Source: NickMom press release

Earlier this month, Nickelodeon announced that General Mills, Target, and Reckitt Benckiser have signed on as charter sponsors for NickMom, Nickelodeon’s new multiplatform content destination that targets moms. The just-announced deals will include brand integration, content development, and sponsorships across the new NickMom TV block, launching this fall on Nick Jr. The deal also includes NickMom.com, which launched last year.

The NickMom nightly television block will feature a mix of original long- and short-form humor-based programming, including talk shows, stand-up and sketch comedy, hidden camera television shows, and more. NickMom.com, a blog that debuted last November, currently features editorial franchises, photos, and video. Throughout this year, Nickelodeon expects the site to grow, complete with more editorial, photos, videos, gaming, and a community, becoming a fully integrated website timed to the TV launch.

Nickelodeon has picked up 26 episodes of the stand-up comedy series NickMom Night Out for the television block. The series features comedians such as Judy Gold, Corey Kahaney, B Phlat, and Deena Blizzard. Also announced were more than 50 projects in development. The programs span TV and digital, and include work from stand-up comedian and actress Caroline Rhea, actor/author Annabelle Gurwitch, and Madeleine Smithberg of Mad Cow Productions.

Click here for NickMom’s development slate.

Nickelodeon has also announced that Bronwen O’Keefe has been named senior vice president of NickMom. In this newly created position, O’Keefe will spearhead the creation and development of all television and online content for NickMom.

O’Keefe will be responsible for managing the content creation, editorial, and programming development, in addition to overseeing the planning and execution of all linear and digital content for NickMom. She will also work with senior management to set and champion the creative strategy for NickMom.

A 15-year Nickelodeon veteran, O’Keefe was most recently senior vice president of event and original programming, where she was responsible for overseeing the production of network television events, specials, and shows such as Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, TeenNick HALO Awards, Worldwide Day of Play, Speed Racer, Kappa Mikey, The Secret World of Alex Mack, and Degrassi, among others.

Bart Simpson made his New York Fashion Week debut last week. Bart Simpson-inspired fashions walked down the runway at fashion designer Jeremy Scott’s February 15 show at MILK Studios. Scott, known for designing outrageous pieces and inspired by the spirit and personality of The Simpsons, created a collection of limited-edition pieces for the fashion show. Scott has designed for stars in music and Hollywood, including Madonna, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga.

Countless licensed products made their debut at American International Toy Fair, held February 12-15 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. Our roundup below summarizes just a portion of the new and expanding licensing programs for popular properties showcased at Toy Fair.

Ludorum’s Licensees Ride the Rails at American International Toy Fair

Chuggington will continue riding the rails into toy stores and onto TV screens this year with support from Ludorum’s licensees and Disney Junior, which will premiere the third season of Chuggington to coincide with the launch of the 24-hour Disney Junior channel on March 23. Disney now holds the rights to 46 episodes. Several of Ludorum’s licensees for Chuggington unveiled new products at the American International Toy Fair, held February 12-15 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. Read more…

U.S. Partners Find Waldo at Toy Fair

Classic Media signed new consumer products partners for Where’s Waldo? in the U.S. The new Where’s Waldo? program will hit retail timed to Waldo’s 25th anniversary, which commences this fall. Read more…

Moshi Monsters Mania to Hit U.S. Retail

Moshi Monsters fans will soon be able to hold their virtual characters in their hands, hug them in their arms, and wear them on their bodies. Mind Candy, the entertainment firm behind the global children’s property, is launching a huge Moshi Monsters merchandising program in the U.S., set to hit mass-market and specialty stores nationwide beginning Q1. Read more…

Classic Media and Pressman Toy Introduce Tinga Tinga Tales Board Games

Pressman Toy Corporation signed a licensing deal with Classic Media to develop games based on the new preschool series Tinga Tinga Tales. Pressman Toy’s games will be available at mass and specialty retailers nationwide in August. Read more…

Mr. Potato Head Rises at Toy Fair

Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced new partnerships timed to coincide with Toy Fair. WBCP awarded The Bridge Direct, Inc. the master toy license for Looney Tunes. WBCP also partnered with Wonder Forge for preschool products, which will include DC Super Friends. Both companies previewed their lines at the American International Toy Fair. WBCP also partnered with PPW Toys, under a licensing agreement with Hasbro, Inc., to launch a line of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head figures. Read more…

Official Marvel Colognes and Perfume Launch at Toy Fair

Jads International, LLC debuted its line of Marvel prestige colognes and perfumes at Toy Fair in New York City. The Avengers Cologne Set, Black Widow Perfume, Infinity Formula for Men, and Mischief Cologne will be available to the public in April in the U.S. and Canada. Read more…

New Tetris-Themed Products Introduced at Toy Fair

The Tetris Company, LLC, the exclusive licensor of the Tetris brand, and its merchandising agent, Licensing Works!, announced several new Tetris-themed products from licensees Techno Source, Paladone, and Fundex, which showcased their new Tetris products at Toy Fair. Read more…

Jakks Pacific Sings a New Tune with Deal for Toys Inspired by Songify App

Jacks Pacific signed a license agreement with Khush, a developer of intelligent music applications, to create a new product inspired by the Songify app. Songify, developed in part by YouTube sensations The Gregory Brothers along with Khush, launched this past summer as the first mobile app that turns speech into music instantly. Jakks Pacific plans to bring the technology to the toy aisle this summer. Read more…

Hasbro Scores a Direct “Hit” with Gaming and Toys from Universal Pictures’ Battleship

Hasbro, Inc. will turn one of its timeless brands into a multimedia entertainment property this year with the release of Universal Pictures’ epic action-adventure Battleship. Hasbro will augment the experience of the film with an action-packed line of Battleship-themed toys—both in the gaming realm, where the Battleship brand originated, and in a brand new line of Kre-O building sets—as well as an expansive line of licensed goods, several of which debuted at Toy Fair. Read more…

Jakks Pacific Sings a New Tune with Deal for Toys Inspired by Songify App

Jacks Pacific signed a license agreement with Khush, a developer of intelligent music applications, to create a new product inspired by the Songify app. Songify, developed in part by YouTube sensations The Gregory Brothers along with Khush, launched this past summer as the first mobile app that turns speech into music instantly. Jakks Pacific plans to bring the technology to the toy aisle this summer. Read more…

Nickelodeon and Partners Unveil New Products at Toy Fair

Nickelodeon unveiled products for both new and established properties at Toy Fair, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Winx Club, Team Umizoomi, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Victorious. Read more…

Nickelodeon unveiled products for both new and established properties at Toy Fair, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Winx Club, Team Umizoomi, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Victorious.

Playmates Toys showed a new line of toys inspired by Nickelodeon’s new CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Playmates Toys’ lineup includes basic, deluxe, and collectible action figures, as well as Ninja gear, play sets, and vehicles.

Jakks Pacific and its Creative Designs International (CDI) and Disguise Halloween divisions debuted products for Winx, including a new line of dolls, play sets, accessories, dress-up, role-play items, and Halloween costumes based on the series. Building on the Winx Club doll line from Jakks, Creative Designs International has created an assortment of role-play dresses and fairy wings for girls who want to transform themselves into their favorite Winx Club member. The Jakks Pacific, CDI, and Disguise product lines are scheduled to launch this fall to coincide with the premiere of the brand new CG episodes of Winx Club on Nickelodeon.

Nickelodeon and Fisher-Price introduced new toy lines for preschool series Team Umizoomi and Dora the Explorer. Team Umizoomi products from Fisher-Price include figures, basic and learning plush, bath toys, and vehicles. Building on the past success of Fisher-Price toys inspired by Dora, new products for 2012 will include a dollhouse, play sets, dolls, role-play toys, and more.

SpongeBob SquarePants is the inspiration for new toys from Fisher-Price’s Imaginext brand. The new line includes play sets, vehicles, and figures where SpongeBob is featured in the Imaginext look. SpongeBob is also the inspiration for two new building sets from The Lego Group, which debuted at Toy Fair.

Victorious master toy licensee Spin Master, Ltd. unveiled new products for the live-action comedy series. The new line will feature fashion dolls and role play, including a new Tori Singing Doll featuring the song, “Best Friend’s Brother.” Feature dolls for additional Victorious characters, including Trina (Daniella Monet), Cat (Ariana Grande), and Jade (Elizabeth Gillies), are also included.

Hasbro, Inc. will turn one of its timeless brands into a multimedia entertainment property this year with the release of Universal Pictures’ epic action-adventure Battleship. Hasbro will augment the experience of the film with an action-packed line of Battleship-themed toys—both in the gaming realm, where the Battleship brand originated, and in a brand new line of KRE-O building sets—as well as an expansive line of licensed goods, several of which debuted at Toy Fair.

Battleship-themed products include:

• Classic Battleship Movie Edition Game
• Deluxe Battleship Movie Edition
• Battleship: Hidden Threat Card Game
• Kre-O Battleship building sets
• Battleship video game from Activision Publishing, Inc.
• Updated version of the Battleship application from Electronic Arts for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
• T-shirts, hoodies, and shorts from Rocawear
• The Battleship Crew Series, Hasbro’s “behind-the-scenes” apparel and accessories collection inspired by the gear worn by the filmmakers and crew, features exclusive fashions from New Era and Red Monkey Designs

In addition, Hasbro is working with licensees around the globe to bring to market an amazing array of lifestyle products in key categories that will resonate with consumers worldwide. Products will range from T-shirts and caps to costumes, backpacks, and publishing from licensees including Disguise and Random House.

Columbia Pictures, Happy Madison, and Hasbro, Inc. are in final talks to develop Candy Land, a live-action movie based on the Hasbro board game, with Adam Sandler attached to star.

Relativity Media has partnered with Hasbro to develop and produce a live-action tent-pole film based on Stretch Armstrong, the action hero figure launched in the 1970s. Relativity will be the domestic distributor, and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. The film is targeted for an April 11, 2014, release date.

The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Hasbro’s deal with Universal Pictures has ended. Universal Pictures has no plans for any more movies based on Hasbro toys beyond the May release of Battleship. The deal with Hasbro, signed four years ago, included at least four films based on seven games and toys: Battleship, Candy Land, Clue, Magic: The Gathering, Monopoly, Ouija, and Stretch Armstrong.

Jakks Pacific, Inc. signed a licensing agreement with AMC to manufacture, distribute, and market Deluxe Plug It In & Play TV Games based on The Walking Dead, the original drama series on AMC. The Walking Dead Deluxe TV Games line is expected to launch at retail nationwide next fall. The Walking Dead Deluxe TV Games from Jakks features a realistic pump-and-shoot shotgun controller that plugs into the A/V jacks of any standard TV, and contains multiple games in each controller.

Jakks also signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Marvel Entertainment, LLC for a line of plush products based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad that ties into the new Marvel virtual online world, HeroUp.com. The product line is expected to include collectible plush, plush clip-ons, and large plush with online components. The line is expected to launch at specialty retailers this spring with broad distribution in mass retail channels starting in 2013. Under the same agreement, Jakks has the rights to manufacture, distribute, and market skill and action games inspired by Marvel classic characters, slated to launch this spring.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products awarded The Lego Group exclusive rights to develop build-and-play construction sets based on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the two films based on The Hobbit.

The multiyear licensing agreement grants access to the library of characters, settings, and stories for The Lord of the Rings property, as well as films The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Lego’s The Lord of the Rings construction sets are slated for a rolling global launch beginning in June in the U.S., with Lego’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey sets scheduled for later in the year.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson is slated to premiere December 14, 2012.

Teen pop singer Cody Simpson and The Wish Factory, Inc. unveiled two Cody Simpson dolls at Toys “R” Us Times Square today. I headed over to Toys “R” Us this afternoon to learn more about the dolls and meet Cody Simpson.

The collection consists of two dolls, both 11.5 inches, featuring the Australian singer’s side-swept surfer-styled hair and clothes Simpson wears. One doll is dressed in a Gold Coast T-shirt and khakis, and the other doll wears a denim jacket and black pants. Both dolls include a pair of shoes, sunglasses, a microphone, a guitar pick, and lanyard. The guitar pick included varies from box to box, some with angel wings and the word “Angel,” and others with an emoticon smiley face and the numbers “143” to mean “I love you.”

Scott Bachrach, president of The Wish Factory, which designed the dolls, said the guitar picks’ designs came from the fans, who call themselves Cody’s angels, and can become collectible items used as key chains and more. Simpson told us that he was involved throughout the doll-making process to give feedback on the look of the doll and its clothes.

The dolls, completed from start to finish in 106 days, are available exclusively at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and online for $16.99 each.

—Melissa Tinklepaugh

Sex and the City has inspired a line of signature eau de perfumes created by Givaudan under a licensing agreement  between HBO and JTG Trading Company, which will manufacture and distribute the collection worldwide.  Two new fragrances, “Sex and City” and “Sex and the City by Night,” as well as “Sex and the City” Body Collections sets, will debut in Europe this month.

The new fragrances were developed by three of Givaudan’s perfumers:  Adriana Medina, known for her creations for Gwen Stefani and Ed Hardy; Rodrigo Flores-Roux, who has created scents for Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and Estée Lauder; and Claude Dir, the fragrance creator behind Bobbi Brown and Tommy Hilfiger colognes.

“The Sex and the City series continues to resonate with women worldwide,” says James Costos, vice president, Global Licensing & Retail at HBO.  “The appeal of the four main characters, who are as unique, complex and trendy as any woman aspires to be, symbolize the show’s eternal allure.  We’re extremely pleased to partner with Givaudan – the global leader in the fragrance industry.  Their elite perfumers have developed fragrances that capture the essence of Sex and the City and JTG Trading Company has the expertise to execute our vision and deliver this collection around the world.”