The MuppetCast is sponsored by The Fingerbucket Report and Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more Fun!

The new MUPPET VAULT event is coming up in a couple weeks on January 30. The theme is “Muppet Sci-Fi”, and there’s a new location, so check out ToughPigs.com for more info!

Click over to The MuppetCast YouTube Channel for the latest addition to our channel, featuring a good friend of the show, Jonathan Dichter.

Have you gotten the new version of Muppet Monopoly? Don’t wait too long!

Senior App Producer Gabriel Schlumberger gives a little behind-the-scenes from his company’s development of the Sesame Street e-book version of the classic “The Monster at the End of this book”.

Cookie Monster made it to SNL! Watch it here. Also, the Chicago Tribune has the inside story on how this all came to be.

We’re all made of money, right? Thought so. In that case, click over to the Tonner Doll Company to pick up the brand-new “Hog Wild” Miss Piggy and “Wild Frogs” Kermit the Frog.

And don’t forget your all-new exclusive Steiff Fozzie Bear!

CobblestonePath.org has a link to a new phone interview with Muppeteer Dave Goelz (performer of The Great Gonzo). Get the full-length interview on mp3 here.

The next installment of the Fraggle Rock Comic book comes out this week on January 19. This book has done no wrong as of yet, and fans seem to always be eagerly awaiting the next issue!

The PBS Series “Pioneers of Television” will honor Jim Henson on Tuesday, February 18, at 8pm Eastern. Set your DVRs! You can also purchase the series (containing the Jim Henson episode) on DVD here.

New YouTube video links from listeners this week! Chase Prichard sent a link to the Disney Channel special “The Making of The Muppets Christmas Carol“.

Rafi Levavy found and sent this lovely, touching video made as a marriage proposal, using Muppet Whatnots. It’s the best Muppet Whatnot movie preview that will make your eyes well up this week.

Robert Poole made a new video combining two things that most people love: Muppets and Glee. Great work, Robert!

Nick Haglich made a video of himself singing a song written by fellow Muppet fan James Bowen. It’s a parody of John Mellencamp’s “Jack & Dianne”, with Sesame lyrics. Brilliant!

Heidi Estrin is a fellow podcaster, and recently had the opportunity to talk with Veronica Wulff, Director of Global Production at Sesame Workshop, about Shalom Sesame. Listen to the episode here.

Thanks for listening! Questions/Comments about the Muppets or The MuppetCast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Follow the show on Twitter and join the Facebook page too!

Have a great week!

-Steve

The MuppetCast is sponsored by The Fingerbucket Report and Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more Fun!

Cookie Monster is gunning for a host spot on Saturday Night Live (video), in the same vein that Betty White had a Facebook campaign that led to her eventual hosting of the show. Here is the official link to Cookie Monster’s SNL campaign page, so go “Like” this cause, and let’s make it happen!

Longtime Muppeteer Marty Robinson was part of Sesame Street’s appearance in this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as he has been for almost every year past. This year, however, he brought his video camera with him, and he takes us behind the scenes to experience the parade from HIS vantage point! A rare look into the life of a Muppeteer.

Thanks for listening! Questions/Comments about the Muppets or The MuppetCast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Follow the show on Twitter and join the Facebook page too!

Happy Holidays!

-Steve

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more Fun!

Since we’re focusing on the art of puppetry and celebrating puppeteers and builders and such, this week’s Muppet trivia question is about one of the main Muppet builders, Don Sahlin. Sahlin is “the inventor” of the Muppet look, from a design point of view. He was known to refer to himself as the “guardian of the essence” of the Muppets.

Tim Clarkson, along with his mother Linda and the rest of the family, took a vacation recently to northern Ontario and found some cool Muppet merch. Linda sent some pictures that are now on The MuppetCast Flickr Page. Thanks Clarksons!

The Jim Henson tribute video sent by David Blain last week contains some footage from 2001′s MuppetFest, as it turns out! And listener Chris Smigliano was in the audience! How awesome is that! David sent something new for fans of A&E’s “Mad Men” to wrap our heads around: which Muppet characters best suit the Mad Men cast?

Many Muppet fans were hoping this would happen, and it’s finally been announced. The live stage musical version of Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas is indeed returning for a second season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT! The show’s official name has been shortened to “Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter”, but rest assured it’s still the same amazing show that graced the stage last holiday season. Also, Goodspeed will present a few special events where you can meet the puppeteers in the show!

PBS is launching an online cross-country adventure for children starring two brothers who happen to be gophers. The Web-only “Wilson & Ditch: Digging America,” produced by The Jim Henson Co., follows the furry siblings as they explore America and learn about its culture, history and geography.

The Muppet News Flash brings us up to date on the upcoming Blu-Ray releases of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Turns out there is much that wasn’t on the special anniversary DVDs that came out previously. Save up your money. You know you’ll buy them!

Farscape fans will also appreciate the News Flash’s complete accounting of the special features to be found on the Farscape series megaset due out on November 17, 2009.

The classic children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” is being made into a movie. You may have known that. But you may not have seen this brand new web featurette featuring author Maurice Sendak and filmmaker Spike Jonze discussing the film. Very cool stuff, and some new music and video footage from the movie too!

Renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli is set to team up with The Muppets this Christmas. The Italian tenor, who has previously shared the stage with Celine Dion and Christina Aguilera, was said to be recording a cover of Jingle Bells with Kermit. The album should be available this November.

The Booklyn Daily Eagle ran a “this day in history” piece on actor Will Lee this week. Lee is best known in our circle as Sesame Street’s dearly-loved shopkeeper Mr. Hooper.

Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Elmo and Grover are teaming up for a new prime-time special entitled “Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times.” The new hour-long special is scheduled to air on September 9, and is designed to help families communicate during tough economic times. Sesame Workshop is setting up a special website designed to complement the special and give additional suggestions to parents.

Thanks for listening! Questions/Comments about the Muppets or The MuppetCast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              614-364-4270      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide. Follow the show on Twitter and join the Facebook page too!

Have a great week!

-Steve