Whenever I think about Barbie, it’s hard not to think about Ken. His perfect abs, his plastic smile, and his truthfully yuppie hair. Ken reminds me of the “Beach Boys” in that he is still stuck in the old, idyllic surfer time of the 60’s in both his style and his hair. Even though he’s never had any truthful man-parts beyond his muscular frame, it’s hard not to remember him fondly as Barbie’s constant companion and boy-toy. That’s why I was surprised to see that his sales have been lagging for quite a while.  However, there's hope on the horizon- sales are  finally picking up a little after Ken got a  chance to play  a minor role in a film in Toy Story 3 no less.

Since Toy Story 3 was recently released, Ken has become hip once again and Mattel is planning his 50th party next year with a chance for Ken to once again, become a star. There is hope that the movie will generate more interest in the actor/toy/semi-action type figure than there has been for quite a while. Some are even predicting that Ken will rise to a cult-like status, but if anyone is joining the Ken-cult that I’ve heard of, they aren’t admitting it in public.

Of course, as this writer contends, Ken was really only “a Stedman to her Oprah” anyway.  Despite Barbie’s numerous outfits of all kinds, it’s completely obvious who wore the pants in the Barbie/Ken relationship. Ken was used and abused as a consultant on Barbie’s fashion choices and sometimes stolen as a substitute for missing GI Joe figures or other action toys. Whatever whim Barbie had at any particular time, Ken was forced to silently follow with his plastic smile in tow.

Barbie dumped Ken in 2004 for another surfer who was probably just like Ken was. I haven’t found out yet who (if anybody) Ken is dating now or if there are any plans for reconciliation between the two plastic love-birds.

Ken does have his own website for collectors and those whose preference is more for a Ken than a Barbie. The domain chosen for the site says it all:  Man Behind the Doll.com I would have to say that this is not quite a rousing endorsement for Ken.  It might take more than a guest appearance in Toy Story 3 for Ken to succeed.