Thursday, July 03, 2014

The Entertainer Predicts Playmates Toys And Flair's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Movie Action Figures To Be Top Toys This Christmas

ToyNews, a monthly trade magazine for the toy business, is reporting the Booyakasha TMNT news in the following article that The Entertainer Ltd., the United Kingdom's largest independent toy retailer, has announced that they are predicting Playmates Toys and Flair's upcoming line of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" action figures based on Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures' upcoming "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie as one of the top ten toys which is set to dominate children's wishlists this Christmas!


"[We] anticipate that parents will invest in one high price ticket toy – such as My Friend Cayla, supplemented by some of the big collectable ranges such as Minecraft figures or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", said Stuart Grant, buying director, The Entertainer.

Unveiled at the mi-Christmas Open House, The Entertainer will be donating the top ten toys to 11-year-old Adam Hassan from London who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.


Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film is a modern-day iteration of the popular franchise that has captivated audiences of all ages for decades. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April O'Neil (Megan Fox) and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) to save New York City and unravel Shredder's diabolical plan. Based on the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, written by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Evan Daugherty, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" is produced by Michael Bay (director and executive producer of the blockbuster "Transformers" franchise), Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Galen Walker, Scott Mednick and Ian Bryce and directed by Jonathan Liebesman ("Wrath of the Titans"). Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies' summer blockbuster film, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", will be released in Digital 3D and 2D in cinemas across the UK on Friday 17th October 2014.


From ToyNews-Online.biz:
The Entertainer reveals its top ten toys and games for Christmas 2014

"This year's list represents a movement towards more tech toys."

The Entertainer has revealed its list of the top ten toys and games set to dominate children's lists this Christmas.

The list is as follows:

1. Loopy Loom (Standard and Hello Kitty) - £15.00

2. Xeno - £79.99

3. The Happy's Pets - £20.00

4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figurines - £10.00

5. Doc McStuffins Doctor Bag Set - £20.00

6. MiP Interactive Robot - £99.99

7. My Friend Cayla - £59.99

8. Zoomer (Dalmation or Dino) - £99.99

9. Teksta (Kitty or T-Rex) - £59.99

10. Minecraft figurines (Selection) - £8.00

Unveiled at the mi-Christmas Open House, The Entertainer will be donating the top ten toys to 11 year old Adam Hassan from London who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

"This year's list represents a movement towards more tech toys, we saw huge sales of interactive toys last Christmas and we predict the appetite for this type of toy will grow this year," said Stuart Grant, buying director, The Entertainer.

"Interestingly in view of the high tech presence in the list, we believe that the number one toy for Christmas will be the Loom kits, especially the Hello Kitty Looms. It highlights that ultimately children love the simple pleasure of creating something they can wear and share.

"We also anticipate that parents will invest in one high price ticket toy – such as My Friend Cayla, supplemented by some of the big collectable ranges such as Minecraft figures or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.

As well as the top ten, The Entertainer has also predicted a further ten it predicts will also be popular this Christmas:

The extra list is as follows:

11. Leapfrog Leapband (Green, Pink, Orange & Blue) – £29.99
12. Vtech Kidizoom Smart Watch (Pink, White & Blue) - £39.99
13. Snow Glow Elsa - £34.99
14. My Monopoly - £22.00
15. Stomp and Chomp Grimlock - £89.99
16. Furby Boom - £64.99
17. Nerf Elite Demolisher - £44.99
18. Robo Mermaid - £10.00
19. LEGO Heartlake Mall - £79.99
20. LEGO Arctic Base Camp - £69.99

TAGS: the entertainer, christmas, lists

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Nickelodeon USA To Air "Henry Danger" Preview On 7/26; BTS Of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Movie Special 7/17; Double "Korra" From 7/11

The Nickelodeon USA fanblog Nick and More is reporting the very exciting news that Nickelodeon USA will be airing a hour-long special sneak peek preview of the networks brand-new crime-fighting comedy series "Henry Danger" on Saturday 26th July 2014 at 8:00pm (ET/PT)!


Created and written by hitmaker Dan Schneider ("iCarly", "Sam & Cat") and Dana Olsen ("George of the Jungle", "Inspector Gadget"), "Henry Danger" is a brand-new crime-fighting comedy that features 13-year-old Henry (Jace Norman) who lands a part-time job as Danger Boy, a sidekick-in-training to super crime fighter Captain Man (Cooper Barnes, "The Perfect Host"). Their colorful adventures throw Henry's otherwise ordinary life absurdly out of balance, yet he must keep his new job a secret from his best friends Charlotte (Riele Downs, "The Best Man Holiday") and Jasper (Sean Ryan Fox).

NICKandMORE are also reporting that Nick USA will be showing a behind-the-scenes special of Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures' upcoming "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie on Thursday 17th July 2014, straight after Nickelodeon's live "Kids' Choice Sports 2014" awards ceremony!

Additionally, Nickelodeon USA has announced and confirmed in a Tweet on their official Twitter profile page, @NickelodeonTV, that Nick USA will continue to premiere two brand-new episodes of "The Legend of Korra" - "Book 3: Change" every Friday at 8pm (ET/PT) / 7 (C) from 11th July 2014!:
At the moment, the schedule is slated to have two new eps air every Friday starting on July 11 at 8pm/7c
To celebrate Nickelodeon USA airing Book Three and the US DVD and Blu-ray release of for Korra's second season, "Book 2: Spirits", WIRED have unveiled a exclusive clip from one of the Blu-Ray's special extras, featuring behind-the-scenes commentary by series creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, which you can watch here on wired.com.

"This season is a lot about family," says DiMartino, referencing the conflict between the two Water Tribes and the often tense dynamics in the family of Tenzin, an airbender who is both mentor to Korra and and the son of her Avatar predecessor, Aang (aka the star of the previous series, "Avatar The Last Airbender"). The feature also explores the sibling rivalries between Aang's three children, especially when only one of them - Tenzin - inherited the nearly-extinct airbending power from their father.

Nick Jr. UK Commissions Second Series Of Sixteen South's "Lily's Driftwood Bay"

Nickelodeon UK has announced in the following Press Release the exciting news that, following the successful launch of the first series, Nickelodeon UK's preschool channel, Nick Jr. UK and Ireland, has commissioned a second series of Sixteen South's "Lily's Driftwood Bay", which will feature an additional 52 seven minute episodes of the popular animated preschool series!


The commission follows a licensing deal between Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer products (NVCP) and Sixteen South, which will see NVCP exclusively represent all licensing rights for the property within the UK and Ireland.

Created and Produced by Sixteen South, "Lily's Driftwood Bay" premiered on Nick Jr. UK in May 2014 and has been watched by over 1.5 million Nick Jr. viewers to date. The mixed media animation series is created completely from items that have been found washed up on the beach and follows the imaginative adventures of six-year-old Lily. Based on an original idea from artist Joanne Carmichael, the series boasts an all-star line-up of voice talent including Stephen Fry, Jane Horrocks, Ardal O'Hanlon, Peter Mullan and Annette Crosby.

Original Nickelodeon UK Press Release:

NICK JR. UK SETS SAIL WITH SIXTEEN SOUTH FOR MORE LILY'S DRIFTWOOD BAY


London, Thursday 3rd July 2014 – After the successful launch of the first series, Nick Jr. UK has commissioned an additional 52 seven minute episodes of Sixteen South’s pre-school animation Lily’s Driftwood Bay. The commission follows a licensing deal between Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer products (NVCP) and Sixteen South, which will see NVCP exclusively represent all licensing rights for the property within the UK and Ireland.

Created and Produced by Sixteen South, Lily’s Driftwood Bay premiered on Nick Jr. UK in May 2014 and has been watched by over 1.5 million Nick Jr. viewers to date. The mixed media animation series is created completely from items that have been found washed up on the beach and follows the imaginative adventures of six-year-old Lily. Based on an original idea from artist Joanne Carmichael, the series boasts an all-star line-up of voice talent including Stephen Fry, Jane Horrocks, Ardal O’Hanlon, Peter Mullan and Annette Crosby.

"Lily's Driftwood Bay has been a wonderful addition to the Nick Jr. schedule, the show's unique visual style and beautiful storytelling have proven to be popular with kids and parents alike," said Tim Patterson, VP, Director of Programming. "We're incredibly happy with the success the series has had so far and we're keen to further invest in UK-produced content on Nick Jr. with the commission of a second series"

"We are absolutely thrilled to be producing a second series of Lily's Driftwood Bay," said Colin Williams, Creator & Director of Lily's Driftwood Bay. "We have had the most incredible creative journey in creating and bringing to life this world and characters that children across the UK and Ireland have already fallen in love with. We're so excited to spend more time in the world of Driftwood Bay!"

Nick Jr.

Where every day's an adventure, Nick Jr. is a top-performing commercial pre-school entertainment brand in cable and satellite homes. Launched in 1999 as the world's first channel dedicated to pre-school children, Nick Jr.'s programming includes beloved shows Dora the Explorer, Peppa Pig, Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom and Bubble Guppies. Online, clips, games, exclusive activities and downloads are all available at nickjr.co.uk Viewers also have the opportunity to catch up with the schedule through Nick Jr. +1. Nick Jr. is available on Sky 615, Virgin 715, through BT Vision and TalkTalk channel 318.

The Nickelodeon Network is a top-performing commercial kids TV network in the UK and Ireland with Nickelodeon channels available in over 14 million cable and satellite homes. Having launched in 1993 Nickelodeon UK comprises seven dedicated entertainment channels for kids aged 4-15 and their families, and is a joint venture between Viacom International Media Networks and BSkyB.

Sixteen South

In the last six years, Sixteen South has created and produced four award winning children's series including Sesame Tree, a new version of Sesame Street for CBeebies in partnership with Sesame Workshop, Big City Park, a co-production with BBC Scotland, for CBeebies, the BAFTA award winning Big & Small in partnership with Kindle Entertainment, for CBeebies and Pajanimals - a bedtime puppet show in partnership with the Jim Henson Company and the US cable giant, Sprout, which airs in over 300 million homes across the world.

Sixteen South's newest production is the mixed-media animated series, Lily's Driftwood Bay which has been sold to over 20 territories including the US, UK, Scandinavia and Australia.

Sixteen South is independently ranked as one of the UK's top production companies by Televisual magazine and has ranked at #7 in the Deloitte UK Fast 50 as well as earning over a dozen international awards for their work including a BAFTA, IFTA and a double EMMY® nomination.

- Ends -
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"Sam & Cat" Officially Cancelled?

UPDATE (7/13) - Nickelodeon has confirmed that "Sam & Cat" has officially been canceled with the shows stars Ariana Grande and Jennette McCurdy deciding to leave the production to follow other career opportunities and paths.

All great things must come to a end, and sadly, Nickelodeon's hit original comedy series "Sam & Cat" is no exception.

Members of ToonZone's NickToons forum are reporting the unfortunate news that Nickelodeon USA is currently advertising the next brand-new episode of Nick's popular sitcom, titled "#WeStealARockStar", which Nick USA will premiere on Saturday 12th July 2014, as the 'second-to-last episode of Sam & Cat', which could mean that, after months of speculation and uncertainty, Nickelodeon has decided to cancel and not renew "Sam & Cat" for a second season (season 2).


Nickelodeon placed "Sam & Cat" on "permanent hiatus" in April 2014 after production came to a halt a week earlier than scheduled amid reported continuing behind-the-scenes drama and tension causing emotions to run high and the shows stars Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande to arrive late for filming new episodes, leaving four episodes unproduced. Filming and production for season 2 was penciled in for later this year.

The series finale episode of "Sam & Cat", "#GettinWiggy", is currently scheduled to premiere on Nickelodeon USA on Thursday 17th July 2014.

"Sam & Cat" has been a massive ratings hit for Nickelodeon USA and for Nickelodeon channels around the world. The UK premiere of the first episode of "Sam & Cat", "#Pilot", on Nickelodeon UK in October 2013 drew an average of 240,100 kids and 293,700 overall viewers and was Nickelodeon UK's best series launch ever in Nick UK's 20 year history.

Nickelodeon hit maker Dan Schneider, the creator of "Sam & Cat", currently has a brand-new crime-fighting comedy series in the works for Nickelodeon titled "Henry Danger". Created and written by hitmaker Dan Schneider and Dana Olsen ("George of the Jungle", "Inspector Gadget"), "Henry Danger" is a brand-new crime-fighting comedy features 13-year-old Henry (Jace Norman) who lands a part-time job as Danger Boy, a sidekick-in-training to super crime fighter Captain Man (Cooper Barnes, "The Perfect Host"). Their colorful adventures throw Henry's otherwise ordinary life absurdly out of balance, yet he must keep his new job a secret from his best friends Charlotte (Riele Downs, "The Best Man Holiday") and Jasper (Sean Ryan Fox).

"Sam & Cat" is a spin-off of Dan Schneider's hit Nickelodeon shows "iCarly" and "VICTORiOUS".

In "We Steal A RockStar", debuting 7/12 on Nickelodeon USA, Sam & Cat must avoid getting in big trouble when they accidentally knock out musician Del DeVille after going to visit his concert.
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