Strawberry Shortcake, the artificial strawberry-scented ragamuffin of my 80s girlhood, has gotten a makeover. The new Strawberry Shortcake loses the bloomer in favor of mini skirts or strawberry print capris for a look that's less Raggedy Ann, more a less risque Bratz doll. She even packs a cellphone. But most importantly, the new Strawberry Shortcake and Friends focuses on fruit, not dessert. Old Strawberry Shortcake lived in a shortcake. Now she lives in a strawberry. Owner American Greetings Properties says they're "downplaying" characters that don't stick to the fruit theme as well. What's going to happen to Angel Cake, Ginger Snap and Banana Candy? Is this like the time they Sesame Street decided to make Cookie Monster say "cookies are a sometimes food?" Guess nobody wants to be caught getting kids hooked on sweets in the middle of an obesity crisis.
