Doll-A-Day 2023 #315: The New Talky Tina is on Sale For Black Friday!

   Remember Talky Tina? She was the villain in an episode of the original Twilight Zone TV series called "Living Doll". (You can watch a condensed version of the episode HERE.) Talky Tina was 'played' by a customized Vogue Brickette doll. 

  The episode has proved to have something of a cult following, even amongst Twilight Zone's cult following. A little girl brings home a Talky Tina talking, moving doll. Her stepfather, who is under some bill paying pressure, resents the money spent, and hates the doll. When he mistreats the doll, it starts threatening him. The mother and daughter don't hear it, of course. The stepfather, played by Kojak himself, Telly Savalas, tries to destroy Talky Tina. He can't, naturally, and Tina gets the last word...literally.

  Tina's been so popular, that there have been multiple...well. I can't say 'remakes', since there was never a real Talky Tina in the first place. But companies have made versions of Talky Tina over the years. There was a six inch action figure type Talk Tina, in 2010, made by EMCE. She was made in grey tones, to mimic the black and white episode. She had rooted hair, and was jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, ankles, and, I think, hips and knees. She was a limited edition. If you can find her these days, she isn't cheap.

  In 2013 Bif Bang Pow made an 18 inch Talky Tina doll in colour. She had vinyl head, arms, and legs, and a stuffed cloth body. She also talked and said 5 of her phrases from the show.

  In 2022 Bif Bang Pow also made a terrible 3 3/4" version of Talky Tina. Also grey, and also jointed at the neck, shoulders, and 'hips', (She really was jointed 'at the dress'.), she didn't much resemble the doll from the show. She still brings in about $60 though.

  

  The more popular, and more expensive, version of Talky Tina was a 21 inch doll made by Trick or Treat Studios in 2011. She was also made in shades of grey. She wore a recreation of Talky Tina's plaid dress, white ankle socks, and Mary Jane shoes. She was all vinyl, and jointed like a standard Brickette doll, at the neck, shoulders and hips. She had rooted hair, and actually talked. Tina said 'all' her phrases from the TV show, like "I'm Talky Tina, and you'll be sorry." "I'm Talky Tina, and I don't think I like you." She wasn't a pull string doll, like the one on the show. She used batteries. Still. She looks just like Talky Tina, and therefore, just like Brickette. Of course, she's also about $600 these days. $300 if you're lucky.

  So those of you who may be longing for a Talky Tina of your very own will be glad to hear that there's a new Talky Tina in town, and she's available in today's Black Friday sales from Entertainment Earth for only $123.50. She's limited to 1,004 pieces worldwide.

  This Tina is 18 inches tall, which is slightly smaller than the Brikette doll used as Tina in the show. She has a vinyl head, and limbs, and a stuffed cloth body, so that's different too. The original was all vinyl/plastic. She does look authentic, and is made in shades of grey. She says 5 phrases used in the Twilight Zone episode:

 "My name is Talky Tina, and I love you very much."

"My name is Talky Tina, and I'm going to kill you."
"My name is Talky Tina, and you'll be sorry."
"My name is Talky Tina, and you'd better be nice to me."
"My name is Talky Tina, and I don't think I like you."

  She has rooted hair and sleep eyes, and a plaid dress that is not removable, since the wind up cranks are through her dress. (I'm not sure they're functional.)

  Now get out there and buy your Talky Tina...or you'll be sorry.