Pink Label Barbie set which included featured the Kelly Barbie as all three of the original Charlie's Angels members.
Clueless (Dionne, Cher, Amber)
Mattel released this series of three dolls in 1996 very shortly after the first episode of the Clueless spin off TV show premiered. As much as I like the concept of these dolls, I wish they would have based them on the movie characters rather than the TV show characters (replacing Alicia Silverstone for Cher instead of Rachel Blanchard.) Years later the movie Clueless is a much larger pop culture phenomenon than the TV series.
Days Of Our Lives (Marlena Evans)
Mattel released this doll back in 1999 shortly after Drake and Marlena wed in Days Of Our Lives on July 5, 1999.
Drew Carey (Drew, Mimi)
These dolls were released by Creation Entertainment back in 1998 after three seasons had aired on TV. My beef with these dolls is simple. Look at them. Both Drew and Mimi were probably around the same weight and yet Drew seems to look much slimmer than Mimi does. Why is that? Plus if they were going through all the work of putting out dolls, why not put out Oswald, Lewis or Kate?
Family Matters (Steve Urkel)
Hasbro released this talking Urkel doll back in 1991. Mint in box this doll is worth around $50.
Full House (Box 1: DJ, Stephanie, Michelle, Danny. Box 2: Rebecca, Nicky, Alex, Jesse)
These dolls were released by Tiger Toys back in 1993. There was also a Jesse doll with a guitar that was released as well as a Joey (but only through mail order) and a talking Michelle doll that was released first back in 1991 by Mertius Ind. Although these dolls look NOTHING like the characters they portrayed, I would have loved to have these sets back when I was a kid.
I Dream Of Jeannie
This doll was released by Libby back in 1966, is about 20" and considered to be rare. In fact, if you ever come across one that's mint in box, it's worth about $600.
I Love Lucy (Lucy Ricardo)
I Love Lucy got extremely lucky because when Barbie puts their name on something, you know it's going to be well thought out and extremely detailed. There are so many different I Love Lucy versions put out by Barbie but this is one of my favorites.
Jerry Springer Show (Jerry Springer)
This talk show host doll was released by Street Players in 1988. But my question is this, aside from (probably) Jerry Springer himself, who in the heck wants a doll of him?
Laverne & Shirley
This duo doll collection was released by Mego Corp in 1977 and features 12" posable figures of both Laverne & Shirley. There was another duo pack released at the same time featuring both Lenny & Squiggy. Both sets (mint in box) are worth about $175 each.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Kimberly)
This 9" Pink Ranger doll was released by Bandai America under licence from Saban Entertainment in 1994. This posable doll comes with her Pink Power Rangers outfit and helmet as well as a change of clothes and shoes for school. The Yellow Ranger (Trini) was also released at the same time.
The Munsters (Herman & Lily Munster)
This beautiful Barbie Munster set was released in 2001 by Mattel. Not only does it capture the eeriness of the characters but they also are so well detailed and the clothing is spot on.
The Nanny (Fran Fine)
This talking Fran doll was released in 1995 by Street Players and comes with a brush and a a white fur coat (or is that a bathrobe?). Regardless, they completely butchered her face and they probably added the talking part just so people would be able to identify her.
Pee-Wee's Playhouse (Pee-Wee Herman)
This version of Pee-Wee was made by Matchbox in 1987. This 18" doll came in both talking and non-talking versions (probably for the sanity of all adults). There was also a Pee-Wee ventriloquist doll made in 1989 by the same company.
Punky Brewster
This 18" Punky Brewster doll was made by Galoob in 1984. Mint in box she is worth about $75.00
Saturday Night Live (John Belushi as Samurai)
This doll is part of the Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary collection that was released in 2000 by Creation Entertainment. Gilda Radner as Roseanne is also part of the collection.
Saved By The Bell (Zach, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Screech, Lisa)
The Saved By The Bell doll set was made by Tiger Toys in 1992. They all come with an authentic character autograph stamper, a yearbook and a second pair of shoes. They are 12" and all but Lisa are worth about $35 if mint in box. Lisa, however, is the most rare one in the set and worth about $75 if mint in box.
Wheel Of Fortune (Vanna White)
There are so many versions of Vanna White (and I mean SO MANY) which all seem to have been released around the 1990s by the Home Shopping Network to promote her "original fashions". This one really boggles my mind as to why there is not only a Vanna White doll but why there are tons of Vanna White dolls.
Wonder Woman (Diana Prince)
Released by Mego in 1976 this 12" doll features both the costume Lynda Carter wears as Wonder Woman and her golden lasso along with her Diana Prince uniform. Mint in box it's worth around $180.
Xena: Warrior Princess (Gabrielle in "The Quest, Xena in "Armageddon")
These 12" dolls were released in 1999 by Toy Biz which were part of the second Xena doll wave and feature the characters wearing outfits from specific episodes ("The Quest" and "Armageddon")
**Which dolls are your favorite? Which do you own? Tweet me @popculturedlife and let me know!
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