Final answer:
The Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were introduced in 1982, during a time when children's TV shows also served as advertisements for related toys.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were introduced in 1982. During the 1980s, the strategy of marketing to children directly had taken off, with many popular television programs serving as platforms to promote related toy lines. This meant that iconic toys such as the Cabbage Patch Kids, alongside the likes of My Little Pony and Care Bears, benefitted from an era where the distinction between entertainment and advertisement was increasingly blurred, capturing the imaginations and desires of children across the United States and abroad.