04/22/2004: The Potato Head Kids Cartoon!
Hey, if you've ever wanted to see Mr. Potato Head's kids in their very own cartoon show, your prayers were answered in 1985. The Potato Head Kids was a seemingly innocent show with a surreal dark streak that becomes clear only now, and my review of one of the episodes proves it with everything from singing potatoes to hip dolphins and a really big sandcastle. If you ever come across this one on video, set your calendars back to 4/20 before throwing it on.
Discussion Thread: 77 comments
4-20 BLIZBLIZWEEDBLIZ
4-22 Earth Day Brain and First Post Day!
Posted by
Nachokhaki @ 04/22/2004 6:27 PM EDT
this is awesome! i have the board game at home, though i havent played it in years 
Posted by
aj @ 04/22/2004 6:30 PM EDT
That was freaky…
Posted by
somekidnamedEd @ 04/22/2004 6:32 PM EDT
Nice article.
They should come out with a Mr. Porno-potato head for 'adult-themed' parties. That'd be a fun anatomy lesson. You might need two potatos for the more creative of us. I've got a better name: "Potato Skins!"
-wink-
-wink-
Posted by
Never Eat Shredded Wheat @ 04/22/2004 6:45 PM EDT
Wow. That was seriously messed up.
Posted by
Cameron @ 04/22/2004 7:00 PM EDT
I like the potato head kids cartoon. Maybe it was because I watched it when I was >4. I even found my potato head kid figure.
Posted by
pikachulover @ 04/22/2004 7:11 PM EDT
I don't remember this at all. but I am eating potato chips. ruffles. sour cream and onion.
Posted by
naturekid @ 04/22/2004 7:17 PM EDT
If there was no text or pictures of the potato padres, I would have probably guessed that this pile of insanity was about Chicken McNuggets.
Breckin Meyer was one of the voices, apparently. At least according to the Internet Movie Database, which I was checking to see if Potato Head Kids was another Marvel/Hasbro/Sunbow co-production with Toei, the studio that produced Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z, among many other popular anime. It doesn't say, but Transformers, G.I. Joe, Jem and the Holograms, and even Muppet Babies all were according to this co-production database. But they were storyboarded in America and were done for American television.
Oh God, I have like half of those Potato Heads Kids toys in a box in my closet somewhere, but didn't know what they were. I thought they were McNuggets figures from some long ago Happy Meal. Hehe, good to see I'm not the only one.
Posted by
Abob Lyndsae @ 04/22/2004 8:35 PM EDT
I really need to get my hands on some of these episodes. Mainly for the potato swimming and the potatoes giving dolphins high-fives. Sounds miraculous.
Ahh, I do remember the cartoon, partly because it was one of the several 10-15 minute segments that made up the "friends" part of "My Little Pony and Friends," but mostly because, yes, it was all as surreal as Matt said. Shame it didn't really catch on. Some of the episodes could be pretty wild (like the surfing contest).
I remember us having at least two Potato Head Kids, the one with the purple hat and the one with the pink bonnet. We may have had more, but those are the ones I remember best. No, we don't have them now. The parts were all lost years ago.
Posted by
starwenn @ 04/22/2004 9:01 PM EDT
I have to admit that I've never owned a MrP-H, but I have played with them. Never with the kids though. That cartoon would have driven me away.
Mostly because as a kid I never liked shows that portrayed sharks in a bad way.
For the record, I can't believe that they let Grease's ass be visible, and moreover, be visibly fearful of the shark. On the other hand, all of the pOtato kids look like testicles (or McNuggets–is there really a difference?) so I guess it's fitting.
I also have to thank you, Matt, for giving us all the image of a two minute orgasm in front of a TV showing Potato head kids. Thanks to you, there will now be yet another internet fetish fad. Congrats.
Posted by
Sean @ 04/22/2004 9:09 PM EDT
I had a couple of the Kids. I didn't play with them at all; I'd rather play with Mr. Potato Head, pipe and all.
Posted by
JG! @ 04/22/2004 9:29 PM EDT
So hungry.
Posted by
Arajag @ 04/22/2004 9:32 PM EDT
I wonder what puberty was like for the Potato Head Kids.
I remember the toys, but I never saw the cartoon series. Probably just as well, because that was some strange stuff.
Posted by
Number5 @ 04/22/2004 9:46 PM EDT
Eggs found: the mouth in the top graphic links back to one of the Halloween articles. Also, the Potato Head Kids script contains a nasty line near the bottom.
Posted by
Eggfinder @ 04/22/2004 9:50 PM EDT
another A+ article! brought back some bizarro childhood memories.
another weird group of foodstuffs were the "human beans" does anyone remember those guys?
Posted by
VolklMonkey @ 04/22/2004 9:51 PM EDT
I remember this show. Personally, I thought My LIttle Pony was better written in comparison. Man, for a "girlie show" MLP was sure dark and creepy! I remember being freaked out by some of those episodes. PHKs were bad of course, but I don't think anything can compare to Flintstone Kids (and no I'm not talking about vitamins), and of course who can forget: "Captaaaain…CAAAAAAVE-MAaAaAaAaANNNNN!!!" "And SON! Dad! Dad!"…ugh ALMOST as annoying as Scrappy Doo…
Posted by
The Dragon @ 04/22/2004 10:17 PM EDT
Whoa, I think I've dead and gone to heaven… Wait, there seems to be no Tang in heaven… AHHHH! I'M BURNING!
Puberty for Potato Head Kids…I can think of a million ways that scares me.
Posted by
Killer Duck @ 04/22/2004 11:13 PM EDT
There was a cartoon??? And ACTION FIGURES??? I definitely agree with other people that said that got this in a Happy Meal, b/c there is no way my parents would've shilled out $ for toys like this.
We did have the car though. It wasnt half bad to play with. Although now that I think of it, it seems like a sex maching for the Potato heads, because if I remember correct, there was a plastic rod in the front seat that went up and down as the car moved, and the rod wen tright up the potato person driving.
Posted by
TOP1214 @ 04/23/2004 1:21 AM EDT
i had all those toys as sad as that is, hell i had the clubhouse they made
Posted by
satas @ 04/23/2004 1:53 AM EDT
I remember this cartoon, but I don't think it was Saturday Morning…if it was, can you actually name the network?
This was in syndication in 1987 and it aired along with other toy-based programs, like the My Little Pony one you mentioned. Several of them were the product name followed by "and friends." "My Little Pony And Friends," "Cabbage Patch Kids And Friends"…it went like that. Even at age 4 I hated it.
Posted by
Mars @ 04/23/2004 2:21 AM EDT
"Two Potato Head Kids and a man's ass express fear in the first pic"
Oh God. That has got to be (along with the accompanying photo) the funniest thing I have ever seen/read.
What the hell was that supost to be anyway?
Posted by
donkey turds @ 04/23/2004 4:46 AM EDT
I speak methaphorically of Saturday mornings. The show aired on Disney.
Posted by
Matt @ 04/23/2004 7:35 AM EDT
FYI - McDonald's confusers, Wendy's did a promotion in 1988 with the PH Kids — the figures were smaller, and looked almost exactly like the McD spook nuggets.
Posted by
Matt @ 04/23/2004 7:38 AM EDT
Oh.My.God.
I hope never to view such an atrocity ever again.
Posted by
Icymatt @ 04/23/2004 9:39 AM EDT
Potato Head Kids having so much fun!
God I remember watching that cartoon in 1985 in Queens, New York. It was an okay show. However people who look at that now use that as evidence to claim that all animation of the 80s were nothing more than commercials as opposed to entertainment.
80s RULE!
Posted by
Bert Raccoon @ 04/23/2004 11:17 AM EDT
I remember the Wendy's PHK toys. I remember the cowboy figure's face looked pissed.
Posted by
keegan B. @ 04/23/2004 11:26 AM EDT
There was a McD's Happy Meal for the PHKs too, come to think of it.
Posted by
Matt @ 04/23/2004 11:29 AM EDT
What’s with the potato kick Matt? Bulimic French fries one day, creepy Mcnugget want-a-be’s the next…
Where are you going with this?
Review spam….
Posted by
BwaHaHaHa @ 04/23/2004 11:47 AM EDT
Everyone celebrates Earth Day in their own special way.
Posted by
Matt @ 04/23/2004 11:48 AM EDT
Now, for an obligitory MST3K reference: Mr. Stuffing-Instead-of-Potatoes Head. Thank you. Now on to the pinball….
Posted by
kingklash @ 04/23/2004 12:18 PM EDT
I remember loving the potato head kids when i was little. I think i have the potato head xmas special somewhere taped. anyway my favorite Mr. Potatoe headism is from the outtakes of Toy Story 2 when the barrel of monkeys attack him for the food up his ass. Classic!
Posted by
Ally @ 04/23/2004 12:24 PM EDT
I feel it's inaccurate to show Mr. Potato Head without a mustache and glasses… Why? Because when kids did it right, they wouldn't settle for anything less than using every part they could. Not to mention his most commonly depicted form shown on the front of his packaging.
Posted by
RewolfJ @ 04/23/2004 12:24 PM EDT
WOW! I dont remember the show at all, but i sure as hell owned an honest-to-goodness real life potato kid! it was the one with the jughead hat. slingshot spud. or whatever.
Posted by
alitnil @ 04/23/2004 12:28 PM EDT
Mrs. Potato Head looks quite ugly in this show. Do you think she had plastic surgery between that show and the Toy Story movies? Hey, that was a pun and I didn't even realise it.
The one time I remember seeing this show was when we were staying in a hotel for a few days before we moved into our real house. I did, however, really like the My Little Pony show when I was younger. I mean, I REALLY liked it, to an embarassing degree. I never had any of the toys, but looking back now I'm not sure why. Probaly because the toys they had weren't possable and they never made figures of that little Dragon or those Crab Police.
Meanwhile, on a related subject, something which adds confusion to the Potato/McNugget confusion is the fact that a couple of times the McDonalds Halloween promotion involved McNugget toys with interchangeable costumes. In fact, Potato Head Kids may very well have a tie-in with McDonalds; I don't remember clearly.
I had no idea I had so much to say about Potato Head Kids.
Posted by
The Waffle Man @ 04/23/2004 12:48 PM EDT
The reason I mention My Little Pony above was that Potato Head Kids used to be paired with them and My memories of Potato Head kids involve My Little Pony as well. They may have been doing a crossover.
Posted by
The Waffle Man @ 04/23/2004 12:50 PM EDT
I remember owning the tall potato head kid with the purple hat holding the dildo looking thing, and I also had the one that was a baby. I had forgotten all about this. What fond memories of potato head kids.
Posted by
macks @ 04/23/2004 12:57 PM EDT
I think my favorite kid was P.H. kid #9. The one with the taste for cock. Homo-cannibalism is a sweet personality for a tater head kid.
That lil' fucker's whack!
Good job with that, Matt. The "script" ruled. Made the article for me.
Posted by
Blake @ 04/23/2004 1:03 PM EDT
You are on a roll, Matt. I vaugely remember this one, as I was only a single year old at the time. Thanks for catching me up. Keep it going, Matt.
Posted by
Scott @ 04/23/2004 1:14 PM EDT
now was the ninth potato referring to a plastic body part that my Mr. Potato Head didn't have? And should I be concerned about the missing piece?
Posted by
jaysee @ 04/23/2004 1:19 PM EDT
I remember watching this,along with My Little Pony and Filmation's Ghostbusters at my babysitter's every morning before school in the third/fourth grade. It's not like I wanted to,I think the boy/girl ratio shewered more towards the girls,or something.
Posted by
Overlord @ 04/23/2004 2:18 PM EDT
"Now, for an obligitory MST3K reference: Mr. Stuffing-Instead-of-Potatoes Head. Thank you. Now on to the pinball…."
What about turkey suprise? A turkey cooked for an hour at 200 then rubbed with a turtle.
Posted by
donkey turds @ 04/23/2004 2:40 PM EDT
Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes!
You didn't put video clips up with it, Matt? For shame. I'm dying to hear that "we're surfing potatoes" song.
I was hoping for Gypsy's Mashed-Potato Head, but the Anthology ref was grrreat! Clik me for more potato madness!
Does anyone else remember that old Burger King campaign that had a potato I believe to be Mr. P.H.'s son as the spokestater for their fries. How did they convince a potato to hype up foods made from potatoes? Was he forced into it? Or was he a ruthless, murdering cannibal?
"I ate his liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti. And sour cream!"
Posted by
Darc_humor @ 04/23/2004 4:10 PM EDT
HAHa I was waiting for a Potato Kids Review! i have most of the Potato head kids today, I got them for Christmas when I was like 4. Sweet!
Posted by
Wolf @ 04/23/2004 4:13 PM EDT
Darc_, he was what is known as a quisling. Check out the Institute of Official Cheer for a description of Cudahy Curly, a pig who sold pork products. I have alwys found it creepy with a capital EEP when they use a food-type character to sell the food. McNuggets selling their processed bretheren for consumption. "We're swimming in our own sauce! Eat us! We're sentient!" But the meat at Milliway's is funny.
Posted by
kingklash @ 04/23/2004 4:39 PM EDT
Potatoe Head Kids taste great with ketchup.
Posted by
OldSchooler @ 04/23/2004 5:31 PM EDT
hehe I spell like Dan Quayle
Posted by
OldSchooler @ 04/23/2004 5:32 PM EDT
I'm kinda glad I never saw that show…something about talkin potatoes that woulda put me off eating anything….
Posted by
Allie @ 04/23/2004 8:24 PM EDT
someone mentioned Capt. Caveman, yes the annoying bundle of hair…I was at an amusement park where hanna barbera characters walk around, and got my picture taken with Barney Rubble. Smiling and slouching down for a hug, my hand accidently rested on his crotch. This probably would have been unnoticed if Barney didn't retaliate and grab at his balls after, the hide his face in shame.
Posted by
JackieCrow @ 04/23/2004 10:17 PM EDT
I loved Mr. Potato Head, especially those fries I made out of him. I didn't eat Mrs. Potato Head though. I don't eat transvestites.
Anyway, great article, Matt However, the whole orgasm thing was TMI. But it does make me wonder how long a woman could hold an orgasm while watching the Potato Head Kids give each other high fives.
Posted by
Nate @ 04/24/2004 5:21 AM EDT
Actually, I believe it was Wendy's tha had the Potato Head Kids kid meals. I remember eating about a million of them and only getting the same two goddamn toys. F@%kng small town Illinois…grumblegrumble
I wanna hear the cheesy theme!
"Potato Head Kids! Having so much fun!"
i love the ninth kid
Ninth Kid: Fuck y'all I'll eat your dicks off.
Posted by
Colin Eff @ 04/24/2004 9:46 PM EDT
On the contrary, their are several animes wierder. Try downloading an episode of Midori no Hibi, Air Master, or Eiken.
I mean, Midori no Hibi is a romantic comedy about a guy with his right hand for a girlfriend. It doesn't get much wierder than that.
Posted by
Regault @ 04/25/2004 1:39 AM EDT
I just barely recall that cartoon. I mostly remember trying to avoid it.
I remember my older brother told me that this cartoon show was actually "In Living Color: The Cartoon Series" because of those goober heads on "In Living Color." you know… those little guys that were heads and feet where their necks ought to be.
i laughed for about 5 minutes after seeing the pic of the 2 potatoes in terror..then the mans ass..
Posted by
wes @ 04/25/2004 7:11 PM EDT
Hey …
http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0893/4.jpg
What is up with that dolphin's eyes?
Posted by
Trent @ 04/25/2004 8:44 PM EDT
I *loved* the potatoe head kids, I have all the little action figures from when I was a kid still, ah the memories.
Boy did that Mr. Potatoe Head keep busy..
I wonder if he ended up staying with Mrs. Potatoe Head? Can you imagine the child support payments? :O
Posted by
Cyanyde @ 04/26/2004 2:30 PM EDT
Hey it seems there was a mr potato head show to
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0315688/
Posted by
Dan @ 04/26/2004 8:09 PM EDT
I totally remember this one! (thought I was the only one who knew it existed….) Again, you have made me a happy person, Matt. I'm not crazy- this show did exist! I even remember one episode where the potato head kids go shopping and they sign this song THAT HAS BEEN IN MY HEAD FOR 15 YEARS- "what to wear, what to buy- it's so hard to choose- A sombraro an umbrella or a new pair of shoes…." etc. and they dance around a store, throwing shit around and making a scene. Go potato head kids! (PS) did this air on the same day as Captain Caveman?
Posted by
Muppet Baby @ 04/27/2004 8:43 PM EDT
Do we really want to bring back the `80s knowing perfectly well cartoons like this one stank up the airwaves?
Somewhere in that Ninth Gate of Hell this is on the tvs while the little zombie,imp, and cenobite children watch with glee while eating those evil American Gladiators Neugats and Necco wafers. Hey Let's make a cartoon about those.
Posted by
The Adamantium Elbow @ 04/30/2004 3:23 AM EDT
Jim Henson's Dante's Inferno Babies.
Posted by
kingklash @ 04/30/2004 2:29 PM EDT
That article frightened me
Posted by
phunqsauce @ 05/01/2004 12:11 PM EDT
That was fucking crazy. Whoever made that was on drugs! lol
Posted by
Ramsie @ 05/09/2004 2:50 PM EDT
dude weird. looked at the script. ninth potatoe kid musta been pissed at somethin
Posted by
Blaire @ 05/12/2004 2:44 AM EDT
Never even touched a Mr. Potatohead toy (glad I added "toy", would sound strange otherwise…;)
Show sounds pretty dumb but I liked the collective High Five scene…potatoes and dolphin celebrating together…i mean that's pure genius!!
Posted by
Leela @ 05/12/2004 6:24 PM EDT
I totally remember this, but i remember renting it from a video store, i don't remember seeing it on tv. The one i remember is where the potatohead kids are detectives, and they are searching for a suspect in an amusement park funhouse. anybody else remember that, or have the darkest recesses of my brain conjured up something even more ridiculous than the show itself?
Posted by
jcardin3 @ 05/17/2004 11:08 PM EDT
how much drugs was the creater of the show on?? humm i think i'll make a show on …..Talking patatos the dudes who highered me will think i'm a frickin genuis!
Posted by
Tink @ 05/24/2004 7:33 PM EDT
YO!s AWesom. YAY!
I LOved It.
Posted by
Coolgirl5579 @ 10/07/2004 6:09 PM EDT
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