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11/13/2007: Gingerbread Pop Tarts and Mr. Potato Claus!

Man, so I’m looking at the Macy’s Parade that I’ll be reviewing sometime before Thanksgiving…and it really sucks. I may have to spice up the article with some odd additives just so we can stay on the level of the previous parade reviews. Perhaps it’s time to finally unleash my stuffed mushroom recipe. Maybe baby artichokes?


Finally, Kellogg’s has taken advantage of the uber-customizability of their Pop Tarts brand with an honest-to-goodness holiday edition. New “Gingerbread” Pop-Tarts are brown, limited edition and filled with the same kind of frosting that you’d normally find atop a Cinnabon. I don’t usually “do” Pop-Tarts, but I’ll make an exception for anything that comes in a snowflake-laden wintery box with a smiling gingerbread boy in the corner. Package your personal excrement in such fashion, and I’ll pay a premium.

When I put the Pop-Tarts into the toaster, the heavenly, cookie-esque scent immediately filled the air, replacing our apartment’s usual ambiance of stale smoke in seconds. I’ve covered plenty of special edition Pop-Tarts in the past, but Kellogg’s went through a particular amount of trouble to make these feel/smell/look/taste really different. If you’re sick of so many “special edition” Pop-Tarts falling under the same tired umbrella of neon-colored fruit slime filling, these are a breath of fresh, gingerbready air.


Though I don’t think they really needed the extra boost, Kellogg’s has also provided the Pop-Tarts with a variety of fifty different edible images, mainly featuring a family of gingerbread people in different wintery poses. The gingerbread people are strangely humanoid and kind of creepy, looking less like anthropomorphic cookies and more like pumpkin-headed demons in ski outfits. Then again, that’s pretty cool and I’m not sure why I’m complaining about it.

The flavor of gingerbread cookies is something you really had to grow up on to appreciate. I didn’t, so I don’t, but luckily, Kellogg’s dumbed down the usual gingerbread sting with a flavor a little less biting. To keep the nutritional value of these Pop-Tarts from growing too alarming, the inner layer of gooey frosting isn’t quite as sugary as you might expect it to be. It’s kind of a trade: You’ll make a less orgasmic face while eating them, but you won’t have to feel as guilty afterwards.


From Pop-Tarts to Potato Heads, meet Santa Spud, a deliciously Christmassy Mr. Potato Head toy. Giving Mr. PH a bunch of Santa parts is not a new endeavor, but I really love the way they’ve gone about packaging him this year. Santa Spud arrives in an oversized blister-pack, which lets you enjoy his beauty without actually having to open him. Of course, you’ll never have an awesomely avant-garde Santa Potato Head unless you do. It amazes me that even after all of these years, it’s still a riot to put Mr. Potato Head’s arms where his nose should be. Well, a riot on the inside, at least. Can’t claim that I was rolling on the floor with laughter. On the other hand, I am a joyless truckermomma.

Click here for a closer look at the packaged Santa Spud, and make note of the great “to” and “from” label in the upper right corner. Love it. I’m a big proponent of having some gifts under the tree that aren’t wrapped, mainly because of the gift-opening scene from A Christmas Story. There’s just something nice and wholesome about it, and anytime I can apply such adjectives to a stupid Potato Head is pretty cool.

While I’m here: Thanks for the feedback on the Wishbook article, which has some pretty good momentum going at the moment. Keep adding your unrequited toy lusts to the previous thread!

In other news, Waiterbot is continuing to vlog, but he may have to stop soon because I’m starting to sound like him all the time.


Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

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Discussion Thread: 141 comments

gahhhh where did firsty and secondy go? lol now to read blog

Ghosted by Primus @ 11/13/2007 11:32 PM EST


Matt, you are ON FYARR! Great job amping up the Xmas. I’m getting a new TV soon, so once it arrives, out come the Xmas movies and the decorations. I CAN’T HOLD BACK!!

Ghosted by Terror Claws Cole @ 11/13/2007 11:34 PM EST


The woman and I previously decided that this would be the weekend to bring down the decorations. Still seems a littttle early, but I know how busy December is, and I don’t want to end up seeing my snowglobes for the first time a week before Christmas.

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/13/2007 11:35 PM EST


I have to admit,I’m really interested in the Pop-tarts,but now I realize I have missed a blog post about the wishbook! Crikeys!

Ghosted by shortcake 79 @ 11/13/2007 11:36 PM EST


Damn those pop tarts look good.. i’ll have to see if they have them up here…. the graphics on the box ON the pop tarts looks nice and vibrant… is it less vibrant on the tart itself or did the pic not do it justice?

I do have to say, i’ve never owned a mr.potato head… shame on me…. however i did get a kick out of playing with my friend’s one when I was young.. i never got more creative than ‘upside-down’ face…

Ghosted by Primus @ 11/13/2007 11:36 PM EST


another update so soon?! sweet matt!

Those poptarts don’t look quite so appetizing for some reason. I think it’s the notion of eating pre-produced “freshly” baked cookies out of your toaster. Or mabye it’s just the whole wheat/spooge look – :S

Ghosted by penmissile @ 11/13/2007 11:38 PM EST


Pop-Tarts photograph terribly, for some reason. They’re a little darker and more cookie-like in person…they do seem kinda wheaty in the pic.

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/13/2007 11:39 PM EST


That Santa Spud seems to be a bit primate. I think it’s the ears. I like your version better, Matt.

Ghosted by Bill @ 11/13/2007 11:42 PM EST


lol the frosting still makes me want to take a big ol bite out of gingerbread man’s head.

my brain tends to confuse gingerbread flavours with lots of other christmasy ones like cinnamon and spice, and my grandmothers molassas cookies. I usually then get a shock when I eat or drink something gingerbread flavour… like the starbucks gingerbread latte… my wife got that venti and i went back for the eggnog one…

if your starting to sound like waiterbot, i suggest a cough drop :P

Ghosted by Primus @ 11/13/2007 11:45 PM EST


I EAT POP TARTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS HAS MADE MY MILLENNIUM. I am quite excited, as you may have noticed.

In other news, the bookstore I work at put up the day today and now 3 of our 5 rotating CDs are Xmas music.

Ghosted by Muppet Baby @ 11/13/2007 11:52 PM EST


I’m not much of a pop-tart fan, either, but these, I will definitely look for, seeing that they’re different than the typical fruit filling with colored icing.

Yay for vlog the third!

Ghosted by fistpittingnork @ 11/13/2007 11:54 PM EST


So, Waiterbot had an impromptu “watch party” here at my house. The fiance has a couple of friends over and I noticed that there was a new Vlog, so we watched them all and laughed our rear nether regions off. Only the fiance and I know what’s going on, but that proves that Waiterbot’s unwitting comedy is universal. Hooray!

On the subject of gingerbread Pop-Tarts, I have $4 left in my bank account until Thursday. I just might go in the red over these things. Gah, they sound awesome!

Ghosted by Special K @ 11/14/2007 12:00 AM EST


How was ur bday weekend Muppet Baby? I hope all was well :) .. hmm a bookstore in Freddy… I wonder how many will kick me out for whispering “X-E? Do you like pop tarts?” under my breath at the workers before i find the right one lmao

Ghosted by Primus @ 11/14/2007 12:06 AM EST


Sorry for the downtime there, folks. We’re back now. :)

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/14/2007 1:27 AM EST


Is Santa Spud a regulation-size Potato Head, or one of the smaller scale like Artoo Potatoo and those sports ones?

Ghosted by Jerrod @ 11/14/2007 1:32 AM EST


I have never tried a Pop Tart, but I may do so eventually.

Since I just saw a Jim Gaffigan special on Comedy Central, wake me up when we see Christmas-Themed Hot Pockets.

“Christ Pockets”

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 11/14/2007 1:32 AM EST


Thanks Matt, you have made this workday so much better then most, I sit down and I find a new blog, I find a great article, and now as im close to finishing up my shift, what do I see another blog post, and a waiterbot Vlog!

Thanks dude this has made the day a bit more tolerable.

Ghosted by mjgrass @ 11/14/2007 1:34 AM EST


Jerrod: Seems like he’s regular size to me!

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/14/2007 1:34 AM EST


Once I get very sick after eating a Pop Tart and then I wasn’t able to eat them again for well over fifteen years. I didn’t have a Pop Tart until around 2001.

Sure, now that I am adult I understand that I simply got the flu at some point in the mid-eighties and the last thing I had eaten was a Pop Tart. This caused a taste aversion to develop even though there was no real link between the two.

I know this.

Still, I could not touch a Pop Tart for over half of my life. Sort of what happened between myself and Long Island Iced Tea. I still can’t touch one of those. If my track record is any predictor, I will be sipping my next sometime around 2016.

Totally useless info. I know. Hope you all enjoyed!

Ghosted by Magic Toy @ 11/14/2007 1:48 AM EST


That’s good to know. Its not a true Potato Head to me unless you can stow his body parts in his ass.

Now I wanna go pick him up along with that regular/black Spider-Spud two pack that my local Wal-Mart has been tempting me with…

Ghosted by Jerrod @ 11/14/2007 1:53 AM EST


I can do up a pretty mean vector-based smiling Gingerbread Man, so I’ll keep you updated on any boxes of what-not I plan to see with one on the package…

Speaking of which, click my name to see a Flash Gingerbread Dress-Up game I made. It’s not very Christmassy, but whatever, the holiday isn’t for 5 weeks.

And because I didn’t mention it in the last post and now I feel bad, I loved the Wish Book article, Matt. :)

Ghosted by Ariel @ 11/14/2007 2:00 AM EST


I agree with Waiterbot — Dino Bravo vs. Hacksaw Duggan set a precedent for what a professional wrestling match could be, a masterful display of storytelling, physicality, and psychology. I’ll have to send Waiterbot an invitation to my next WrestleMania party.

Ghosted by Review the World @ 11/14/2007 2:01 AM EST


I haven’t seen those Gingerbread Pop Tarts yet, but I will defintatly look for them. I’m on a diet and, like Matt, not a big Pop-Tarts fan, but I love trying Holiday “limited edition” flavors.

Santa Spud…heh, cute.

Ghosted by starwenn @ 11/14/2007 2:11 AM EST


And I just had to buy Mint Chocolate Chip Pop-Tarts this weekend, and I just had to go to the grocery store tonight to buy a regular razor because my electric razor’s motor died and I have a presentation in my lab tomorrow so I can’t appear looking like a bum.

Anyway, next time I go grocery shopping I’m definitely … wait a tick, my roommate and I are supposed to pay our electric bill, and we can do that at the grocery store! Oh happy days! *Note: Every time I tried writing “store” it originally came out as “story.”

One last lil’ thang: When I was at the store, I went into the “Holiday” isle (Christmas with about three Thanksgiving decorations and one Hanukkah decoration in there) and got some lights for my apartment. Is it too soon for multi-colored Christmas lights? ‘Cause they’re up now. :D

Ghosted by Ben @ 11/14/2007 2:18 AM EST


Since I’m Canadian, I don’t see Thanksgiving and Christmas as being in the same Holiday season. However, I work in the mall, so for me the Christmas season starts November 1st. Against all my Scrooge-like friend’s wishes, I’ve already broken out my favourite Christmas CD “A Very Special Christmas 2″ that I have been enjoying since I had the tape in 1992 and had to flip over to side B to hear “Christas Is” by Run DMC and Debbie Gibson sing Sleigh Ride. It takes me back to a time when Christmas wasn’t a money spending free-for all and I still hoped Santa would bring me the Barbie Fold N’ Fun House.

Ghosted by ellaenchanted @ 11/14/2007 2:31 AM EST


Speaking of unwrapped presents…

It’s customary in my family that Santa gifts are put under the tree unwrapped. That way when children wake the next morning they are greeted with a pile of stuff, thus causing confusion and squeals of joy. I remember loving the pile, but not loving the choice of what to go to first. You had to choose carefully because your parents were waiting to see if you go to the one you whined for most, or the secret surprise gift they threw in to completely throw you off guard. And if you went for the surprise gift first, that could be used in many later Wal-Mart arguments, “Well you wanted that expensive *insert gift child most whined about* and you went straight for my inexpensive *insert surprise gift.*

Ghosted by iAMYou @ 11/14/2007 2:52 AM EST


Awwww, that Santa is cute! I still haven’t been able to get myself an Optimash, tho, so he’s probably out of the question. One of the bears about having a cat with chronic renal failure and possible chronic heart failure is you don’t know from day to day what you might have to do for them…makes planning ahead something of a guessing game. :/

Oh, and I know its late for Halloween, but click on my name for a funky story about a blue ‘ghost’ that was caught on camera on Sunday at an Ohio gas station. Complete with video and pictures!

Ghosted by Moony @ 11/14/2007 3:35 AM EST


Hey Moony, maybe Casper has finally come for his reckoning. The way I see it, Casper could only be friendly for so long until he snapped. And… sat on a car windshield for half an hour. Nevertheless, cool video! I wouldn’t have wanted it to go away. Heck, I probably would have gone out and tried to touch it. And that’s when my arm/face melts off. That would make an awesome story to my as of yet unborn children and grandchildren.

Ghosted by Ben @ 11/14/2007 3:57 AM EST


My Santa Spud is sitting nicely on my PC speaker, and my Optimash Prime sits content on a shelf in another room.

Ghosted by Cleavy @ 11/14/2007 4:13 AM EST


Bill has once again contributed Waiterbot’s material. Paint me jealous.

In other news, Waiterbot is continuing to vlog, but he may have to stop soon because I’m starting to sound like him all the time.

A-HA!

Ghosted by Knegative @ 11/14/2007 4:38 AM EST


On the subject of Waiterbot, I read last years advent calendar earlier today (I’m often like a year late some reason so I’ll talk to you about this year’s next November) and would like to make one critique that you may or may not be interested in hearing. I understand the reason for Knacks, Kuse, Waiterbot and other main stay characters to be in there to give you a bigger story to work with earlier on but I am hoping this years Advent Calender has a little more to do about itself than it does with so many things I don’t have any clue where came from. 2003 remains my absolute favorite for the purity of it and I understand going back to just that would be too much now and that the randomness and crappyness of some of the gifts make it hard to write for. Still, the amount of outside props and characters seems to be increasing year to year and while still good, causing a decline of the charm. I mean, the heads that make up Waiterbot and Waiterbetty are one thing to bring in but tiny laundry detergent boxes and ding dongs might be pushing it. Then burning up a bunch of the gifts from the calendar seemed to really underline their unimportance last year. I’m all for the continuing development of Knacks, Kuse, Mare, Box, Waiterbot, Legotron and maybe Mister Snowman but the whole concept is starting to lean too far away from the Advent Calender daily gifts and more into some sort of soft core Legorotica. I’m not opposed to reading such a thing but I’d probably be more inclined to read 2003 again.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 11/14/2007 4:40 AM EST


I would have reached out and tickled it. ;)

I do have a friend who’s hinted that he might get me Masterpiece Starscream (the new Hasbro one, not the green one), but unless he snaps one up immediately I don’t see it being under my Christmas tree. :(

Ghosted by Moony @ 11/14/2007 4:41 AM EST


Pop Tarts might just be the world’s most perfect food.

Ghosted by Jeff Mack @ 11/14/2007 8:21 AM EST


Package your personal excrement in such fashion, and I’ll pay a premium.

Matt – hilarious. Also, thanks for keeping the updates coming. They have been top notch, top notch.

Must get gingerbread pop-tarts.

Ghosted by Goody @ 11/14/2007 8:21 AM EST


I don’t want to think about orgasm when I’m eating cream-filled Pop Tarts.

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 11/14/2007 9:04 AM EST


Hi Doho — I see where you are coming from but it’s definitely evolved to be more about a bunch of characters “forced” to handle these strange calendars than the calendars themselves. But, if the gifts themselves spark something, they’ll play important roles. And I loved the little detergent box. :)

Jedoc: Disgusting but true!

It’s really, really foggy out this morning. Like, The Mist-level fog. I keep waiting for the Punisher to materialize in the living room with a big rope.

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/14/2007 9:19 AM EST


Man! Another update! WOOOO!

Seriously. I’m pumped for Christmas! December is going to be one sweet month.

Ghosted by Mandi @ 11/14/2007 9:19 AM EST


In terms of material goods this has gotta be one of the best Christmas seasons ever. I can’t believe how much stuff I’ve already found. Seriously, I have a giant bin filled with stuff yet to be covered, plus a couple of others things that need to be in the fridge. And judging by my e-mails, there’s still a ton more left to collect. I know the season means more than the random crap, but random crap sure doesn’t hurt.

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/14/2007 9:23 AM EST


Matt: man keep up the kick-ass work. This should more than make up for any of those halloween nay-sayers and if you keep up this pace, you’ll probably have some credit left for next year too ;) … damn fine job!

Ghosted by Primus @ 11/14/2007 9:38 AM EST


I love the new Vlog! ^_^

By the way, Mista Snowman should become the main character in those advent calendars. We all know he’s the best, he just screams CHRISTMAS MAGIC.

Ghosted by CrayfishV2 @ 11/14/2007 10:13 AM EST


I MUST HAVE GINGERBREAD POP TARTS! Primus:Let me know if you see any GB Pop Tarts at the grocery store, chances are if thay are in Saint John we have them down here in Halifax.

Will also have to take a peek for a Santa Spud, my daughter has the Pink Easter Bunny one and she is lonely.

My wife and daughter started decorating for the holidays yesterday, it was a nice suprise when I got home from work. Can’t wait to put up the outdoor lights, will wait a couple of more weeks though.

You are definitely amping up the Xmas Holidays Matt..Kudos Brother!

Ghosted by Greg @ 11/14/2007 10:27 AM EST


I MUST have those Pop-Tarts. Only I’ve never had an actual gingerbread (anything) before.

Anyway, the main reason I’m posting here is to do a warning to everyone here because I love you all. Here goes:

DON’T DRINK CHERRY CHOCOLATE DIET DR. PEPPER
DON’T DRINK CHERRY CHOCOLATE DIET DR. PEPPER
DON’T DRINK CHERRY CHOCOLATE DIET DR. PEPPER
DON’T DRINK CHERRY CHOCOLATE DIET DR. PEPPER

Chocolate doesn’t improve everything. It tastes like something Jones Soda would put in one of their holiday packs. Dr. Pepper with a strong cocoa aftertaste isn’t appetizing. I didn’t even taste the cherry.

Ghosted by JLAJRC @ 11/14/2007 11:05 AM EST


You already gave us your mushroom recipe a couple years ago, didn’t you? I know you did because I have a rumpled up, grease stained word document entitled “XE Matt’s Mushrooms” and I make them every Christmas eve! But maybe it wasn’t an actual formal article with pretty pictures and stuff…

Ghosted by B Dawg @ 11/14/2007 11:28 AM EST


Yeah, scary crazy fog this morning. I usually fly to the train station (because I constantly oversleep and refuse to set my alarm earlier to accomodate it) but had to crawl through most of the areas closest to the ocean and tidal lakes. Damn near missed my train, which would have sucked. But it’s nice not to run over any people out jogging or walking their dogs or taking a Flanders-esque “Fog Walk”.

I still lust after the chocolate fudge Pop Tarts, but those things are like crack to me. Will have to try the gingerbread at least once. Hopefully, they won’t be as addictive but still good.

Ghosted by Lemur @ 11/14/2007 11:32 AM EST


Hah, you’re right! 2004!

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/14/2007 11:34 AM EST


Hee, how awesome was Tom Jane at the Scream Awards? Definitely the best non-Grindhouse related moment of the show; still cracks me up just thinking about it. I can’t wait to see The Mist.
Speaking of post-Pop Tart guilt, I guess I’m the only one who was introduced to the disgusting habit of buttering the things? God, talk about being ashamed to look at yourself in the mirror afterwards.

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 11/14/2007 11:47 AM EST


JLAJRC: Have you ever tried ordering a chocolate cherry Dr. Pepper from Sonic, or anywhere else with a “soda fountain” option? Because that wasn’t too bad, and I’m wondering how the canned stuff stacks up.

squee4242: I can’t say as I’ve ever buttered Pop Tarts before, but if it makes you feel any better I have been guilty of dipping Oreos in Marshmallow Creme. I don’t do it on a regular basis or anything, but I’m pretty sure the doctors are going to list it as my eventual cause of death.

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 11/14/2007 12:04 PM EST


Kneg- I think Waitebot wants to kill me. He’s just toying with me and one of these days I’m going to wake up to him standing on my chest and then strangle me with floss.

As for Pop Tars I think there are two types of people in the world; those who like Pop Tarts and those who like Toaster Strudles. I’m a strudle guy. Sort of like those who like Neil Diamond and those who don’t.

Ghosted by Bill @ 11/14/2007 12:12 PM EST


Wait, are we talking buttering iced or non-iced Pop Tarts? I can’t stand that icing stuff on there, so when we had Pop Tarts they were always the non-iced kind and I find a thin layer of melted butter on top to be downright heavenly. But I’m with Bill, I’ll take a Toaster Strudel over a Pop Tart any day. Pillsbury makes the best icing.

Ghosted by Lori @ 11/14/2007 12:21 PM EST


If only I had somewhere to use my new Potato Claus avatar!

Ghosted by Katherine @ 11/14/2007 12:21 PM EST


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