Barbara Zobian, president of Candlelighters NYC, an organization helping children fight cancer, went to Dylan’s Candy Bar in NYC on February 15 for the world introduction of Hip Hop’s first official candy product, Micheck da Candy.  The candy-filled toy microphone plays positive, inspirational messages from Chuck D, and is the creation of CandyRific and Sensei Aaron, Chuck D’s first MC partner and former bodyguard. Barbara is embraced by Sensei Aaron (left) and Chuck D (right).

American International Toy Fair, held in New York City at the Javits Center every February, is always a blast, and this year’s event did not disappoint. Below is only a snapshot of the interesting people, places, and things the editors of Adventure Publishing Group saw at the fair. So click away, and see you next year!

Tons of pictures after the jump!

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The time-traveling duo Bill S. Preston, Esquire,  and “Ted” Theodore Logan, of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, were a big hit back in the early ‘90s, popularizing such So-Cal jargon as “most righteous” and “excellent,” spawning a sequel and a cartoon spin-off, and launching the career of at least one of its stars, Keanu Reeves.

Although the duo haven’t serenaded audiences with air guitar in quite a few years, their spirit lives on in the world of licensing. Universal theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood are renewing Bill & Ted Excellent Halloween Adventure for the 20^th year and Creative Licensing Corporation has signed on three new licensees for the Bill and Ted roster, including American Greetings for online greeting cards, Perri’s Leathers for guitar picks and straps, and Microgaming for online slot machines.

Word has it Bill and Ted will make a big screen comeback with a third movie. We all know what Keanu’s been up to, but we admit it would be pretty cool to see an older Alex Winter.

—Mackenzie Allison

In 1981, Diana Spencer and Prince Charles got married. Their eldest son, Prince William, and his ladylove, Catherine Middleton—or simply “Kate,” are now set for their own royal wedding.

In the hearts and minds of British subjects, it’s been a long time coming: The pairs on-again, off-again courtship spanned nearly nine years, causing several British tabloids to nickname the soon-to-be-Royal “waity Katie.”

Well, the wait is finally over and the two got engaged in October 2010, with the wedding scheduled for April 29 at Westminster Abbey.

It took no time for merchandizing to begin—several products were already collecting dust in anticipation of the royal announcement. Fans of fairytale weddings can collect stationery by the Royal Mail, china sets from Aynsley China, and coins by the Royal Mint.

In the world of games, card game company Top Trumps has produced a limited-edition Royal Wedding pack. Categories include VIP, Age, Style Icon, Celebrity Press, and Big Day Rating.

A license has even been signed to watch the wedding on the high seas. OceansTV, a provider of in-cabin TV entertainment to cruise line companies, has signed a non-exclusive distribution agreement with BBC World News for the licensing of the channel’s Royal Wedding coverage.

The BBC will be broadcasting live throughout the day, including from within Westminster Abbey during the ceremony.

Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruise Lines, P&O UK and Holland America are amongst the fleets that will be showing the Royal Wedding coverage to their passengers.

Here’s hoping the two have a long-lasting marriage.

—Mackenzie Allison

Let’s imagine for a moment that Arnold Schwarzenegger has a bucket list. He could already check off “become a champion body builder,” “make millions as a movie star” and “have a successful political career.” Assuming it made the list, the Terminator star might soon be able to cross off cartoon and comic book character.

According to a recent report by Entertainment Weekly, Schwarzenegger is working with comic book guru Stan Lee on an animated TV series, as well as a comic book, that will mix the real life of the actor and politician with the superhuman exploits of the characters he’s played.

“The Governator” will battle the evil organization Gangsters Imposters Racketeers Liars and Irredeemable Ex-cons (or G.I.R.L.I.E. Men). The project is still in the development stages and won’t be completed until next year.

Schwarzenegger has stated that the cartoon is his plan B, and that if he could run for president, he would. Too bad that’s one he can’t check off of the list.

—Mackenzie Allison

Just when you thought Charlie Sheen mania was winding down, bam! The former Two and a Half Men star is supposedly in talks to rejoin the series, he has sold out a cross-country comedy tour and now is immortalized in the form of a talking bobble head from Funko.

Distributed by Entertainment Earth, a multi-channel Internet and catalog retailer of action figures, toys, bobble heads and collectibles, has announced the pre-order availability of The Charlie Sheen Talking Wacky Wobbler Bobble Head. The officially licensed talking bobble head is 7-inches tall and speaks six phrases, including:

“When you got tiger blood and Adonis DNA, man, it’s like… you get with the program, dude.”

“Winner, winner, chicken dinner… I don’t think so.  Winner, winner, SHEEN dinner!”

“Duh, winning!”

“I… I… I am on a drug; it’s called ‘Charlie Sheen’!”

“Built by trolls. Keep that in mind: phones were built by trolls.”

“Apocalypse me… the jaws of life.”

The bobble head is scheduled for release in July. Most people put bobble heads in their cubicles, but is this really work appropriate?

—Mackenzie Allison

When I was in the sixth grade, Clueless was the biggest hit of the year—at least in the eyes of a tween girl. Maybe it was just a Midwest thing, but that movie influenced everything, from fashion and phrases to even school supplies. Everyone who was anyone wanted the pens with the feathers on the tip. Those gaudy feather pens were a status symbol. Now, years later, Italian-based manufacturer of fine writing instruments Montegrappa might be trying to accomplish the same goal—albeit for an older and more sophisticated set—with the new commemorative pens honoring Frank Sinatra.

The pens, which are part of the company’s “Icon” series, made a grand debut at Baselworld this week in Basel, Switzerland.

What to Expect
At the working end, the tip of each pen bears a musical staff and a G-clef. The barrels and caps of each pen are finished to resemble the fabric of a sharp pinstriped suit, while the ends of each cap are engraved with the fedora logo used today by Frank Sinatra Enterprises to identify authorized Sinatra items. The fountain pen models in the series have blue accents in a nod to “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” while the roller ball models bear orange accents reflective of Sinatra’s favorite color.  The pocket clips for each pen are carved in the shape of a classic microphone.

Additionally, the company has also recently announced that Montegrappa collector Sylvester Stallone has acquired an interest in the brand. Stallone will serve as a Montegrappa brand ambassador and will also provide creative input regarding new styles of pens to be introduced during 2011.

—Mackenzie Allison

Everyone makes that New Year’s resolution: “I will go to the gym more and eat healthier.” For most of us, come February 1, that decision is a distant memory.

So what’s the best way to get people to shape up? Stick them on a boat in the middle of the ocean and make them eat healthy.

All those New Year’s resolution dodgers could have a chance to get fit with a new cruise from the NBC hit The Biggest Loser. The show has left the ranch and headed to the high seas with the inaugural Biggest Loser Experience Cruise, which will set sail this November.

The seven-day cruise aboard Celebrity Cruise’s Celebrity Eclipse ocean liner will sail round trip from Miami, Florida on Saturday, November 12 and head to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten, including three days at sea, before heading back to Miami.

Guests can rub elbows with trainer Bob Harper, who will give a two-hour keynote speech about exercise, healthy living, getting motivated and removing roadblocks to success.

He will also join guests for a VIP meet-and-greet cocktail hour. Additional speakers and former fan favorite contestants from The Biggest Loser will be announced in the coming months.

The Biggest Loser Experience Cruise is licensed through NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and Reveille, LLC, the company behind The Biggest Loser. NBCUniversal and Reveille have joined with Life Journeys, a travel-event production company, to co-produce the event.

Last night, Elizabeth Reid of the Toy Book and I went to a press screening of the new Morgan Spurlock documentary, The Greatest Story Ever Sold.

The film followed Spurlock in his attempts to secure partnerships and co-promotional opportunities for the film. The goal? Make a documentary about branding, advertising and product placement that is financed and made possible by brands, advertising and product placement.

At the beginning of the film, Spurlock hit the ground running, going door-to-door pitching every company from Nintendo, to POM juice and even Mane ‘n Tail horse shampoo.

Although he received several “no” responses, he was able to secure backing from POM Wonderful (the official sponsor for a cool $1 million), Carrera/Solstice, Amy’s Kitchen, Mane ‘n Tail, JetBlue, Merrell, Old Navy, Movietickets.com, Petland Discounts, Seventh Generation, Sheetz and Thayer’s Natural Remedies.

Everyone knows brands play a key role in the film industry. Through comprehensive interviews with filmmakers (including Quentin Tarantino), branding executives and musicians, Spurlock adds much-needed insight into how it all works.

The movie opens in select cities April 22.

—Mackenzie Allison

Men’s lifestyle brand Old Guys Rule, together with Muhammad Ali Enterprises LLC, has launched the Old Guys Rule Muhammad Ali “Legends” Collection.

The collection will debut with three T-shirts that honor the legendary fighter. Each design features an iconic image coupled with one of Ali’s famous sayings, including “Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee,”  “I Am the Greatest,” and “It’s Not Bragging if You Can Back It Up.” A portion of the proceeds from the Old Guys Rule Muhammad Ali Collection will benefit the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

The collection will be available online at oldguysrule.com and in select U.S. retailers beginning April 15.