M. Night Shyamalan Is Directing a Magic 8 Ball TV Show

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A Magic 8 Ball TV show? It is decidedly so.

M. Night Shyamalan shared a first look at his upcoming movie with his Instagram fans today, and it’s definitely unexpected.

M. Night Shyamalan is directing the first episode of *Magic 8 Ball*, a new TV show inspired by the classic Mattel toy. He shared a photo of the script online and asked his followers, “Who’s in?” hinting he’s been developing the project for about two years.

Would I possibly post this article without including Shyamalan’s Instagram photo? My reply is no.

The script for *Magic 8 Ball* was written by Brad Falchuk, a television writer and producer known for co-creating popular shows like *Glee*, *Scream Queens*, *9-1-1*, *9-1-1: Lone Star*, and *The Brothers Sun*. He’s also worked as a producer on series such as *Nip/Tuck* and *American Horror Story*.

Ryan Falchuk also created and hosts the Netflix series *Famous Last Words*, where celebrities are interviewed as if discussing their own deaths. Episodes are released only after the subject has passed away. The first episode, featuring Dr. Jane Goodall, came out earlier this month. It’s currently unknown what other episodes Netflix has filmed and is holding for future release; please check back for updates.

M. Night Shyamalan is famous for directing movies like *The Sixth Sense*, *Split*, and *Unbreakable*, but he’s also directed television episodes for shows such as *Wayward Pines* on Fox and *Servant* on Apple TV+. Beyond simply advertising the classic toy, what will the plot of *Magic 8 Ball* be? The toy works by a user asking a question, shaking it, and receiving one of twenty possible responses – ranging from ‘yes’ to ‘maybe’ to ‘no’ – with the occasional vague reply like ‘try again’.

The Best ’80s Happy Meal Toys

Fast Macs (1985)

If you grew up in the 1980s, seeing these cars might bring back memories! Called “Fast Macs,” they were pullback toys that each came with a McDonald’s character as the driver – the Hamburglar in a sporty roadster, Big Mac in a police car, Birdie the Early Bird in a fun “sun cruiser,” and, of course, Ronald McDonald in a small “runabout.” The packaging promised they’d zoom, spin, do wheelies, and loop-the-loop when you pulled them back, though I don’t really remember them living up to that hype. Still, they were a lot of fun to collect.

An American Tail (1986)

Kids growing up in the 1980s were used to getting toys with their Happy Meals, so these small storybooks were a welcome surprise for fans of the animated movie *An American Tail*. The film, about a mouse separated from his family during their journey from Russia to America, was a big success in 1986 and featured the popular song “Somewhere Out There.” However, merchandise related to *American Tail* wasn’t widely available, making these Happy Meal books a perfect find.

Stomper Trucks (1986)

Stompers were battery-powered toy cars that first appeared in the early 1980s. While they weren’t popular for very long, they were still quite successful in 1986 when McDonald’s featured them in a Happy Meal promotion. The promotion included eight different collectible “push-along trucks.” These Happy Meal toys were different from the regular Stompers because they were powered by hand, not batteries.

LEGO (1986)

Looking at them now, those four LEGO sets seem very basic. But back in 1986, they were fantastic Happy Meal toys! Kids loved building and rebuilding them, combining the pieces in countless ways, or simply adding them to their existing LEGO collections. Most kids in the 80s didn’t keep their LEGO creations neatly displayed; they had a big box of random bricks they’d play with and inevitably leave scattered on the floor.

The Real Ghostbusters (1987)

I had a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man pencil sharpener when I was in school, and I absolutely loved it. It faithfully sharpened so many pencils over the years – and thankfully, it never caused any trouble! By the time it finally broke, the paint was chipped and faded, and it was covered in graphite smudges. While researching this memory, I discovered it was actually a prize in a McDonald’s Happy Meal, part of a set of *The Real Ghostbustersthemed school supplies. I imagine a lot of kids were disappointed to get a pencil or notepad instead of the Ecto-1 toy, which is totally understandable. But that little Stay-Puft sharpener really takes me back to those days.

Muppet Babies (1987)

Many Happy Meal toys from the 1980s were designed in two parts: a character figurine and a vehicle it could use. This was a smart move by McDonald’s because kids were encouraged to come back and collect more toys to mix and match. One of the earliest examples was a set based on the popular cartoon *Muppet Babies*, featuring Kermit, Gonzo, Piggy, and Fozzie, each with a different ride-on accessory. It’s likely that many children started their toy collections because they wanted to get all four *Muppet Babies* Happy Meal figures!

The Berenstain Bears (1987)

That same year, McDonald’s also offered toys and vehicles based on *The Berenstain Bears*, a popular animated show on CBS. The set included figures of Papa, Mama, Brother, and Sister Bear, and sparked countless debates among kids about whether the family name was spelled Berenstain or Berenstein.

Boats ’N Floats (1987)

Back in the 1980s, McDonald’s sometimes got creative with Happy Meal packaging, even turning the box *into* the toy itself. A prime example is the 1987 “Boats ‘N Floats” promotion, which replaced the usual box with a plastic pool toy shaped like a boat and decorated with McDonald’s characters. While it wasn’t practical to actually *use* the toy while eating, and the name is a bit silly, these toys were quite popular. If you grew up in the ’80s, you likely remember having one or two floating around during bath time!

Halloween Pails (Various)

Few Happy Meal toys are as memorable as the Halloween buckets. First released in 1986, these buckets were a yearly favorite for many years – though they were briefly unavailable in the mid-2010s before making a comeback a few years ago. While the designs have changed over time, the classic orange pumpkin, green witch, and white ghost remain the most recognizable. Just looking at them brings back a wave of childhood memories – a scent of cheap plastic and old Halloween candy, perhaps!

New Food Changeables (1987)

In the 1980s, toys that could transform were incredibly popular, led by franchises like Transformers and Go-Bots. McDonald’s joined the trend with their Happy Meal “Changeables.” These were small toys shaped like McDonald’s food – a Big Mac, fries, and so on – that could turn into robots. While they seem simple now, they were a huge hit in 1989! Kids loved collecting, trading, and hoarding them, but it was tough to get them all because each Happy Meal contained a random toy. First released in 1987, the Changeables returned in 1989 with new designs, and again in 1990, this time transforming into dinosaurs instead of robots.

Oliver & Company (1988)

Parents today often feel overwhelmed by the amount of Disney merchandise available after every movie release – it seems like everything from toys and clothes to even household items is branded with Disney characters. It wasn’t always like this. In the 1980s, finding toys related to Disney films was much simpler; often, a Happy Meal was the only place to get them. This made those toys, like the *Oliver & Company* finger puppets, feel extra special and become cherished keepsakes. (Seriously, who wouldn’t want a Billy Joel finger puppet? It’s priceless!)

Fraggle Rock (1988)

I’ve noticed a shift in McDonald’s Happy Meal toys over the years. They used to give you a two-piece set – a vehicle *and* a character. But eventually, they started combining those into one single toy, likely to save money. These newer toys were usually a cartoonish vehicle with a tiny, fixed figurine inside. They weren’t as fun to collect or play with – you could roll them around or just leave them sitting there – but they were still pretty clever designs. I especially remember the *Fraggle Rock* cars – each one featured a different Muppet driving a miniature car shaped like a vegetable! Honestly, I don’t recall the Fraggle Rock gang doing much driving in produce on the show itself, but it’s been ages since I’ve tuned in.

McNugget Buddies (1988)

One popular Happy Meal toy from the 1980s was the McNugget Buddies – small, plastic McNuggets that came with outfits to change. The first set included a police officer, firefighter, cowboy, and rock star, and they were created to help advertise the very first Happy Meals that featured Chicken McNuggets instead of hamburgers. These simple, collectible toys were incredibly successful, leading McDonald’s to release new versions every few years. The idea was revived again in 2023 as a collectible item for adults, created in partnership with artist Kerwin Frost.

Mickey’s Birthdayland (1989)

Disney and McDonald’s teamed up again, this time with a Happy Meal featuring beloved Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto. The promotion coincided with the opening of Mickey’s Birthdayland at Walt Disney World. I fondly remember playing with the Mickey toy that came with the meal, but it always struck me as odd – what do these simple cars have to do with a birthday celebration? And why was Pluto allowed to drive one? It didn’t seem very safe!

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (1989)

That same year, McDonald’s launched a series of toys based on the *Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers* TV show. These toys were vehicles the characters were fixed inside of—each cleverly made from everyday household objects. Kids could swap parts like propellers and rotors between the vehicles, encouraging them to ask their parents to return to McDonald’s again and again. And, judging by my own childhood, it was a very effective strategy!

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2025-10-13 21:58