RIP Jim Nabors (1930 - 2017)

Well "Gawwwleee!" Jim Nabors has died.

Nabors was known as Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show, and Gomer Pyle, USMC. He also had his own variety show aptly named The Jim Nabors Hour, but is best known to Muppet fans for guest starring on the first season The Muppet Show.

Check out a few of his scenes from The Muppet Show, including his "Gone with the Wind" sketch that was cut from the DVD release.

You can read more about his life at The Hollywood Reporter. He was 87.

Sesame and CCTV Continue Long Partnership

According to trade magazine Total Licensing Report, Sesame Workshop and China's Central Television Children’s Channel (CCTV) will continue their 35 year long partnership and will shoot scenes for the first time on Sesame Street's set!

Building on a relationship that began 35 years ago with the televised “Big Bird in China” special, China’s national broadcaster China Central Television Children’s Channel and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational media organization behind Sesame Street, will co-produce segments for CCTV’s annual Spring Festival special.

For the first time, CCTV will be on the iconic Sesame Street set in New York to shoot segments showcasing Chinese New Year traditions, customs, and legendary stories.

Since 2014, Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Lily have joined CCTV children’s hosts Ju Ping, Dong Hao, Jin Guizi, Xiao Lu, Sister Moon, Huang Wei, Red Apple, Green Bubble, Brother Sesame and Du Yue to learn about what makes Chinese New Year unique. Last year, the furry friends visited Singapore to learn about Spring Festival celebrations outside of China.

Watch Kermit and Constantine on A Very Pentatonix Christmas Special!

Kermit and Constantine made an appearance on A Very Pentatonix Christmas Special Monday.

In case you missed check it out below:

Muppet Thought of the Week ft. Kermit the Frog!

Kermit's back, and back, and back, with an all new Muppet Thought of the Week!

Adorkable Rachel's Muppets Most Wanted Conspiracy Theory!

Our friend Rachel is back with a very intriguing conspiracy theory about Muppets Most Wanted.

Check her VERY compelling argument below:

If that was actually a part of the movie, Muppets Most Wanted would have been all the better for it!

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth 2017 Special #1 Preview!

This week Archaia will release a "special" Labyrinth anthology comic. check out all the details and a few sample pages.

Celebrate Jim Henson’s Labyrinth with an all-new collection of short stories celebrating the various characters and creatures from the world of Labyrinth.

Includes the never-before-told story of how Sir Didymus met his trusted steed Ambrosius. 

Also includes the story of a goblin running late to the famous “Dance Magic Dance” sequence from the film.

subscription variant cover

1:10 variant cover

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth 2017 Special #1 will be available November 29th. You can pre-oder the regular and variant, and kindle versions from Amazon or at your local comic shop.

Kermit to Appear in Pentatonix Christmas Special!

Pentatonix, the Grammy-winning a cappella group, has a new Christmas special and our favorite frog is joining the fun.

You can catch Kermit on A Very Pentatonix Christmas Monday, Nov. 27 at 10 PM ET/PT on NBC.

And just in case you missed it, NBC will have an encore airing Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 8 PM ET/PT.

Be sure to set your DVRS!

Happy Thanksgiving from Scooter and Lew Zealand!

Happy Thanksgiving from Scooter and Lew Zealand!

Diamond Select’s Fourth Wave of Muppet Figures "Shelved"!

Well Muppet fans, we have some sad news to report. According to a friend and fellow muppet fan who worked with Diamond Select on their Muppet action figure line, the next wave has been "shelved until they can get enough "retail interest" ". 

Below is the announcement:

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, the official word from the big cheese at DST and their forum is that the Muppets wave four has been shelved until they can get enough "retail interest" or they find a way to direct-market these. They're all perfected and ready to go into production, so there's no additional work that they require. While I am disappointed, I am not surprised. Diamond is an amazing company with amazing products and I'm very grateful about all they've done thus far. Honestly, from top to bottom - nobody is Palisades. Nobody ever will be. It's an impossible comparison because it had one of the biggest product cheerleaders ever in Ken. I've never seen someone care as much and put as much of himself in any creative field than he did. That guy never slept in those years. I'm not sure if he even sleeps now. I think he's probably superhuman. That said, I don't think there's much we can do and messaging me for help won't do a darn thing, unfortunately. If you feel the need to message anyone, go to Diamond Select's facebook page and mention the Muppets figures daily until they relent. It might not do any good, but I think it's important for all of us to finish what we start as creative people. Creative companies are no exception, but things happen that are even beyond their control. Peace all.”

As you may recall, wave 4 consisted of fan favorites Sam Eagle, Rizzo, Dr. Teeth. Zoot, and The Swedish Chef. Below are the prototypes we saw for the line at Toy Fair.

They look amazing, right? You want them in your collection, right? 

What can you do about? 

First, if you haven't bought any of the figures yet (and why haven't you??), Please do so! They're fantastic. The love and attention to detail is just as good, and sometimes even better than even the much loved Palisade's line.

You can order them from Amazon (which helps support this blog), Entertainment Earth and other retailers. 

Both sites also still have pre-order links for Wave 4. Use them. Tell retailers you want them by ordering them!

Second, if you already bought the figures, buy them again! Get any you've missed or buy one or five for friends and family. The holidays are coming and they make great gifts.

Third, as noted above "If you feel the need to message anyone, go to Diamond Select's facebook page and mention the Muppets figures daily until they relent."

We can't recommend using all three options above enough.

Help get wave 4 to Muppet fans around the world!

New Henson Movie "The Star" Now in Theaters!

Did you know there's a new Henson movie coming out?

What if I told you the cast included Steven Yeun, Keegan-Michael Key, Christopher Plummer, Zachary Levi, Gina Rodriguez, Ving Rhames, Kelly Clarkson, Gabriel Iglesias, Aidy Bryant, Anthony Anderson, Patricia Heaton, Kris Kristofferson, Kristin Chenoweth, Mariah Carey, Tracy Morgan, and Oprah Winfrey herself. 

That sounds like a big deal movie, right? Something that would get loads of attention, right?

What if I told you that not only is this movie coming out, but already opened and is in theaters now.

This mystery movie is called The Star. Check these cast photos and the trailer below:

As you can see, there are no puppets. It's completely animated by Sony Animation. They didn't even use the Henson performance system like for Henson series like Sid the Science kid.

In fact, the only real Henson connection I could find is that it's produced by the Jim Henson Company, specifically Lisa Henson.


Here's the official description:

In Sony Pictures Animation's THE STAR, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told - the first Christmas. THE STAR is directed by Academy Award (R) nominated writer/director Timothy Reckart (HEAD OVER HEELS); executive-produced by DeVon Franklin (MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN), Lisa Henson and Brian Henson (The Jim Henson Company); produced by Jenni Magee Cook; with a story by Carlos Kotkin and Simon Moore; and screenplay by Carlos Kotkin. Digital animation by Cinesite Studios.

It's currently rated at 59% on Rotten Tomatoes. Which it means it just missed the cutoff for being certified fresh.

You can catch The Star now at your local theater.

It's The LEGO Muppet Show!

As promised, Ivan Guerrero's back with another Henson themed LEGO set and this one's truly muppetational!

Yep, it's the LEGO Muppet Show!

In order for this to be an official LEGO Muppet Show playset, Ivan's idea needs 10,00 likes on the LEGO ideas page. 

Please like, share, and most importantly vote!

Swedish Chef in new Tower Of Terror Holiday Projection!

The Swedish Chef, and a few other Disney characters, star new videos as part of Disney's Hollywood Studios Tower Of Terror Holiday Projection!

Inside the Magic sat down Tom Vazzanna, one of the show's creator discusses the show in-depth.

You can see their entire recording of videos and projections below.