Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy this brand new video from The Muppets!!

New Disney Parks Long Sleeve Muppet Shirt!

While sadly there isn't much Muppet merchandise to be found at the Disney Parks these days, there is a new long sleeve shirt at Disney Hollywood Studios.

Th shirt features The Muppets logo on the front while Animal, Beaker, Fozzie, and Kermit  are seen on the right sleeve.

The Muppets long sleeve shirt costs $34.99 and is currently only available in the park.   

Photos and info courtsey of: https://wdwnt.com/2019/11/photos-the-little-mermaid-and-the-muppets-character-shirts-available-now-at-disney-parks/

Oscar's Trashy Squarespace Experience!

Oscar's trash becomes the art word's treasures in this new ad for Squarespace.

Check out the “the worst thing that’s ever happened" to him below/:

Sesame Street Lost, Found, and Vaulted!

On Sunday, in honor of Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary, The Museum of the Moving Image hosted "Sesame Street: Lost and Found." 

The event was once again put together by Jim Henson Legacy president Craig Shemin and moderated by Muppet performer Stephanie D'Abruzzo along with a panel that included former head writer, Normal Styles and Rosemarie Truglio, current Sesame Workshop Senior VP of Curriculum and Content.

The event promised that the vault would cracked open wide open "to take a look at rare footage of Sesame Street that never aired, was shelved after initial broadcast, or featured characters that have been retired. A panel of insiders will shed light on such stories as why Margaret Hamilton (who played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz) never reappeared, and why viewers never saw Snuffy’s parents get a divorce."

Those in attendance got to see clips from these episodes and more including one segment that had crack monkeys. Many of the clips shown featured deceased guest stars and music from the late 60's that would be prohibitively expensive to get the rights to release since the serve no real education value. And guess what....that's about all I can say about it. Everyone in the audience, especially us and the crew from toughpigs, were asked to not take any photos or video of the clips which is something we all agreed not to do.

I know many of you live prohibitively far from New York and can't travel to The Museum of the Moving Image on a regular basis, but I will tell you this was worth the trip. Craig is planning more events like it so, if you can, try to make it. Clips like the ones shown will never be released, or available on youtube, and Craig had to convince the higher ups that no one in attendance would share them either. The ONLY way to see them was in person.

That's not to say that photos weren't allowed in the rest of the museum or the gift shop, which had recently restocked it's Henson merchandise ahead of the holiday shopping season.

A few of the new additions you can purchase were The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance action figures.

The just released The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Funko Pez.

The full set of The Dark Crystal pins from Aquarius, and a nice selection of Little Hippie pins cards,and bags featuring characters from Fraggle Rock, and Labyrinth.

As well a large assortment of Henson related books, games, plush, and media.

The museum is also currently hosting a small exhibit featuring characters from The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

It's truly remarkable to see all these creatures up close and in person. The details are incredible and or course there's also the permanent Jim Henson exhibit too explore.

The museum has one more event scheduled this year where a screening of
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street with special guest Sonia Manzano.

There is so much that you can only only see in person, so try to make it to The Museum of the Moving Image if you can. 

First Look: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #3!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #3 comes out this week and we have a sneak preview. 

The main cover above is by Mona Finden with a variant connecting cover by artists Kelly & Nichole Matthews. Below you'll see how their variant covers connect for issues 1-4. 

Writer: Nicole Andelfinger
Artist: Matias Basla
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Jim Campbell

When the Gelfling village of Stone-in-the-Wood is at the brink of annihilation from a terrible enemy, the great warrior Ordon is sent on a quest to retrieve the mythical weapon that promises to turn the tide of battle. Now, his quest is underway and Ordon has an ally in Fara, the future leader of the Stonewood clan. Together, they must find the Dual Glaive before their entire way of life is destroyed. But with Ordon poisoned and Fara helpless, is their quest over before it begins?

Check out first few pages are below:

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #3 hits comic shops Wednesday.

Muppet Babies Wrapping Paper!

Hallmark has an line of "Expressions" gift wrap made for specialty stores like Dollar Tree.

Among the new Disney designs this year is Muppet Babies.It's hard to see the full image from the rolls below, but thankfully they display the pattern on the biz which you can see above. 

These might be a bit tricky to find as not every store has every design. It went to a few Dollar Tree locations before I them, though that may because their holiday stock wasn't fully out.


The box they're grouped in looks like this and has a sample of the Muppet Babies pattern:

Thanks to reader Sally and her son Conner for the heads up. 

New Farscape 20th Anniversary Blu-ray!

To celebrate Farscape's 20th Anniversary Blu-ray The Jim Henson Company and Sony are releasing a new Blu-ray set featuring complete series as well as the 2-part miniseries finale, The Peacekeeper Wars.

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this acclaimed, influential and beloved sci-fi series from the Jim Henson Company – returning to Blu-ray in the definitive version for fans

CELEBRATING ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY THE COMPLETE SERIES ON BLU-RAY™ NOVEMBER 19TH INCLUDES ALL 88 EPISODES, OVER 15 HOURS OF ARCHIVAL SPECIAL FEATURES, PLUS THE FINALE MINISERIES, FARSCAPE: THE PEACEKEEPER WARS!


ABOUT THE SERIES:

Astronaut John Crichton assumes he’ll be home in time for dinner. But a freak accident during an experimental space mission catapults him across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield. Suddenly, he’s trapped among alien creatures wielding deadly technology - a battle that 20th century sci-fi pop culture never prepared him for. Hunted by a merciless military race, Crichton begins his unforgettable quest for home. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this groundbreaking, epic sci-fi adventure that has become a fan favorite around the world.


BONUS MATERIALS:

• Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars 2-part Finale Miniseries
• Audio Commentaries
• Archival Documentaries, Featurettes and Inside Looks
• Behind-the-Scenes Interviews
• Deleted & Director’s Cut Scenes
• Alternate Version of the Season 2 Premiere
• TV Promos
• AND MORE!

SPECS:

1080p 1.33:1 / 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio

5.1 DTS-HD MA English Audio


While it looks everything is the same from the 15th anniversary release, this is the first time The Peacekeeper Wars is available on Blu-ray in the US. 
Farscape's 20th Anniversary Blu-ray is available now at Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon.

Even More Muppet Portal Ads!

Portal recently released 5 more Muppets ads.

Check them out below:

60 Minutes: Sesame and the IRC join forces to help Syrian Refugee Children!

In 2017, Sesame Workshop and The International Rescue Committee teamed up and won a $100 million grant to "make measurable progress toward solving a significant problem of our time."

Sunday night, 60 Minutes aired a segment chronicling Sesame Workshop and The IRC's efforts since then to help young Syrian refugee children, including a new Sesame show.

The whole segment, as well as a transcript, and 60 Minutes overtime video are available at 60 Minutes. 

You can watch the announcement of Sesame Workshop and The International Rescue Committee's team up, and well as the Overtime video below:

More info on Sesame Workshop and The International Rescue Committee's continued efforts can be found at https://www.rescue.org/sesame.

Request More Muppets on Disney+!

Disney+ launched last week and while all the Disney owned Muppet feature films are included, only a few of the many television productions are currently available including The Muppets, Muppet Moments, and the Muppet Babies reboot.

Like you, we wanted to reach out to Disney and request more Muppet content and we found this neat little feature within Disney+ that will let you do just that!

Hover over your name, click on Help, then select Give Feedback:

Under give us feedback, select Request a film or show:

Type three shows or movies in the open fields (as you can see above, we entered The Muppet Show, Muppets Tonight, and The Jim Henson Hour). Once you have your three titles entered hit "Submit". 

You will then get this, thank you note from Disney. but that's not all. Once your top 3 have been entered, why not go back and request 3 more, and another 3 more and another 3 more!

There are PLENTY of Muppet productions to request including The Muppets Go Hollywood, The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, The Muppets at Walt Disney World, and The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson.

If you need help, Muppet Wiki has a few lists of Muppet productions that Disney owns most of including Muppets Productions, Tales from Muppetland and Muppet shorts.

Note: Disney does not own The Muppets Take Manhattan, Muppets from Space, Kermit's Swamp Years, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, or Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.

Happy requesting!

Details For Sesame Street's 50th Season!

Sesame Street's 50th season is almost here. Find out what to expect. 

While technically, the new season began with Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, today we're just going to look at the regular season episodes that begin airing tomorrow Saturday, November 16 on HBO. 

This season’s celebrity guests include: Chrissy Teigen; musicians Charlie Puth, Dave Grohl, and Maren Morris; ballet dancer Misty Copeland; comedian Michael Che; and Olympic athlete Chloe Kim. 

The season also introduces “Big Bird’s Road Trip,” a special segment that tours the United States and beyond to find out what kids love about where they live. In each installment, Big Bird meets new friends – in person or via video chat – and learns all about their families, interests, and neighborhoods. (Nine of these segments were filmed on location during this summer’s “Sesame Street Road Trip.” NOTE: If you attended any of these events, you know they weren't filmed there, but beforehand in each city where they were hosted. 

“As we mark our 50th season, we want to remind families everywhere of the timeless lessons Sesame Street has always taught,” said Steve Youngwood, President of Media & Education and Chief Operating Officer of Sesame Workshop. “Everyone, no matter where they are from, is equally deserving of respect, opportunity, and joy.”

Later in the season, a new neighbor will come to Sesame Street. Played by Violet Tinnirello, 8-year-old Charlotte – her friends call her “Charlie” – is the first child to join the Sesame Street cast in more than 20 years. Charlie is a military child who moves to the neighborhood with her family, bringing viewers along for the ride as she explores her new home for the first time.

Charlie is outgoing and eager to make new friends; she can’t wait to meet all the birds, monsters, letters, numbers, animals, and people Sesame Street has to offer. In her debut episode, Elmo and Rosita welcome her to the block, introducing her to Big Bird, Snuffy, and the rest of the gang. She soon realizes that she’s on a street like no other!

Charlie joins in lots of adventures throughout her debut season – inventing a new game, catching a fireworks show, and even going on a treasure hunt through Sesame Street’s history.

Charlie will appear in the following episodes:

5013 - A New Neighbor on Sesame Street
5014 - Let's Draw!
5023 - Zoe Breaks Her Arm
5025 - A Very Special Fiesta
5029 - The Treasure of Yucky Mama
5034 - Fourth of July Celebration

“We can’t wait to share this season with families and fans of all ages,” said Ben Lehmann, Executive Producer of Sesame Street. “Even as we take time to look back and honor our history, we keep innovating to bring today’s preschool kids something that’s tailored just for them – holding on to all the fundamentals that make Sesame Street so magical.”

Season 50’s curriculum focus – “Oops and Aha!: Embracing the Power of Possibilities” –addresses a pervasive issue facing young children. “Today’s preschool kids are under an unprecedented amount of stress and pressure to meet certain academic and social-emotional benchmarks, often before they’re developmentally ready,” said Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Sesame Workshop’s Senior Vice President, Curriculum and Content. “That result-oriented mindset can make kids afraid to take even the safest risks – never trying to pour their own milk for fear of spilling it.” Fortunately, caring adults can help relieve that pressure by giving kids room to make mistakes and tools to persevere afterwards. In one episode, for example, Abby Cadabby’s brother Rudy feels upset when he “ruins” a drawing; Alan encourages him to keep trying, and Rudy eventually creates a new picture inspired by his mistake. By modeling positive thinking, self-confidence, and perseverance, this season offers children – and parents! – a fun way to practice essential self-regulation strategies and creative thinking skills.

Throughout 2019, Sesame Workshop has marked Sesame Street’s cultural and philanthropic impact through the decades with celebrations for fans and important new work. The nonprofit organization brought community events to ten US cities in a summertime “road trip,” published a signature research report about how identity impacts children, debuted a host of fashion and lifestyle collaborations for all ages, and expanded the Sesame Street in Communities initiative to help families coping with foster care and parental addiction. Earlier this year, Sesame Street received an institutional Peabody Award and a twelfth Primetime Emmy Award, bringing the show’s total number of Emmys to 193. In December 2019, Sesame Street will become the first television show to receive a Kennedy Center Honor in the history of the award.

Leading up to the Season 50 launch, celebrity fans are sharing their favorite Sesame Street memories under the hashtag #ThisIsMyStreet. Participating celebs include: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jack Antonoff, Garcelle Beauvais, Alessia Cara, Chance the Rapper, Priscilla Chan, Michael Che, Common, Misty Copeland, Terry Crews, Zoey Deschanel, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Ilana Glazer, Ellie Goulding, Andy Grammer, Josh Groban, Kathryn Hahn, Laurie Hernandez, Colin Jost, Mindy Kaling, Ellie Kemper, Jack McBrayer, Keegan-Michael Key, John Legend, Blake Lively, Lucy Liu, Padma Lakshmi, Kate McKinnon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Olivia Munn, Bill Nye, Patton Oswalt, Busy Philipps, Questlove, Seth Rogen, Paul Scheer, Jason Schwartzman, Amanda Seyfried, Jenny Slate, and Allison Williams, plus all the guests from Season 50 and the primetime special.

Select Episode Descriptions:

5001 Big Bird Across America
Big Bird wants to visit Cousin Bird in California, but he learns that it’s too far for him to walk! Nina suggests a cross-country road trip, so they can stop off to meet new friends along the way. When Elmo worries that he’ll miss Big Bird too much, Nina explains that they’ll video chat him every day, so he can share their adventures.

5002 The Great Sesame Street Cake-Off
Cookie Monster and Gonger team up against Grover and Alan in a competition to see who can bake the best birthday cake for Nina. Elmo and Rosita help the two teams work together, combining one team’s cake and the other team’s frosting to make the ultimate birthday treat.

5011 The Great Fruit Strike
When the pineapples, bananas, and other fruits get tired of being passed over at snack time, they decide to leave Sesame Street. The gang gets together to sing songs about how much they appreciate fruit to get them to stay.

New Neighbor on Sesame Street- Photo Credit: Zach Hyman
5013 New Neighbor on Sesame Street

There's a new face on Sesame Street! With Elmo and Rosita’s help, military kid Charlie finds her way around the neighborhood and learns that Sesame Street is a place where everyone can be friends - no matter how different they are.

5021 The Fluffster Kerfuffle
When Rudy tries to use Julia’s special toy, Fluffster, as part of a game he’s playing with Elmo and Abby Cadabby, Julia gets very upset. Alan explains that Fluffster helps Julia feel calm, so it’s not a toy she likes to share. Rudy apologizes, and the friends find a different way to play together.

5023 Zoe Breaks Her Arm
When Zoe slips and breaks her arm during a ballet jump, she finds it difficult to play or do anything fun with her arm in a cast. The gang works together to put a twist on “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” so Zoe can join in.

5029 The Treasure of Yucky Mama
During Oscar the Grouch’s spring “cleaning,” he finds a fifty-year-old treasure map - but the neighborhood looks much different than it used to! Will Elmo, Abby, Nina, Oscar, and Charlie learn enough about Sesame Street’s history to complete three grouchy challenges and find Yucky Mama's treasure?

5034 Fourth of July Celebration

It's July Fourth on Sesame Street! Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Rudy look for the perfect birthday present for America, but Alan teaches them that holidays are really about spending time with family and friends. Together, they do something kind for all their neighbors.

Sesame Street content continues to be available to PBS KIDS viewers daily on local PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and anytime via the free PBS KIDS Video app. 

Starting next year with Season 51, episodes of Sesame Street will debut on forthcoming streaming service HBO Max before airing on PBS KIDS.