"Rubber duck debugging" is another term I have heard used although in my industry I think crappy anime action figures/transformers etc. would be more appropriate since rubber ducks are only for use in the bath. Strangely it's the artists/designers that seem to have those sorts of toys littering their desk I just tend to have a big notebook and coffee on my desk (when I was in the office anyway). Although I did have a (decent, not the official brand) Rubik's cube on my desk (always solved of course, which makes my unsolved 4x4 on the shelf disappoint me because I used to be able to remember how to do those as well). Taking apart a 4x4 is NOT an easy option either, I did that once, took me about 4 hours to put it back together with my sausage fingers!
I'm unusual for a programmer in that I think Star Wars is crap as well!