Halloween

The Halloween Grab Bag!
Boo Berry Officially Named The Best Monster Cereal!
by: -RoG-

For many years, we've waited to see Boo Berry have his chance to shine in the limelight, rather than being cast aside by his other so-called Monster Cereal brethren as a mere afterthought. This Halloween, that's all changing, and there is no denying it, because it's coming straight from the source: General Mills.

The other day I received a surprise in the mail from General Mills; they sent me a nice canvas bag with a printed image of Boo Berry, Frankenberry and Count Chocula near a haunted house on it. Inside the bag, was a new box of each of their monster cereals for the 2010 Halloween season, along with some other goodies such as a Boo Berry pin and t-shirt. They also sent a big Boo Berry Halloween costume, which I'll be showing you in more detail momentarily.

Upon closer inspection of their package, I realized that the box of Boo Berry cereal they sent me was their old design from 2009, which I love since it looks like the classic Boo, but I still wanted to see what their new Boo Berry box looked like. When I alerted them to this error, they didn't just sent me one replacement box... they sent me two full cases of Boo Berry cereal! I haven't had this much Boo Berry cereal to eat since I did the Totally Obsessed episode for VH1 years ago. So yeah... with two full cases of Boo Berry, I'm definitely set for breakfast for at least a couple weeks.

As you can see, Boo Berry and the other monsters were given a cartoonish revamp this year, and while I'm not a fan of this new look at all, I understand why they'd try this style. He now looks all 3D and shiny like half of the cartoons you see on TV, so at the very least, I hope this artistic sacrifice makes some young kids out there want to try the cereal for the first time. Once the kids are hooked, General Mills can return to the old design and count on future generations of Boo Berry addicts.

And no, I don't think this is the worst Boo Berry design ever. Let's not forget that they practically made him look like Casper the friendly ghost in the late nineties. It appeared as though Boo Berry was on a Prozac overdose. So in comparison, this new Boo at least looks slightly better than the overmedicated one. That said, I really hope they change him back to the classic, lazy stoner-eyed Boo Berry that we've all grown to love over the years, instead of this pseudo-Pixar nightmare version.

There is a silver lining to this new design, however... for on the back of the box, Boo Berry has finally taken on Count Chocula and Frankenberry in a Monster Cereal Showdown!

As Count Chocula and Frankenberry play some fictional "Monster Truck Racer" game, which they've naturally excluded Boo Berry from participating in, he reminds them that his cereal always wins. This causes them to set down their controllers and hold a Monster Cereal Showdown to see which cereal truly reigns supreme. They each present their arguments, "Nothing's better than my chocolatey goodness!", "My sweet strawberry flavor rocks!" and "You two don't know Boo!"

Compelling arguments from each side for sure, but nothing decisive enough, so they agree to settle it with a "SCARE-OFF" in which whomever makes the scariest face, wins the title of the greatest monster cereal. Personally, I would've just gone with a public taste test, but I don't pretend to be a monster, nor do I pretend to understand the first thing about the intricacies of their social structure when it comes to settling an argument, so a "scare-off" it is.

Frankenberry and Count Chocula make their best attempts at scaring everyone, but Boo Berry puts on a mask that looks like a super happy kid (quite reminiscent of Howdy Doody, minus the freckles) and it scares the daylights outta the other two monsters. That's right... Boo Berry has now won the title of Best Monster Cereal! He even gives a bold victory speech: "I told you ghouls, mine's terror-iffic!"

With General Mills printing this on their monster cereal boxes, the results are clearly official. So, I'd like to congratulate Boo Berry on a title that has been LONG overdue. And yes, I checked the back of the new Frankenberry and Chocula cereal boxes to make sure the story wasn't altered in their favor, but it's the same on each box with Boo Berry emerging as the clear victor.

Next, there's the new Boo Berry costume, which (thankfully) is based on his traditional monster cereal form and can now be found in most seasonal Halloween shops. As you can see, it looks nice on the package, so let's see how it looks in real life.

Ok look... I love this thing. It's admittedly goofy looking, but it's also instantly recognizable as Boo Berry, from the heavy eyelids and pronounced eyebrows to the always-in-style bow tie. They even made sure the gloves had only four fingers, so there's nice attention to detail. I already consider myself quite lucky to have procured one of the old Boo Berry mail-away costumes which enabled you to dress up as a box of his cereal, but this is clearly an upgrade for anybody wanting to dress as Boo Berry himself.

On top of all this, Boo Berry now has his own special variety of Fruit Roll-Ups! It's the same "Razzle Boo Blitz" flavor as the Boo Berry Fruit By The Foot from several years ago, but this time his face is actually printed on the Fruit Roll-Ups. I also appreciate that they actually customized everything from the box right down to the nice 'n shiny individually wrapped rolls.

These things are really sticky, so they can be hard to unravel without destroying them, but if you manage to do so, you'll see Boo Berry peeking out from behind a tombstone and smiling at you. Yes indeed, Boo Berry's face has been immortalized on squashed, imitation fruit. I say we can chalk that up as a victory for our spectral cereal pal.

If nothing else, 2010 will be remembered as a banner year for Boo Berry. General Mills, thanks for sending me all these goodies... now go get to work on a better Boo Berry box design for Halloween 2011. I'd like to suggest a special "glow-in-the-dark" Boo Berry cereal box. Come on Big G, make it happen. You just might make Boo Berry blush if you do.

Have any questions or comments about this piece?
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE READER COMMENTS SECTION BELOW!

 

If you enjoyed this piece, be sure to check out:


My Appearance on VH1's "Totally Obsessed" for Boo Berry!

Reader Comments

Member
Oct 11th, 2010, 06:10 AM
I have always wanted to try this cereal, ever since I was but a single-digit, but I have never once seen it in stores. I've never had FrankenBerry either (not to mention the two discontinued ones). I guess I will try looking again this year.
teacup of sunshine
Oct 11th, 2010, 08:27 AM
There's stuff to be done with cases of General Mills monster cereals. A couple of years ago my mother-in-law sent me a case of Frankenberry and I had a great time building forts and making tray after tray of Frankenberry krispie treats. That was the year I gave boxes of Frankenberry out for trick-or-treat.

I noticed three "retro" Monster Cereal shirts at JC Penney's. I got a boo-berry; there was also a Count Chocula and one of all three monsters together. They're nice and soft.

Are you going to go around doing the old Peter Lorre voice?
The stealer of Pies
Oct 11th, 2010, 10:50 AM
wait, do you have it in with the cereal companies? cause they never send me boxes of cereal and stuff for free ;_;
Admiral of the Undead
Oct 11th, 2010, 10:56 AM
Now if only Fruit Brute and Fruity Yummy Mummy would make a comeback and reform the General Mills Cereal Monster Quintet.

Boo Berry does rock, though. Just ate some yesterday.
Butt Wipe
Oct 11th, 2010, 11:35 AM
I always get excited whenever October comes around because I know its Boo Berry season again. I just got some fresh Boo Berries the other day.
Member
Oct 11th, 2010, 12:15 PM
I can only ever find Count Chocula here in Utah. I had Frankenberry once as a child and I wasn't impressed. I am curious about Boo Berry.
Member
Oct 11th, 2010, 01:13 PM
So you are saving cereal for when the apocalypse comes, -RoG-?
Pickled Patriarch
Oct 11th, 2010, 06:28 PM
The apocalypse can wait, Julio... my stomach can't.

For those of you who have trouble finding Boo Berry in your local stores: the one place that seems to carry it every October is Target. If you can't find it there, I suggest trying to buy it online, because plenty of places sell it online, including eBay. Happy hunting!
Member
Oct 11th, 2010, 06:46 PM
I noticed the cereal at the target near my University about a week ago. It was odd, since I don't recall ever seeing it at my old Target. Perhaps next time I go I'll remember to actually buy it.
Forum Virgin
Oct 11th, 2010, 07:30 PM
I've never had Boo Berry either. I live out in the middle of nowhere, and I can't remember even seeing Boo Berry sold in the stores here. Guess I'll have to make the trip to civilization and see if I can find some.
Forum Virgin
Oct 11th, 2010, 07:48 PM
Have to keep my peepers open for Boo Berry when I go to Target.
Forum Virgin
Oct 11th, 2010, 08:43 PM
Hmm well that's cool though I would have liked for the Creature with the Black Macaroons to have won.
Stonehendge angry :( RARR
Oct 11th, 2010, 09:29 PM
The late paul frees (voice of boo berry, and also the ghost host on the haunted mansion) would be proud, rog
Ringmonster
Oct 11th, 2010, 09:47 PM
Maybe I can win this costume and sell it back to you as well.
Member
Oct 11th, 2010, 10:10 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Debug View Post
The late paul frees (voice of boo berry, and also the ghost host on the haunted mansion) would be proud, rog
That's an awesome bit of trivia! I thought that voice on the old commercial sounded familiar!
Member
Oct 12th, 2010, 03:37 AM
Boo Berry is pretty good, as is Count Chocula... but Franken Berry is the clear winner!
I'll battle anyone to the death who disagrees. TO THE DEATH!

That being said general mills needs to work on the texture of the monster cereals. I'm lactose intolerent so I eat my stuff milk-free and all their cereals are as hard as glass shards! They taste good, but I'm still expecting blood to pour out of my mouth when I finish a bowl.

Hmm... haven't picked any up yet... gotta go to the store in the morning.....
Administrator
Oct 12th, 2010, 04:59 AM
On the new box, boo berry looks like he got beat up and needs to get some braces
Freelance Artist
Oct 12th, 2010, 10:20 AM
I had Frankenberry once, when my parents went to the states & bought it while grocery shopping.

Stupid Canadaland, we don't get any awesome cereals like this D:
pickled
Oct 12th, 2010, 10:58 AM
I've had all three cereals before. In order of taste it is 1)Boo Berry, 2)FrankenBerry, 3)Count Chocula. Hate Count Chocula.
The face of trapped wind.
Oct 12th, 2010, 01:24 PM
I've never had Boo Berry before. Part of me thinks I'm really missing out on something. I was a Yummy Mummy man in my youth but that's as far as I ever went with the monster cereals.
Cranberry Everything
Oct 12th, 2010, 05:48 PM
Wow, that costume looks even better than the package! I thought the hat was going to be sort of a pink.

Pogo: Boo Berry basically tastes like blue berry Fruit Loops shaped like ghosts, with marshmallows and an extra dash of awesome added in.
Member
Oct 12th, 2010, 10:51 PM
Those Boo Berry Fruit Roll Ups look amazing. I looked at three different stores and couldn't find any though.
The face of trapped wind.
Oct 13th, 2010, 01:33 AM
Dextire: Holy moses, that sounds like a party in one's mouth where everyone is invited. I feel kind of shameful for ignoring this cereal. Any cereal with marshmallows is worth its weight in gold.
Forum Virgin
Oct 14th, 2010, 09:29 AM
I was at target a couple days ago and saw they had all three monster cereals. I felt the need to get some and decided on boo berry partly because of your articles.

Just wanted to know that your gospel is spreading and you are getting converts. Not disappointed with my choice.

I thought you would be happy when you saw the back of the box.

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