Show #256 – July 12, 2015

Tim Dale and Joseph Foy join me this week to discuss their new book “Jim Henson and Philosophy: Imagination and the Magic of Mayhem.” We dive deep into discussions of all of Jim Henson’s properties, including the Muppets, Labyrinth, Sesame Street, and everything else. They wrote such a great book, they already want to do a second one, and we all had such a great time, that I can’t wait to have them on again!

It’s time to change the introduction of The MuppetCast, and I need your help to do it! Listen to the show this week and email me your pick for what you think would be the best new show opening tagline. The best part: JD Hansel (host of Eleven Point Collar at MuppetHub.com) has to personally record the new intro! Your votes determine what JD will say…which is kind of like a Muppet!

This Week’s Guests

Timothy M. Dale is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he teaches courses on political philosophy and American government. His research areas include popular culture and politics, democratic theory, and the history of political thought.

Joseph J. Foy is an associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. Foy is the editor of the John G. Cawelti award-winning book Homer Simpson Goes to Washington: American Politics through Popular Culture (2008). This work examines the relationship between political ideas and various forms of popular entertainment.

Show Links

Jim Henson and Philosophy: Imagination and the Magic of Mayhem
Sesame Place, by Guy Hutchinson
Miss Piggy announces that The Muppets will appear on Sky1 this fall
Netflix will include the Jim Henson Company’s preschool show Word Party
Cookie Monster is one of the most popular figures on social media, beating out Hillary Clinton

Thanks for listening!

As always, you can email me@muppetcast.com with any comments or questions about the Muppets, The MuppetCast, or anything else. Tweet me @muppetcast, and check out The MuppetCast Facebook page. And make sure to subscribe to The MuppetCast in iTunes!

Have a great week!

Steve