• June 10, 2003

Spike TV will mark its debut appearance at this year's Licensing Show with its own booth and a roster of properties that include the cult classic Ren & Stimpy and Gary the Rat starring Kelsey Grammer. A consumer products program is already in development with Palisades Toys and Balzout, who have come on board as Ren & Stimpy's first licensees. Product plans for Palisades Toys include action figures, PVC figurines and resin statutes. Balzout will make T-shirts. Other categories are being marketed "Our male audience grew up watching Ren & Stimpy and recognize it as one of the most groundbreaking animated series of its time. Ren & Stimpy personify Spike TV. Merchandise promises to be as edgy and irreverent as the network itself," said Albie Hecht, president of Spike TV.