I don't know if any of you knew this, but a while back, Mattel announced that Barbie and Ken were going their separate ways. After all they had been together for over 40 years, and never dated other people, so now Barbie wanted her space to go pursue "other interests." My Barbie was never faithful to Ken. In fact, back in the day, she had a torrid affair with GI Joe, and then got caught up in a love triangle with Steve Austin, the $6 million dollar man. Jamie Somers was very jealous, and although she had bionic body parts, she wasn't stacked like our tartlet Barbie.
Well, it seems that we the buying audience just don't like Ken and Barbie apart, because Mattel has experienced sagging sales of late, and they blame it on dipping Barbie sales. And so, the big solution is to bring back a new and improved Ken to get back on with Barbie.. (Note: The dream of being back in the skinny jeans also works with men even if they are toys.)
In a release by Mattel:
"Ken has revamped his life -- mind, body and soul," Hollywood stylist and Mattel consultant Phillip Bloch said in a statement. "Everyone knows how difficult it is to change, especially when you've lived your life a certain way for more than four decades."
Ken, who appears to have spent time in the gym and at the stylist, returns wearing a beach-wear ensemble complete with board shorts and white T-shirt.
At a press conference unveiling Ken, Bloch said the company was going for a "worldly, European thing," and "definitely wanted to be looking hot."
Sounds like no man, even a plastic toy, is out of the reach of the powerful Queer Eye for the Straight Guy influence. Ken is getting in touch with his Metro-ness. I'm almost thinking that if the Barbie thing doesn't work out that Ken could switch hit and go after GI Joe or perhaps a Super hero or Jedi knight. Do we have here a Brokeback Malibu in the making?? I'd be okay with that ;-)
