Jim Henson's Birthday Event Schedule Revealed!

This September, the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City will once again commemorate Jim Henson’s birthday - this year with a special four-day celebration in honor of what would have been his 90th year.

This fun weekend for all ages features a slew of special guests, screenings, puppet workshops, collectible swap meet, live music in the courtyard, and more!

The event will take place September 24th through September 27th, and we know have the full schedule!

Everything will take place at MoMI unless otherwise specified.

Thursday, September 24

2:00–6:00 p.m. Free admission to Museum galleries
2:30–6:00 p.m. The Muppet Show: The Very Best Episodes
6:00–9:00 p.m. Puppet Prom (Digital Learning Suite)
7:00 p.m. Special program to be announced (Redstone Theater)

Friday, September 25

2:00 p.m. Sing-Along & Stroll-Along with Heather Henson (offsite)
2:00–8:00 p.m. Henson Fan Art (Fox Amphitheater)
2:30–6:30 p.m. The Muppet Show: The Very Best Episodes
6:30 p.m. Special program to be announced (Redstone Theater)

Saturday, September 26

10:00 a.m. Sing-Along & Stroll-Along with Heather Henson (offsite)
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Swa(m)p Meet (Digital Learning Suite) - ORGANIZED BY US!
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Puppet Tea Party with Stacey Gordon in person (Fox Amphitheater)
12:00 p.m. 60 Years of Jim Henson’s Time Piece (Redstone Theater)
1:30 p.m. The Muppet Show: 50 Greatest Moments (Redstone Theater)
3:00 p.m. Live Artist Demo—Henson-inspired Art (Fox Amphitheater)
4:00 p.m. Panel: Inspired by Jim Henson (Redstone Theater)
4:30 p.m. Panel: Henson Products—The Inside Story (Fox Amphitheater) - HOSTED BY US!
6:00–10:00 p.m. Henson Meet-Up at Pig Beach (offsite)

Sunday, September 27

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Puppeteering at MoMI (Fox Amphitheater)
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Swa(m)p Meet (Digital Learning Suite) - ORGANIZED BY US!
11:30 a.m. The Muppet Show: 50 Greatest Moments (Redstone Theater)
1:00 p.m. Gaia Music Collective One-Day Choir: “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday” (Bartos Screening Room)
1:30 p.m. Tough Pigs Podcast Live: Inside Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (Redstone Theater)
3:00–4:00 p.m. Costume contest (Kaufman Courtyard)
4:00–6:00 p.m. Live music with John Koozin and the Neighborhood (Kaufman Courtyard)
4:30 p.m. The American Banjo Museum presents a Henson Sing-Along with Lucas Ross (Redstone Theater)
6:00–8:30 p.m. Henson Meet-Up at Pig Beach (offsite)

Did we mention Saturday at 4:30 we're hosting a panel on Henson products? "Henson Products—The Inside Story" at the Fox Amphitheater across the hall from the Swamp Meet (also organized by us!)

Last year was blast and as you can see, this year is shaping up to be even bigger and better!

Stay tuned for more info on vendors and what to expect from our panel - Saturday at 4:30 on Henson products at the Fox Amphitheater. 

In case you need any more reason to join us, here are the videos we shot covering last year's event as well as a video produced by Heather Henson's Green Feather Foundation.

 

For more details about all of the events below, be sure to visit the Museum of the Moving Image’s website. See you in September!

Muppet Stuff Video: Thrifting For Muppets with Retro Rest Stop!

Join Dave (AKA Retro Rest Stop) and I as we thrift around town searching for Muppets, movies, and whatever fun pop culture items we can find! 

Follow Retroreststop⁩ and watch his pickup video here.

Be sure to check out even more videos on our Youtube channel.

Muppet Stuff Video: RunDisney Virtual 12ks of Christmas Unboxing!

Join me as I unbox RunDisney's Virtual 12ks of Christmas box of medals/ ornaments and other Muppet swag!

Be sure to check out even more videos on our Youtube channel.

Emmet and Ma Otter Replicas Available to Pre-Order!

Plastic Meatball unveiled at San Diego Comic Con that their Emmet and Ma Otter replicas are now available to Pre-Order!

Below are the details:

Jim Henson's holiday classic comes to life with these deluxe plush photo replicas of Emmet and Ma Otter. Using premium materials, we've replicated the look and feel of the original characters to make them as authentic as possible. Make Emmet and Ma a permanent part of your holiday decor with these charming conversation starters.

Emmet Otter:

Stands 21" tall
Jointed hip articulation
Removable jacket, shirt, pants, suspenders and hat
Includes a stand for easy poseability

Ma Otter:
Stands 25" tall
Jointed hip articulation
Removable dress, bloomers, shawl, and hat
Includes a stand for easy poseability

If you thought those looked good, they also unveiled new brand new prototypes that have even more detail.

 

Both packaged in a deluxe gift box. 

You can pre-order them from Plastic Meatball. They hope to have them in your hands (and by your washtubs) by Christmas.

They also showed off the first look at wave two of the Emmet Otter actions figures featuring The River Bottom Nightmare band's Chuck and Stanley Weasel in 6" size. 

It also looks like they'll be re-releasing Emmett and Ma as 6" figures as well.  

You can see Plastic Meatball's entire Emmet Otter Jug-Band Christmas collection on their website. 

Muppet Stuff Video: Massive Disney Parks Haul!

Join me as I unbox a massive Disney Parks haul. 

My friends Dave ( @retroreststop) and Dave S. have been picking things up for me at the Disney Parks for months and now I have an absolutely massive box of goodies to go through.

Inside this haul, we've got everything from park-exclusive pins and limited-release merch to some genuinely rare and hard-to-find items!

Be sure to check out even more videos on our Youtube channel.

Pre-Order NECA Muppet and Sesame Street Action Figures!

The next batch of NECA's Muppet and Sesame Street Ultimate Action Figures are available for preorder. 

The Muppets - The Muppet Christmas Carol Ultimate Kermit as Bob Cratchit and Robin as Tiny Tim 7” Scale Action Figure 2-Pack 

Celebrate a timeless classic this holiday season with Kermit the Frog and his nephew Robin from The Muppets Christmas Carol! NECA brings you this Ultimate Kermit as Bob Cratchit and Robin as Tiny Tim 2-pack.

Featuring all-new sculpts, these highly articulated, 7-inch scale action figures showcase authentic deco—just as they appeared in the beloved 1992 film. Accessories include magnetic hats, removable scarves, Tiny Tim's crutch, and interchangeable hands for Kermit.

The Muppets - Ultimate Gonzo with Camilla 7” Scale Action Figure

This fully articulated, 7-inch scale action figure includes interchangeable accessories and more

The Muppets - Ultimate Mahna Mahna and the Snowths 7” Scale Action 

Sing along with Mahna Mahna and the Snowths with this Ultimate 3-pack from NECA! Your favorite Muppets sketch is here to bring some whimsical fun to your collection (and maybe get a certain song stuck in your head).

Featuring all-new sculpts, these 7-inch scale, highly articulated action figures feature authentic deco—just as they appeared on The Muppet Show in 1976. Mahna Mahna includes interchangeable hands, two heads, telephone, and bell with stand.

Sesame Street - Ultimate Oscar the Grouch 7” Scale Action Figure 

The iconic Oscar the Grouch is joining his friends on Sesame Street!

This NECA Ultimate action figure of the beloved curmudgeon features ample articulation, including a hinged jaw, eyebrow, and trash can lid. Plus, Oscar's trash can is ratcheted to adjust his height!

This 7-inch scale figure includes interchangeable hands and arms, Slimey, Rubber Yucchy, sign, and the letter “T.” Comes in collector-friendly window box packaging with opening front flap, featuring classic storybook homage box art. Now SCRAM!

NECA also showed them off at SDCC, along with their upcoming Miss Piggy ultimate action figure. 

All are available to preorder at the above through NECA's website. 

Watch The Original Muppet Show Pilot!

Just in time to celebrate The Muppet Show's 50th Anniversary myspleen user bun39 uploaded the original version of show's first episode to the internet archive. 

Check it out below with remastered audio by myspleen user Disney Ashman Demos.

Did you catch all the differences? Thankfully, the same users noted all the changes from the original version to the one that aired. 

From The Muppet Wiki, "Episode 101: Juliet Prowse":

Episodes 101 and 102 of The Muppet Show were both shot as pilots in late January 1976, several months before regular production of the show began in May of that year. These pilots were never aired, and the episodes were reworked during the regular production window, but the final versions were among the last of the first season to air in certain international markets, such as France and Germany.

When the episodes were reworked, several sketches were abbreviated or cut entirely, and new footage was taped. All material featuring the guest stars, however, was shot during the initial production window, although on several occasions, different takes were used in the final versions of the episode from those used in the pilots.

Changes made to "The Muppet Show Theme"

• Different takes were used for several shots, including Kermit's opening introduction and the kickline of chorus girls.
• There is a second shot of Zoot and Crazy Harry in the orchestra after the chorus girls' verse. The first frame of this shot is also shown between the shots of Animal and Rowlf in episode 103.
• Aside from Blue Frackle, the chorus boys in the kickline were different and included Snake Frackle; an orange-wigged, rock star pig; and a different Whatnot creature. They also sang "You'll see the strangest creatures on The Muppet Show tonight" instead of "It's time to raise the curtain on The Muppet Show tonight."
• A third kickline immediately following the chorus boys' consisted of croaking frogs and clucking chickens, and was punctuated by T.R., who introduced "our leader, Kermit the Frog!"
• A clip of Wayne and Wanda singing "You Made Me Love You" was introduced by Kermit as an example of the show's offerings. Although the pair's act was not featured in either version of the episode (a silent Wanda appeared with Mahna Mahna "At the Dance"), their performance in the theme ended as abruptly as any of their future duets would.
• The female chorus make a cameo appearance performing an extra kickline.
• The joke Fozzie told during the opening theme was different in the pilot. This one, about the panhandler who needed a bite, was told to completion. During this scene, Fozzie is "eyebrowless."
• Juliet sang "It's very nice to be here, I'm pleased to say hello" instead of appearing with the Green Gazelles in the cutaway shot after Kermit introduces her. It was the only singing she recorded for The Muppet Show.

Songs and Sketches

• The most dramatic change made to episode 101 was the addition of the backstage plot involving Muppy and Scooter. "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" was also the only onstage act to appear in the final version of the episode that was not shot for the pilot.
• Two acts were cut completely from the pilot, Fozzie's monologue and Animal's drum solo. Also cut were Kermit's 'introduction' and a brief exchange between Fozzie, Rowlf, and the bartender in the "Cowboy Time" sketch; a conversation between Hilda and Fozzie; an appearance by Mahna Mahna, who pops out from behind Juliet Prowse to shout his trademark line after Kermit talks to her backstage; and an interstitial with Statler and Waldorf.
• Several sketches, while they remained essentially unchanged in both versions, used different takes from the original shoot, including Juliet's backstage conversation with Kermit, their Talk Spot, and "You and I and George."
• A rare addition between the pilot and broadcast version was a line during the Muppet Glee-Club sketch where the members comment about Kermit's baton-waving.
• Another addition occurs during Kermit's introduction of "Flight of the Bumblebee." Gonzo is seen coming out from the stage's left wings. A similar shot is used in episode 111, in which Gonzo comes out in the wings from stage right.

What a great way to celebrate The Muppet Show's 50th Anniversary. Thanks bun39 and Disney Ashman Demos!