Last fall, The Toy Book cracked open the scrapbook for The Toys & Games That Shaped the Industry, a collection of photos, anecdotes, and archival materials shared by some of the biggest voices in the toy business. But those memorable toys and games shape everyone — forever bringing joy to kids and families — and impacting the lives of countless creatives.

Ahead of this week’s debut of Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland, an 8-episode unscripted series now streaming on The CW app, I caught up with Corgan, frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins and owner of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and wife Chloé Mendel, CEO of Madame ZuZus for some insight into the toys and games that were important to them growing up and are important to them now, as parents.

Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland is directed and produced by Brian Volk-Weiss of Nacelle, the multifaceted toy and entertainment company behind The Toys That Made Us, A Toy Store Near You, and the interconnected Nacelleverse comprised of Biker Mice From Mars, RoboForce, Sectaurs, Power Lords, and other rebooted toy brands.

According to Corgan, the idea for the series spawned after a rep from Nacelle reached out during the height of the pandemic inquiring about rights to make action figures inspired by NWA wrestlers. Could that deal still happen? Stay tuned to The Toy Book to find out!