New Henson Series "Wowsabout" coming to PBS!

The Jim Henson Company is producing Wowsabout, a new live-action 22-minute preschool special starring new puppet characters and celebrating the power of awe, which will debut on PBS KIDS later this year.

Created and written by Halle Stanford, and Dorien Davies, executive producer, writer, and principal puppeteer, Wowsabout is about the unlikely friendship of Ronald, a fastidious little pig, and Roxy, a musical hedgehog, as they explore the "wows" of one of America's most extraordinary places: Sequoia National Park.

The new special pairs two very different explorers on an unforgettable adventure. Roxy, a free-spirited dreamer, is on a quest to find the park's legendary "magical giants." Ronald, meticulous and rule-following, is determined to achieve his carefully planned goal of becoming a junior ranger. At first glance, they couldn't be more opposite but the awe and wonder of the natural and cultural world shows them that they have more in common than anyone thought. Together they find themselves on a "Wowsabout" full of music, art, and hysterical adventures!

Wowsabout is rooted in a rich curriculum developed by Dr. Dacher Keltner, one of the world's foremost emotion scientists and author of "AWE: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." The special, shot on location in breathtaking Sequoia National Park, aims to help children recognize and name the feeling of awe by experiencing moments of wonder alongside Roxy and Ronald. Through nature, music, storytelling, and friendship, children learn how awe sparks curiosity, creativity, kindness, and a desire to explore and care for the world around them. The special inspires children to notice awe in everyday moments and begin their own "Wowsabouts," fostering connection to others and to the planet.

"Wowsabout brings The Jim Henson Company's rich legacy of puppetry into the natural world and Roxy and Ronald are sure to become guides for a new generation of viewers, encouraging greater awareness and stewardship of the environment and the world we all share," says Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company and Executive Producer on the special.

"In Wowsabout, our mission is to spark wonder and awe in kids and inspire them to care for each other and the world. We're thrilled to partner with PBS KIDS to bring this vision to life. With the comedic brilliance of the performances from my co-creator Dorien Davies as Roxy and our director John Tartaglia performing Ronald, and a top-tier creative team, this is a fresh, one-of-a-kind special—an open invitation for families to discover awe in the national parks and go on their own Wowsabouts together!" said Halle Stanford, Co-Creator, Writer and Executive Producer of the special.

"There is so much research about the benefits of exposing children to awe, and Dr. Keltner's studies about this emotion make it very clear that awe is a pathway to collaboration and compassion," said Dorien Davies, Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer, and Puppeteer of Roxy the hedgehog. "I'm excited to be playing Roxy and to help kids tap into this powerful emotion. Awe can be such a uniting force and it's something we need a lot more of today."

Wowsabout is created by, written by, and executive produced by Halle Stanford and Dorien Davies. The special is executive produced by Lisa Henson for The Jim Henson Company. John Tartaglia serves as co-executive producer, director, and puppeteer for Ronald. Dr. Dacher Keltner is also a co-executive producer with Jaime Burke and Amy Kim producing.

Wowsabout was shot on location at Sequoia National Park, with strategic project advisor support from The National Park Foundation.

Wowsabout was made possible by a grant from The Gambrell Foundation and with support from Christina and Evan Sharp.

Late Night "Muppet Show" Capsule!

Late last night, after ABC premiered The Muppet Show, Muppets Studios and Mickey's of Glendale released a capsule of products tied to the special.

This "Most Celebrational" release consisted of shirts, a hat, pins and more!

Short sleeve shirts for both kids, men, and women:

Long sleeve shirts:

A hoodie with a raised "Muppet Show" logo:

A Muppet Show hat, plush Kermit keychain, and Armadillo sticker. 

Ringer tee featuring Bunsen and an eyeless Beaker, and one of the more strange items - a Beaker eye stress ball:

And of course, pins featuring Kermit, Miss Piggy in a toga, Gonzo in his stunt attire, Fozzie wearing his thinking cap, Bunsen & Beaker with eyeballs, Statler & Waldorf in their balcony, and Kermit's tea cup and banjo all with a limited edition size of 750. 

If you missed out, don't feel bad, Disney dropped the link at 1AM EST. I'm pretty sure they meant to set it for 1PM by accident.

As of this post the pins and some of the larger size shirts are sold out but there is still many other items available using this link.  

Miss Piggy and Kermit Promote "The Muppet Show"!

Miss Piggy and Kermit made the rounds to promote The Muppet Show special.

Including talking with Vogue about her outfits over the years,

Chatting with Entertainment Tonight,

Stopping by Good Morning America, 

EXTRA:

TV Insider:

E! News:

On Demand Entertainment:

Glamour:

And even our friends over at ToughPigs:

The Muppet Show 50th Anniversary special is on Disney+ now and premiers on ABC at 9PM EST!

RIP Catherine O'Hara (1954 - 2026)

Sad news as comedic actress Catherine O'Hara has died.

O'Hara first gained fame starring and writing on SCTV, for which she won an Emmy. She starred in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice, it's sequel, voiced Sally The Nightmare Before Christmas and multiple characters in Frankenweenie.

She played Kate McAllister in both Home Alone it's sequel, and in four of Christopher Guest's mockumentary films.

From 2015 to 2020, she starred in the sitcom Schitt's Creek for which she won another Emmy. 

O'Hara worked with The Jim Henson Company voicing Judith in 2009's Where the Wild Things Are and as the Leader of the Lost Fraggle in Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock

Catherine O'Hara was 71.

Watch Kermit The Frog on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Last night Jimmy Kimmel welcomed Kermit the Frog to promote the upcoming The Muppet Show special. 

Kermit talks about coming back to television with “The Muppet Show” on ABC and Disney+, guest hosting for Johnny Carson, vacationing on Magic Johnson’s yacht, meeting Kaley Cuoco backstage, working with Seth Rogen, what he would do if he hadn’t gotten into show business, having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and advice he would give to young people trying to make it in Hollywood.

We even get a brand new clip from the special! Check it out below:

Be sure to watch The Muppet Show 50th Anniversary special on Disney+ and ABC Feb 4th!

New Henson Series "Lore Olympus" Coming to Prime Video!

Prime Video announced it has ordered Lore Olympus, a new adult animated series from The Jim Henson Company based on the global hit WEBTOON webcomic created by Rachel Smythe.

Lore Olympus will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

In Lore Olympus, witness what the gods do…after dark. The friendships and the lies, the gossip and the wild parties, and of course, forbidden love. Because it turns out, the gods aren’t so different from us after all, especially when it comes to their problems. Stylish and immersive, this is one of mythology’s greatest stories — The Taking of Persephone — as it has never been told before.

Adapted from one of the most-read webcomics in the world, Lore Olympus brings a vibrant, modern retelling of Greek mythology to life with a bold visual style and emotionally rich storytelling. Lore Olympus’ current global view count on WEBTOON is more than 1.8 billion global views.

“I am beyond thrilled to partner with Prime Video, The Jim Henson Company, and WEBTOON on the series adaptation of Rachel Smythe’s wildly popular webcomic, Lore Olympus,” said Julia Cooperman. “My fascination with Greek mythology has spanned grade-school libraries and college seminars. Reading Lore Olympus, I was reminded of the enduring power of these tales, which echo through so much of our modern-day storytelling. We can’t wait to share this frisky, soulful, and timely reimagining of Persephone and Hades’ story with new audiences and longtime readers alike.”

“With stunning artwork, rich storytelling, and unforgettable characters, Lore Olympus and Rachel Smythe have built a passionate global fandom clamoring for more,” said David Madden, President of WEBTOON Productions. “Lore Olympus is a title that will continue to speak to readers for generations, and this new animated adaptation will bring the story to more fans around the world in a new format. Together with the creative powerhouses we have in our partners at Prime Video, The Jim Henson Company, and showrunner Julia Cooperman, we’re thrilled to kick off 2026 with this incredible project.”

“Through her beautiful and creative Lore Olympus, Rachel Smythe has created a new approach to the Greek myth of Persephone that is as relevant today as ever, and features the kind of vibrant world building that we find deeply inspiring. It is a true privilege to be partnering with WEBTOON on one of their most popular titles, which marks The Jim Henson Company’s first-ever adult animated series,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company and an executive producer on the show.

“Lore Olympus redefined what mythology can look and feel like for a new generation, and we’re thrilled to bring this beloved story to our global Prime Video audience,” said Melissa Wolfe, Head of Animation, Amazon MGM Studios. “Julia’s vision, combined with Rachel Smythe’s iconic world and our extraordinary collaborators at WEBTOON Productions and The Jim Henson Company, makes this an exciting addition to Prime Video’s growing animation slate.”

Julia Cooperman serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. David Madden and Sydney Bright of WEBTOON Productions, along with Aron Levitz, are executive producers. For The Jim Henson Company, Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford serve as executive producers. Henson’s Delaney Shiokari serves as executive in charge of the production.

We'll keep you posted as new info about Lore Olympus is released. 

Muppet Stuff - The Muppet Show Anniversary Special Trailer Deep Dive!

Join me as I take a deep dive into The Muppet Show's 50th anniversary trailer. We'll look at all the hidden references, characters, jokes, and even a few mistakes!

From blink-and-you’ll-miss-them references to beloved characters popping up, we’ll break down every joke, Easter egg, and callback packed into this trailer.

I’ll also point out a few curious mistakes you might not have noticed—because even the Muppets aren’t immune to a little chaos.

Be sure to check out more videos on our Youtube Channel and watch The Muppet Show 50th Anniversary special on Disney+ and ABC Feb 4th!