Funko Pop!: Sesame Street Wave 1 Officially Announced!!

After releasing an exclusive Super Grover at NYCC in October and previewing the line at Toy Fair, Funko officially unveiled the first 6 figures in their Sesame Street Pop! line today. 

The announcement said these will be available in May, though I'm not sure if that's when retailers can start to order them, or the'll be in store shelves. Stay tuned!

Kermit Ceramic Planter (UK)

Last but not least we have the Kermit planter. 

It looks OK, however I think it suffers from the same problem as the Animal planter. Too simplistic, and doesn't show the character well. 

Again the plant creates hair, which Kermit doesn't have. So we're left with a "frog with an afro" look similar to the Kermit Chia Pet. 

The plus side is, it doesn't make Kermit look like as much like a tomato as the Animal, though it could have been designed better.

Imagine if Kermit's eyes were above the plant hole and it had a drip catcher in the shape of his collar. That would have looked much better and really sold it as "Kermit". 

You can order the "Green Tomato Kermit" planter from Amazon UK.

Animal Ceramic Planter (UK)

We showed off the new Beaker planter last week and today we'll look at another planter in the line - Animal.  

It's a very simplistic take on the character and doesn't really convey the character. Maybe some stray hairs sticking over his mouth and over the top edge would have helped. Without that he looks too round and contained and we all know Animal is neither.

It actually get's worse when a plant is added to create his "hair." I don't know about you, but the photo on the package above makes him look like a tomato!

This could lead to a whole new line of interesting food shaped Muppet products! But untill then, you can order you "Tomato Animal" from Amazon UK.

News: Jim Henson Co., Cyber Studios Partner up on Two Toon Series

In the run-up to Mip TV, L.A.-based Jim Henson Co. has teamed up with France’s
Cyber Group Studios to co-finance and co-produce two toon series, “Enchanted Sisters”
and “Boubouh!”

A fantasy-filled comedy-adventure series based on the eponymous book, “Jim Henson’s Enchanted Sisters” (whose book cover is pictured above) follows four siblings who come together every three months to join their Mother Nature in a ceremony that changes the seasons. “Enchanted Sisters” will be penned by “Anna’s Icy Adventure”‘s author Elise
Allen, who previously wrote episodes of “Sid the Science Kid” and “Dinosaur Train.”

Head over to Variety for the full story and to find out what "Boubouh!" is.

Throwback Thursday: Great-great-great-great Grandmother Bunny puppet!

HBO aired The Tale of The Bunny Picnic for the first time on this day in 1986. The special introduced us to a whole new wold of Muppet bunnies, most notably Bean, who would go on to be featured n many productions and movies through the 80's and 90's. 

Applause released a set of puppets to coincide with the special. The set featured many of Bean's family including his dad, sister, and his great-great-great-great Grandmother Bunny.

Here's a closeup of the tag, 

and a little info on how Great Grandmother likes to spend her time.

Animal plush and blanket combo!

A version of this plush was released a few years ago, but recently Walmart had an assortment of character and throw combo's for sale. 

Here's the concept art as seen on the box:

 And a look at the many other brands in the line.

If you can't find it at your local Walmart, you can get it from Amazon here.

Beaker Planter (UK)!

A series of ceramic Muppet planters featuring Animal, Kermit and Beaker are available in the UK.

Beaker's design works surprisingly well. 

Much like a chia pet, the plant's foliage creates the hair. A plant with tall straight stems and branches would work best, but seeing Beaker with a curly afro is fun too.

The hair raising fun is endless. Just imagine Beaker with drooping hair or "San Francisco Beaker" with a flower in there!

Available from Amazon UK. 

Throwback Thursday: Labyrinth "Underground" Music video!

To help promote both Labyrinth and it's soundtrack, David Bowie released singles for "Magic Dance" and "Underground" in 1986.

 The "Underground" 12" vinyl single included 3 different versions of the song.

• Underground (Extended Dance Version)
• Underground (Dub Mix)
• Underground (Instrumental Version)

 There was also a music video produced featuring cameos by many Labyrinth favorites:

Center for Puppetry Arts Steve Whitmire's Memorabilia Auction Batch 3!

The next batch of Steve Whitmire's memorabilia is now up for auction! 

This batch includes many Muppet and Sesame items from the 90's and a few Muppet and Fraggle items from the 80's.

Remember, all proceeds support the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, and their efforts to build a Jim Henson wing! 

Be sure to check out all the great stuff here.

This wave ends Friday so act quick!

Meet the man who played Rowlf's piano!

We all know Jim Henson performed Rowlf usually with the assistance of another puppeteer, but what you may not know is Derek Scott was the hands actually tickling those ivories backstage.

The Muppets' music man

Derek Scott aka Rowlf from the Muppet Show

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First published Saturday 14 March 2015 in Memoriesby David Crozier, Nostalgia Editor

Musician Derek Scott has worked with many showbusiness “greats”. Artistes like Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, Liberace... the list is seemingly never ending.

But it is his latest – and unseen – television role which is causing the biggest stir. For Derek, a freelance musician and composer, is musical associate on the popular ATV Muppets Show. He also plays the piano for the character of Rowlf, the canine pianist.

Apart from fringe benefits of getting Muppets T-shirts for his children and an exclusive Kermit tie for himself, his association with the cult comedy show has raised his standing in the community.

When introduced as “the man who had just finished working with the Muppets” at a local dancing school prizegiving, he was greeted with rapturous applause.

With 24 Muppet shows in the can, he is all set to start work on a further 24 at ATV’s Elstree Studios this May.

When we met at his Northwood home recently, he explained what his role as musical associate on the programme involved.

“It means the whole responsibility of the music is yours until it gets played,” says Derek.

“You have to sort it out, arrange it and sometimes play it too.”

The quick turnover – they made one show a week – did cause problems for Americans suffering from jet lag and having to get down to serious musical work. But, he says, it was fun to make.He had previously worked with about 60 per cent of the big names who guested on the Muppets’ first series.

Derek describes himself as a musician “because it covers everything I do,” adding: “You name it, I have done it, from a royal command performance at the Palladium to scores for films.”

He bgean studying the piano at the age of 4½. “They tell me it was because my sister started to learn to play but I did not really think of doing anything else. I do not think it was ever thought about, the subject never came up,” he says.

At 16, he was an associate of the Royal College of Organists and went on to play in West End theatres and clubs.

His first job was on the last show Sid Field did and he played in the orchestra for many big West End musicals like Kismet and Kiss Me Kate.

“Those theatre jobs were good because they left you free during the day to do anything that took your fancy,” he adds.

With the decline of the big musical, he moved into the musical side of television.

In recent years he has worked mainly for commercial television and, in particular, ATV.

It began with live shows like Saturday Spectacular and Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He met his wife, Sidonie, at the Palladium – he was the pianist and she was a dancer. Now she is well-known as a producer and choreographer of amateur musicals to the Watford area.

Before the Muppets, Derek worked on many of ATV’s made-for-America spectaculars with people like Streisand, Liberace and Ray Charles. He has written themes for series like General Hospital, Hunter’s Walk and the forthcoming Parables. He scored one of the late Tony Hancock’s films, Punch and Judy Man.

There are, he says, few people around who specialise in his sort of job. It means keeping abreast of all the current developments in music – which, no doubt, accounts for the equipment in his work room at home.

“Whatever comes up you are supposed to know something about it. Now, for instance, you have to know all about electronic music,” he explains, referring to the room as looking like something out of Star Trek.

Despite his classical training, he sees nothing wrong in more modern music.

"Eventually everyone finds there is another side to music. It is all part of the same thing. I do not like music being pigeonholed. I work on everything from opera to hard rock.”

[From the Watford Observer of March 11, 1977]

NOSTALGIA NOTE: Derek Scott was born in Biggleswade, Beds, on December 25, 1921. During the Second World War, he served in the RAF and toured Europe and North Africa with a scattering of aspiring comedians including Peter Sellers and Tony Hancock. In 1948, he formed a double act with Tony Hancock in a show billed as Hank and Scott at the Windmill Theatre. Among other achievements not mentioned in the article above, he also wrote the music for the Captain Birdseye commercials. He died in May 2006, aged 84.

Source: http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/nostalgia/memories/11854675.The_Muppets__music_man/

Okay Samurai's "I Don't Want To Live On The Moon"!

We here at Muppet Stuff obviously love our Muppet, er Stuff, but we also love toys in general. Okay Samurai's Sesame Street cover of "I Don't Want To Live On The Moon" is more then just a great cover of the Ernie classic, but a great tribute to toys as well!

After you watch it  be sure to check out the great behind the scenes video:

You can really feel the love Dave Werner has not only for his Muppet Stuff, but the people and process out takes to bring them to life. 

Throwback Thursday: The Muppet Show: On Tour! - Kermit Pennant!

In 1984, Henson Associates (as The Jim Henson Company was then named) teamed up with VEE Corporation to produce The Muppet Show: On Tour!

This live stage show was based on The Muppet Show, and featured the cast of The Muppet Show as full-body puppets which were performed to a soundtrack recorded by the original Muppet performers.

A few souvenirs were made exclusively for the show including this pennants featuring Kermit in blue tuxedo!

Check out an original commercial for the show: 

Other items for sale at the show included apparel, buttons, program, banners and other pennants., but we'll save those for another "Throwback."

Bradford Exchange Muppet Show Clock!

The Bradford Exchange has a new Muppet Show wall clock. 

The Muppet theater/pagoda design features Statler and Waldorf, the Swedish Chef, Bunsen & Beaker in the balconies. Fozzie, Piggy, and Kermit, on stage. Rowlf and Scooter peaking around from the wings. While Gonzo and Animal hang from "sandbag" weights. 

The clock faces features the classic Muppet Show logo and the pendulum features Kermit's face. 

Because the item is newly listed on their site details are scarce. However, based on Bradford's other wall clocks it should measure 21" H, including weights and should "play the music" and "light the lights."

You can order yours for 4 easy payments of $49.99 here.

RIP Jeff Hale

We're sad to learn that animator Jeff Hale has died. 

According to the Muppet Wiki:
Hale produced many animated inserts for Sesame Street, including the Pinball Number Count, Typewriter, and Ringmaster series. He later served as an animation director for Marvel Productions, working on Muppet Babies, Little Muppet Monsters, and other series.

Throwback Thursday: Delbert, The La Choy Dragon!

Yesterday our friends at The Muppet Mindset showcased The La Choy Dragon as part of their Weekly Muppet Wednesdays series.

For today's Throwback Thursday check out the fire breather in action in these La Choy commercials that aired between 1965 and 1967. 

Delbert, the dragon's actual name, was not only  featured in commercials but also on packaging as well. 

He was even available for kids at home to play with via a 3 ft inflatable version and hand puppet!

Never Made Muppets: Palisades Muppet Babies Action Figures

We're back with another installment of our "Never Made Muppets" series. 

Today's "Never Made Muppets" never made it past the prototype phase: Palisades' Muppet Babies Action Figures.

Baby Kermit and Baby Piggy were to be released as a two pack for series 10. Sadly the

line ended with series 9 in 2004. Only one character announced for series 10 was actually produced. Any guesses?

A: Uncle Deadly was the only character announced for series 10 that was produced. He was released 
as an OMGCNFO.com exclusive in 2005. 

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show DVD featuring "Music Hath Charms" Coming Soon!

Time Life will be releasing a "Best of the Ed Sullivan Show" DVD compilation on May 12.

According to the cover, it looks like it will feature Kermit's rendition of "Music Hath Charms." This 1967 appearance, was one of five not included on SOFA Entertainment's 2003 DVD Muppets Magic from the Ed Sullivan Show.

The clip was released once before, in 1992, on the now long out of print DVD and VHS of The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show Vol. 2. You can see a low quality version, (presumably from that VHS release) below.

You can pre-order it now from Amazon.