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

I had a great time at Dayton Disneyana this weekend. Many thanks to everyone at the “Plane Crazy” chapter for making room for me, and for all the work they did bringing the one & only Paige O’Hara to the convention. See you next year!

Here are a few YouTube videos featuring Bill’s characters:

Gene and Bill as “The Fiama Brothers”

Johnny and Sal singing Bohemian Rhapsody

Muppets Tonight – Johnny and Tony Benett

Bobo the Security Guard with Prince

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Os4Qs2GAq4

Pepe the King Prawn!

Thanks to our sponsors, Orlando Attractions Magazine and Bell, Book & Comic, for continuing to help bring you the show every week.

Make sure to visit the official MuppetCast Facebook Page and see the recently posted Facebook Video #1, my first look at the new Fisher Price Elmo Live. See Elmo in action! More new MuppetCast videos to come soon.

The Fraggle Rock Complete Series collection is now available on DVD. Check Amazon for a reduced price, while it lasts. Two early reviews of this 20-disc set came from CinemaBlend.com, and MonstersAndCritics.com. The Christmas Toy and Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas were also released from the Jim Henson Company this week, and DVDTalk.com has a review of The Christmas Toy. This is its first time seen on DVD.

If you’ve seen the Elmo Live doll, you can guess that there are some pretty impressive robotics under the hood (or under the fur, as it were). If you’re not brave enough to carve up Elmo yourself, take a look at Digital Journal, and watch them perform a little minor Muppet surgery to show you what makes this new Elmo tick!

Author Michael Davis will soon have a new book out, presenting the most complete history of Sesame Street (and hence, a vital part in the overall Muppet story) ever told to date. Encompassing five years of work and over 200 interviews, the book “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street” tells the story of the most successful children’s show ever made in a way you’ve never heard before. Look for it on December 26, 2008.

Michael Davis will also be hosting a very special evening on January 30, as part of the William Patterson University’s Distinguished Lecturer series. Listen for details on the show this week, but it’ll suffice to say that this kind of event happens only once in a very great while.

Muppet Central’s Dr. Bombay found some wonderful new Muppet T-shirts at Urban Outfitters recently, and our UK listeners will be happy to know that, while we have a few in the US, there are some UK-exclusive shirts too! Click the links to see all (one, two, three, and four).

Listener Joe V. sent a link to an amazing home-built project: a Mystic from the Henson classic “The Dark Crystal“. See the instructions, and make your own!

Famous toy merchant FAO Schwartz has officially opened their new Muppet Whatnot Workshop, giving fans and customers a way to build their own Muppet puppets! Many people have already customized and recieved their Whatnots, and are doing some fun things online. You can build your own at FAO’s flagship store in New York City, or online at fao.com. Some websites like this one (stitchkingdom.com) have some great pictures of the Workshop area to check out too.

The Jim Henson Company is proudly presenting a live stage version of the Christmas classic “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas” beginning in mid-December at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut. Muppet friend and songwriter Paul Williams has lent his talents in reviving the original song list, as well as writing new songs for the show, and our friend David Stephens is a principal character! Tickets are going fast, get yours today!

Make sure to follow The MuppetCast on Twitter, Flickr, and our new Official Facebook Page for up to the minute updates. The newly redesigned Muppets.com is also a must-see these days for any Muppet fan! Also visit our friends at Muppet Central, The Muppet News Flash, and Tough Pigs for the very best on the Muppet web.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail hotline at 614-364-4270. Also make sure to stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello. We’d love to hear from you!

Have a great week!

-Steve