• June 7, 2010

Bring on the blue: Macy's has tapped the Smurfs as its holiday ambassadors of 2010, which means that plush versions of vocabulary-crippling creatures will be available at Macy's everywhere, and that a balloon version will sail in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The retailer says it will back the Smurfs with a "robust marketing campaign," including a TV spot and magazine ads, collateral, jumbotron and special events.

While the Smurfs are 52, the big-screen release next year of the Columbia Pictures' and Sony Pictures Animation's live-action family comedy will introduce a whole new generation to the evil wizard Gargamel and the blue crew. The dolls will be wearing holiday duds, and talk when their little hands are squeezed. --Sarah Mahoney