That headline alone should result in quite a bit of head-scratching from anyone who reads it, but if you recall, this isn’t the first department store to dip into the pool of reality TV.
Toys “R” Us, a.k.a. the best place on planet earth for a child (remember those days?), is now developing a competition based gameshow alongside Fox Alternative Entertainment titled Toys “R” Us Family Faceoff, though an official release date has not yet been announced.
Though the company filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and 2018, subsequently closing all of their US based stores, in 2021, WHP Global resurrected the expired conglomerate and began reopening stores in the last few years. Toys “R” Us has now now joined forces with the company behind the ultra successful Netflix documentary Jeen Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy and Amazon’s McDonald’s All-American Games.
“Play is essential for everyone, no matter their age. It brings joy, fosters connection, and is simply fun. That’s why Toys “R” Us holds a special place in our hearts,” said Miller Olko, Toys “R” Us Studios President. “This show will capture that magic, offering a nostalgic nod while being fresh, dynamic, and full of surprises.”
I imagine this show will generate decent interest simply based on the proposed nostalgia, as anyone with fond memories of perusing the store’s aisles on a Saturday morning will probably be curious to revisit those childhood memories. The name Toys “R” Us carries a weighted smile deeply embedded within our culture, one not found in any other toy-stores (GameStop is arguably the only one), and following the subsequent boost in Lego sales after the successful The Lego Movie, I wouldn’t be surprised if this show leads to a resurgence of Toys “R” Us flagship stores sprouting across not just the US, but the world.
As an American foreigner, I was pleasantly surprised to drive past more than one Toys “R” Us flagship store in Dubai, but the biggest shocker of all came when I walked past a Chuck E. Cheese’s in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I guess we’ll have to hold out if Chuck E. Cheese’s joins the trends of nostalgia inducing reality shows.
