I Pitty The Fool

I’ve worked in media for almost 20 years so you know that I’ve seen my share of cool swag but, this Chia Mr. T has got to be the quirkiest and perhaps the most valuable that I’ve ever received.   

It may look like an SNL skit, but it’s not. Produced by TV-Land to promote their new cable network, it was gifted to us, the lucky few media buyers, during their 1996 upfront party.  Man, I do miss those days!
Chia Mr. T has remained unopened and in storage until Jacob spotted him a few weeks ago and asked if he could have it?  How can I say no to this kid!

Of course as soon as I opened it I learned that Chia Mr. T was never sold to the general public, is considered a collectors item, and is going for +$50 on Ebay…oh well!
Even if you’ve never had a Chia, you probably have secretly always wanted the terracotta figurine that sprouts chia sprouts that resemble hair.  Remember “Ch-ch-ch-chia!”
Launched in 1977 in the form of Chia Guy, it has since evolved to include everything from animals like turtles & puppies, Cartoon characters like Garfield & SpongeBob and real people, including Barack Obama.
But only a few of us have the coveted Mr. T and I Pitty the Fool who thinks otherwise.
Had to throw that in you know;)
Have no idea who Mr. T is? Of course you do!  Born Lawrence Tureaud, he’s an actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s TV series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, for his appearances as a professional wrestler, and for being a rapper.  And right when we thought that he was gone from the public consciousness, he showed up again – helping Hitachi put the “T” in “IT,” schilling for Snickers, and most recently, as the Fuze Butterfly…
https://youtu.be/VrtCpjXDyqM
I always loved his more is more approach to accessorizing and  trademark mohawk and now, I get to grow one myself!
Ch-ch-ch-chia!

Alya