He's not Your Ordinary Circle Jerk!
Written: May 31 '04 (Updated May 31 '04)
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Pros: finally a doll for the metrosexuals out there
Cons: price - but who can put a price on happiness
The Bottom Line: The most Glamtastic Barbie ever - it certainly seems as if Queer Eye has finally met the straight Guy!
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Welcome to 1 Modern Circle - the location of the hippest and trendiest production company in Malibu - Modern Circle Production Company (and please don't get your knickers in a twist - just how hard can it be the hippest production company in town - when, well how should I put it nicely - you're the only one - obviously it's not very hard - but Barbie might not agree).
Modern Circle Production Company is an up and coming production company which is overseen by fearless leader Barbie - this four person agency has more intrigue and backstabbing than an episode of Falcon Crest or Dynasty - don't believe me, feel free to go the website http://promotions.yahoo.com/1moderncircle/ - yes folks I did say there is a website dedicated to the dealing of Barbie and the other babes in the office - and you think I have no life!
As with any "real" office - the Modern Circle agency has it's fill of intrigue and impending romance - the central (ok heck the only) characters are:
Barbie - the saucy pumpkin haired boss of the firm -who's able to leap small buildings and oversee 3 employees in a single bound. Her frozen sideways glance makes it look as if she's always on the lookout for one of the others to stab her in her tiny back.
Simone - the little Miss Cleo of the group - she's not only a crack make-up artist and stylist, but she's got a knack for fortune telling (OK, not really - she's just really good at keeping her little Magic 8-ball out of site!) All signs point to disaster with her.
Melody - the blue haired menace of the firm - she's the production assistant and Ken's best friend (possibly because she resembles a drag queen). Frankly speaking - her bob is only blue because she got her head to close to the washer when she was adding the Snuggle.
and finally every office needs a resident jerk, and in the world of Barbie, there can only be one Go-To Guy, and that would be
Ken (need I say more - but Oh don't worry I will). With him, Mattel has reached an all-time low or high, depending on how you view it.
My initial thoughts/reaction to him was - bully for Mattel they've finally found a way to tap the yet untapped and highly lucrative metrosexual Barbie Collector Market.
This little fashionista comes to you looking like he was the Grand Prize winner in the The Queer Eye Glam-Tastic Sweepstakes. He's the Fab Five all rolled into one - but I see more Carson and Kyan in him than the others - maybe because of his strong fashion sense and his love of/dependency on product - I'm still trying to figure out how I can voice activate him and get him to Tjuze on command.
He also has one other thing in common with Carson -he's a collectible (if you missed the QE episode where Carson climbed into the glass curio cabinet, closed the door and said, "I'm a collectible" keep your eyes peeled - TV doesn't get funnier than that - wait, that makes me think - do you know any "straight" guy who lives alone who has a glass curio cabinet in home - come on now saying Ken doesn't count.
Modern Circle Ken is also collectible - I did hear some mumblings of protest when I let him out of the box, but things seem to have evened out now that he's an air breather. At $39.99, he's a "lower end" collectible, more affordable than many! I'd still suggest him for about ages 15 and up. Much to the chagrin of collectors everywhere, mine is free range and he's been having a blast posing all over the house
His back story (yes, I said back story, can you believe your doll comes with back story and baggage) is that Ken is the cutting edge art director of the office. Of course he deserves this position - he studied hard at some of the best schools in the country - oh no, wait that's what a real art director would have done, but not our boy wonder.
So just how did Ken get the job? Simply stated off the website and the Barbie Collectibles catalog (yes, they haven't knocked me off the mailing list yet), "Trendy fashion defines Ken as a cutting edge art director." So the life lesson Mattel is teaching us - clothes do make the man. Perhaps I will give Ken the benefit of the doubt on this one - after all he does need a leg up, how much of an art director can you be when you fingers don't separate - that sort of makes manipulating a tiny pencil rather hard.
Modern Circle Ken comes to you dressed for action - kind of like he's ready to take one for the team.
For the collector's out there, he has more of a vintage/retro face mold - more reminiscent of the Ken dolls I had back in 60s/70s. I'm told he has a modern style hairdo - as if early Elvis is modern. His dark brown locks are swept upwards and off his face. The golden highlights accent his cheekbones, perfectly moisturized skin and threaded eyebrows. His hair has just the right combination of product and Tjuze.
He wears dark black jeans with contrast piping, a lime green ribbed turtleneck (skin tight and poised to show off his moobs, I mean pecs). To pull it all together he has matching pleather jacket and shoes. The waist length jacket has a zipper closure. The sleeves hit the wrist and show off his fresh Manicure - sure Mattel doesn't say he got one, but I can see the clear polish.
He carries (or would carry if he could) a black portfolio with two of his black and white drawings enclosed (black and white because all his crayons broke and he couldn't get the sharpener on the box to work!).
As for Office Intrigue - Ken's up to his neck in it - he came to work with his best friend Melody (who has a secret crush on him - she must be the resident hag). Ken is intrigued by Barbie and her off put icy exterior. Both Barbie and Melody consult Simone as to where this will all end up and who will snag this mantastic prize (who knows "Oh Magic 8-ball will Melody end up with Ken?" "All signs point to NEVER!)"
I'm thinking to play a goof Simone told Melody to dye her hair blue because it's Ken favorite color - I think she confused favorite with odd preoccupation regarding Smurfs and Oompa Loopas.
Overall Modern Circle Ken is the perfect companion for the Metrosexual in all of us - he's perfect to take to the office, on vacation or to your next bikini wax.
If you're looking for someone who's always willing to take one for the team, Modern Circle Ken is your go to guy - remember of all the jerks in the circle (and there are a lot), he's number 1!
Now for the fun part – The Modern Circle Jerk comes full Circle World Tour and Write-Off. Rules are simple – My mantastic man is going on the road (I just need a few more days alone with him) – sign up to have him sent to you (I’m enclosing Ken, his box, a journal and a few disposable cameras). Make a journal entry (stating where he's been, what he's done, who he did it with and the date he was there) and take the best picture you can with Ken – keeping it clean enough that I won’t get kicked out of Costco when I have them developed. Put your eps ID somewhere in the photo so I know who took the picture.
If you want to review him, feel free otherwise ship him to the next person (you pay postage and handling). The best picture wins a prize! If you want to bribe the judge – feel free to enclose a keychain – to feed my fix for new ones. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at nancyd20876@yahoo.com - subject line – JERK!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 39.99
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: Kids to Teens
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Epinions.com ID:
ned1
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Member: Nancy
Location: in the Barbie aisle
Reviews written: 894
Trusted by: 346 members
About Me:
Off to Basel (1/21) - in search of Swiss Miss Barbie - back (1/26)
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