You can purchase and download Truro Daydreams at Digstation or at CDBaby. We think the album will be available in iTunes shortly, but Jerry is checking on that.

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

In honor of the new Tim Burton film Alice in Wonderland, I’m also happy to present an extended Muppetology segment where we look at several Muppet treatments of the book over the years. We also dive into the fifth-season Muppet Show episode starring Brooke Shields, which was completely devoted to telling the Muppets’ version of the tale.

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. 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

Jerry Nelson recently released a new album, “Truro Daydreams“. All original songs written by Jerry, with some musical help from a lot of Muppet friends. Download your copy right here.

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

Have you heard? Lulu’s back in town!

Were you a member of the original Muppet Show Fan Club? Even if you weren’t you can relive those days here on the Muppet Wiki.

Are you a Muppet fan in the UK? Is it possible for you to be in London on May 16? We’re looking at forming a Muppet fan meet in London on that date, and I want to see how many people might possibly be there. Please email me and let me know if you’re interested in attending.

Listener Corey Orsini has a daily vlog on YouTube right here. Enjoy!

Michele Greenmier has a link to an up-close and personal look at the new Muppet Vinylmation set, currently on sale at WDW! She also sent a link to a T-shirt from The Onion that every listener of this podcast should own. AND she has a link to Disney Shopping where you can pick up the new Muppet water bottle. Great stuff Michele!

Renee Angely has three YouTube links that, in her opinion, reflect some of Richard Hunt’s best and funniest work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN79N2Ng1Bc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GOg3nxBD3k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C5JuqRNLRI

Darrin Granter found the first two episodes of the Terry Angus project “Blizzard Island.” Terry has been on The MuppetCast in the past talking about performing Muppet characters in Fraggle Rock, and right alongside Jim Henson in several projects!

Episode 1
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPUlOru5IIY
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPGmhAPth6g
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmOxig5wckQ

Episode 2
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3zCEW_N3wQ
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsmSSQYT95E
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tShJmJPGb9Q

And speaking of Terry Angus, he’s got a brand new puppet for sale on eBay that YOU can own! Click here to check it out!

In the news, the Jim Henson Company recently announced the recipients of the fifth annual Jim Henson Honors:
The Jim Henson Celebration Honor: Steve Jobs, Apple CEO
The Jim Henson Community Honor: 826 National, a tutoring, writing, and publishing organization
The Jim Henson Creativity Honor: Neill Blomkamp, director of the film “District 9″
The Jim Henson Technology Honor: YouTube Symphony Orchestra, the world’s first collaborative orchestra

Composer-lyricist Paul Williams (”Rainbow Connection”, among many other hits) is being honored by the Goodspeed Opera House. He will receive the Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theater at a special gala June 12. Congratulations Paul!

Loretta Long, the actress who plays Gordon’s wife Susan on Sesame Street, was recently hit by a car near her New Jersey home. It looks like she will make a full recovery, thank goodness, and our best wishes are with Ms. Long as she rests up.

Sesame Workshop recently announced a new partnership with Hasbro, replacing their former partner Mattel. Among the myriad new offerings down the road from Hasbro are Sesame Street Play-Doh playsets!

Emilio Delgado, Sesame Street actor and friend of the show, recently appeared in “The Park”.

GeekDad blog writer Matt Blum has posted a nice collection of 10 Sesame Street news videos featuring reporter Kermit the Frog. Remember when we got our news from Kermit?

Sesame Workshop has also parntered with Aniboom, the world’s first virtual animation studio, for the Fourth Annual Aniboom Awards! Click here for more information and submission guidelines.

Have you picked up the new Muppet King Arthur #1 comic from BOOM Kids? ComicBookResources.com has the review.

And finally, John Tartaglia is opening a new original production this March called “Imaginocean.” Looks like a fun family show! Check out the show’s official website.

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. 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

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. 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

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

Mr. Whitmire mentioned several websites in our discussion that I wanted to link to. First is KenWilber.com, the official site of philosopher Ken Wilber. There’s also the Integral Institute and the Integral Naked Podcast. Steve even participated in that podcast with Ken Wilber himself, talking about Jim Henson and his own Integral approach to the Muppets!

There is a great discussion threat on the Muppet Central Forums from lots of folks who attended the event at the Center. Read and join in the discussion 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. 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

Stay tuned next week for my exclusive in-person interview with Mr. Whitmire! We cover a lot of ground, but still wanted to get to much more. We decided to call this Part 1 of an ongoing conversation. And yes, we discuss America’s Got Talent.

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

Thanks to everyone who appeared in this episode and gave their reactions to the Center and the weekend events. These folks include Steve and Liz Vitale, Jamie Hitchcock, Wes, Levi, Garrett Otto, and Keven Miller (who flew in from Seattle, WA just for this event!).

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. 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

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

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. 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

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2010 for all of us.

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

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. 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

The MuppetCast Street Gang Giveaway Contest is now underway! Send an email to streetgangcontest@muppetcast.com to enter. Winners will be announced on shows 144 and 145.

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

You can watch the entire special “The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years” on YouTube by clicking below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

In Muppetology we discuss the Polaroid camera company, and the Muppet commercials and magazine print ads from 1981. View it all here.

Muppet Trivia deals with Baby Sinclair.

KerMattTheFrog received a very special gift this Christmas: a personally signed piece of Big Bird artwork by Caroll Spinney. Spinney has performed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since Sesame Street’s debut in 1969, and regularly features his artwork at the store Arts & Framing.

Don Barrie sent his New Year wishes to the MuppetCast audience via voicemail, and mentioned his ongoing project, his song blog.

Joe Vecciarelli continues to CubeCraft his own Muppet menagerie. Here are five new patterns he sent this week:

Oscar 1
Oscar 2
Cookie Monster
Elmo
Grover

Nic Kramer requested a special song from Alaina Reed Hall, the late actress who played Olivia on Sesame Street. Ms. Hall passed away just recently, and we continue to celebrate her life through Nic’s request.

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. 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!

Happy New Year! Have a great week!

-Steve

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. 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

The real topper to this week’s show is the debut of young Muppet fan Juliannah Wilson as she presents the first-ever Muppet Storytime segment. She provides our feature segment this week, gracing us with her reading of “Baby Kermit’s Christmas“.

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

The special introduction to this week’s show will hopefully be heard all around the Disney podosphere this Christmas. It’s a combined reading done by some of us of the well-known editorial piece “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus”. I’d like to thank EVERYONE who helped bring this idea to a reality in the span of a few short days. The voices heard on the recording are:

Juliannah Wilson as Virginia
Paul Barrie – A Window to the Magic
Bryan Ripper & Jonathan Dichter – All About the Mouse
Gary Chambers – The Mouse Lounge
Clinton Alvord – Comedy4Cast
Tom Corless – WDW News Today
James Songster – WDW Cast Member
Scott & Tracey Morris – Disney, Indiana
Tairy Rich – Disney Tidbits
Steve Swanson – The MuppetCast

Thanks to Michael Stork for his Kermit impression and the Hawaiian Christmas tune!

The MuppetCast remembers actress Alaina Reed Hall, who passed away a few days ago at age 63. Ms. Hall played the part of Olivia on Sesame Street from 1976 to 1988, and many of us grew up knowing her as a familiar face on the Street. We celebrate her life this week.

CBS News recently featured the Muppet Whatnot Workshop at FAO Schwarz on The Early Show, Saturday Edition. The hosts made their own whatnots!

If you own an iPhone or iPod Touch, you owe it to yourself to get the new “The Muppets Animal Drummer” app from the iTunes Store. For just $1.99 you can match skill with Animal, and even create your own original beats that Animal plays back to you!

Make sure to pick up the iPhone and iPod Touch-ready Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody (iTunes link) video for only $1.49. Normally I don’t buy the YouTube-released vids in iTunes, but I think you’ll agree that this is highly worth it.

The Muppets will appear on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on January 3 on ABC. Set your DVRs to see the Muppets pitch in and help a St. Paul, MN family save their home.

Sesame Workshop is set to begin making digital books starting in 2010. Check out their official eBook website!

Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter will not return to Goodspeed Opera House next holiday season. Instead, it may go out on tour, or find a different home in the Northeast US. Plans are still being made.

Carl Huster got the unique opportunity to work with Jim Henson very early in Jim’s career. If you’ve heard of the Southern Colnel Muppet character, Carl was working with Jim on the Southern Bread ad campaign, for which the Colnel was invented. Some great video on this site with rare Henson ad footage!

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. 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

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

You can follow Michael Davis and see where he’s appearing around the US at his official website.

See and hear 14 Karat Soul – a group with a long history with Sesame Street and other children’s shows – at their official website!

James Wojtal wanted everyone to know about Puppetworks and their participation in the Macy’s Herald Square Annual Puppet Show, titled “Miracle on 34th St.” It’s based on the film of the same name. Find the official Puppetworks website here.

The Swedish Chef as Santa Claus! Bork, bork, bork…I mean Ho, Ho, Ho!

The Muppets Studio released a new YouTube video recently, featuring the singing trio of the Swedish Chef, Beaker, and Animal as they sing the Christmas classic, Carol of the Bells. Nice work!

The Jim Henson Company also posted several new YouTube videos, all taken from “Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter”, now playing at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT. Click here for tickets!

During this episode we played a game where the winner received an autographed first-edition hardcover copy of “Street Gang”, courtesy of Michael Davis. Listener Colbynfriends was the winner, so congratulations! Listen for even more ways to win signed books (and audiobooks) in the coming weeks!

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. 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

Also making an appearance is Dave Hulteen, an extremely talented Muppet fan artist. Dave’s work can be seen here on MuppetCast.com, as well as a recent feature article on ToughPigs.com! Dave has two Deviant art accounts, one featuring his premium work, and the other his Muppet work. Make sure to keep an eye out for Dave’s awesome artwork!

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. 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

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

BJ mentioned that Muppet Babies writer Jeffrey Scott published a book in 2003 that he loves called “How to Write for Animation.” There’s your Amazon link!

The Muppets made a fine showing at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every Muppet moment was captured and presented in the show.

Fox News political commentator Bill O’Reilly may have met his match in grouch form. Spill O’Reilly dropped by the Factor and assured Bill that the “Pox News” jibe wasn’t a slight against just one network. After all, Spill said, “…we don’t like anybody!”

The Muppets made a huge internet splash this past Tuesday November 24 with their new version of Queen’s hit song “Bohemian Rhapsody”. The video earned millions of views in only a few days, and fans everywhere are loving it! If you haven’t seen it, watch it 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. 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

Emilio is also appearing with the group Pink Martini at Town Hall in NYC on December 10 to celebrate their new CD. See “Luis” sing the famous Sesame Street song “Sing”!

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

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. 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

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, The MuppetCast presents a special 3-episode tribute to the show, and everyone and everything associated with it.

Part 1 (Episode #135): A look back at the first 10 historic seasons of Sesame Street, featuring multiple audio pieces of special songs and moments. Many “firsts” can be found in this 2-hour audio production.

Part 2 (Episode #136): You might call this “A Story of Sesame Street”. In a 90-minute podcast it’s impossible to tell the entire story of this incredible show, but we focus in on a few choice moments and celebrate them.

Part 3 (Episode #137): A look back with one of the longtime Sesame Street cast members, Emilio Delgado. Mr. Delgado plays the character Luis on the show, and has done so since 1971.

Tune in next week for the third and final portion of the celebration, with special guest Emilio Delgado! It will be almost a full hour with the man who’s played Luis on Sesame Street for 38 seasons.

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. 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

Theme song and first scenes from episode #1

Number Song – Six

James Earl Jones counts to 10

Kermit’s lecture on the word “in” (with a very early version of Grover)

Listen My Brother – Count to 20

Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?

Somebody Come and Play

Bill Cosby and Bill Cosby recite the alphabet

Oscar the Grouch – I Love Trash

Bert & Ernie – Banana in Ernie’s Ear

Little Jerry & the Monotones – Mad

The King of Eight

Rubber Duckie

Over, Under, Around, and Through

The first time Big Bird meets Mr. Snuffleupagus

Bert & Ernie – String on Ernie’s Finger

Doll House

Name That Animal!

The Count’s Debut

What’s the Name of that Song?

Jesse Jackson – I Am Somebody

A Loaf of Bread, a Container of Milk, and a Stick of Butter

Steve Wonder – 123 Sesame Street

Sesame Street News – Rapunzel

A-B-C-Cookie Monster!

A Very Simple Dance

Doin’ The Pigeon

Herry Monster and John-John count to 20

Beep!

Sesame Street Pageant: A Flower Grows

Mary Had a Bicycle

Richard Pryor recites the alphabet

The Martians find a telephone

C is for Cookie

Headline Howie has the story with Big Bird and Snuffy

Roosevelt Franklin: Loud and Soft

The National Association of W Lovers

Buffy Sainte-Marie sings Cripple Creek

Grover the Weather Machine Salesman

Paul Simon sings “Me & Julio”

Cookie Monster channels Isaac Hayes

The Pinball Song – Two

Gladys is Proud to be a Cow

Madeline Kahn and Grover sing an “echo song”

Guy Smiley hosts “This is Your Life”

Mr. Hooper goes surfing!

David thinks he hears Big Bird’s “imaginary friend” Mr. Snuffleupagus

The Count and Oscar bid us farewell

This is a close (but not precise) chronology of the songs and skits as they appeared in the show’s first ten years. Tune in or DVR the new episodes of the show’s landmark 40th season starting Tuesday, November 10! Twenty-six new episodes (one for each letter) hold lots of surprises for viewers of all ages.

These tribute episodes are meant to serve as a “thank you” to the people behind the show that so many of us grew up with. So many wonderful moments transcended the screen and have stayed with us, many of us will attest, even to today as we have children of our own. I hope you enjoy reliving many of those moments in this and future episodes of the podcast.

Thank You Sesame Street.

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. 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

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

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. 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

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

In Muppetology we relive some fun moments with Beautiful Day Monster, one of the original monsters created by Jim Henson. It’s interesting to note, in the three sketches included in the segment (complete list here), Beautiful Day Monster is performed by three different Muppeteers (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and Richard Hunt).

Thanks to Steve Barrett for sending me the new Walt Disney World and Disneyland Hidden Mickeys Guides! I found a few of my own this summer, and it’s always great to compare new sightings with other park enthusiasts.

Master puppet builder Terry Angus has a new puppet on eBay that YOU can own! It’s a beautiful new bat, take a look here. Terry was one of the main puppet builders for Fraggle Rock, so you can bet this is a well-built character.

David Blain sent a link to a clip from Jim Henson’s 1969 experimental TV program “The Cube”. It appears on the official Jim Henson company YouTube page.

The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA is now showing their new original production “Dinosaurs”. See a sneak preview here. Showing now through November 29, get your tickets here!

Sesame Street writer Annie Evans and her husband Muppeteer Marty Robinson have a blog! You can read all about their adventures as parents at Sesame Street’s Parents Blog.

Balcony Puppeteer Jamie Douglas made this incredible video from this year’s annual Puppets Up! festival in Almonte, ON. Hosted by “Creepy Baby”!

Listener Linda pointed out that you can pick up the Master Replicas Gonzo photo puppet for $99 right now on Amazon! Not only that, but you can buy the Gonzo and Animal photo puppets TOGETHER for $199! That’s an unheard-of deal.

Want to watch “The Muppets at Walt Disney World”? Me too! Here’s the YouTube link for Part 1 to get you started.

Elenora Stillwell – the winner of the Kermit the Frog backpack from the MuppetVision 3D meet a few weeks back – has graciously sent some pictures of this wonderful backpack for all to see.

Darrin Granter sent a link to QTV, in a special segment with Oscar the Grouch! It’s a really great 15-minute clip, but due to a kid-unfriendly comment on the page I’d recommend some parental guidance here.

In the news, Sesame Workshop has signed a new multiyear home-entertainment distribution deal with Warner Home Video. Previously Genius Products was Sesame’s distributor, and I believe they’re still working with the Henson Company.

Sesame Workshop, the Jim Henson Company, and the Jim Henson Legacy are all partnering with the Brooklyn Public Library to help commemorate Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary with a three-month exhibition of memorabilia at Central Library. Lots of cool events coming up, so check out the Library’s website for details.

Sesame Workshop is also in the midst of Phase II of “The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families” – a free traveling USO tour featuring five of America’s favorite Muppets. Trekking to six countries in the span of four months, the tour is scheduled to perform a series of high energy shows tailored specifically for military families at 20 military installations worldwide. More details at the USO’s website, and on this special Sesame website.

In Muppet(s) Studio(s) news, the Extreme Makeover Home crew has officially begun demolition on the house for the episode in which the Muppets will appear. I wonder if they let Crazy Harry help them. No word yet on when the episode will air.

As reported by The Muppet Mindset, Disney’s new Haunted Holidays website contains a few new Muppet web videos! The main focus of the website is a spell book of sorts in which you can access many different “sections” of the book that represent different popular Disney properties such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Snow White, and of course The Muppets.

The same Muppet videos found on the Haunted Holidays website can now be found on YouTube in HD-quality!

Sid the Science Kid is back with a brand new episode about the importance of vaccinations. For more information check out The Muppet News Flash.

The News Flash also reports that Lionsgate will be releasing a new Fraggle Rock holiday-themed DVD titled “Fraggle Rock: A Merry Fraggle Holiday” on November 9, along with the previously announced Final Season DVD Collection and repackaged Complete Series Collection.

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. 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

This is a long episode. For that I apologize, and what’s more we didn’t even get into Muppet news, Muppetology, or listener feedback. I even wrote it all out with the full intention of presenting it on the show! However, there’s just too much MGE content (the MuppetVision meet is an hour long!) and it will all be there next week.

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

Also thanks to Gaston Morineau for the awesome show intro! Find his work online 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. 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

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

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. 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

A very special thank you to this week’s guests:
Patrick & Shelly Block
Gregg Berger
Chris Yambar
The 501st
Brett Pinson

Don’t forget, if you’re going to be in or around Walt Disney World next weekend make sure to stop by and say hello Sunday Oct 11! That day at 3pm I’ll be holding the First-Ever Genuine No-Money-Back Guarantee MuppetCast MuppetVision 3D Meet! Fun and prizes await! The meet is part of the 2nd annual MouseGuest Experience fan event. For more information on the entire schedule visit the MGE official website.

Make sure to visit The MuppetCast Flickr Page for all the new additions. Keep them coming!

Rafi Levavy sent a link to the official Muppets Studio page in iTunes! Nice to have everything in one central location.

Stuart Reeves is in the midst of putting together a beautiful Muppet 3D piece. You can see his progress on his Flickr page.

Listener SesameStMuppets sent a link to the trailer for his upcoming Christmas show “Dont Watch ‘Til Christmas Eve II“.

David Rollinson directed me to the Arts & Framing Putnam website, where you can find some artwork and a short video of Muppeteer Caroll Spinney! Mr. Spinney performs Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street.

Dave Hulteen sent a new original drawing – “The WatchMuppets“!

ComicBookResources.com has a new article talking with Grace Randolph and Amy Mebberson about their writing and artwork in the new Muppet Peter Pan comic.

Have you ever seen Jim Henson’s short film “Time Piece”? This was an early Henson project, dating back to the 1960s. Click here to view the film (just under 9 minutes) in its entirety.

Sesame Workshop gives us some sneak peeks into its upcoming landmark Season 40. Take a look at First Lady Michele Obama teaching Elmo and the kids how to plant a garden, the much-anticipated Mad Men parody, and even the new Season 40 show opening!

Oscar the Grouch is missing! Well not necessarily. Many Canadians claim that they’ve seen him popping up here and there. It’s suspected that Oscar is learning about waste reduction in Canada, since for the second year in a row he’s been named the official spokes-Muppet of Waste Reduction Week. Great website for the project here.

Movieline.com brings us 5 mind-blowing Muppet revelations. Maybe not mind-blowing, but definitely a good read.

Northstar National.com has a great opinion piece dissecting some of the claims that classic Sesame Street (1970s – 1980s) is too politically incorrect for today’s youth. Grab a plate of cookies and settle in for a great read!

For all the latest news and Muppet blogging, check out our friends at The Muppet Newsflash, ToughPigs, and The Muppet Mindset!

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. 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

Instead of the usual show this week, I’ve decided it’s time to present a new vidcast! And this is one many listeners have been waiting to see for a very long time. This is the complete presentation of the August 2008 Road Trip to New Jersey, featuring Mrs. Jane Hunt (mother of beloved Muppeteer Richard Hunt) and myself as we celebrate Richard’s life and his work.

Listeners who donated in the past year to the show have received their own copy of the DVD (still available upon request with donation) and it’s gotten nothing but positive reviews. By the end of this hour-long video you will come to know and appreciate Richard in a whole new light.

I’d like to again give my sincerest thanks to Mrs. Hunt and her husband Arthur Miller for their kindness to me over that weekend and every time our paths have crossed since.

Enjoy the show! 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. 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

Don’t forget, The First-Ever Genuine No-Money-Back Guarantee MuppetCast MuppetVision 3D Meet is being held Sunday, October 11 2009 at Walt Disney World! Together again, we’ll experience the best attraction in the World, MuppetVision 3D. Fun and prizes! That’s right, prizes! Hope you’re a Kermit fan.

Are you a puppeteer (or a puppet) and would like to gain some easy, free exposure in the Muppet community? I’m always looking for short show intros to play each week! There’s no intro to this week’s show, but listen back through the past few weeks and you’ll get an idea of what works well. I’d love to feature you at the beginning of next week’s MuppetCast!

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. 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

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

Why haven’t you checked out The Muppet Mindset yet? Get over there right now! I’ll wait.

The Muppets had a big weekend at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA. Lots of news, and we’ll discuss some of it on this week’s show. I’ll save some for next week too, when I just might be joined by a couple special guests!

The Internet is for…wait, no…Everyone’s A Little Bit…um, that won’t work either…oh, I know. Everything in life is only for now. Sadly, the smash hit show Avenue Q played its final show and is no longer touring. But many of us love its characters, music, and message, and the memories will be ours forever. See you at the revival!

One big Muppet announcement to come out of the D23 Expo is that the title of Jason Segel’s Muppet film will be “The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made” (formerly The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever Made). Probably went with that “Cheapest” idea due to the fact that they’re dumping an ocean liner fulla money into the Disney parks! But whatever winds up happening, I know we’ll get a great film!…whenever it comes out.

Piiiiiigs Innnn Spaaaaaaaaace! In comic book form. Declicious.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World (the traveling exhibit put together by the Henson family, the Legacy, and S.I.T.E.S.) is now at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA. Those lucky Pennsylvanians. First they get The Office, and now this!

Have you seen Dinosaur Train?? You guys might not be ready for it yet. But your kids are gonna love it!

The Ad Council has enlisted the help of Elmo and Gordin (Roscoe Orman) to help kids stay happy and healthy amid threats of the coming flu season. Yes I saw the Conan version and I loved that too!

Three words. Lifetime Achievement Award. We love you, Sesame Street.

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. 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

Thanks to David Quesal and the David Quesal Puppet Troupe for this week’s show intro.

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

No news, history, trivia, etc this week; the show is jam packed full of special guest goodness at 90 minutes! However, there are a few items to note:

The new preschool educational series Dinosaur Train debuts this week on PBS. See the official PBS DT website.

Congratulations to Sesame Street on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Daytime Emmy award ceremony. Sesame Street was nominated in over a dozen categories and won several, including Kevin Clash for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series.

Sesame Street’s new special “Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times” airs this Wednesday Sept 9. The special is directed at all families and help parents and children communicate about the tough econimic times many are experiencing right now.

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. 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

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

Thanks to everyone who’s been sending pictures for The MuppetCast Flickr page. Lots of new additions this week!

Super Grover is the subject of this week’s Muppetology. Faster than lightning, stronger than steel, smarter than a speeding bullet…and he is cute too!

Special thanks to Ben and Kevin from Missing Link Puppets for this week’s show intro! You can find their official YouTube channel here.

MuppetCast contributor David Blain has a lot of stuff you need to check out! First, there’s the Jim Henson Company official YouTube channel. Then we have the Muppets on Ed Sullivan, James Taylor singing “Jelly Man Kelly” on Sesame Street, Sherri Lewis with Big Bird, and The Muppet Show Live from Muppetfest.

Jake from England has a link to a favorite Muppet Show moment: Steve Martin in “Dueling Banjos” (played with only one banjo).

Ryan Dosier has started a shiny green new Muppet blog! Set your bookmarks now to The Muppet Mindset.

John Pinizzotto sent a link to the Stuff You Should Know podcast; in particular, an episode all about how the Muppets work! This podcast is done by the folks at HowStuffWorks.com, which also has a great article about the Muppets.

Marj Harris found a picture of Grasso & Langone on cheezburger.com, with one of those twins-separated at birth pictures of Statler & Waldorf. Too funny!

Brandy Long has a formidable collection of Kermits, check them out here.

Melanie from Maple Shade had a question about an unfinished Muppet project that I’m trying to collect more information on, but in the meantime look at all of these unfinished projects! Nature of the business I guess, there are too many ideas and never enough time.

Tony from Chicago mentioned the audiobook format of Michael Davis’s book “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street”, which is read by Caroll Spinney. You can pick up your copy right 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. 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

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

The PBS Kids programming block is about to become dino-mite! “Dinosaur Train, ” a new animated series from The Jim Henson Company, will begin entertaining preschoolers sooner than you think.

The Muppet Newsflash gives the rundown on all the Sid The Science Kid merchandise currently available, as well as what to look for as we approach the holiday season.

TVShowsOnDVD.com has the details on the new Fraggle Rock Final Season release, as well as the repackaged complete series set and the Fraggle Holiday DVD, all coming out on November 3.

Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter will be returning to the Goodspeed Opera House this December, and they are getting ready to hold auditions for the lead girl role of “Jane”. Think that name is a coincidence?

For fans of Henson’s series “The Pajanimals”, the MNF is reporting that the Jim Henson Company has just released an all-new collection of songs from their hit PBS Kids Sprout series “Pajanimals” in an exclusive Amazon.com album.

The News Flash also has lots and lots of info on what (and who) to look for this season on Sesame Street. Can’t wait to get my hands on the special 2-DVD retrospective set!

And you can bet the toy manufacturers certainly aren’t letting this momentous occasion slip by. Here’s a list of just a few Sesame Street toys coming out soon. That corduroy Elmo actually looks kind of cool.

Watch in early September for the Sesame special “Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times.”

“Muppet Diplomacy” has played a big part in getting the attention of the next generation and helping them to understand other peoples and cultures in the world. The sheer number of international Sesame Street productions is a testament to that; one big way that Jim Henson left the world a better place for having been here.

Denmark is set to get its own Sesame Street. “Sesamgade” will be featured on TV2’s weekend blcok Bavian, targeting 4- to 6-year-olds.

Sesame Workshop obviously doesn’t just put out new content without extensive research and development, and many times what we see on screen only gets there after months – and sometimes years – of scrutiny. However, this week WorldScreen.com gives us a sneak peek into what to expect from the Workshop in the near future.

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. 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

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

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. 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

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. 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

Special thanks to Frank The Horse (maybe steer the little ones away) for that hilarious intro. I loved it! If YOU, dear listener, know any puppet characters who would like to give a special intro for The MuppetCast, let me extend the invitation to call them in or record and send it like Frank!

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

Fashion designer JC de Castelbajac has taken a liking to the Muppets recently, as shown in some of these recent designs. Click on the link given right here to go to the official website, select your language, click Menu, under the Fashion heading click Be Pop Ma Lola 09/10, and finally click Collection. Pretty cool!

David Blain sent a link to a wonderful Jim Henson tribute video. It includes some special quotes from Jim himself, along with a few of the folks who worked with him, and also includes some rare onstage footage with Muppeteers and their characters.

Renee Angely sent some outtakes from the making of The Muppets at Walt Disney World. This particular clip involves, among other people, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner messing up take after take with Fozzie Bear.

Nic Kramer sent some video from the 1980s show “The Great Space Coaster”, featuring Muppeteer Kevin Clash performing the puppet character Goriddle Gorilla. Totally sounds like Hoots the Owl!

Joe Vecciarelli sent a link to some picture from the Magical Starlight Parade at Universal Studios Japan. This parade in has a red-light constructed version of Elmo that’s really pretty impressive.

David Counterman created a really cool Bert & Ernie comic strip out of some old Sesame Street screen captures. Apparently I’m talking with Ernie on the other end of the phone telling him to tune in this week for another great edition of The MuppetCast!

On the heels of Comic Con last weekend, Cindy White at IGN.com has an interview with Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Rockne O’Bannon and Brian Henson, all about Farscape, the DVD series, the upcoming webisodes, and what’s generally in store for the series in the coming months.

Among the items saved from the fire that consumed much of country music legend Jimmy Dean’s Henrico County home was a handmade Rowlf the Dog given to him by Jim Henson. Rowlf rose to TV stardom on the Jimmy Dean show in the 1960s.

Pop star Lady Gaga has made Muppet news recently by wearing…well, Muppets. Examiner.com has the picture of her wearing an Animal print dress and some video of the singer wearing a jacket made entirely out of Kermits. Hey, it got us talking, didn’t it?

Sesame Workshop never ceases to come up with great ideas in each new season, and the historic Season 40 will be no exception! Look for a new parody of AMC’s Mad Men (which my friend Seth Miller is auditioning for!), a new computer-animated segment with Abby Cadabby (go Leslie!), and probably an interesting way to feature the letter X. How many words can you feature in a prechool show? X-ray? Xylophone? Xebra? No wait…

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. 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

Special thanks to Matt Kahl, Marianne Murphy, Megan McCabe, and David Stephens for talking with me this week. We all had a blast!

Comic Con 2009 was all atwitter (and all a-Facebook I’m sure) about the newly revealed Farscape mega box set containing all four seasons plus more bonus material than you could shake a stick at. That’s assuming you’re one for shaking sticks to begin with. It’s also been reported that fans can opt to purchase the one large mega set or purchase seasons one, two, three, or four individually. They’ll all be released at the same time. Now there’s an idea.

Farscape also earned a place in the Guiness Book of World Records for “most visual effects in a TV series“. How cool is that!

The Muppet Wiki continues to be The One Big Resource for Muppet fans who want to know anything and everything about the Muppets. This week they assist in Muppetology as we fondly remember The Teeny Little Superguy. (Oh yeah!)

After chatting with Matt Kahl from Comic Con, he visited the BOOM! Studios booth and met up with Muppet Show Comic Book writer and artist Roger Langridge. Roger was kind enough to draw a picture of The Electric Mayhem for Matt, and Matt was kind enough to send along a copy for The MuppetCast Flickr Page. Thanks Roger and Matt!

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. 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

Leslie also has a superb CD available via her official website and iTunes titled “Spunkinsass”! Grab your copy today!

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

If you’re in the Orlando area, catch Encore!, the 300-member choir and orchestra comprised entirely of Disney Cast Members. Our own James Songster is among their number, and he sent in a fun rehearsal recording for the show this week.

The Paul Williams song “I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus” has been nominated for an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics”. This song was part of the 2008 TV special “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa”.

Are you going to Comic Con 2009? You are?? Lucky duck. There will be plenty to see and enjoy, and for Muppet/Henson fans here’s a schedule of events that may interest you:
Friday July 24 at 10:15am Farscape 10th Anniversary Panel with show stars and Brian Henson
Friday July 24 at 2:00pm Rockne O’Bannon signing at BOOM Studios booth (#2543)
Saturday July 25 at 2:30pm Farscape Comics panel with O’Bannon and DeCandido
Saturday July 25 at 3:45pm Rockne O’Bannon signing at BOOM Studios booth (#2543)
Sunday July 26 at 10:00am Roger Langridge and the Muppet Show Comic Book Panel

CBR also has a great new interview with Roger Langridge talking about the Muppet Show Comic.

The Jim Henson Company and Harper Collins are set to start releasing Sid The Science Kid preschool books starting December 2009.

The National Post has an incredible interactive collage of 101 Muppets from Sesame Street! Check it out here.

Sesame Workshop is expanding its “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative, opening Sesame Street Family Connections. This is an online space where both children and adults can interact and stay connected when distance makes everyday communication difficult. Additionally, they’ve created new “Sesame Rooms”. Read all about it at the official TLC website.

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. 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

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Bell, Book & Comic. Life Should Be More Fun!

Featured in this episode: Muppet writer Jim Lewis discussing his books “Jim Henson’s Doodle Dreams” and “It’s Hard Out Here for a Shrimp“, and The MuppetCast’s tribute to John Denver. Enjoy!

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. 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

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

This month, you won’t have to travel across an ocean to experience the work of some of the world’s premier puppet artists! Venues from around Atlanta – including the Center for Puppetry Arts – have invited innovative puppet companies from Canada, France, Spain, and the United States to share their exciting array of performances, artist-led workshops, and exhibits.

Listener Hilarie Mukavitz recently made a stop in Leland, Mississippi, and visited the Jim Henson Mississippi Delta Boyhood Museum. Here’s a link to her Facebook pictures documenting the trip.

Head over to The MuppetCast Flickr Page for new additions from listeners Kyle W. and Lianne! Kyle sent pictures of some great new plushes he picked up in San Antonio, TX. Lianne found her old Muppet Show Book (the really big one from the late 1970s), and other books and figures. Great stuff!

Just as they did last year, the Jim Henson Company will be at this year’s Comic Con in San Diego, CA. This year they’ve got a big announcement for Farscape fans. As “Farscape” marks its 10th anniversary, A&E Home Entertainment and the Jim Henson Company have partnered to release all four seasons of Farscape in one DVD set! You can find certain DVDs here and there on the internet right now, but this will be a new collection encompassing all episodes, complete with new featurettes and commentary.

Canada.com tells of how the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Northeast Alabama once saw a full-sized Hoggle from the film “Labyrinth” come through their doors. Something tells me the Henson Company wound up recovering that particular piece of lost luggage.

Did you see Sesame Street singing and playing at this year’s PBS “Capitol Fourth” concert? Yes? No? Either way, I’ve included their portion of the concert in this week’s show, so enjoy!

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. 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

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

David Quesal sent a link to his YouTube channel, where all of his David Quesal Puppet Troupe projects can be found. Great work, David!

BJ Wanlund sent link to the professional websites of several voice actors from the Muppet Babies cartoon of the 1980s! Click to visit each below:
Katie Leigh
Frank Welker
Alan O’Day
Dave Coulier
Howie Mandell

Katie Cook is a very talented artist with several comic book and other art projects under her belt. Recently she submitted several pieces to the Henson Company to be considered for their new Fraggle Rock comic book. She posted the work on her website, and it’s fantastic!

Paul Williams recently commented at the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame 40th Anniversary how much he enjoyed writing songs for Jim Henson. “He would add a scene to a movie just to support an idea for a song.”

ToughPigs.com has had a string of great posts on their blog recently! Not only some great stuff with Roger Langridge – actually plenty of really good general Muppet comic book chatter – but also the recent Muppet Show Haiku project is hilarious!

Take a look at Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits for Life initiative. You can download the caregiver materials from the website in English or Spanish, and can watch the video supplements too!

Sesame Street’s Forest of Fun is the newest child-themed addition to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. We’ve talked about it many times on the MC, but Busch Gardens also has a theme park in Tampa, FL. And, just as many people had hoped, Sesame Street will be coming to that park in a year or two.

The Food Network Challenge episode tackling Sesame Street cakes has had its airdate moved up. Look for it on July 26 at 8PM Eastern. Check local listings and set your DVRs accordingly.

The Jim Henson Company has announced a new partnership with Archaia to publish new comic books and graphic novels based on popular Henson titles as well as new co-branded properties. Should be very interesting to see what they come up with. At this point, we know their first project is likely to be a new Fraggle Rock book.

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. 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

Happy birthday to Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath! Bob plays, well, “Bob” on Sesame Street, and has done so for the entire run of the show. Bob’s birthday was June 13, and this week we Celebrate Bob’s Birthday in a special way!

Lots of great listener feedback and Muppet news. For instance, Stuart Reeves is working on a fantastic 3D Muppet piece and has decided to share parts of the work in progress with the world! These pics are extremely impressive. Check out Waldorf, Dr. Teeth, Swedish Chef, Crazy Harry, Sam Eagle, Fozzie Bear, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Animal.

Darrin G. sent a link to some Little Muppet Monsters episodes. Boy, those take me back! I loved watching those as a youngster.

Matt W. sent the link to a 40-minute puppet film that he and some friends made in his college years. Lots of little nods to Jim Henson and the Muppets. Caution: not appropriate for all audiences, by Matt’s own admission.

Joel from the DPM sent a link to the Muppet cake from last fall. If you’ve never seen this, it’s the most perfect edible Muppet tribute you may ever see!

In Muppetology we celebrate Sal Minella, and all the glorious moments in this flunky monkey’s Muppet career.

Muppet writer Jim Lewis joins a couple dozen of his Boonton, NJ alumni brethren in a local exhibit celebrating Boonton graduates’ success. Jim says there’s just something in the water.

What do you think of Wilkins Coffee? I never tasted it. BOOM. Now what do you think of Wilkins?

If Abby Cadabby thought she could take the summer off, I guess she was wrong.

For the very latest in Muppet news, stay up to date with the Muppet News Flash. Then go make fun of all the news with our friends at ToughPigs.

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. 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

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

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. 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

Also, make sure to vote for the Center for Puppetry Arts in the Nickelodeon Parents’ Poll! You can give them your vote for Best Atlanta Theatre Group for Kids, Best Atlanta Tourist Spot, and Best Atlanta Museum. You can vote daily. Winning in any or all of these categories means a lot for the Center, and will help them achieve their goal of a dedicated Jim Henson wing to their new facility!

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. 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

Vettech28 sent a link to the 1982 NBC special “I Love Liberty“, in which the Muppets re-enact the Continental Congress. Something tells me this isn’t exactly how it happened, but hey who am I to argue.

Clay from Atlanta is a big fan of the Center for Puppetry Arts, just like me, and he has a way we can all help put the Center even more in the public eye.

Speed Tracer found a link to an obscure Muppet clip from the Orson Welles show, a pilot Mr. Welles filmed in 1979 for a talk show that ultimately wasn’t picked up. The website Speed found it on is run by some of the folks working on the film “Where the Wild Things Are”.

In Muppetology, we explore the subject of the Indianapolis 500, the largest single-day sporting event in the world. We talk about two Muppet pieces; the Playstation One game “Muppet Race Mania” and a clip from Sesame Street, in which Grover pretends to drive Gordon’s car.

Along with many other theme parks and summer attractions, Bush Gardens has begun its full-time summer schedule, and for Sesame Street fans old and young that also means the new Forest of Fun is now open daily. Also open is Sesame Place, the completely Sesame-themed park in Langhorne, PA.

Yoostar on May 18 announced a new partnership with Sesame Workshop to feature 160 classic and contemporary Sesame Street clips on their revolutionary new entertainment system. Now you’ll be singing the alphabet on-screen with Kermit and Grover. A-B-C-D-Cookie Monster!

Dr. Jeanette Betancourt recently appeared on NPR’s “Tell Me More” talking about the Talk, Listen, Connect initiative.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World is now showing at Seattle’s Experience Music Project. SeattlePI.com tells us 4 things you don’t know about the Jim Henson exhibit. The official Experience Music Project page for JHFW even has a new Henson fact each day the exhibit is open!

Based on the instant success of the Muppet Show Comic Book and the projected sales of the upcoming Muppets Robin Hood books, even more Muppet comics are on the way.

Make sure to check out the Muppet News Flash and ToughPigs.com for the latest Muppet news and commentary.

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. 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

Also joining me in this episode is Jeff Cornett, co-director of the Puppeteers of America’s 2009 National Festival. We talk about PoA, it’s various Muppet connections, and the exciting events contained in this July’s festival. You’ll be booking your travel plans by the end of the interview!

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Bell, Book & Comic. Life Should Be More Fun!

Have you ever heard of the Jim Henson Mississippi Delta Boyhood Museum? It’s in Leland, Miss – Jim’s hometown – and although small in comparison to some other Henson collections, you’ll be glad you made the trip.

The Jim Henson Company’s new CG-animated show Dinosaur Train is set to air September 7, 2009 on PBS KIDS. We first heard about this show months ago, but as we near the debut much more information has surfaced.

The annual Licensing International Expo is set to take place this year in Las Vegas June 2-4. This is the licensing industry’s largest annual event, and this year the Jim Henson Company will be there looking for new licensees for Fraggle Rock!

Brian Calvert for KOMO News in Seattle, WA posted an interview this week with Henson archivist Karen Falk, in anticipation of the arrival of Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at Seattle’s Experience Music Project. The Experience Music Project will open the exhibit to the public on May 23.

The 2009 Daytime Emmy nominations have been published, and Sesame Workshop has been nominated in several categories. Henson’s Sid the Science Kid also received two nominations, so congratulations all around!

The Sesame Street CD “Silly Songs” will be re-released this May 19, this time by KOCH Records, the company currently handling all Sesame Street CD releases. The newly themed packaging features new artwork, and a booklet containing the lyrics to all the songs.

Check out ToughPigs.com for the new works from Peter Savieri, some commentary on the recent Daytime Emmy nominations, and pictures from this year’s “Muppet Rawk” album art imitations.

Thanks for listening this week. It’s amazing to think that all of these memories, the news, the music, all of it sprung from these projects inspired and assisted by one man: Jim Henson.

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. 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

Next week, during the normal course of the show, we will observe the day that Jim Henson passed away. The actual date is May 16, which is Saturday, so spend a little time watching your favorite episode of a Henson production, or maybe your favorite Muppet film. I encourage you to call or write with your special memories and messages for inclusion on next week’s show. I’m not planning on doing a special “tribute episode” as we have done in the past, mostly because I believe what we’ve already done serves as such a fitting tribute in and of itself. Then again, if I’m bombarded with your Henson remembrances, I may have no choice! We’ll see what happens.

In Muppetology, we remember actor Dom DeLuise as he passed away last week. DeLuise was a very talented comedic actor and loved collaborating with folks like Mel Brooks and Burt Reynolds. He also appeared twice with the Muppets, once as Bernie the agent (named in tribute to Bernie Brillstein, Henson’s longtime agent), and again in the second season of The Muppet Show. You’ll hear both appearances in the show.

Listener David Blain sent a link to the first appearance of Little Muppet Monsters. The Monsters appeared as inserted pieces in the Muppet Babies cartoons for a short time.

Michelle G. sent a link to the new Hallmark keepsake ornament – the Swedish Chef! Fans will love this one, illustrating a great Chef moment being held at gunpoint by the lobster banditos.

Look for an official Sesame Workshop book full of photos and memories of the past 40 years of Sesame Street to be released around early November 2009. You can go ahead and pre-order the book if you like. I still can’t believe it’s been 40 years!

Check out The MuppetCast Flickr Page for some new pics sent in by listener Robin! She and her family visited Sea World San Diego last year just before their Sesame-themed Bay of Play area opened to the public. Sesame Street characters were already out and about, though, taking pictures with kids and singing and dancing.

Alma sent a YouTube link to Part 1 of the Sesame special “Don’t Eat The Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art“. This is from the early 1980s. Once you view the YouTube page for part 1 you’ll see the links to parts 2-8. You can watch the whole thing!

Check out our friends at The Muppet News Flash and ToughPigs for outstanding Muppet news coverage and commentary!

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. 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

Nicholas Lemon also joins me to talk about his recent experience on Ace of Cakes, a show on the Food Network. Along with fellow puppeteer and friend Noel MacNeal, Lemon Productions has the distinction of having the first puppets in a reality series! There has to be an award for that somewhere.

David B. has two YouTube links to the Cosby Show episode “Cliff’s Nightmare” (Part 1, Part 2). Lots of fun Muppet moments here, I remember seeing this when it first aired!

BJ Wanlund found that Plaza Sesamo, the Mexican version of Sesame Street, now has episodes available for purchase on iTunes.

Speed Tracer and Hannah from Indiana both found links to the new Night At The Museum film, featuring a cameo by Oscar the Grouch. Oscar appears on screen next to Darth Vader. Very appropriate!

Check out Pete P.’s new puppet webseries Treehouse Studios! Appropriate for adult audiences, this is a fun new series created by Pete and his friends. Also check out their Facebook group!

This week’s Muppetology segment introduces us to Froggy the Gremlin, one of the true first amphibians in show business. Kermit even credits him as being an inspiration in his 2006 memoir “Before You Leap”.

In the news, Plaza Sesamo has released four Public Service Announcements on Televisia, a TV channel in Mexico, advising children how to stay clean and safe from the unfortunate outbreak of swine flu.

More Muppet comic books are on the way! Once the current Muppet Show Comic Book run is finished, artist and writer Roger Langridge is set to create a new four-part miniseries, The Muppet Show: Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson!

The Muppets, Music & Magic film series will be in Oregon during the month of May. Muppeteer Dave Goelz was on hand for the festivities this past weekend, and Willamette Week Online has a nice interview with Mr. Goelz and Gonzo!

Amazon.com now offers an exclusive CD soundtrack from the Jim Henson Company: “Sid The Science Kid Soundtrack Vol. 1“. Here’s hoping for its success, and a Volume 2 to follow soon. There’s also an exclusive Sid ringtone available for a short time at PBS Parents.

“Puppets Take Atlanta & Beyond” is a special puppetry event coming to Atlanta, GA this summer, coinciding with the Puppeteers of America’s National Festival and Conference. A huge event not to be missed, and you can bet that I’m very excited about this!

Finally, WickedLocal.com brings us a special tour of Acton, MA. In a special video posted on their website, you can actually see the boyhood home of Mr. Caroll Spinney (performer of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch).

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. 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

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Bell, Book & Comic. Life Should Be More Fun!

A new segment debuts this week called Muppetology. Think of it as a way to dive even deeper into the rich history and backstories of Muppet characters, performers, and productions. This week we discuss Sesame Street’s “Spaceship Surprise“.

MuppetCast listeners receive special discounts when visiting or becoming members of the Center for Puppetry Arts! Visit their website today for details.

An article from the Toledo Free Press talks about Jim Henson (among a few other success stories), and reminds us how Jim pursued things more enduring than money.

Sesame Workshop is celebrating Baby Bear’s birthday on Saturday, May 9 at Sesame Place theme park! The park is located in Langhorne, PA, a drivable distance from Philadelphia and New York City.

Elmo recently helped launch a new planetarium show at Washington DC’s National Air & Space Museum. “This is one small step for a monster, and one giant leap for monsterkind.”

Don’t forget to pick up The Muppet Show Comic Book #2 and Muppets Robin Hood #1 on Wednesday April 29! Comic book stores have ordered so many copies of The Muppet Show #2 that the distributor is cleaned out, and is already working on a second printing.

If you compared every Muppet film side by side, which would win? David O’Donnel takes on this impossible question, and makes some very good observations.

Get yourself over to the Muppet News Flash and see the special “Vote for Beaker” video. Don’t forget to vote for Beaker’s “Ode To Joy” video in the People’s Voice Webby Awards!

Listener Nic K. sent two great links this week, one assisting a fellow MC listener in the quest for a long lost Sesame Street video, and one to the Muppet Wiki helping a listener from a few weeks ago in finding a special record player. Nic requested to hear Jose Feliciano’s “A World Without Music” from Sesame Street, and fellow listener Kate O. was happy to provide that song!

Elizabeth sent a link to Public Broadcasting Atlanta, and a special behind-the-scenes video they produced for the Center’s show “The Little Pirate Mermaid”.

New to The MuppetCast Flickr page: Muppet wallpapers from Darrin, John P. puppeteering Audrey II in a school production of “Little Shop of Horrors”, and a Muppet sticker sheet from Michele G!

Grant H. is a Canadian puppeteer and has a new Czech Black piece on his website, The Abstractions.

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. 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

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Bell, Book & Comic. Are you ready for Free Comic Book Day?

In 2008 Disney’s Muppets Studio released some all-new viral videos of some of our favorite Muppet characters (complete with Statler & Waldorf heckling at the end). One of these has attracted so much attention and admiration from fans that it’s now been nominated for a Webby Award! Watch Beaker’s Ode to Joy and then vote in the People’s Voice Award poll.

Thanks to Tales From The Laughing Place magazine, we now have something of a release date for The Muppet Show Season 4 DVD collection. Unfortunately it won’t be until 2010. However, we now also have new Muppet Whatnot Workshops coming to Disney’s California Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

If you or your child is a fan of Sid the Science Kid, you can look forward to a week of new episodes starting on May 4. Check your local PBS listings for details.

Film.com is set to feature all-new Henson Alternative branded web series S.U.D.S. and Alt/Reality, along with a few clips of the live Henson stage show Puppet Up! Uncensored.

Australian parents will be happy to hear that Sesame Workshop is partnering with Brumby’s Bakeries to expand their Healthy Habits for Life program. Special Sesame school-ready items are being given away with certain purchases.

Sesame Workshop will receive the lifetime achievement award this summer at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy awards. Congratulations!

Check out Elmo’s appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last week. In fact, head over to ToughPigs.com and check out all the recent Muppet TV appearances!

Listener Cory sent links to REM’s “Furry Happy Monsters” and The Muppet Show’s “Danny Boy“. Both classic Muppet bits, check them out. He also asked about a video, and I think he’s talking about the Sesame DVD “Sleepytime Songs & Stories“. For about $8, might as well pick it up!

SesameStMuppets from the Muppet Central Forums has a new video project to share with The MuppetCast audience: a puppet version of “Romeo & Juliet”, with plenty of Muppet references.

Stay tuned next week, when we’re scheduled to talk to Sesame Workshop about the Summer 2009 travel season, and where you can find Sesame characters and experiences around the country.

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. 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

This special episode features an interview with one of the most-requested Muppet performers among the fans, Jerry Nelson. Now retired, Mr. Nelson was one of the very early Muppeers, working closely with Jim Henson on projects like Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and Fraggle Rock; not to mention numerous Henson films like The Muppet Movie, The Dark Crystal, and The Muppet Christmas Carol. His career spans over 40 years, with much of that time spent as a principal Muppet performer.

Thanks to everyone who left voicemails and sent in special audio pieces for the show. It truly is the Muppets fans – from all over the world and from every walk of life – that keep The MuppetCast afloat. I sincerely appreciate your 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. 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

Sonia is also a highly sought-after guest speaker, so be sure and catch her in these upcoming appearances:
Sept 25, 2009: San Antonio, TX
Oct 14, 2009: San Jose, CA – YWCA Keynote address

Next week is The MuppetCast’s 2nd Anniversary Show! I’m still in disbelief, but thanks to your support we’re still alive and kicking! So to celebrate, I’m featuring a very special interview with longtime Muppeteer Jerry Nelson. You read that correctly. Mr Nelson was very generous with his time and commentary to The MuppetCast, and the result is a near one-hour interview that will be hear in its entirety next week, along with your emails and voicemails! Anything special that you’d like to call in or send to me for the 2nd anniversary should be done by Saturday, April 11. Thanks again everyone!

Are you on Twitter? If so, feel free to add The MuppetCast to your list of followees (and I’ll gladly follow your tweets too). Also make sure to follow The Muppet News Flash, The Muppet Wiki, Sesame Workshop, and The Jim Henson Company. Post your twitter address in the comments for this or any future episode and we’ll be sure and follow you too!

Did you know there are 3 separate Sesame Street Live productions touring the US and Canada? It’s true! Check out the new MuppetCast SSL Schedule page for show descriptions as well as show dates to find out when they’re coming to your town.

The MuppetCast is sponsored by our friends at Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more fun!

If you saw the recent PBS special “Coming Home: Military Families Cope With Change” this past Wednesday April 1, one of the families you met were the Marcolongos of Del Mar, CA. Maj. Nico Marcolongo returned from two tours in Iraq in 2007 with PTSD, and through time and effort he and his family are now doing well in dealing with this invisible injury. The Del Mar Times reported on a PTSD support group Nico founded, and how it’s grown to include larger groups of servicepeople.

The Muppet News Flash has a video clip of Elmo’s recent appearance on NBC’s TODAY, promoting the upcoming DVD “Being Green”. Look for it starting Tuesday, April 7. They also point to a YouTube clip showing some behind-the-scenes footage from the filming for Coming Home, including some comments from Sesame Workshop CEO Gary Knell.

Sesame Workshop and Genius Products have teamed up with Amazon.com to enable we the fans to vote on our favorite classic Sesame Street clips for inclusion on an upcoming 40th anniversary DVD collection. Vote for your favorites here!

A few folks evidently put their heads together recently and filmed a mock trailer for the fictional video game “Jim Henson’s Resident Evil 5“. Whether you like the content or not (PG-13 for violence), if you watch it you’ll have to admire their workmanship. They put a lot of time into it, and I would really like to hear from at least one of the participants!

New on ToughPigs.com this week: a shiny new article from Ryan Roe taking us through some of his favorite freak-out moments from our fleecy flippered friend Kermit. Lots of great clips and commentary from ToughPigs.com! (That’s two angels, right Joe?)

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. 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

Other guests on this week’s show include author Michael Davis, author of “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street“, and listener Hilarie Mukavitz for a new Muppet List segment in which we discuss Muppet Show music hall numbers.

Michael is gearing up to do a book signing tour throughout the southeastern US, and he’d like your suggestions on where he should appear! Contact him through his website. In the meantime, here are the confirmed dates for the book tour as it stands:

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 7 p.m.
REGULATOR BOOKSHOP
720 9th Street
Durham, NC

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1 p.m.
BARNES & NOBLE
8725 Townley Road
Huntersville, NC

MONDAY, APRIL 27, TIME TBA
A CAPELLA BOOKS
Atlanta, GA

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 8 p.m.
BOOKS AND BOOKS
Coral Gables, FL

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 7 p.m.
SARASOTA NEWS & BOOKS
Sarasota, FL

Stay tuned next week for a special announcement concerning Show #105, The MuppetCast’s 2nd Birthday!

The MuppetCast is brought to you by the letters A, I, G, and Bell, Book & Comic! Life should be more fun!

Sadly, Francis Essex, a TV executive who helped bring the Muppets to Britain, died this week. Essex worked closely with ATV’s chairman Lew Grade to bring Henson’s vision of The Muppet Show to life.

The Muppet Show Comic Book #1 was a decided success this week, as comic book distributor Diamond Comics is sold out of the book! More copies are being printed, but this book has seen a warm reception among Muppet fans. You can review and rate the book for yourself over at IGN Comics, and Muppet Central Forum member BlakeMP has a fantastic review of his own at ComiXtreme!

Sesame Place theme park in Pennsylvania will add a new waterplay structure to the range of rides on offer at the park this summer. Denver-based water ride manufacturer SCS Interactive will supply the new attraction, called Count’s Splash Castle.

MusicRadar.com recently posted their 11 greatest Sesame Street guest songs, with YouTube clips to compliment each listing.

The Muppet News Flash tells us that The Jim Henson Company and DECODE Entertainment are teaming up to produce a brand-new animated series based on the industrious little characters from Fraggle Rock known as Doozers. The company will produce 26 half-hour episodes of a new series entitled The Doozers.

After “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” is finished in Orlando, FL, where’s it heading next? Glad you asked; the exhibit will make its way diagonally across the US to Seattle, WA, to the Experience Music Project!

Listener Melanie offered up a link to the podcast Major Spoilers, a quality comic book-related show, to an episode discussing Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal.

Check out The MuppetCast Flickr Page for new additions from Matt, David, and Darrin. Darrin also sent some YouTube links to classic Canadian children’s puppet-based programs, including:
Casey & Finnegan
Sesame Park (the Canadian export of Sesame Street)
Friendly Giant’s Castle
Nic & Pic (a French Canadian production)

Happy Birthday to listener UncleMatt!

Listener Rafi sent a link to a blog post talking in satirical terms what the recession means to the characters of Sesame Street.

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. 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

Check out The MuppetCast Flickr Page, the Twitter feed, and the Facebook group to stay up-to-date with the show!

The MuppetCast is sponsored by our friends at Bell, Book & Comic. Life Should Be More Fun!

Big news from Orlando: Steve Whitmire will appear at the Orange Co. History Center April 4 and 5, to present select screenings at the ongoing “Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy” screenings. Visit the Center’s website for details.

Let’s face it, times are tough, and practically no one is immune from the economic downturn – including Sesame Workshop. Similar to the Disney company, Sesame is having to learn to operate with less overhead, and that means fewer bodies. Hopefully those let go will soon find new pursuits, and our very best wishes go out to them, as well as our hopes for better days around the corner for Sesame Workshop.

Ricky Gervais recently taped some segments for Sesame Street’s 40th season, and later did an interview for a news agency alongside Elmo (Video rated PG-13). Hilarious stuff!

Also check out Sesame Street’s Forest of Fun this summer at Busch Gardens! Highlights of the new park area include the new Alpine Express children’s roller coaster, a new performance stage, wet and dry playgrounds, a flume ride, and a shot-n-drop ride. Meet the characters and take pictures with them in their special photography studio! Visit their website for more details.

Congratulations to the Jim Henson Company for being selected to receive the Fred Rogers Award!

The Henson Company has been hard at work getting Sid the Science Kid on TV screens across the globe! The preschool science preparedness program is set to air now in France, Spain, the Middle East, Israel, and the UAE.

The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA has the honor of displaying a special “Platinum Edition” Pinocchio puppet created by master puppeteer Bob Baker of Los Angeles. See the video of the unveiling here.

Listener Max sent a link to a rare Henson instructional video, in which Jim, Frank Oz, and Michael Frith all explain the finer points of Muppet puppetry. Wonder who their audience was?

If you’re looking for Muppet Treasure Island on DVD, hopefully this Amazon link will help you out.

Tom Stewart of PuppeteersUnite.com sent a link that will hopefully aid another listener in the search for a beloved childhood toy. Is this what she was looking for?

Listener Ariel sent two more University of Maryland links (UMD was Jim Henson’s alma mater). See the 2003 Kermit statue dedication and an updated page of all UMD Henson internal links.

Finally, thanks to The Count and David Counterman for their help in some of the media clips in this episode. David has a great Kermit tribute set to the song “Frog Kissin”.

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. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

The MuppetCast is brought to you by the letter H, the number 12, and Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more fun!

I highly encourage you to watch Tales of the Tinkerdee for yourself. It’s available to view on YouTube. If you’ve never watched it you owe it to yourself to familiarize yourself with the work that spawned such characters as King Goshposh and Taminella Grinderfall.

The part of Charlie the Ogre is played here by Jim Henson’s legs.

Have a great week!

-Steve

-Steve

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

Listener James has a new blog up, and his first posted work is a Muppet tribute! James is very talented, take a look for yourself and see his work on DeviantArt also.

Many years ago, late night host David Letterman had Jack Paar on as a guest, and Paar showed Dave something very surprising. Many people have heard about the famous closet of steam valves which Jim Henson meticulously decorated while he waited backstage on Paar’s show decades ago. Well, a Twitter follower sent a link to the Letterman footage where Paar first reveals this work of art to the world.

From another Twitter follower comes a YouTube link to a piece from Season 5 of The Muppet Show. Birds playing the guitar to “How Much is that Doggie in the Window“.

Ariel sent a link to the University of Maryland (Jim Henson’s Alma Mater), where students can access and view countless hours of Henson’s TV and film projects. Jealous?

Check out The MuppetCast Flickr Page for the latest fan-submitted photos. Email your Muppety photos to me@muppetcast.com.

Show #100 is coming up very soon. If you’d like to leave a voicemail to be played on that very special episode, call it in at 614-364-4270. Can’t wait to hear from you!

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. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

The Muppet Central Forum Awards show has been moved a few weeks down the line to allow for other projects to be developed. Listen for that episode in March!

Show #100 is coming up very soon. If you’d like to leave a voicemail to be played on that very special episode, call it in at 614-364-4270. Can’t wait to hear from you!

With the popularity of the Orlando based MouseFest, a new annual event has been created: Mousemeets! Read all about it.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World will be on display in Orlando until May 3. Recently, the Dr. Phillips Charities – the group sponsoring this Florida visit – invited some local area children to explore the exhibit.

Farscape fans get your wallets ready. BOOM! Studios will be offering a limited holofoil edition of their sold out comic FARSCAPE #1 available exclusively during WonderCon 2009.

Muppet-Beatle connections are always interesting. The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens (now called Yusuf Islam) recently recorded a version of “The Long and Winding Road” at the Jim Henson Company lot.

Don’t you get tired of people unnecessarily coming down on Sesame Street characters? So does this writer.

Caroll Spinney is a fascinating performer. At 75 years of age he’s still performing Oscar the Grouch and the forever childlike Big Bird. Read more about him here.

Sesame Street is taking kids into the digital age, not only with the exploration of the Joan Ganz Cooney center into the new digital media platforms, but by bringing new and innovative digital artists to the Street right now!

The Minneapolis-based Children’s Theatre Company’s 2009-10 season will include a world premiere musical based on Sesame Street. Bert & Ernie, Goodnight! will open in previews Sept 8 and will close Oct 25.

Listener Corey O. and friends are branching out their podcast, Total Domination. You can now find the main website here and the video component here. Also check out listener Chris W.’s podcast Interview with a Podcaster. I was lucky enough to be the guest in his very first show!

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. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

The Orlando trip, the New Jersey trip, and a lot more are also covered in my recent blog post.

Lots to talk about, and it’s all here thanks to listeners like you, as well as our friends at Bell, Book & Comic. Life Should Be More Fun!

Special thanks also to Chris “Smig” Smigliano. Check out his work over at ToughPigs.com!

There are many areas of the world where children can benefit from Sesame Street not only as a learning tool for their ABCs, but also to learn about acceptance and tolerance. None more so perhaps than in the Middle East. That’s why there’s a new Sesame International production on the Israeli Hop! TV station, Rehov Sumsum.

Ready for the new Muppet Show comic book? Here’s a very cool interview by Zack Smith at News-a-Rama.com with Muppet Show comic book writer and artist Roger Langridge.

Fans of Stephanie D’Abruzzo will be interested in this article talking about her time on the Street (and the book “Street Gang”). Stephanie’s hubby Craig Shemin will be in Orlando for an Annual Passholder Muppet Speaker Event on March 7!

CNN got Muppet-happy this week! Many people sent me the articles talking about the stories behind certain Muppet characters, and the book review of “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street”.

Toy company Hasbro and the Jim Henson Company are teaming up to introduce a wide range of toys and games based on Sid the Science Kid. Look for new products to debut in Fall 2009.

American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim recently mentioned Jim Henson in a recent talk given in West Palm Beach. In an evening titled “A Conversation With Stephen Sondheim”, he mentioned that Jim Henson had actually shown interest in making a movie version of his famous musical “Into The Woods”.

Muppet Mania is runnin’ wild (brother!) at the Orange County History Center! The Orlando Sentinel has a few more details to report from the exhibit. One mom also offers her own advice on how to experience it with children of various ages. Call the History Center at (800) 965-2030 or (407) 836-8500 for ticket information.

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. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Joining me to briefly talk about the exhibit is Heather Henson! We discuss the exhibit’s Florida debut, the upcoming “Muppets Music & Magic” screenings also to be held at the History Center, and what her father’s creations mean to her.

The feature segment brings us a rare studio cut of the extinct Walt Disney World stage show “Here Come the Muppets“. This is close to the final version of the show, but there are still a few moments left in this recording that were later cut out. Muppet aficionados will surely appreciate it.

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. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

This week I present a session most people didn’t get a chance to attend. Earlier in the day there was a special panel held solely for educators with author Michael Davis, Mr. Spinney, Mr. McGrath, Mr. Spinney, Mr. Geiss, and Ms. Manzano. The talk was fascinating, as it centered on the Workshop’s educational goals and curriculum, and its overall approach to early childhood education. That’s not to say the talk was dry or boring, quite the contrary. Try to keep these people from telling hilarious stories about working on the show and you’ve got an impossible job on your hands. While we gain insight into many areas of the show which many listeners might be unaware, we’re spared no amount of story and song, and good ol’ Bob even makes sure to lead us all in a singing of the theme song at the end.

Next week brings another new MuppetCast, however I will personally be in Orlando, Florida, on hand for the opening of “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World”, a traveling exhibit put together by the loving hands of the Henson family and the Smithsonian SITES service. This exhibit has been all over the country, and I decided Orlando was as good a place as any to see it for the first time. After all, the only thing that makes the Muppets better is a week’s vacation spent at Walt Disney world, right? Rest assured there will be a new MuppetCast next week, and there will indeed be a little treat nestled within. You’ll giggle. I did.

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. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

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

Don’t forget, on January 30, William Paterson University will be hosting “Sesame Street at 40: A Night of Celebration and Discovery with the Legendary Cast“. This special evening’s panel discussion will feature Frank Oz, Kevin Clash, Caroll Spinney, Marty Robinson, Fran Brill, and David Rudman. Also on the panel are Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, and writer Tony Geiss. Author Michael Davis will be the evening’s moderator. Tickets are still on sale, call 973-720-2371 or email boxoffice@wpunj.edu to reserve your seats.

Fans who plan on attending the Sesame event at WPU can read and participate in this discussion going on at the Muppet Central Forums. Maybe we can all meet up somewhere during that weekend!

February 7 marks the opening of “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” in Orlando, FL at the Orange County History Center. Join me if you’re in the Orlando area for fun and Muppets!

The Electric Company made a comeback this week on PBS. The original Electric Company, which aired from 1971 to ‘77 and in repeats until ‘85, was created by Joan Ganz Cooney as a follow-up to her Sesame Street. The new 30-minute program changes things up a bit from what many of us remember, but the show is just as viable a teaching tool today as it was then. One of the actresses is even from the Columbus, OH area!

Set your DVR for Scrubs this Tuesday January 27 on ABC! This new episode is titled “My ABCs” and features a plethora of Sesame Street Muppets. What could be better?

Norman Stiles will be honored at the WGA Awards ceremony on Feb. 7 at the Hudson Theater in Gotham. He’s won a dozen Emmys for his work on Sesame Street and Between the Lions (which he co-created). During his career, Stiles oversaw more than 2,000 scripts, supervised a staff of 15 to 20 writers, authored or co-authored many Sesame Street books and wrote or co-wrote many of the show’s songs.

The Henson digitally puppeteered series Frances is set to release the DVD and book set “Bedtime for Frances” in late March. This series is based on the popular Russel Hoban books about a high-spirited young badger named Frances. Hoban also co-wrote the book “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas.”

Muppet Central Forums member “Hat Sharpener” has some photos on his Flickr page of Kermit the Frog at his wedding! Congratulations Hat, and the photos were very well done.

The new Muppet book “The Diva Code”, written by Miss Piggy (with help from our friend Jim Lewis) hits store shelves this Tuesday. Pick it up at your local bookstore or online at Amazon!

ToughPigs.com reader Peter Savieri graces the front page of that website with some original Muppet artwork that’s quite a cut above the usual. He’s lent some images of Gonzo, Piggy, Animal, and Kermit. You’ll also find two new irreverent comics from artist Chris Smigliano.

Before the big event at WPU on January 30, Michael Davis – along with Christopher Cerf, Roscoe Orman, and Caroll Spinney – got a practice round in, with a panel discussion at a Barnes & Noble in Lincoln Triangle in NYC. You can see pictures and hear the full audio of the discussion here!

Mr. Davis himself sent a link to a recent radio appearance he did in Boston promoting the book “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street”. You can listen to the entire audio streaming over the internet or download it to your computer.

Listener David Manley sent a link to his website, Puppet Muse, with some very well-made characters. He also sent a beautiful scan of a foldout from a magazine featuring Jim Henson and the Muppet Whatnots from the Muppet Show dates. A rare find indeed!

New picutres are up on The MuppetCast Flickr Page from listeners Amanda and Luke.

Thanks for downloading and listening to the podcast! The MuppetCast couldn’t continue to produce new weekly episodes without the continued support of listeners like you.

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. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Check with our friends at the Center for Puppetry Arts to see what’s new for 2009. Subscribe to their email newsletter and mention that you’re a MuppetCast listener when visiting to receive some special discounts!

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

Don’t forget, on January 30, William Paterson University will be hosting “Sesame Street at 40: A Night of Celebration and Discovery with the Legendary Cast“. This special evening’s panel discussion will feature Frank Oz, Kevin Clash, Caroll Spinney, Marty Robinson, Fran Brill, and David Rudman. Also on the panel are Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, and writer Tony Geiss. Author Michael Davis will be the evening’s moderator. Tickets are still on sale, call 973-720-2371 or email boxoffice@wpunj.edu to reserve your seats.

Fans who plan on attending the Sesame event at WPU can read and participate in this discussion going on at the Muppet Central Forums. Maybe we can all meet up somewhere during that weekend!

The newly revamped Electric Company makes its debut on PBS this week! Read all about it in this article from the LA Times.

Sesame Workshop has received four CINE Golden Eagle awards. One for an episode of Northern Ireland’s Sesame Tree, and three for its Educational Outreach Initiatives: Here For You, Let’s Get Ready!, and Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes.

The historic 40th season of Sesame Street will have an overarching theme focusing on nature and the environment. A great deal of research goes into everything the Workshop produces, and much of that research is done directly with youngsters who watch the show!

The 2008 Jim Henson Honors were recently announced, and Shigeru Miyamoto, GM of Nintendo Entertainment is the top recipient, receiving the Jim Henson Celebration Honor. Other honorees included the Center for Puppetry Arts Distance Learning Center (Creativity Honor), artist Shepard Fairey (Community Honor), and the video game Spore (Technology Honor).

The JHC also announced recently the relaunch of its Consumer Products division. This group, lead by newly appointed Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products Melissa Segal, will manage all product development and licensing for Henson Company products once the existing agreements with HIT Entertainment expire early this year.

Brian Cronin posted an opinion article from “John Seavey’s Storytelling Engines” on GoodComics.com talking about what made the Muppets continually fresh and funny. Good analysis of Muppet characters and humor.

Thanks for downloading and listening to the podcast! The MuppetCast couldn’t continue to produce new weekly episodes without the continued support of listeners like you.

Questions/Comments about the Muppets or The MuppetCast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voice line at 614-364-4270. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Check with our friends at the Center for Puppetry Arts to see what’s new for 2009. Subscribe to their email newsletter and mention that you’re a MuppetCast listener when visiting to receive some special discounts!

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

On January 30, William Paterson University will be hosting “Sesame Street at 40: A Night of Celebration and Discovery with the Legendary Cast“. This special evening’s panel discussion will feature Frank Oz, Kevin Clash, Caroll Spinney, Marty Robinson, Fran Brill, and David Rudman. Also on the panel are Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, and writer Tony Geiss. Author Michael Davis will be the evening’s moderator. Tickets are still on sale, call 973-720-2371 or email boxoffice@wpunj.edu to reserve your seats.

Along with the Jim Henson Hour, we remember beloved Muppeteer Richard Hunt this week. Richard passed away January 7, 1992 and fans are sending much love to Richard and his family through the Richard Hunt Lover’s Club (RHLC) on the Muppet Central Forums.

The Jim Henson Company moves forward with another science readiness program for preschoolers (along with Sid the Science Kid) with the new show Dinosaur Train. This 3D-animated show, which to my knowledge doesn’t use the HDPS puppetry system, is slated for PBS KIDS in fall 2009.

The JHC is also still delighting adult audiences with their live improv show Puppet Up! Uncensored. Brian Henson talked with LAWeekly.com about how they approach puppetry in that show.

Actor Pat Hingle passed away on January 3 at age 84. Muppet fans will remember him as Gen. Luft from 1999’s Muppets from Space. He also played Commissioner Gordon in multiple Batman films.

Do you own a cell phone? Chances are you do, since according to a new study more than HALF the world’s population owns one (boy did you get into the wrong buisness). The Joan Ganz Cooney Center is now looking at ways to harness mobile technology to promote learning. Just as Sesame Street brought new learning opportunities to children via TV, mobile learning is naturally the next platform, and the next target for Sesame Workshop.

The new Electric Company debuts on PBS on January 23. MySanAntonio.com gives us an inside look at one of the actors in the new series.

If you’re looking for a copy of Christmas Eve on Sesame Street on DVD, I think listener Sean W. found it for you. The DVD gift set Happy Holidays from Sesame Street contains 3 Sesame holiday specials: Elmo’s World: Happy Holidays, Elmo Saves Christmas, and of course Christmas Eve on Sesame Street.

Listener April sent two photos from a recent book signing event for “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street” in Lincoln Triangle, in NYC. VIPs included author Michael Davis, Roscoe Orman, Christopher Cerf, Caroll Spinney, and Sonia Manzano. Check out the MuppetCast Flickr Page for the photos!

David Q. has an extensive YouTube channel featuring himself and the puppets of the David Quesal Puppet Troupe. The newest addition: “Hey, A Movie!“, starring everybody and David. Kevin Williams and his friend Muley the Mule also have quite a series going. How crazy does Muley get around Christmastime? See for yourself.

Listener Don sent a link to German singer Mary Roos (pronounced in English as “rose”, I later realized) and the Electric Mayhem from the German Die Muppet Show.

Questions/Comments about the Muppets or The MuppetCast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voice line at 614-364-4270. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

My fist guest is Kevin Knight, who recently had the opportunity to see Mr. Caroll Spinney speak at a convention and later had an extensive and very interesting conversation with him. Spinney has performed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street since the first show in 1969, and also recently served as the narrator for the audiobook version of “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street”. He turned 75 on December 26.

My second guest is Van, host of the Netcot podcast. Van has been podcasting for years, and even before his first episode he was very active in the Disney online community. If you’ve never heard Van’s work, this is the week to start subscribing to this Podcast Award-nominated show!

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

On January 30, William Paterson University will be hosting “Sesame Street at 40: A Night of Celebration and Discovery with the Legendary Cast“. This special evening’s panel discussion will feature Frank Oz, Kevin Clash, Caroll Spinney, Marty Robinson, Fran Brill, and David Rudman. Also on the panel are Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, and writer Tony Geiss. Author Michael Davis will be the evening’s moderator. Tickets are still on sale, call 973-720-2371 or email boxoffice@wpunj.edu to reserve your seats.

If you live in or near Ohio and want to attend the first of (hopefully) many MuppetCast regional fan meets, email me and let me know you’re interested! Details on the meet are forthcoming.

NPR featured an excellent interview recently with Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney. Part of it is included in the show, but you should listen to the whole thing (about 8 minutes).

Paul Benedict passed away in early December at 70 years of age. Benedict is widely remembered as the eccentric British neighbor Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons. He also made several appearances on Sesame Street in its third season as The Mad Painter (video clips).

Fans of the TV show “Scrubs” will be happy to know that, when the show returns for its eighth season on its new home, ABC, the Sesame Street Muppets will join them for one episode. The episode titled “My ABCs” finds J.D. learning the hard way that not even Elmo and his friends from the Street can teach the gift of compassion to those who don’t care to learn. The episode also features Grover, Oscar the Grouch, and others.

I’ve literally had hundreds of book reviews for “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street” come through my inbox, nearly all of them favorable. Two that stand out to me come from the NY Times (in which the writer of the article comes “this close” to bringing his nose down a few inches out of the air) and the Muppet News Flash.

The ToughPigs crew has been busy posting a new addition to their Muppet Book Club series, as well as finding some pre-Sesame video footage of singer/actor Bob McGrath.

Muppets.com has been nominated for a Global Media Award by the National Academy of Arts & Sciences for their phenomenal work on re-designing the website to include over two hours in totally new Muppet content! Congratulations to our friends at the Muppets Studio on the nomination, and good luck! The winner of the award will be announced on January 8.

Farscape fans were no doubt busy reading the first issue of the new Farscape miniseries from BOOM! Studios. More to come, and remember to look for the Muppet comics in Spring 2009!

CSMonitor.com has a very nice article on the puppeteers of Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas, the stage musical which gave its last performance of the season today, January 4.

Henrik from Denmark found a useful tool for listeners outside the US who want to be able to visit websites like Muppets.com.

Listener Devin sent links to out-of-print comic book adaptation of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.

Ali from the UK sent a link to a very insightful strip from the web comic PVP.

Clay sent a link to Paul & Storm, two gifted songwriters who decided that Randy Newman needed to do a song about The Muppet Movie (PG-13).

Canadian listener Don sent a link to this story from Canada’s TheStar.com, talking about Canadian choreographer Paul Becker and his work on Letters to Santa.

Stay tuned for next week’s episode, where I’ll continue the much-requested Jim Henson Hour series! Our focus will be episode 5, titled “The Ratings Game“. This series has never seen a formal video release, so hearing the songs and skits on The MuppetCast is a wonderful way to relive some of those moments.

Questions/Comments about The MuppetCast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voice line at 614-364-4270. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Remember to pick up your copy of “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street”, now available in stores nationwide! Author Michael Davis is a good friend of the show, and you’ll recall that he was on The MuppetCast in early December talking about all the research, time, energy, and FUN that went into writing this amazing book. Make sure to visit his website and request a personally autographed bookplate sticker to put in your book, giving you an automatically personally signed copy!

Come back next week for more Muppet news, history, trivia, and all around entertainment! January brings with it some exciting opportunities, not only to continue the much-requested Jim Henson Hour series, but also an amazing event concerning Sesame Street and its 40th anniversary.

Comments/Questions can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the studio phone line at 614-364-4270. Make sure to also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello, with thousands of Muppet fans to meet.

Have a great week! Happy New Year!

-Steve

Paul created and helped write Letters to Santa, along with writing the wonderful new songs for it. He talks about both this special AND the new Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas musical, which he also revamped for the stage, and for which he also wrote new songs.

Hugh, Scott, and Andrew also wrote the much-discussed but never-seen Muppet Election Special, and you’ll briefly hear about their ideas for that piece. In my opinion these three have the right idea of where to take the Muppets, and Letters to Santa is a good “first project” in Disney’s new campaign to revitalize them.

Stick around for some after-Christmas fun next week.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the studio phone line at 614-364-4270. Make sure to stop by the Muppet Central Forums for some spirited discussion of Letters to Santa (or any other Muppet topic), and check out Muppet Central Radio’s offering of Muppet Christmas music.

Merry Christmas, Jolly Everything, and Have a great week!

-Steve

Next week is another special episode, as I’ll be featuring “A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa“. That airs on NBC this Wednesday, December 17, at 8PM EST. Along with listening in on much of it, you’ll hear from writers Scott Ganz, Andrew Samson, and Hugh Fink. There may be a fourth special guest, but that isn’t confirmed at this point. Stay tuned!

The premiere performance of Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas went very well last Sunday, the Hartford Courant has a picture of Brian Henosn, Jane Henson, and Paul Williams at the theater.

On January 30, William Paterson University will be hosting “Sesame Street at 40: A Night of Celebration and Discovery with the Legendary Cast“. This special evening’s panel discussion will feature Frank Oz, Kevin Clash, Caroll Spinney, Marty Robinson, Fran Brill, and David Rudman. Also on the panel are Sonia Manzano, Bob McGrath, and writer Tony Geiss. Michael Davis, author of “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street“, will be the evening’s moderator.

This episode features much of “Christmas Eve on Sesame Street”, but there were parts that I left out on purpose. This video is posted in seven parts on YouTube (not by me), and I want you to go watch it yourself! There are some truly laugh-out-loud moments with the Muppets interacting with the kids that are just adorable. That, and the fact that so much of this special gets right to the heart of Sesame Street – with some very memorable moments from characters like Mr. Hooper, Big Bird, and Maria – makes this one for the ages. They truly don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Here are the links to see it all on YouTube. Apologies if you’re reading this on your iPod and not on the website:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

And there you have it! I hope this episode of The MuppetCast helps keep you in the holiday spirit and brings a little joy into your week. Let me know how you liked it.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the studio line at 614-364-4270. Make sure to also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello. It’s the best time of year over there, with Muppet Central Radio playing nonstop Muppet Christmas music. What could be better?

Have a great week!

-Steve

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more fun! Are you listening to Muppet Central Radio and hearing all of the great Muppet Christmas music they’re playing?

The Jim Henson Company’s new musical “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas” has officially started its run at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT. The show will run through January 4, see their official website for details and availability.

The Hartford Courant takes us for a look inside the Henson workshop in New York while they were busy making the puppets for the Emmet Otter musical. The New York Times even chimed in on this exciting new production!

While the Henson Company is in the beginning stages of remaking the classic Pinocchio story, ArtistDirect.com has the scoop on the untimely end of a past attempt at retelling the tale.

Don’t forget to watch the new Muppet Christmas special “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” on NBC December 17 at 8PM EST. New Muppet goodness and holiday cheer!

Master puppet designer Ed Christie is getting ready for a new exhibit of his work, called “Rods and Monsters“. Christie designs amazing puppets for Sesame Workshop’s traveling and international productions, and his credits are too numerous to name here. His work is going to be displayed at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum from Dec 5 through Jan 25.

The Muppet Whatnot Workshop at FAO Schwartz continues to impress. The New York Times’ CityRoom blog noted that they’re expediting shipments of Whatnot body parts to keep up with all the orders! This is a good thing people, keep them coming!

Kermit the Frog will be the grand marshal of this year’s Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade on Dec 29. The parade is a prelude to the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl football game at Qualcomm Stadium.

Phillip S. heads up an early music program called the GambaCast, an extension of the program “Viols in Our Schools”. Phillip is a extremely talented performer and educator, and you can see the trailer for the video cast here.

Colby sent some rare links to the Muppets on the German Peter Alexander Show. Get a taste of the Muppets as a different culture experiences them, first video here, second video here.

Take a look at the Disney Podcast Directory, owned by Mike Hamilton, for the most up-to-date listing of all Disney podcasts and the various links to subscribe to them via iTunes, the Zune Marketplace, or any other RSS reader you choose!

MSG.com is making 31 lists (and checking them twice) of all the best, worst, and most memorable moments in entertainment over the past year. Naturally, the Muppets made the list.

Have you seen Jim Henson’s Fantastic World yet? The traveling Smithsonian exhibit is currently housed at the Atlanta History Center, and will soon be moving to Orlando, FL.

Remember these? Here’s an old McDonald’s commercial advertising the collector glasses from the “new film”, The Great Muppet Caper!

Questions/Comments about the show can be sent to me@muppetcast, or called in to the studio phone at 614-364-4270. Keep up with The MuppetCast through Twitter, Flickr, and Facebook! And of course, make sure to stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Make sure to get your tickets to the new musical Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas at the official website of the Goodspeed Opera House.

The Muppet Whatnot Workshop is passing all sales expectations at FAO Schwartz. We could have told them how successful this idea would be! Sales figures are currently at 125% over what FAO and Disney projected they would be! Have you gotten your Whatnot yet? Send a picture and join the MC listeners already on the MuppetCast Flickr Page.

Check out some clips of the upcoming Christmas special “Letters to Santa“. The new Muppet Christmas special airs December 17 at 8pm EST on NBC (check local listings), but you can see some of it right now! Two separate clips are on CinemaBlend.com, and a longer clip is on NBC.com.

The Jim Henson Company recently announced their intention to make the 2002 Gris Grimly version of Pinocchio into a new film! FearNet has an interview with Mr. Grimly in which he talks about this new project.

Listener Joey R. sent two links to his puppet video projects, his YouTube channel and his Blogspot blog.

Speed Tracer points us to the 1990 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, in which a nice tribute to Jim Henson is done. He also found a 9-part video of the special The World of Jim Henson.

Thanks to Phillip Chapman, the Count, and all our Muppet Central friends for helping me with some audio clips for this episode. I couldn’t do it without you!

Visit our friends on the Muppet web at The Muppet News Flash, Tough Pigs, and Muppet Central. Make sure to check out Muppet Central Radio for their incredible offerings of Muppet Christmas music.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the studio line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello!

Have a great week!

-Steve

Make sure to check out the Top 10 finalists in the Project Puppet 2008 Space Odyssey Contest! Vote Now at PuppetContest.com. Voting will be open through December 7, 2008.

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Orlando Attractions Magazine and Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more fun!

Lylle Breier is the Senior Vice President of Special Events at the Walt Disney Company, and she’s also the General Manager of Disney’s Muppets Studio. It would be accurate to say that she’s the top person in the Muppet world these days, and thanks to her and the Muppet team she’s assembled, some great things are on the horizon! She and I talk about where the idea came from for the new Muppet YouTube videos, the Whatnot Workshop, Jim Henson’s legacy and more!

Make sure to catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this Thursday, November 27, at 9am EST. Featured in this year’s parade are the Kermit and Abby Cadabby balloons, the 123 Sesame Street float with Muppet and Human cast members, and Kermit himself on the Macy’s float near the end of the parade, singing the new song “I Believe” from the upcoming Christmas special “Letters to Santa“.

From the Goodspeed Opera House, Elisa Hale and puppeteer David Stephens join us for a few minutes to talk about what’s going on in rehearsals for the new Jim Henson live stage musical version of “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas“. There’s some inside information in our conversation that fans will really love hearing!

Michael Davis also joins me on the phone to let MuppetCast listeners know that, by preordering his new book “Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street” at his website StreetGangTheBook.com, Michael will personally send you a signed bookplate to attach to the book. It’s a great way to get a signed copy of the book, so visit his website today!

Listener Sean W. comes to us from Newfoundland with a new Muppet List, all about Muppet Show guests from the UK! Lots of information and clips from five memorable guest stars.

If you get out to see the Sesame Street Live show “When Elmo Grows Up“, make sure and wave to Telly! Chances are you’ll be waving to MuppetCast listener Kyle I.

We all know that Sesame Street now has a fantastic website that features thousands of new and classic video clips. But did you also know that they also have their own YouTube channel? Have you seen them on Hulu? Check both of these out for lots more Sesame fun.

Tom Stewart found a link to a rare old Sesame video called “5 Sesame Street Stories“. The link is to the first video, and you can see the other 4 parts from there. He also made a PUPPET VERSION OF ME! It’s an unbelievable puppet version of yours truly, and it will be assuming hosting duties of the next MuppetCast Facebook Video. Thanks again, Tom, you rock!

The Muppet Show has been named the show that viewers would most like to see make a TV return. Digital Spy has the scoop.

Listener Steve had the recent pleasure of meeting Dave Goelz and Steve Whitmire at a recent appearance at the Atlanta History Center. The History Center is currently hosting the Smithsonian SITES exhibit “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World“, and yes Steve and Dave brought Muppet friends to talk with the audience. See pictures and videos on Steve’s blog!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello!

Have a great week!

-Steve

Stay tuned to next week’s show, as I proudly welcome Lylle Breier, Senior VP of Special Events and General Manager of the Walt Disney Company’s Muppets Studio, onto the show to talk Muppets.

Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support of the show, and especially to our sponsors: Orlando Attractions Magazine, and Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more fun!

Thanks to the efforts of many wonderful Muppet people, the Muppet Whatnots took over part of the TODAY show on Thursday, Nov 13. Whatnot versions of Matt Lauer, Meredith Veira, and Al Roker assumed hosting duties while the real hosts were first locked out of the building, and then stopped up by a certain familiar security guard. The whole bit was done to further publicize the new Muppet Whatnot Workshop, a huge new toy campaign put together by Disney and FAO Schwartz that gives customers the ability to build and own a real Muppet-style puppet!

Does everyone in your family know what to do in case of an emergency? Does your youngest know where to go, who to call, or who can help him/her if you’re not around? Sesame Workshop is proud to offer, in conjunction with the US Dept of Homeland Security, their new program called “Let’s Get Ready“. You can view the materials for this important new program online, or request a copy of is for family viewing at home.

Thanks to the Jim Henson Company, the Fraggle Rock complete box set has been out for a few weeks, and I’ve been anxious to open it and see it for myself. So this week, live on the show I open it up for the fist time and take a look. While doing so I talk about what fan reactions have been so far, both good and bad. I won’t give away what my final reactions and comments were, but I think you’ll enjoy listening to this little experiment.

A new show at the Center for Puppetry Arts is getting ready for its world premiere! Jon Ludwig’s “Sam the Lovesick Snowman” is debuting on Nov 20 and 21 for just $5/ticket! Other performances follow, check out the Center’s main website for details.

Van from the Netcot podcast sent me some fantastic footage of the old Muppet Meeting films, and I’ve included the audio from “How to Sell” in this episode. See if you can recognize the voices in the clip!

Bruce Moran is the owner of Total Recall Press, and the author of the InsideScoop books for WDW’s Hollywood Studios and The Magic Kingdom. I’m a contributing author for the Studios book, and guess which attraction I wrote about. Bruce’s books are full of great information and recommendations based on his personal experiences, as well as those of the contributing co-authors.

Check out The MuppetCast Flickr Page for some new additions: Tom Stewart’s Canadian Sesame ornaments, and listener April’s newest Whatnot creation, Hankfred.

Big Kev’s Geek Stuff recently did an interview with Karen Prell, better known perhaps as Red Fraggle! Karen talked with Kevin and crew about the new Fraggle Rock box set, make sure to listen in.

Be sure to also visit our friends at Muppets.com, Muppet Central, The Muppet News Flash, and Tough Pigs for the very best on the Muppet web!

Questions/Comments about this or any episode can be sent to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the official studio phone at 614-364-4270. Make sure to stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello too, we’d love to hear from you.

Have a great week!

-Steve

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

In this episode, I take my first look at the new Fisher Price Elmo Live doll, available now online and in many retail toy departments. Elmo takes a big leap forward, technologically speaking, and along with hearing Elmo Live you can actually see him for yourself. Watch MuppetCast Facebook Video #1 for an up-close and personal look at him!

I also have a great new Muppet List for you! Since this really isn’t a Halloween Episode per se, Muppet Central’s Vic Romano has you covered with “Scary Muppet Moments”. It’s a fun list, with some good audio to go with it.

Thanks to our sponsors, Orlando Attractions Magazine and Bell, Book & Comic, for their continued support of the show.

Get to Orlando next weekend for the Orlando Puppet Festival! And on your way, stop in at the Atlanta History Center to see Jim Henson’s Fantastic World. And if you’re in the Chicago area, you’ll enjoy the Muppets, Music & Magic screenings beginning next weekend at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Some screenings will be hosted by Muppeteer David Rudman.

More human cast members (as opposed to puppet cast) have been added to the Jim Henson Company’s stage production of Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas. The show officially begins its run at Goodspeed Opera House on Dec 17. Tickets available now through Goodspeed’s website.

Brian Henson talks here with Popular Science Magazine about the Company’s new hit series Sid the Science Kid.

Pepe (the King Prawn)’s new book, It’s Hard Out Here For A Shrimp, came out on October 28 last week, and Pepe appeared on CBS’s Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to talk about it. One of the funnier Muppet interview appearances I’ve seen in a while, watch it for yourself!

Apparently, German police speed cameras caught something rather strange recently. Driving a British Audi, Muppet drummer Animal appeared to be driving the car. Well, not really. But you can see for yourself here and here.

LAist.com has a fun interview up with Abby Cadabby and Elmo, promoting the new Abby in Wonderland DVD. It’s a very entertaining read, and it’s surprising how you can hear the character’s voices in just reading their responses to the questions.

In a very innovative way, Sesame Street is once again shortening the distance that might exist between our part of the world, and China. “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” opened at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium Friday, Oct. 17. Its premiere comes a few weeks after the program opened at the Beijing Planetarium in China.

Make sure to check out the Muppet News Flash and Tough Pigs for the best in Muppet blogging. In these troubled times, make sure you stay informed with what’s really important!

The Muppet Whatnot Workshop opened recently at the FAO Schwartz flagship store in New York City. FAO also gives customers the ability to shop and create Whatnot Muppets at their website, which you can see here.

Take a look at The MuppetCast Flickr Page this week to see some new Muppet-y contributions from listeners!

Listener Kyle is really interested in the German Sesame Street production, Sesamstraat. He sent three videos this week: watch them here (first video, second video, third video). You can also watch thousands of US Sesame Street videos at the Official Sesame Street website.

Tom Stewart, owner of PuppeteersUnite.com, sent two videos of the Sesame Street Classical Alphabet from last week’s Muppet List. The first video is the original Sesame footage, and the second video is from a Sesame anniversary video, with a clip from the show associated with each letter. Thanks Tom!

More video comes from listener Donald, with Oscar the Grouch talking more about Canada’s Green Week.

Here’s an idea to make our world more green: Kermitland! A land filled with Kermits! See the photos here.

We get many puppet video links at The MuppetCast, and recently this link came from a series called Lady Jade’s Lair. Probably rated PG or PG-13, fun stuff and good-looking puppets!

UK MuppetCast listeners will be delighted to find some Sesame plushies from Firebox.com! Thanks to listener Jon from Edinburgh for these, and some UK Sesame T-shirt links are on the way soon.

Thanks again to the MouseGuest Weekly crew for inviting The MuppetCast to attend and guest-host an event at the Mouse Guest Experience, recently held at Walt Disney World. Everybody had a great time, and the Muppet Montage this week is filled with fun musical moments from Finding Nemo: The Musical.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the MuppetCast phone line at 614-364-4270. Make sure to stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello!

Have a great week!

-Steve

The Muppet List makes a return this week, with listener Bryan and I discussing Muppet lullabies. Keep yourself awake and enjoy the Muppet-y discussion and music!

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Orlando Attractions Magazine and Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more fun!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Thanks to everyone at the Center who talked with me, and for your generous hospitality.

Questions/Comments about the podcast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Make sure to visit Muppet Central and talk on their extensive Forum about this episode of The MuppetCast, as well as any other Muppet topic under the sun. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Have a great week!

-Steve

This week we celebrate someone very special in the life of the Muppets: one of the greatest singer/songwriters, John Denver. He passed away 11 years ago today, on October 12, 1997. The Muppet Wiki lists no less than 6 separate occasions where John appears with the Muppets, and in this episode we talk about and listen in on all of them. Sing along if you know the words!

Just a reminder, the Mouse Guest Experience is coming ever closer. October 25 – 30 in Walt Disney World. I hope you can join us!

Have you ever thought it would be cool to own your own Muppet? How about being able to make your own Muppet, and then take it home? Thanks to the Walt Disney Company and FAO Schwartz, in just a few short weeks you’ll be able to do just that. The Muppet News Flash has the details.

Sesame Workshop has announced the new DVD titles we can expect to see in 2009. Among the releases are “Elmo Loves You”, “Sesame Street: Pirates!”, and a 2-disc Sesame Street 40th anniversary celebration.

Also, look for the Sesame box set “Sesame Street: Everyday Heroes“. The 3-disc DVD set is comprised of 3 previously separate productions, which talk about fire safety, going to the doctor, and helping friends.

They have rebuilt him. They have the technology. Elmo Live! will soon be hitting store shelves. Take a look here; this is a huge leap over the old Tickle Me Elmo!

Audible Kids recently named Sesame actor Roscoe Orman as their new Chief Storyteller. Couldn’t have made a better choice, if you ask me. Orman (better known as Sesame Street’s “Gordon”) will narrate books for AK and become a roving ambassador for the service, offering advice to parents and kids on how to encourage young readers to listen to audiobooks as an important way develop a love for reading.

Concierge.com has a great review of the new CD/DVD Sesame Playground. Do you have your copy yet?

A Muppet Cake? A Muppet Cake! Yummy indeed. Would you even want to cut it?

Jim Henson’s Christmas Classics is the new Jim Henson Company banner under which two classic titles fall: The Christmas Toy and Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas.

Gordon Smuder has begun a new web video puppet project: Transylvania TV! Very creative and funny, with great-looking puppets. NOTE: content may not be appropriate for kids.

Corey Orsini and friends have started a new podcast talking about movies, pop culture, and whatever strikes their fancy. The website and podcast is called Total Domination. NOTE: content may not be appropriate for kids.

Erin R. recently gave the MuppetCast Road Trip to New Jersey DVD a wonderful 2-part review on the Muppet Central forums! Read it here: Part 1 and Part 2. Thanks so much Erin! She was actually part of the reason behind the road trip in the first place, as she made a beautiful quilt for Jane Hunt’s granddaughter Amanda (who was getting ready to have her own firstborn). She posted a picture of it online, see it here.

Check out The MuppetCast Flickr Page for the latest photo additions to the show!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Make sure to stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello!

Have a great week!

-Steve

Visit the Center for Puppetry Arts’s new Online Museum by clicking here!

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Orlando Attractions Magazine and Bell, Book & Comic. Come on down to Orlando, because Life Should Be More Fun!

Only a few weeks left until the Mouse Guest Experience. Visit the official website for more details. Hope to see you there!

If you’re within driving distance of Columbus, OH, come to COSI and see Sesame Street’s The Body. The definition of “driving distance” may vary for some of us. Also, make sure and see Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at the Atlanta History Center (and check out their new blog, I Heart Jim Henson).

The famous toy merchant FAO Schwartz is getting ready to offer an exciting new opportunity to its customers: The Muppet Whatnot Workshop! You will actually be able to build a real Whatnot Muppet, and customize him or her however you like. If anyone can get to the Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York City and build a Whatnot, I’d love to see pictures.

Matt Blum has some more great Muppet Commentary on the Wired Blog. Matt also heads up the GeekDad podcast, so check him out this week!

Smithsonian Magazine has a wonderful article with Bonnie Erickson, who by the way is the president of the Jim Henson Legacy. Ms. Erickson designed some of the most memorable Muppets, including Miss Piggy, and Statler & Waldorf.

Want some more details on the new Fraggle Rock DVD set coming out in November? Here’s all you’d ever want to know.

Sid the Science Kid will soon be expanding, and will be seen on several Latin American and Canadian television stations. Hey Sid, whaddya say?

Tickets are now on sale at the Goodspeed Opera House for the Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas stage musical. Paul Williams is even writing new music for the production, and thanks to the Muppet News Flash those songs are in this episode!

Take a look at Toys R Us’s top 15 toys for this holiday shopping season. Elmo Live made the list, to the surprise of no one. Make your lists early, and good luck!

StarPulse has a nice article about Jim Henson’s life and his work, and Access Atlanta has some more in-depth reporting on the upcoming Jim Henson’s Fantastic World opening at the History Center.

It’s time once again for Project Puppet’s annual contest! This year’s contest is out of this world (literally), so visit Puppet Contest.com for more details.

Joe V sent a link to Marching.com, talking about Heather Henson’s show “Panther & Crane”. Some elements of flag core performance inspired parts of her show!

My friend Bryan recently found himself at Disneyland in California, and has some great pictures of MuppetVision 3D as it appears in Disney’s California Adventure. It’s on his Flickr page, check it out! Also, check out The MuppetCast Flickr Page for a great new Kermit pic from Vic Romano!

Thank you so much to Tom Stewart, Jamie Jones, and Kanja Chen for making this video for me from Puppets Up in Almonte, ON. You guys rock!

Michelle Williams needs your votes! Read her poem, Oracle, and vote for it on poetry.com. Help out a fellow MuppetCast listener!

Harvey Deneroff has a great blog article from last weekend’s event with Brian Henson in Atlanta. He has a few pictures from the event too, so check out his article.

Don’t forget about special MuppetCast listener discounts at the Center for Puppetry Arts! Mention that you’re a MuppetCast listener and receive 25% off your ticket price, and $10 off your membership! Even if you’re not near Atlanta, purchasing a membership is an easy (and now cheaper) way to support a great thing for true Muppet/Henson/puppet fans, and helps the Center reach their membership goals. It also brings us that much closer to having the new Henson wing!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello, and follow The MuppetCast on Twitter.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Also featured is the out-of-print recording “Big Bird Meets The Orchestra“.

Special announcement: MuppetCast discounts now in effect at the Center for Puppetry Arts! Mention that you’re a MuppetCast listener and recieve 25% off of normal full-price tickets, and receive $10 off your purchase of a Center membership!

Thanks to our sponsors, Orlando Attractions Magazine and Bell, Book & Comic! Are YOU going to be at the Mid-Ohio Comic Con in October? Let me know and we’ll meet up!

The New York Times recently ran a story concerning the Walt Disney Company, and its future plans for the Muppets. Instead of the “slow and steady” approach our beloved characters have received in the past, they’re about to get the Hannah Montana treatment, and be blasted into every media outlet you can imagine!

Thanks to Phillip for this week’s Muppet Montage, consisting of 3 songs from the upcoming Sesame Street DVD “Abby in Wonderland“. Pick up your copy starting September 30.

For even more Muppet fan coverage on the web, visit our friends at Muppet Central, The Muppet News Flash, ToughPigs, and the Muppet Wiki.

For official company websites, visit Muppets.com, Sesame Street, and The Jim Henson Company! Also visit the Jim Henson Legacy, the nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Jim Henson’s fantastic works.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Make sure to stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello too.

Have a great week!

-Steve

This week will feature the celebration’s opening moments with Executive Director Vince Anthony. Following Mr. Anthony is Cheryl Henson, one of Jim Henson’s daughters, and she talks a bit about the anniversary as well as the new exhibit “Jim Henson: Wonders From His Workshop“. Next we hear Cheryl again, this time from a Saturday morning tour through the exhibit (given for Center members only), and she talks about some of the finer details of the pieces on display, and what was involved in putting this amazing collection together for the public.

The music for this week’s Muppet Montage segment is provided by David Stephens, along with Lucky Yates. The audio was recorded Sunday afternoon of the anniversary weekend. Specifically, this audio is from David’s “warming up” an audience of over 350 people anxious to watch and sing along with The Muppet Movie, hosted by Heather Henson!

As you’ll hear, this was a very special celebration, and it’s an exciting time for the Center! So much sound and video was captured (and many, many wonderful people helped to make that possible) that this episode serves as Part 1 of a multi-part series talking about the Center for Puppetry Arts, and the many people who contribute to its ongoing success.

Coming next week: A big announcement for all MuppetCast listeners who are planning to visit the Center, or are interested in helping the Center reach its membership goals!

This week in Muppet History: Birthdays of Muppeteers Kevin Clash and Steve Whitmire, and of Muppet creator Jim Henson! Also, read on the Muppet Wiki about the Fantastic Miss Piggy Show.

Sesame Workshop, working with the Department of Homeland Security, has developed an important new initiative called “Let’s Get Ready!“. This new program is designed to help families with children of any age come up with a plan of action in case of an emergency. If your family hasn’t talked about situations like this before, now is the time. Visit the Dept. of Homeland Security website, the Sesame Workshop “Let’s Get Ready” website in English, and the “Let’s Get Ready!” website in Spanish.

Oscar the Grouch is the new spokes-Muppet for Canada’s Waste Reduction Week. The furry green sourpuss stars in two commercials (so far) complaining that he’ll have less trash! Both videos are featured at the Muppet News Flash.

Lisa Henson talked recently with MonstersAndCritics.com in an interview about the new Unstable Fables release “Tortoise vs. Hare”.

Matt Blum has a review of the Jim Henson Company’s “Sid the Sceience Kid” that differs somewhat from my personal opinion, but we both think it’s a great new children’s show. You need to read it here and draw your own conclusions.

LAist.com recently got to do what so many of us would like to do, they visited the Jim Henson Company lot on La Brea for a private screening of “Tortoise vs. Hare”. Not only that, but they then got to talk with executive producer Lisa Henson and director Howard E. Baker! Lucky ducks. Quack.

Are you a fan of Jim Henson’s classic Christmas special “The Christmas Toy“? Be honest, do you even remember it? Well regardless, make plans now to buy it when HIT releases a special new DVD version of it on November 4. Go vote and watch a Christmas special!

Continuing to explore the possibilities of digital puppetry, the Jim Henson Company recently announced two new 3D children’s series: “Dinosaur Train” and “The Skrumps”!

Last week on The MuppetCast, Joe H. from ToughPigs.com talked about how he personally got to hang out on the set of the new Muppet Christmas special “Letters to Santa”. The Muppet News Flash now brings us more details about that production.

Jim Henson’s “Pajanimals” will soon be on the PBS Kids Sprout channel. Check out a preview on the News Flash.

The Disney Channel tween-geared special Studio DC: Almost live is about to air its second installment. Look for it on October 5! The Muppets will appear along with many of the Disney Channel’s stable of stars.

Listener Doug H. is setting up his own fan-site for “Sid the Science Kid”. Check it out here.

What is the “key” to a happy life? Why, the Muppets of course! Or the Disney characters, or Sesame Street, or Garfield…hey, take your pick. Howard Keys has been making character keys for a while now, so look for their products at a hardware store near you.

New Muppet look-alike sightings here: Jack Nicholson and Baby Dinosaur, and Christian Bale (Batman) and Kermit the Frog (comments language NSFW).

For the older crowd, here’s a new Muppet parody: Groverfield.

Brent Levy recently started a new website that I’m really enjoying. It’s a daily Disney trivia blog: Mouseketrivia!

Joe V sent a link to a 42-tape Muppet tape library, containing things like the complete Muppet Meeting film collection! A paltry $2,500…what a bargain!

If you’d like, you can nominate The MuppetCast in the 2008 Podcast Awards! Suggested categories include Best Produced, People’s Choice, and Entertainment.

Thanks again to everyone who supports The MuppetCast in our continuing efforts to celebrate the life and work of Jim Henson. Friends of the show include the Center for Puppetry Arts, The Jim Henson Legacy, Muppet News Flash, ToughPigs, Muppet Central, and YOU! Thanks for continuing to listen and supporting the show.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and chat with Muppet fans all over the world.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Also joining me is Joe Hennes from Tough Pigs.com. Joe had the good fortune of being able to watch the Muppet crew film part of their upcoming Christmas special “Letters to Santa” from afar this past week. Then he got up the courage to talk to Steve Whitmire, and once he said he was from Tough Pigs, he went from watching the filming from afar to watching it from a-right-next-to-the-director! Joe got to interact with many of the people we talk about all the time here on The MuppetCast, including Kirk Thatcher, Dave Goelz, Marty Robinson, Steve Whimire, and many more! We talk all about it, and you just might hear some “insider information” coming from Joe! I didn’t hear any, but if you listen really really hard who knows, you might.

There’s even a new Muppet list in this episode! For an “I’m out of town” show, this episode really turned out to be jam packed with great stuff…and great guests! Listener Cameron C. joins me for a great segment talking about human cast members from Sesame Street. Many classic names are mentioned, along with a few new faces. Lots of fun had by all!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello, and check out ToughPigs.com!

Have a great week!

-Steve

One special thing to pay attention to in this episode: Terry has been the designer for ALL of the Master Replicas Muppet figures in the past, and we talk extensively about the work that has gone into these figures. Terry also stops in and looks at Muppet Central every now and then, and we discuss the positive feedback the Master Replicas figures have received, as well as the constructive criticism. It’s all great stuff, but hearing Terry’s take on it is very interesting.

Nominations for the 2008 Podcast Awards are opening up soon. If you like what you’ve heard on The MuppetCast this past year, please feel free to nominate the show in whatever category(s) you feel are appropriate. I appreciate it!

The Road Trip: New Jersey DVDs are now shipping! Listeners who donate any amount to the show via PayPal (you don’t need a PayPal account to donate) will receive a DVD documenting my weekend New Jersey trip as a “Thank You”. This is the trip where I visited Jane Hunt, Richard Hunt’s mother, at her home in the house that Richard grew up in. Lots of great stuff on the disc, don’t miss it!

There will be plenty of fun and excitement brought back with me from Atlanta, so look for more great Road Trip content to come on The MuppetCast very soon!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Special thanks to our sponsors, Orlando Attractions Magazine and Bell, Book & Comic. Take a trip to Orlando, because life should be more fun!

The next MuppetCast road trip will take us to Atlanta, GA this September. The Center for Puppetry Arts is celebrating their 30th anniversary, and I’ll be there to cover it and bring back my experiences for the podcast. You’re gonna love it!

The Road Trip DVD with Jane Hunt is officially shipping! All donors to the show will receive a free copy in the mail. Just make sure I have your mailing address when you donate. Highlights of the video include a walkthrough tour of parts of the Hunt homestead (including Richard’s old bedroom), lots and lots of puppets and pictures, and the presentation to Jane of a baby quilt made for her new great grandchild, made by MuppetCast listener Erin Roll.

The Jim Henson Company is set to air the very first episodes of Sid the Science Kid this week on PBS. Check local listings for airdates and times. This new series helps to promote science-readiness in preschoolers in a fun new way, and as one of the first new shows from Henson to use the Henson Digital Puppetry System, make sure to see what all the talk is about!

Wired News is a widely known and respected technology magazine. It’s not the first place you’d consult to find an opinion piece on the Muppets. But that’s just what you’ll find here, in an author’s thoughts on the Washington DC appearance of Jim Henson’s Fantastic World.

There’s a rumor that the success of the new Muppet film, being written by Jason Segel and Nick Stoller, may lead to a new Muppet TV series, which Mr. Segel is allegedly already working on. Take it with a grain of salt, but it’s always nice to think about at any rate.

Tuesday, Sept 2 will see a new book release, Jim Henson’s Doodle Dreams (penned by Muppet writer Jim Lewis). Pick it up at your favorite bookstore, or at Amazon.com via The MuppetCast.

Listener Colin recently got to visit the Sesame Street: The Body exhibit in Canada, and he put some photos up on his flickr page.

Ed D from Australia points out that Muppets, Music & Magic, a traveling Henson exhibit put on by the Jim Henson Legacy, will be in Melbourne, Australia, from September 4 – 14. Enjoy, mate!

Kirby from bartlett-sloan.net sent a video link to something he shot 9 years ago in China: the Chinese version of Sesame Street! Take a look and listen.

Questions/Comments can be sent to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also visit the Flickr page and the Muppet Central Forums to say hello!

Have a great week!

-Steve

The MuppetCast is sponsored by Orlando Attractions Magazine and Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more fun!

All links mentioned in the podcast and show notes can be found at MuppetCast.com.

The next MuppetCast Road Trip is coming up very soon! September takes us to Atlanta, GA, to the Center for Puppetry Arts. We’ll be celebrating the Center’s 30th anniversary celebration along with our friend from the Center and the Jim Henson Legacy.

Check out the Muppet News Flash for all the latest Muppet news releases. In the News Flash this week is the fact that Disney is planning several new Muppet specials, leading up to a new feature film!

Get ready for Elmo Live! It’s not a new stage show, it’s the newest Elmo from Fisher-Price. Elmo talks (moving his head and mouth just like on TV), stands, sits, crosses his legs, tells jokes, and does your taxes! Well, maybe not that last one, but give it time.

The MuppetCast extends its warmest congratulations to Marty Robinson and Annie Evans on their recent wedding, held on the set of Sesame Street! Read all about it, and see some of the video taken at the ceremony here.

Listener Brendan sent a link to Stupid Creatures, a website selling unique handmade creatures.

Corey started a new blog recently, and you can read it here! He also found a link to Entertainment Weekly’s Top 25 Visits to Sesame Street.

Olivia gives us an opportunity to examine the long-standing rumor that Cookie Monster will be taken off Sesame Street and replaced by a Veggie Monster “sometime soon”. Along with some great information found on the Muppet Wiki, there’s also an expanded explanation on Snopes.com.

Steve F. points us to Puppet Greetings, a website with lots of funny puppet greeting videos. Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, the performer of Sesame Street’s Abby Cadabby, has worked with the website in the past. Think of a video e-card featuring puppet jokes!

My special guest in the Profile of a Podcaster segment is Lou Mongello, host of the WDW Radio Show, and author of the Disney World Trivia books. And he owns and operates Dsiney World Trivia.com and produces a multi-part WDW Audio Walk-through CD set. Oh, and he’s publishing a brand new magazine. What’s he going to do tomorrow night? The same thing he does every night, Pinky.

David Quesal joins me for this week’s Muppet List. Also joining us, back by popular demand, is my wife Ashley! We cover all the bases, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and the Muppet Show. Email me if you’d like to be included in a future list.

Ryan Roe and Joe Hennes from Tough Pigs.com join me to discuss our reactions to the recent announcement from HIT Entertainment that Fraggle Rock’s 4th Season will not be a separate release, as have seasons 1 through 3. It will instead be included in a new Complete Series release. There are many sides to this discussion, and not everyone concluded that they’d be purchasing this new DVD set.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Follow The MuppetCast on Twitter, and stop by the Muppet Central Forums to say hello.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Included in this episode is some audio taken from the upcoming Road Trip DVD, in which you’ll hear Jane Hunt (mother of Muppeteer Richard Hunt) and I sitting and talking in her kitchen. If you’ve just joined us, I recently took a trip to New Jersey to visit Jane, who’s become a good friend, at her home. The house she lives in is the same one all of her children, including Richard, grew up in, so naturally there’s a lot of wonderful history there.

There’s also another new Muppet List segment, and in celebration of the new Sesame Street season debuting on PBS on August 11, listener Steve Finney and I discuss our favorite monsters.

Steve F. and I also discuss the recent Disney Channel production, Studio DC: Almost Live. We begin the discussion having very different opinions, but as we talk we see how much, at the core of our arguments, we both really have in common.

The annual festival Puppets Up was recently held in Almonte, Ontario. This was one of the road trips The MuppetCast took last year, but unfortunately couldn’t make this time around. I’d love to hear from anyone who was able to go and enjoy the festivities. Email me with your trip report!

The next stop in the 2008 Road Trip series takes us to Atlanta, GA. The Center for Puppetry Arts, a worldwide hub for puppetry and a good friend of the show, is celebrating its 30th anniversary! I’ll be there covering the festivities and bringing it all back to you, hopefully in yet another DVD! The event takes place in mid-September. See the Puppetry Arts page on MuppetCast.com for more details.

In this episode, we will not be discussing the recent announcement that HIT Entertainment won’t be releasing a separate Fraggle Rock 4th Season DVD, opting instead to release one complete set of seasons 1-3 (previously sold separately) and season 4 combined. This piece of news will receive special treatment on next week’s show.

The MuppetCast remembers and misses Bernie Brillstein, Jim Henson’s onetime manager and friend (Chicago Tribute, USA Today, Variety, AP). Did you know that Brillstein, along with David Lazer, were was responsible for Jim Henson’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

We also celebrate the opening of SesameStreet.org! This all-new website is the digital counterpart to the world’s most successful children’s show, and it is one heckuva website! Daily character intros and playlists, and an ever-growing video library of new and classic clips makes this a top pick for children’s destinations on the web. We’d expect nothing less from the fine folks at Sesame Workshop.

Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA will soon be bringing a little bit of Sesame Street to its family visitors. With new rides, dining and character experiences, and the new 4D movie, this will be very exciting to see come spring 2009.

Move over, Tickle-Me-Elmo! Here comes Elmo Live, the new doll who talks (and whose mouth moves just like the real Elmo), waves his arms, sits, stands, and tells jokes. Come to think of it, Fozzie should be a little worried too!

Keep your eye on iTunes. The Jim Henson company is releasing some of Jim’s non-Muppet film pieces like the TV film The Cube, and the short film Time Piece.

Along the same lines as the 2006 book “Before You Leap“, Pepe the King Prawn will soon have his own book on the market! “It’s Hard Out Here For A Shrimp“. Priceless. Many thanks to Jim Lewis for all of his wonderful work with these books.

Keep an eye on the Muppet News Flash and Tough Pigs for all the latest Muppet news and commentary.

New listener Matt found this on YouTube recently. Take a look and listen to “Fat Cat“, a clip discussed on the previous Muppet List.

Clay in Georgia pointed out two Muppet appearances on TotallyLooksLike.com. Bill Schneider and Ludacris each seem to have a Muppet counterpart, whoda thunk it?

Young James has quite a talent already for puppeteering, as well as some pretty good Muppet impressions! Check out his video here.

David Q. has a new addition to the MuppetCast Flickr page. Check out his new photo addition, fresh from Washington DC’s Jim Henson’s Fantastic World exhibit!

Check out Joel, aka CoconutWireless, in his vidcasts for Meandering Mouse Club TV. Aloha, Joel!

Sesame Street is all over the Muppet Montage this week, with all clips included being pulled from the new crop of brand-new Sesame episodes. You’ll be happy to know that Cookie Monster eats a whole plate full of cookies!

Thanks again for downloading and listening to The MuppetCast, and thank you for your continued support.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello to the thousands of Muppet fans that await you there. Or maybe just pick a few and say hi; typing “hello” thousands of times will make your fingers hurt. Wocka wocka.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Coming to you from the comfy confines of my hotel room in New Jersey, this week’s episode consists of me giving a play-by-play description of everything I experienced while visiting Jane Hunt (mother of Muppeteer Richard Hunt) and Arthur Miller at their home. I took a small sub-set of my equipment on the road with me just in case I’d need it, and that turned out to be a good decision.

Partly because I knew it would make for a good episode, and partly because it was all fresh in my mind at the time and I didn’t want to forget any of it, you’ll hear me describe in great detail just what happened in the Hunt household while I was there. Next week you’ll hear Jane herself, as she and I conducted an in-person interview on video (of which you’ll hear the audio).

Also forthcoming is a special MuppetCast DVD documenting the trip. I won’t say much about it now, but it contains some things I’m sure you never thought you’d see. A can’t-miss DVD for Richard’s fans.

The MuppetCast is sponsored by our friends at Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more fun!

Questions/Comments can be sent to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and chat with other Muppet fans.

The MuppetCast remembers Bernie Brillstein, and the most sincere condolences go out to his friends, family, and colleagues. A great Hollywood innovator has left us, and he will be missed.

Have a great week!

-Steve

I’ll be back in the studio next week with lots of experiences to share with you, but until then, enjoy some more rare Muppet audio! This is taken from a live taping of an extinct stage show in Disney’s MGM Studios, now called the Hollywood Studios. The show is Muppets On Location: Days of Swine and Roses. Thanks to Kermiclown for the assist!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hi!

Have a great week!

-Steve

The featured audio this week comes to us courtesy of MuppetDanny. Since The Muppets Take Manhattan did win the poll, and since we had to delay its special episode, together we present something of a warm-up for the real thing. This rare audio comes from a 1984 book-and-record production of the Muppet gang presenting an abbreviated story of the film.

Can you believe it’s almost time for the first Summer road trip of the year for The MuppetCast? I can’t. In fact, I need to go book my hotel room, excuse me…oh, I guess it can wait. Thanks to everyone for continuing to donate to the podcast to help fund these trips. They always bring back great experiences to listen to! Next stop: New Jersey!

Congratulations to Sam Pynes for winning the Make Something Cool contest with his one-man Muppet Show Live! Yaaaay!

Recently The MuppetCast added onto the growing list of ways that listeners can make their Muppet-y presence known online! Along with well-known web destinations like Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr, listeners now have a one-stop shop for all Muppet CDs, DVD, apparel and more at The MuppetCast Store at Amazon! Prices in the store are identical to those on the normal Amazon site, but when you purchase through The MuppetCast Store a small percentage goes back into the show! The same goes for clicking on and purchasing the Amazon Item of the Week.

It’s time to try out a new, experimental segment on the show. In lieu of Beaker, my trusty assistant and good friend Joe Vecciarelli is joining me on Skype this week, as we present The Muppet List. If it’s successful, this will be a weekly new segment involving a different listener joining me on the show each time, and we’ll be discussing our thoughts on various Muppet-related topics in list form. It should be a lot of fun; listen in and hear the first list with Joe!

In the news, Sesame Street seems to be leaking some official clips promoting the upcoming 39th season. Take a look at this one starring Neil Patrick Harris as the Shoe Fairy.

I think you’ll be seeing Muppet fans hanging around at the Detroit Film Theatre soon, as the “Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy” series begins a four-week run, with a different screening taking place every sunday at 2pm.

1, 2, 3, 4, monsters walking across the floor! Singer Feist isn’t the first musician to lend her services to Sesame Street, you know. Many great performers have walked this famous road. Just what is it that attracts them to this children’s daytime destination?

Sesame Workshop continues to promote its Healthy Habits for Life initiative with the release of Play With Me Sesame: Furry, Fun, and Healthy Too. Preorder it now as the Amazon Item of the Week! Release date is August 12, 2008.

Have you seen Northern Ireland’s version of Sesame Street, Sesame Tree? No? Well, take a look at their website! Children’s channel CBeebies is set to air the show beginning August 4.

Sesame Workshop gave a sneak-preview of their new website SesameStreet.org, open to the public on August 11, the same day the new Sesame season airs on PBS. Sounds wonderful!

Henson fans have been hearing for months about the new stage musical based on the book and Muppet special “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas”, and finally the performance dates have been announced! Check out the Goodspeed Opera House official website for details.

Listener Amanda Ulrich is the Regional Manager for Dunder Mifflin Infinity, Medford branch. DMI is an online fan community for fans of the hit comedy series The Office. Right now they’re in the midst of a fundraising drive for Habitat for Humanity. Click here to help!

Minor_Muppetz points out that Sesame Workshop is asking fans through their Facebook page to nominate their favorite Sesame clips for an upcoming 40th anniversary special.

Joe V brings us the evil Cookie Monster slippers!

Jonathan M shows us a story about Animal being the fastest drummer in the world.

Maratei shows us a Swedish Chef-to-English online translator. Bork, bork bork!

Comic book fans will be happy to know that BOOM! Studios recently made their appearance at Comic Con 2008 and had preview copies of The Muppet Show comic on hand to sell! If anyone purchased a copy of said comic, I’d love to see pictures!

You never know just what you’ll find, driving the highways and byways of this great land. Raymond L, the Michigan Hillbilly, recent found some cool stuff at Iowa 80!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Come on over to the Muppet Central Forums also, and let’s talk Muppets.

Have a great week!

-Steve

And some of the actual puppets used in Dog City are on display at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta! How cool is that?

Thanks go out to Sam Pynes and Melanie Nazelrod for their recent donations to the show! Also thanks to my parents for their donation – we Swansons stick together!

Check out the brand new MuppetCast Amazon Store! Go directly to the Muppet items you’re looking for and pick them up in our store! The price is exactly the same that you’d pay when shopping at the normal Amazon site, and this way a percentage of the sale goes back to help The MuppetCast. It’s win-win!

It’s time to vote for the July special edition episode! Shall we do an episode devoted to The Muppets Take Manhattan or Muppets From Space? Both movies were released in the month of July, and to celebrate YOU get to vote for which movie will be featured in a special episode completely devoted to it. Vote now on MuppetCast.com!

Voting for the contest winner also continues on our website. Voting ends July 27.

Check out The MuppetCast Flickr Page for the most recent listener Muppet photos!

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World and Muppets, Music & Magic are both in the Washington DC area, and they’re enjoying a humongous response! Swarms of people are reportedly showing up to the screenings and the exhibits. Jim’s work, his magic, and his legacy are still very much a part of all of our lives, and this really shows it.

Sesame Workshop will soon unveil a new website just for Sesame Street. The current website (which will still exist alongside this new one) focuses more on Sesame Workshop and their various projects. Look for SesameStreet.org to debut on August 11, the same day as the television show debuts Season 39!

Jim Henson Company Archivist Karen Falk was recently on NPR’s All Things Considered talking about Jim Henson’s Fantastic world. It’s a short listen, but very interesting.

Joel Brown from MeeVee.com recently got to spend some time at the Jim Henson Company lot in Hollywood, CA, mostly looking at the “set” of the new series coming soon to PBS, Sid the Science Kid. It’s wonderful to read how, if they wanted to, the JHC could actually use the Henson Digital Puppetry System to do a LIVE show with Sid!

Michael Winship from BuzzFlash.com actually got to spend some time with Kermit Love during the course of his life. He writes about a day spent with Mr. Love and Caroll Spinney, and just how much time and care Kermit put into Big Bird, keeping both the character and the puppeteer in top working condition. Truly an amazing man has left us.

Have you seen the video of singer Feist singing her hit “1,2,3,4″ on Sesame Street yet? No? Well, check it out at either of these two websites!

Looking for the new official Muppet YouTube videos? LOok no further! Just click here to find:
Sam Eagle
Gonzo
Beaker
The Swedish Chef
Statler & Waldorf

Sesame Street is almost 40 years old. Remember back when it was only 20? Yep, way back in 1989, those were the days. Listener Francine found the complete 20th Anniversary special on YouTube, posted in six parts, and here they are:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

Thanks to KermiClown and The Count for helping me with Dog City!

Check out our friends at The Muppet News Flash and Tough Pigs for truly unique Muppet-y content you won’t find anywhere else!

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also make sure to stop by the Muppet Central Forums for the biggest Muppet fan forum on the web.

Have a great week!

-Steve

Voting for The MuppetCast’s “Make Something Cool” contest runs from July 14 – 21. Look for the Contest Page on MuppetCast.com. Thanks to everyone who participated and submitted entries, they’re all wonderful. Vote for your favorite!

Last week we learned that on July 19 on the Disney Channel you’ll find Studio DC: Almost Live. This week we learn that Muppet writer and friend of the show Jim Lewis consulted on the project. Nice to know that such a close connection to The MuppetCast is involved with such an exciting project.

The Sesame/USO page on MuppetCast.com gives the complete schedule for all appearances of the Sesame Street Experience, the live Sesame event being held on military bases nationwide. I’m not sure if civilians have access to be able to participate in the events, but I think it’s much more geared toward the families the men and women in the Armed Forces.

I’m very happy to say that I’ll kick off the Road Trip season the first weekend in August (I’m anticipating a total of 3 trips this Summer and Fall). I’ll be driving up to New Jersey in August, and could really use some help with gas money! If you have a few spare bucks, I’d appreciate your help in getting me to Jersey and back. Use the Donate button on the right side of the webpage if you’d like to help; I sincerely appreciate it. You won’t be disappointed with what I bring back!

In the news, Charles Aznavour recently received the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to Canada throughout his career as an entertainer. Aznavour summed up his feelings on receiving the award with one word: Love.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World is now on display at the International Gallery at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center in Washington DC. There’s a great website put together by SITES that tells all about the exhibit. Karen Falk, the Jim Henson Company Archivist, talks in an interview about Jim’s life, and what you can expect to see when you visit this amazing exhibit, presented jointly by the Smithsonian SITES and our friends at the Jim Henson Legacy.

Bob McGrath recently received the “Music for Life” award from NAMM, the Nonprofit Association of International Music Products Industry. McGrath is an original cast member of “Sesame Street” who plays the music teacher on the show, and continues to be on the show even now into its 39th season.

It seems so long ago, but Sesame Street’s 10th Anniversary TV special was titled “A Walking Tour of Sesame Street“, hosted by actor James Earl Jones. One listener was gracious enough to send me the audio from that special, and part of it is included in the show. It’s certainly something we’ll have to explore further in the future.

What species is Big Bird? It’s kind of up in the air, really. Email me your opinion this week. Also call the voicemail line and answer this question: If Disney did a 50 States line of pins with a different Muppet for each state, who would be on which state pin? Pick a few and call in with your opinions, and listen for it on next week’s show!

Denver.YourHub.com listed out their top 100 movies this week (in no particular order), and The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, and The Muppets Take Manhattan all made the list!

Elizabeth from the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA sent a link to a wonderful video from Georgia Public Broadcasting. It features a few people from the Center itself, along with Bonnie Erickson and Jane Henson. Much of the footage was shot when I was at the Center last September for their 29th anniversary, and I can’t wait to see everyone again this September for the 30th!

A few listeners sent a link to the Muppets re-enacting the Continental Congress, in a video spot from 1982. I didn’t get it in time for last week’s episode, but it’s very much worth the watch. Miss Piggy as George Washington is priceless.

Mental Floss had an idea to do a Quick 10 article on the Muppets, and it got such a huge response that they quickly ran a second article as well! Read them over at MentalFloss.com.

Make sure to visit our friends at the Muppet News Flash and Tough Pigs for more great Muppet-y fun throughout the week.

Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called into the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and say hello! Can’t wait to talk to you there.

Have a great week!

-Steve