Does Mattel know from California? We here at a remote West Coast AdFreak bureau may have some insight into the recent Mattel woes. Have you seen these "Cali Girl" and “Cali Guy” Barbie dolls, meant to be authentically Californian? Seeing a 3-year-old receive Cali Guy Blaine at a recent birthday party made a group of native Californians spit up laughing. Most suspect was the fact that no one had ever heard anyone in California call it “Cali,”—that term possibly having been invented by Queens, New York native LL Cool J in 1989.  Secondly, it’s a bit of a stretch that we all live the "extreme lifestyle," walking around in beach gear and carrying a surfboard like each doll does. It's like a box of extremely stale stereotypes. Cali Girl Barbie and friends “are always up for sunshine and beach fun!” They say “radical!” and “awesome!” a lot. It sounds like they are not only from Cali, but are also lost in the ‘80s. You want to really get Californian? Where is the "sitting in traffic" Barbie? That must be on the same shelf as “Botox at age 23” Barbie. And just for the sake of accuracy, both would come with a non-fat latte, a pair of Citizens of Humanity jeans and an iPod. Just so they don’t stand out in a crowd. —Posted by Celeste Ward Photo credit: Mattel

April 28, 2005 | Permalink

Comments

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Somewhere out there is a double-secret book of geographic stereotypes that companies and the media tap when trying to get cred. Case in point: only a tourist would call Chicago "Chi-town"...but it's spoekn by every Chicagoan in every sitcom that features the Windy City. And, ya gotta show Chicagoans wearing Cubs hats...even though the only people that really do that are the out of work bleacher bums (on game day) or frat boys covering the ol' receding hairline.

Cali Barbie? Let's continue the trend...how about "Around the Way Girl Barbie" (if we're still tapping that mid-80s LL Cool J thang), complete with crop top, capris and hoop earrings (gold tooth optional).

Or how about "Scottsdale Mom Barbie" (as in Scottsdale, AZ--mecca of the newly rich and extremely bored)? She'd be decked out in a velour sweatsuit...with the waistband rolled down to show her Milfilicious lower back tat. Comes complete with a "job" of part-time jewelry designer so she doesn't feel bad about being a stay-at-home mom/Barbie.

Come on people...what else is out there, Barbie-wise?

Posted by: John Tomkiw | Apr 28, 2005 1:42:17 PM

Boston Barbie (except Mattel would probably call her Beantown Barbie). She's got a wicked pissah studio apartment in Back Bay, a binge drinking problem, and a boyfriend who "loves the Patriots more than me, but that's okay, because I'm cheating on him with Ben Affleck."

Posted by: Bostonbob | Apr 28, 2005 2:03:30 PM

It's a good thing Cali Girl has 12 jobs (doctor, astronaut, cheerleader, etc.) because rent on the Cali Dreamhouse must be horrendous.

Posted by: JCY | Apr 28, 2005 3:19:48 PM

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