Big Mouth Billy Bass

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Big Mouth Billy Bass is an Animatronic singing toy, resembling a Largemouth Bass, popular in 2000 and 2001. Made of rubber stretched over a mechanical frame, at first glance it closely resembles a mounted fish. Designed by Gemmy Industries, it turns its head outwards and then wiggles on its trophy plaque and sings kitschy cover songs, such as Don't Worry, Be Happy (the music was taken from the original Bobby McFerrin recording) and Take Me To The River by Al Green (the recording was arranged and produced for Gemmy Industries by Al Thomas of Designer Music). The singing mechanism was originally activated by a motion sensor and was originally intended to startle a passerby. Eventually a button was added to activate it. There have also been several copycat toys based on it, featuring various animals such as Rainbow Trout, Lobsters, fish bones and even the great white shark. The concept was also adapted into a large mounted deer head. ^[1]

[edit] Appearances in Popular Culture

Due to the success of the Big Mouth Billy Bass, it has become somewhat of a cultural icon. The toys appeared frequently in pop culture at the time, featured on television programs such as Supernatural, King of the Hill, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Saturday Night Live, The Sopranos, South Park, The Office, The AFL Footy Show, George Lopez, WALL-E and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. It was also shown briefly in an episode of 90210, when it was shown as part of a yard sale. A November 2006 Verizon Wireless commercial featured one that sang Christmas carols. Big Mouth Billy Bass was also mentioned in Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie wherein Jeff Foxworthy said that a person with more than three of the toys (which Jeff himself is admittedly guilty of) "might be a redneck". Queen Elizabeth has a copy of the singing novelty, which she displays on the grand piano of Balmoral Castle. A 2009 McDonald's commercial for the Filet-O-Fish sandwich features a singing fish mounted on a wall.^[2]

[edit] References