When the Nickelodeon Super Toy Run was on the air, it was more than just a contest. It was a child’s wildest fantasy turned reality—a euphoric dash through a toy store, grabbing everything in sight. The chance to sprint through aisles filled with the coolest gadgets and games, filling carts without a second thought about the price tag, seemed almost mythic.
The Super Toy Run, a staple of ’80s and ’90s nostalgia, was held annually, partnering with giants like Kay Bee Toy Stores and Toys “R” Us. Winners like Douglas Berry and Andrew Moose vividly recall the experience years later, offering a peek behind the curtain of one of television’s most envied moments. Berry, who hit a Kay Bee Toys in Hawaii in 1993, and Moose, who tore through a Toys “R” Us in California in 1995.
Entering was simple—a postcard in the mail or filling out a form at a store—but the outcome was extraordinary. “Nickelodeon called us about eight months later,” Berry recounts. Moose remembers, “I got the phone call in the springtime, so I think it was around April or May, and it was cold when the actual day of the run took place. I think it must have been in November or December.” For both, the initial disbelief turned into strategic planning and preparation, with Nickelodeon generously allowing them to rearrange the store for maximum toy retrieval efficiency. “They allowed me to rearrange the store into a format that would be the most advantageous for me,” Moose shared, reflecting on the surprisingly strategic nature of what seemed like chaotic fun.
The childhood stars reveal that they even received unexpected advice from host Mike O’Malley, “Okay, the actual rules are, if things fall on the floor, that’s just as good in the carts.” Moose couldn’t believe that he was like, “Literally just knock things on the ground.”
When the cameras rolled, and the clock started ticking, it was an all-out race against time. Berry describes the intensity, “I actually crossed the line early. I had no idea how much time I had left.” Their spoils were impressive, with each netting approximately $9,000 in merchandise.
The aftermath of the runs included navigating newfound popularity and generosity, with Berry admitting, “I had kids that never talked to me coming and chatting me up.”
Relevant articles:
– “I got 4 bikes”: 2 Nickelodeon Super Toy Run winners reminisce 20 years later, Apr 6, 2015