'Kendini' Takes a Fall at Niagara
by Jennings Parrott
Los Angeles Times
December 11, 1985
What will Barbie doll say for this holiday event? Soap-opera actor Shawn Thompson was arrested for endangering a doll - he threw a Ken doll over Niagara Falls in a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket. Thompson, 27, who plays Simon on GUIDING LIGHT, was filming a segment for Switchback, his satirical Canadian television show, when he tossed the doll - named Kendini for the trip - over the Horseshoe Falls.
He put cole slaw in the chicken box to break Kendini's fall, but Niagara Parks Police charged him with dumping material in the park and illegally performing an act likely to cause people to congregate.
Thompson was filming a parody of Live Aid - to be called Doll Aid - which was to highlight "the broken and neglected dolls and toys around the world," his spokesman said. A park spokesman said Kendini apparently survived and, for this next trick, Thompson says the doll will jump off the Statue of Liberty after it is re-opened this summer.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Today is Barbie's 50th birthday. In her 50 years, Barbie has tried out more than 108 different careers including "actress" in 1977. Ninety percent of little girls in the U.S. (ages 3 to 10) own at least one Barbie.
Here's a follow up Kendini video as well as a GL scene with Beverlee McKinsey and John Bolger:
Shawn Thompson sure did have some great hair.
ReplyDeleteI know Bolger isn't THE Phillip, but I thought he was a pretty good Phillip. I especially loved his chemistry with Mary Kay Adams and Kim Zimmer.
Guiding Light... the clip made me miss those music and set pieces all the more.
As always, thanks!
--Bob
WHERE can I get a copy of Ken in the chicken bucket? I watched that when it aired on TV originally as a little kid and still laugh about it to this day. I would pay for a copy!!
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