Button 080: Couch Potatoes by creator Bob Armstrong (1973)

80. Couch Potatoes (1977).

Most people use the term "couch potato" (for habitual TV-viewers) without awareness of its origin. Cartoonist/musician Bob Armstrong invented the term. He co-founded the original Couch Potatoes as a fraternal organization of admitted TV-worshippers in his native Pasadena CA. He was also smart enough to trademark the term. So when ubiquitous TV Guide (with its enormous '70s circulation) trumpeted the odd fez-wearing Potatoes in a major article, and the wire services followed, "couch potato" became an instant part of the American language. And Bob, until pirates wore him down, made a nice little living licensing the trademark for Coleco dolls and other merchandise. The Potatoes were an unabashed all-male club but under spousal pressure formed an auxiliary club for women called the Couch Tomatoes (see button #92). Armstrong sold CP (and CT) memberships which included this nifty button, created under commission from Kitchen Sink. The buttons sold out almost immediately and are damn near impossible to find.

We have only a handful. While they last... $25.00

One note, for serious button collectors, you may want to read the KSP BUTTON TEXT which explains the numbering systems for identifying the various buttons produced over the last 30 years, or see the COMPLETE KSP BUTTON LIST. The list is VERY long, so be patient while it loads.