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=="Snuggie" cultural phenomenon==
=="Snuggie" cultural phenomenon==
In late 2008 and early 2009 the "Snuggie" brand of sleeved blanket became a [[popular culture|pop culture]] phenomenon,<ref name=usacult/><ref name=revel>{{cite news|publisher=New York Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/03/25/2009-03-25_revelers_ready_for_new_york_city_snuggie.html|date=2009-03-25}}</ref> sometimes described humorously as a "cult".<ref name=sfcrawl>{{cite news|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|title=Warming to the cult of Snuggie|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/27/LVTI16LG23.DTL|author=Reyhan Harmanci|date=2009-03-29}}</ref><ref name=nytimessilly>{{cite news|title=Snuggie Rode Silly Ads to Stardom Over Rivals|publisher=New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/business/media/27adco.html?_r=1|author=Andrew Adam Newman|date=2009-02-26}}</ref><ref name=usacult>{{cite news|publisher=USA Today|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-27-snuggie_N.htm|title=Snuggie gets a warm embrace from pop culture|author=Maria Puente|date=2009-01-29}}</ref> On September 16, 2008 Snuggies appeared in a parody [[viral video]] on youtube in which they are portrayed as cult garb. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4OxmXpKCcI
In late 2008 and early 2009 the "Snuggie" brand of sleeved blankets became a [[popular culture|pop culture]] phenomenon,<ref name=usacult/><ref name=revel>{{cite news|publisher=New York Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/03/25/2009-03-25_revelers_ready_for_new_york_city_snuggie.html|date=2009-03-25}}</ref> sometimes described humorously as a "cult".<ref name=sfcrawl>{{cite news|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|title=Warming to the cult of Snuggie|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/27/LVTI16LG23.DTL|author=Reyhan Harmanci|date=2009-03-29}}</ref><ref name=nytimessilly>{{cite news|title=Snuggie Rode Silly Ads to Stardom Over Rivals|publisher=New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/business/media/27adco.html?_r=1|author=Andrew Adam Newman|date=2009-02-26}}</ref><ref name=usacult>{{cite news|publisher=USA Today|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-27-snuggie_N.htm|title=Snuggie gets a warm embrace from pop culture|author=Maria Puente|date=2009-01-29}}</ref> On September 16, 2008 Snuggies appeared in a parody [[viral video]] on youtube in which they are portrayed as cult garb. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4OxmXpKCcI


The product became famous after an unintentionally funny [[infomercial]] leading to a mocking of the product and its commercial by comedians such as [[Jay Leno]],<ref name=nytimessilly/> [[Ellen DeGeneres]],<ref name=usacult/> and [[Jon Stewart]]. It was featured on television programs like ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'' where cast and crew donned Snuggies for a segment which was described as looking like a [[gospel choir]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/02/04/1780135.aspx|title=Matt said he'd never wear a Snuggie, but...|last=Celizic|first=Mike |date=February 04, 2009|work=Today's Family Blog|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> Several hundred parodies of the commercial have appeared on [[YouTube]] as well as numerous fan pages on [[Facebook]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Snuggie/90936645323?sid=864af39aa6cac77b6cb6c167d07f0b64&ref=s|title=Snuggie fans|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref><ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-27-snuggie_N.htm|title=Snuggie gets a warm embrace from pop culture.|accessdate=2009-01-28|author=Puente, Maria|date=2009-01-28|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Patrick | last=Gavin | title=Conservatives embrace the Snuggie | date=2009-03-27 | url =http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20558.html | work =[[Politico]] | accessdate = 2009-03-27}}</ref> The slanket was also mentioned in an episode of NBC' "30 Rock entitled "The Ones." The product has also been ridiculed as a "backwards [[robe]]" or simple reinvention of the coat on radio and television talk shows in the United States.<ref name="usatoday" /> Comparisons have also been made with the [[Thneed]] - a highly-promoted, amorphous garment in the Dr Seuss story, ''[[The Lorax]]''.<ref name=C11>{{citation|url=http://culture11.com/article/36393|title=You Shall Know Them By Their Slankets||author=Dara Lind|date=January 12, 2009|publisher=Culture11}}</ref>
The product became famous after an unintentionally funny [[infomercial]] leading to a mocking of the product and its commercial by comedians such as [[Jay Leno]],<ref name=nytimessilly/> [[Ellen DeGeneres]],<ref name=usacult/> and [[Jon Stewart]]. It was featured on television programs like ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'' where cast and crew donned Snuggies for a segment which was described as looking like a [[gospel choir]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/02/04/1780135.aspx|title=Matt said he'd never wear a Snuggie, but...|last=Celizic|first=Mike |date=February 04, 2009|work=Today's Family Blog|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> Several hundred parodies of the commercial have appeared on [[YouTube]] as well as numerous fan pages on [[Facebook]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Snuggie/90936645323?sid=864af39aa6cac77b6cb6c167d07f0b64&ref=s|title=Snuggie fans|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref><ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-27-snuggie_N.htm|title=Snuggie gets a warm embrace from pop culture.|accessdate=2009-01-28|author=Puente, Maria|date=2009-01-28|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Patrick | last=Gavin | title=Conservatives embrace the Snuggie | date=2009-03-27 | url =http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20558.html | work =[[Politico]] | accessdate = 2009-03-27}}</ref> The slanket was also mentioned in an episode of NBC' "30 Rock entitled "The Ones." The product has also been ridiculed as a "backwards [[robe]]" or simple reinvention of the coat on radio and television talk shows in the United States.<ref name="usatoday" /> Comparisons have also been made with the [[Thneed]] - a highly-promoted, amorphous garment in the Dr Seuss story, ''[[The Lorax]]''.<ref name=C11>{{citation|url=http://culture11.com/article/36393|title=You Shall Know Them By Their Slankets||author=Dara Lind|date=January 12, 2009|publisher=Culture11}}</ref>
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On January 30, 2009 http://www.snuggiepubcrawls.com/ organized the first [[pub crawl]] wearing snuggies in Cincinnati, OH. In the following months they went on to complete over 40 more across the nation. Later, a group organized a Snuggie [[pub crawl]] in Chicago to raise money for an African orphanage, which led to similar sanctioned and independent events throughout the United States.<ref name=revel/><ref name=sfcrawl/> A worker at [[Americans for Tax Reform]], a conservative [[think tank]], started the [[Facebook]] page "The Snuggie Cult", and convinced fellow conservatives including [[Joe the Plumber]], [[Tucker Carlson]], and [[Andrew Breitbart]] to pose wearing the robes.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Politico|title=Conservatives embrace the Snuggie|date=2009-03-27|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20558.html|author=Patrick Gavin}}</ref>
On January 30, 2009 http://www.snuggiepubcrawls.com/ organized the first [[pub crawl]] wearing snuggies in Cincinnati, OH. In the following months they went on to complete over 40 more across the nation. Later, a group organized a Snuggie [[pub crawl]] in Chicago to raise money for an African orphanage, which led to similar sanctioned and independent events throughout the United States.<ref name=revel/><ref name=sfcrawl/> A worker at [[Americans for Tax Reform]], a conservative [[think tank]], started the [[Facebook]] page "The Snuggie Cult", and convinced fellow conservatives including [[Joe the Plumber]], [[Tucker Carlson]], and [[Andrew Breitbart]] to pose wearing the robes.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Politico|title=Conservatives embrace the Snuggie|date=2009-03-27|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20558.html|author=Patrick Gavin}}</ref>


The phenomenon resulted in sales of the Snuggie and its rivals that far exceeded their distributors' expectations: more than 4 million Snuggies and 1 million Slankets as of February, 2009.<ref name=nytimessilly/> The phenomenon has even inspired similarly-marketed knock-off products such as [http://www.wearabletowel.com/ The Wearable Towel].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ShortFormBlog|title=Infomercial junk: The Wearable Towel snuggies into your life|date=2009-06-07|url=http://shortformblog.com/offbeat/infomercial-junk-the-wearable-towel-snuggies-into-your-life|author=Ernie Smith}}</ref>
The phenomenon resulted in sales of the Snuggie and its rivals that far exceeded their distributors' expectations: more than 4 million Snuggies and 1 million Slankets as of February, 2009.<ref name=nytimessilly/> The phenomenon has even inspired similarly-marketed knock-off products such as [http://www.wearabletowel.com/ The Wearable Towel].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ShortFormBlog|title=Infomercial junk: The Wearable Towel snuggies into your life|date=2009-06-07|url=http://shortformblog.com/offbeat/infomercial-junk-the-wearable-towel-snuggies-into-your-life|author=Ernie Smith}}</ref>


Australian radio program ''Labby, Camilla & Stav'' on [[B105]] recently decided to put the Snuggie to the test. The infomercial for the product claims you can wear it at sporting events. To test this theory, Labby & Stav decided to wear Snuggies to a [[State of Origin]] game. The test was successful. In addition to this, they decided to dress a statue of [[Wally Lewis]], which stands in front of [[Suncorp Stadium]], in a snuggie live on the air. Security guards found it amusing at first but it wasn't long before "the king was derobed" as one listener put it.
Australian radio program ''Labby, Camilla & Stav'' on [[B105]] recently decided to put the Snuggie to the test. The infomercial for the product claims you can wear it at sporting events. To test this theory, Labby & Stav decided to wear Snuggies to a [[State of Origin]] game. The test was successful. In addition to this, they decided to dress a statue of [[Wally Lewis]], which stands in front of [[Suncorp Stadium]], in a snuggie live on the air. Security guards found it amusing at first but it wasn't long before "the king was derobed" as one listener put it.


The Snuggie as a device that could benefit other species was realized, when a Snuggie for Dogs also became available in July 2009. The next scheduled [[pub crawl]] will be dog-inclusive, thanks to the popularity of the Snuggie for Dogs. The organizers are working with the various pubs and bars to allow the animals a single-evening pass to the institutions in recognition of the event. <ref name=revel/><ref name=sfcrawl/>
The Snuggie as a device that could benefit other species was realized, when a Snuggie for Dogs also became available in July 2009. The next scheduled [[pub crawl]] will be dog-inclusive, thanks to the popularity of the Snuggie for Dogs. The organizers are working with the various pubs and bars to allow the animals a single-evening pass to the institutions in recognition of the event. <ref name=revel/><ref name=sfcrawl/>

Snuggies sell individually for USD $14.95, and in sets of two for $19.95.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 18:53, 29 August 2009

Template:Redirect4

A sleeved blanket is a body-length blanket with sleeves usually made of synthetic fleece. The product has been marketed as the Slanket, Snuggler, Toasty Wrap, and Snuggie with varying sizes and qualities of materials but similar basic design.[1]

Commercial variations

A woman models a Snuggie.

The product was first commercialized as the Slanket by Gary Clegg in Maine in 1998 using heavy fleece material. Clegg's mother made him a blanket with a single sleeve for use in his cold dorm room. Clegg later developed that into the Slanket with two sleeves.[2][3]

The Snuggie is a popular similar product sold in the United States, Canada and Australia. It was marketed primarily through a memorable television commercial.[4] As of January 2009, over 4 million of the product had been sold.[5]

Fosdick Corporation, the company which markets the Snuggie via its website and television commercials along with many other as seen on TV products, has received several hundred consumer complaints and has received a failed rating from the Better Business Bureau.[6]

Another well known variant, the Toasty Wrap, has been sold via infomercials hosted by Montel Williams as a method for saving on heating costs.[7] However, based on the similarities of the Toasty Wrap's advertising to that of Snuggie, it is probable that both brands originate with the same manufacturer.[8]

"Snuggie" cultural phenomenon

In late 2008 and early 2009 the "Snuggie" brand of sleeved blankets became a pop culture phenomenon,[9][10] sometimes described humorously as a "cult".[11][12][9] On September 16, 2008 Snuggies appeared in a parody viral video on youtube in which they are portrayed as cult garb. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4OxmXpKCcI

The product became famous after an unintentionally funny infomercial leading to a mocking of the product and its commercial by comedians such as Jay Leno,[12] Ellen DeGeneres,[9] and Jon Stewart. It was featured on television programs like Today where cast and crew donned Snuggies for a segment which was described as looking like a gospel choir.[13] Several hundred parodies of the commercial have appeared on YouTube as well as numerous fan pages on Facebook.[14][5][15] The slanket was also mentioned in an episode of NBC' "30 Rock entitled "The Ones." The product has also been ridiculed as a "backwards robe" or simple reinvention of the coat on radio and television talk shows in the United States.[5] Comparisons have also been made with the Thneed - a highly-promoted, amorphous garment in the Dr Seuss story, The Lorax.[16]

On January 30, 2009 http://www.snuggiepubcrawls.com/ organized the first pub crawl wearing snuggies in Cincinnati, OH. In the following months they went on to complete over 40 more across the nation. Later, a group organized a Snuggie pub crawl in Chicago to raise money for an African orphanage, which led to similar sanctioned and independent events throughout the United States.[10][11] A worker at Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative think tank, started the Facebook page "The Snuggie Cult", and convinced fellow conservatives including Joe the Plumber, Tucker Carlson, and Andrew Breitbart to pose wearing the robes.[17]

The phenomenon resulted in sales of the Snuggie and its rivals that far exceeded their distributors' expectations: more than 4 million Snuggies and 1 million Slankets as of February, 2009.[12] The phenomenon has even inspired similarly-marketed knock-off products such as The Wearable Towel.[18]

Australian radio program Labby, Camilla & Stav on B105 recently decided to put the Snuggie to the test. The infomercial for the product claims you can wear it at sporting events. To test this theory, Labby & Stav decided to wear Snuggies to a State of Origin game. The test was successful. In addition to this, they decided to dress a statue of Wally Lewis, which stands in front of Suncorp Stadium, in a snuggie live on the air. Security guards found it amusing at first but it wasn't long before "the king was derobed" as one listener put it.

The Snuggie as a device that could benefit other species was realized, when a Snuggie for Dogs also became available in July 2009. The next scheduled pub crawl will be dog-inclusive, thanks to the popularity of the Snuggie for Dogs. The organizers are working with the various pubs and bars to allow the animals a single-evening pass to the institutions in recognition of the event. [10][11]

Snuggies sell individually for USD $14.95, and in sets of two for $19.95.

See also

References

  1. ^ How to tell the difference between a Snuggie and ..., Chicago Sun-Times, January 31, 2009
  2. ^ The Slanket, GadgetSpy, October 19th, 2006 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Feeling chilly? The answer may be the Slanket, RTÉ, 24 November 2008
  4. ^ Stephey, M.J. (2009-01-13). "Suffocating in Snuggies: That Ubiquitous TV Ad". Time magazine. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  5. ^ a b c Puente, Maria (2009-01-28). "Snuggie gets a warm embrace from pop culture". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  6. ^ "Reliability Report for Fosdick Corporation". Better Business Bureau of Connecticut. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  7. ^ CLIFFORD, STEPHANIE (December 21, 2008). "Montel's Back, and Does He Have a Deal for You". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  8. ^ "How do Snuggies and Toasty Wraps differ, and should you care?", BrandFreak.com, February 9, 2009
  9. ^ a b c Maria Puente (2009-01-29). "Snuggie gets a warm embrace from pop culture". USA Today.
  10. ^ a b c . New York Daily News. 2009-03-25 http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/03/25/2009-03-25_revelers_ready_for_new_york_city_snuggie.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ a b c Reyhan Harmanci (2009-03-29). "Warming to the cult of Snuggie". San Francisco Chronicle.
  12. ^ a b c Andrew Adam Newman (2009-02-26). "Snuggie Rode Silly Ads to Stardom Over Rivals". New York Times.
  13. ^ Celizic, Mike (February 04, 2009). "Matt said he'd never wear a Snuggie, but..." Today's Family Blog. NBC News. Retrieved 2009-02-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Snuggie fans". Facebook. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  15. ^ Gavin, Patrick (2009-03-27). "Conservatives embrace the Snuggie". Politico. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  16. ^ Dara Lind (January 12, 2009), You Shall Know Them By Their Slankets, Culture11 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  17. ^ Patrick Gavin (2009-03-27). "Conservatives embrace the Snuggie". Politico.
  18. ^ Ernie Smith (2009-06-07). "Infomercial junk: The Wearable Towel snuggies into your life". ShortFormBlog.



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