What will be THE hottest item from "The Simpsons" for this holiday season?
"Other than the DVD box sets and the talking action figures that have been out a while, I think the Apu Squishy Maker has "hot" all over it. well. I think it will have appeal to both the kids who want to make slushies and to the grown-ups who want fancy drinks."
What's the best "Simpsons" gift for a child?
"I would say the 11-inch plush Maggie doll or the 12-inch plush Lisa doll from Applause would be best for younger children. If it was an older child, I would try the talking figures from Playmates Toys or "Simpsons" Sez electronic game from Tiger Electronics."
What's the best "Simpsons" gift for an adult?
"If they're a die-hard fan, I'd try the "Flashback" playset with figures modeled after the early look of the "Simpsons" on "The Tracey Ullman Show." If someone is a casual fan, there's a cool new ceramic mug shaped like Homer Simpson's head. It's imported by Spencer Gifts from England."
What's the best "Simpsons" gift for a co-worker?
"A "Simpsons" wall calendar is both affordable and will brighten up the office all year."
Are there "Simpsons" collectibles we should avoid?
"In 2000, Manley Toy Quest created a Bart Action Set with Bart mask, boots, sling shot, sling shot balls, sun glasses and mini skateboard. Toys R Us recalled them after a consumer products group complained that that the sling shot proved to be a hazard. While this might make this toy even hotter among some collectors, I'd personally recommend not buying anything that might accidentally get into the hands of a small child."
If you could own any "Simpsons" collectible, what would it be?
"Right now, I'd like to get the new "Simpsons" arcade pinball machine from Stern. But priced at about $4,000, it's a little out of my range."
What do you think about collecting animation cels?
"I think they're great -- but a bit overpriced at the dealer level. I just don't think something that's been produced in the sheer quantity of "Simpsons" production animation cels are worth typical prices of $400 or more unframed. But since that seems to be the base-level price Fox demands for them, for someone who is "into" a particular episode or scene, owning an actual piece of something used in production of it is something that might be worth the considerable cost. Buyers should be aware, though, that "Simpsons" cels, like most collectibles, are a questionable investment. I don't think resale prices have increased at all since "Simpsons" cels because widely available in the mid-1990s."
Which retail stores do you recommend for finding "Simpsons" merchandise?
"Spencer Gifts and Media Land stores (Suncoast, Sam Goody, On Cue, Media Play) all stock "Simpsons" merchandise regularly, and often offer discounts on items after a few months on the shelves." (For online stores that Bill recommends, visit his Collecting "Simpsons!" web site.
Do you have advice for folks shopping online?
"Some of the best deals for "Simpsons" merchandise are available on the Internet. But like any mail-order shopping, you should use your head to avoid getting ripped off. The eBay.com auction site is great for hard-to-find "Simpsons" items and you can sometimes find some steals. But you have to be careful and try to stick with merchants with high positive feedback."
That's the advice from the "Simpsons" collecting expert William LaRue. Be sure to visit Collecting "Simpsons!" for more information about "Simpsons" merchandise, collecting, pricing and more.
