The Toy Box preview: Arya Ball, Swurfer, Niya Doll, and Party Cannon

Friday night on ABC before Shark Tank, we’re getting the premiere of something that is a little bit different in The Toy Box. We already saw something in Beyond the Tank that spun off the franchise in a more direct way; this show feels more like a cousin of the franchise than a direct descendant. Prospective toy-makers enter the show looking to first impress three professional toy experts, and then have to present their products to a group of kids — including a hilarious one named Noah and Sophia Grace of Sophia Grace & Rosie fame. At the end of each episode a “winning” product is announced (this is where it really differs from Shark Tank), and those winners from throughout the season will square off in the finale.

We don’t want to spoil anything from the show, but after watching the first episode we’ll say that we found this to be funny and a surprisingly enjoyable Friday night companion piece. Eric Stonestreet is perfect as the host, a man who somehow manages to navigate what could otherwise be a madhouse.

Just like Shark Tank, we’re going to present to you every week a preview of some of the products that are going to be featured over the course of the show. The descriptions come via ABC, and we’re adding our perspective to them, as well.

Arya Ball – a reimagining of the soccer ball with special surprises inside

This is a fun concept — a man who’s crafted a ball that basically has other sporting activities within it. With just a couple of pieces of equipment, you basically have a wide variety of different things that you can do.

Wacky Worm Racing Game – a racing game where players dressed in a worm costume race to cross the finish line

We’ve got a sneak preview of this below, just so you can see precisely how strange and wacky this is.

Niya Doll – a multicultural doll collection who sings and speaks in multiple languages

Think of it as an American Girl doll with some different features, and there’s a really good story behind it. In the right market, this could be a winner.

Swurfer – a backyard swing inspired by a surfboard

This looks like a ton of fun, but we could see there being some challenges finding the right spot to actually use one. You’d either need a big tree or a specific structure.

Party Cannon – a party game that launches toys, prizes and candy

We couldn’t find an external link here, but it’s basically the following — you throw something at a target, and then the cannon launches out candy or toys. Pretty simple, really. Great for parties, but not a toy in the same sense as the others.

Overall, we want to know what you think about the premiere later tonight. We’ll be back with more news on the show throughout the season. (Photo: ABC.)