Editorials
I Want to Eat Your Cereal! The History of the Monster Cereals
With Halloween come and gone, the window to stock up on Franken Berry, Count Chocula, and Boo Berry breakfast cereal is closing. Now an annual Halloween treat that hits the shelves at the end of August throughout the spooky season, General Mills has turned the monster cereals into a powerhouse brand tied into the holiday. This year even marked the addition of merchandise in the form of board games and puzzles, targeting those in particular who have been clamoring for the elusive Fruity Yummy Mummy and Fruit Brute. For decades, the core trio were available year ‘round until they became relegated to seasonal treat, but their extensive history means they’re forever part of pop culture, Halloween or not.
In 1971, General Mills introduced chocolate flavored Count Chocula cereal and strawberry flavored Franken Berry cereal. The two cereal mascots, cartoonish versions of Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff’s classic monsters, argued with each over which cereal was best, and proved to be scaredy-cats themselves when a child entered the scene. Count Chocula was voiced by voice actor Larry Kenney, and spoofed his Universal monster counterpart with taglines like, “I want to eat your cereal!” Franken Berry was voiced by Bob McFadden. The cereals became an instant hit.
The following year, Franken Berry earned a reputation for turning kids’ poop pink thanks to an indigestible pigment, which was lovingly dubbed “Franken Berry Stool.” It didn’t slow the brand down in popularity at all, though, and 1973 brought the introduction to a new monster; Boo Berry, the first blueberry flavored cereal. Boo Berry may have rocked the odd couple dynamic of Franken Berry and Count Chocula, but it worked. He became a mainstay, rounding out the core trio that would be the face of the brand for the decades to come. For Disney fans, Boo Berry’s first iteration was voiced by legendary voice actor Paul Frees, who is behind the booming Ghost Host from Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride and several pirates in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
1974 brought a werewolf into the mix, Fruit Brute. The frosted fruit-flavored cereal, albeit a bit nondescript, ran for only eight years before disappearing into the vault in 1982. Similarly, 1987 brought Yummy Mummy, a fruit cereal with vanilla marshmallows heralded in by a colorful mummy with a penchant for jingles. Yummy Mummy only endured until 1992 before discontinuation.
As with all cereals of the ‘70s and ‘80s, it wasn’t just enough to have endearing mascots and colorful, sugary cereal, kids also made their breakfast choices based on prizes. Of course, monster cereals offered some of the best. 1979 saw the monsters get in on a cereal box trend at the time- the cutout cardboard records from cereal boxes known as flexi-discs. On select boxes of Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry, you could find quick adventures like “The Monsters Go Disco,” “Count Chocula Goes to Hollywood,” and “Monster Adventures in Outer Space.” They warped easily, and the sound quality wasn’t the greatest, but these were still among the coolest collectibles. Stickers and mini figures were common in box prizes, but mail-in prizes like bath kits, beach towels, disguise kits and more were featured on the boxes throughout the years.
For a very brief period in 1987, the monster cereal line was met with controversy when Bela Lugosi’s Dracula was used in marketing for Count Chocula. His enhanced image on the Count Chocula cereal box drew ire from the Jewish community due to a medallion around his neck that looked an awful lot like the Star of David. General Mills pulled the boxes immediately, and you can occasionally find a retro box sold online for an obscene amount of money.
Throughout the ‘80s, the monster cereal brand would play around with the shapes of the grain cereal and marshmallows, adding and removing ghost shapes to each one. Around 2004, the cereal manufacturing team dropped the oats and rice from the recipe, shifting into a corn only base. So, for those who grew up with the monster cereals, nostalgia doesn’t quite taste the same.
By 2010, monster cereals ceased to be produced all year long and slipped into seasonal only fare. Betty Crocker helped soften the blow with the introduction of monster cereal Fruit Roll-Ups while General Meals released Count Chocula cereal bars. 2013 revived Fruit Brute and Yummy Mummy temporarily, and with new makeovers. Fruit Brute returned as Frute Brute with a pompadour and crooning expression. His cereal shifted from fruit flavored to a more specific cherry flavor. Fruity Yummy Mummy’s return marked a new orange creamsicle flavor.
In 2014, monster cereals partnered with DC Entertainment for exclusive new designs for the core mascots. Artist Jim Lee tackled Boo Berry, while illustrator Dave Johnson handled Franken Berry and artists Terry and Rachel Dodson gave Count Chocula a new countenance. Two years later, General Mills unveiled a clever marketing campaign that coincided with the election year. All of which demonstrated just how integral Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry have become in our pop culture collective. While many other cereal mascots have withstood the test of time, none of managed to achieve quite as much as the Monster brand. Though we may have to wait for the best time of the year to get reacquainted with these monster cereals, Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry have proven to be worth far more than just Halloween staples.
No conversation about cartoons based on live-action movies is ever complete without mentioning The Real Ghostbusters.
This animated continuation is, warts and all, a notable example of turning a hit movie into a hit series. And although the new target demographic skewed a little younger, even kids-at-heart could partake in the further adventures of Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore and Egon Spengler.
For a good part of its run, the show required fans to wait at least a week for more Ghostbustin’. That’s torture for a kiddo. Luckily, though, the entire series, or at least most of it, is now available for streaming.
So, as you revisit The Real Ghostbusters on Tubi—for now it’s just the first five seasons there—use this guide to help prioritize some must-see episodes.
The Boogieman Cometh
“The Boogieman Cometh” (Season 1)
Season One’s “The Boogieman Cometh” is a classic episode featuring one of the show’s more iconic villains. It’s hard to forget the unique character design used for the Boogieman (whose creepy voice was provided by Ray and Slimer’s actor, Frank Welker). In this story, Egon is reunited with that bump-in-the-night entity who haunted his own childhood, all while trying to keep him away from his latest targets: the brother and sister claiming to have the Boogieman in their closet. Although the Ghostbusters do save the day here, the Boogieman eventually returns (“The Bogeyman Is Back“). That same episode also features the love-’em-or-hate-’em Junior Ghostbusters.
Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream
“Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream” (Season 1)
You could say the namesake of “Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream” had good intentions for putting mankind to sleep for the next few centuries—he wanted to end war and keep everyone dreaming. Sounds nice until you remember that whole free will business. But when it seems like the Ghostbusters have lost to their latest foe, the last one standing, Winston, gains a sudden ally. Janine’s dream of becoming a Ghostbuster is manifested, and she helps put this rogue spirit to bed.
When Halloween Was Forever
“When Halloween Was Forever” (Season 1)
Before the show’s execs capitalized on Slimer’s popularity by making him the focus of later episodes, early stories like “When Halloween Was Forever” better utilized that gooey ghost. Here, the spirit of Halloween itself, Samhain, hopes to make the holiday a permanent thing by stopping time. And who does the embodiment of All Hallows’ Eve use in his nefarious plot? Slimer, of course. Thankfully, the lil’ green bud knows where he really belongs, and Samhain is banished (at least until Season 3’s “Halloween II 1/2“).
Night Game
“Night Game” (Season 2)
Because Season Two was rather long, in comparison to other seasons, it accumulated quite a few solid episodes. One of the most beloved, though, is that ultimate good-versus-evil story, “Night Game“. Winston gets to shine here as he participates in a battle that was 500 years in the making. Except this time, the fighting is done on the baseball field. The other-dimensional settings in The Real Ghostbusters are always great, but the one here is particularly memorable.
Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin
“Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin” (Season 2)
Not all ghosts and whatnot were bad in The Real Ghostbusters. As “Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin” showed, some were actually benevolent. Sadly, it took a lot of convincing, and one very heroic act, for Peter and the others to see past this goblin’s grotesque appearance. The heroes find more than one shapeshifter at a sideshow carnival in the Poconos; a sinister Class-4er called the Metamorph does a swell job of menacing the Ghostbusters before they finally realize Drool’s not their culprit. The good guys indeed win here, but that victory is a bittersweet one.
The Collect Call of Cathulhu
“The Collect Call of Cathulhu” (Season 2)
While “The Collect Call of Cathulhu” does misspell “Cthulhu” in the title (probably to avoid legal issues), it is clearly the Old One in this Lovecraft-inspired episode. The story kicks off with the Necronomicon being stolen by the deity’s modern-day cult, who then raise their ancient god at Coney Island. From there, the Ghostbusters’ typical methods don’t work on the big guy, so they seek advice from an old issue of Weird Tales (or “Wierd Tales”, as it’s spelled on screen). That build-up to the finale comes with a decent amount of dread before the Ghostbusters, as well as a scholar named Alice, face off with one of the show’s most powerful entities.
Knock, Knock
“Knock, Knock” (Season 2)
A number of Real Ghostbusters episodes could be reworked into big-screen features, but perhaps “Knock, Knock” is the most hopeful. It helps that this story feels in step with the first two movies. Here, some ignorant construction workers accidentally uncover and open an ancient door in the subway. What’s behind said door is none other than those unspeakable evils that only the Ghostbusters can quell. A good deal of the imagery here is prime for adaptation.
The Grundel
“The Grundel” (Season 3)
One of the darker episodes, which was written by the prominent J. Michael Straczynski, is “The Grundel“. Here, a boy is being influenced by the titular entity, a type of ghost who ultimately turns his targets into new Grundels. The episode does have something of an after-school special quality to it, but that doesn’t take away from the eerier moments. For more Grundel lore, be sure to check out the episode “Grundelesque” from the sequel series, Extreme Ghostbusters.
Standing Room Only
“Standing Room Only” (Season 4)
It’s no secret that The Real Ghostbusters experienced multiple changes after the second season. Out of all of them, though, retooling the show so that Slimer would get more of the spotlight is maybe the most egregious. Thankfully, Season Four (the first to be called Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters) didn’t completely obey that new directive; episodes like “Standing Room Only” felt more like the old days. The focus here was on the well-being of the city and its people, rather than on the series’ green mascot (or the Junior Ghostbusters). In the episode, Peter’s new ghost attractor isn’t to blame for the ensuing chaos; the ghost-eating Mee-Krah is what’s really imperiling everyone. And the Ghostbusters must dish out everything they have to avoid a doomsday situation.
The Halloween Door
“The Halloween Door” (Season 5)
While many fans will skip the later seasons in their rewatches, episodes like “The Halloween Door” are still worth checking out. This colorful helping of Halloween pandemonium premiered on primetime, so the animation is better than usual. And save for a random musical moment, it’s an enjoyable event. Here, a group of anti-Halloweeners tries to cancel the holiday, but they only end up making things worse by unleashing a baddie named Boogaloo.
The first five seasons of The Real Ghostbusters are available on Tubi, starting on July 15.
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