logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2019
23m 45s

Hasbro vs Mattel - Resurrection Joe | 4

Wondery
About this episode

It’s the early 1980s and things are not looking good for Hasbro. The company hasn’t had a hit since Hungry Hungry Hippos; its founding CEO Merrill Hassenfeld has just died; now Star Wars dolls have just about gobbled up the entire action figure market. Hasbro needs to deliver a toy capable of taking on the Star Wars dolls, or else the company risks losing its only source of stable income, the family pencil factory.

But Hasbro’s not the only toymaker plotting to take on Star Wars. Three thousand miles away in Los Angeles, Mattel’s also preparing an assault on the action figure market. A line of fantastical action figures called The Masters of the Universe.


Support us by supporting our sponsors!


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Yesterday
Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter | I Am Supposed to Believe This Man is a Genius? | 2
Elon Musk makes the Twitter board an offer they can’t refuse — a $44 billion offer, to be exact. But this won’t be an easy marriage. No sooner does Twitter accept than Elon starts raising doubts. Publicly, Elon can’t help taking shots at Twitter and its leaders, sending their sto ... Show More
33m 9s
Jul 9
Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter | Maximum Amazing | 1
Twitter is at a crossroads. Its founder, Jack Dorsey, has stepped down from his role as CEO. The social media heavyweight is also under fire for alleged bias, censorship, and the roving army of bot accounts wreaking havoc on the site. In this moment of crisis, the only would-be s ... Show More
29m 9s
Jul 2
Rebuilding LEGO | Brick to the Future | 2
It’s late 2003 and LEGO’s turnaround strategy has failed. It’s hurtling towards bankruptcy. Its only hope now is a three-man shadow leadership team. And they’re about to learn that the problems at LEGO go way deeper than anyone thought.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest ... Show More
40m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
Hasbro vs Mattel | Casamento Forçado | 5
Enquanto seus brinquedos disputam a preferência das crianças, a Hasbro e a Mattel disputam as aquisições de empresas menores. Até que a Mattel faz uma proposta indecente pra Hasbro.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/ ... Show More
29 m
Aug 2023
Building Lego | Out of the Ashes | 1
A small Danish toy company survives World War Two thanks to its quality craftsmanship, but behind the scenes all is not well. Despite its good reputation, Lego teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, and a choice to change production methods threatens to tear the family-owned company ... Show More
35m 40s
Oct 2023
Hasbro vs Mattel | Barbie: A Boneca dos Sonhos | 1
Estamos no final da década de 1940 e dois pequenos fabricantes de brinquedos estão dando os primeiros e inquietos passos. Os nomes dessas jovens e esperançosas empresas são Hasbro e Mattel. Um deles é uma ramificação de um fabricante de lápis. O outro é uma empresa de garagem ini ... Show More
30m 12s
Nov 2023
💁‍♀️ “Gwyneth goes to Tarjay” — Goop’s hot pivot. Netflix’s LA movie theater. Cruise’s robotaxi brake.
Netflix spent $70M over 3-years to renovate the most historic movie theater in America — Because there’s corporate *philanthropy* and then there’s corporate *heroism*.Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop is making a risky move: Launching in Target – She’s trying to stretch the brand from aspir ... Show More
21m 50s
Mar 2024
🍨 “The Best Deal in History” — Ben & Jerry’s Unilever deal, undone. MrBeast’s Amazon game show. Nvidia CEO’s wild origin story
Unilever is spinning off its $9B ice cream biz into a separate company, they’re unwinding Ben & Jerry’s 24 years after they acquired it — We’re looking at how Ben & Jerry managed to get rich and stay king.The biggest YouTuber on earth, MrBeast, is partnering with Amazon for the b ... Show More
22m 25s
Mar 2021
The force is strong with these Star Wars toys
Ready for more toys from a galaxy far, far away? We break down the new wave of Star Wars toysSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
3m 42s
Mar 2024
MGA Entertainment: Isaac Larian
Isaac Larian moved from Iran to Los Angeles at age 17 with just a few hundred dollars, and went on to build one of the biggest toy companies in the world. Along the way, he took on Barbie with a wildly successful line of punky dolls called Bratz — a success that touched off an ep ... Show More
1h 14m
Dec 2023
The Star Wars Holiday Special that Luke Skywalker Hates ft. Adam Pally and Betsy Sodaro | 15
Back in 1978, George Lucas and CBS created a Star Wars holiday special so staggeringly bad, Lucas has publicly stated he wants it destroyed. The variety show featured Carrie Fisher singing, Wookiee porn, and many, many things that should never be associated with Star Wars. Budget ... Show More
37m 39s
May 2024
🍯 “A Dude made the 1st move?” — Bumble’s big pivot. Walmart’s Kirkland-killer. Detroit’s Boom Loop.
Bumble is ending its biggest differentiator now that guys can make the 1st move — But Bumble followed the scientific method of launching.Walmart just launched its own version of Costco’s Kirkland brand — “Bettergoods” is Walmart’s 1st new brand in 20 years and it’s all about the ... Show More
21m 43s