Muppet Studios: The Lost Legacy!

For thirty years Muppet fans have wondered what the proposed "Muppet Studios" land at Disney's Hollywood Studios would have look like.

Over the years we've heard the plans and seen glimpses of art work, but for the first time we now know how it would have all come together. 

For his YouTube channel Sizzle Map, Forrest Mallard interviewed Imagineer Marcelo Vignali, who not only designed the rides, restaurants, and gift shop, he also provided never before seen artwork.

Explore the forgotten magic of Muppet Studios Land at Walt Disney World with the documentary, "Muppet Studios: The Lost Legacy." This compelling film delves into the abandoned dreams and whimsical visions that once brought the Muppets to life in a dedicated land. Featuring exclusive interviews with Marcelo Vignali, one of the visionary Imagineers responsible for designing the lost rides, attractions, and restaurants. 

This documentary offers a rare glimpse into the creative process that shaped this unrealized gem. Vignali shares captivating anecdotes about his time working on the Muppet Studios project, providing insights into the challenges, triumphs, and tragedies he faced with his team. Viewers are treated to never-before-seen artwork, unveiling the intricate details of the Great Muppet Movie Ride, and other planned attractions that never came to fruition. 

Marcelo Vignali ends the documentary on a positive note, explaining how the spirit of Muppet Studios lives on in other Disney themed lands and attractions around the world. "Muppet Studios: The Lost Legacy" is a nostalgic journey through the unexplored corners of Disney history, reminding us of the vibrant Muppet dreams that once danced within Disney/MGM Studios.

Explore more from Imagineer Marcelo Vignali at https://favillistudio.com/

More video from Sizzle Map can be found on their Youtube Channel. 

Amazon & Henson Develop Series Based on Froud’s "Faeries"!

According to Variety, "Amazon MGM Studios and The Jim Henson Company are teaming up to develop a series based on the work of Brian and Wendy Froud."

With the working title of “Faerie,” the series is described as a “modern Henson family adventure set in the magical world of Brian & Wendy Froud’s Faeries.”

The official series description states: “When the Faeries kidnap an unsuspecting father, his family must venture into the Faerie realm to rescue him. Through their journey, they will discover their inner strength and unique potential, challenging the expectations that the human world has put upon them. At its core, Faerie is a story of perseverance and the strength of a family’s love, filled with magic, adventure, and self-discovery at every age.”

It's family affair as Brian, Wendy, and their son, Toby will executive produce the project along with the Henson Company.

The Frouds have a long history with Henson. The couple met while working as designers on  The Dark Crystal and went onto work on Labyrinth and the Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Wendy also worked on The Muppet Show, The Muppet Movie, and fabricated the Yoda puppet for The Empire Strikes Back. 

Brian’s other credits include the Henson series The Storyteller. 

Outside of their screen work, Wendy’s other projects include illustrating the three books “A Midsummer Night’s Faerytale,” “The Winter Child,” and “The Faeries of Spring Cottage” by Terri Windling. 

Brian first published the  book “Faeries” in 1978 with Alan Lee and his concept art was featured in the companion book “The World of the Dark Crystal.”

His artwork serves as the basis for the “Faerielands” book series.

Muppet Stuff - The Count's Halloween Spooktackular at Sesame Place!

Join me as I check out The Count's Halloween Spooktackular at Sesame Place! 

Be sure to check out more videos on our Youtube channel, including part 1 as I visit the World's Largest Sesame Street Store located just outside the park!

Sesame Street Returns for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Sesame Street is set to return for their 46th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tomorrow. 

According to Alan Muraoka - Alan on "Sesame Street",

"The Sesame Street float will perform at Macy's sometime between 11:00-11:15am."

Hi friends! The Sesame Street float will perform at Macy's sometime between 11:00-11:15am on NBC. This will be Sesame Street's 47th year in the parade and my 21st appearance. So thrilled to be a part of this annual tradition. See you Thursday!

 

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 8:30 am on NBC.
Set your DVR's!

MAJOR BUMER - The Muppets Mayhem Cancelled!

Like, what a bummer man. According to industry sources at TVLine and Deadline, Disney+ has cancelled The Muppets Mayhem after one season. 

Disney+ doesn't release viewership information, so we don't know how many viewers checked out the show. 

The show premiered in May and was followed shortly by the writers and actor's strikes.

It's a shame that we won't see more of this story or see the band's tour to promote their first album.

 

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas Opens in Chicago!

Back in May we got word that the theater production of Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas would be coming to Chicago and this week the show opened!

The live theatrical adaptation opened yesterday in Chicago's Studebaker Theater and plays through December 31, 2023.

Based on the beloved television special, the family-friendly musical features music and lyrics by Paul Williams, with a book by lead producer Timothy Allen McDonald, and direction and choreography by Christopher Gattelli.

The production mixes human performers as the main cast surrounded by puppets created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and is produced by iTheatrics in association with The Jim Henson Company. 

It's the same musical that premiered at Goodspeed Opera House in 2008 and played Off-Broadway at the New Victory Theater in December of 2021.

Tickets are on sale at the Studebaker Theatre box office, online and 312-753-3210.

Muppet Stuff - The Worlds LARGEST Sesame Street Store!

Join me as a wade through the opening day crowds at the world's largest Sesame Street store at Sesame Place, Philadelphia.

Part 2: I check out The Count's Halloween Spooktackular!

Part 3:  I show off my haul from the store! 

Be sure to check out more videos on our Youtube Channel.

Kermit Items at Five Below!

Discount retailer Five Below started putting out their holiday items and a few them feature Kermit. 

The Muppets® Kermit The Frog™ Christmas Beanie Hat

Keep your noggin nice & toasty in this Kermit the frog pom beanie. rep your fave Muppet in the cutest Christmas hat

The Muppets® Kermit The Frog™ Holiday Slippers

Keep your feet nice & toasty in these Kermit slippers! Slide into holiday comfort & rep your fave Muppets character.

Ladies shoe sizes: 6-11

The Muppets Mens Kermit Christmas Crew Socks 2-Pack

Complete your holiday ‘fit in The Muppets crew socks. Have a green Christmas with Kermit on your feet!

          Includes 2 pairs of socks

And while not specially Christmas related, they also have this Kermit The Frog™ 'Country Roots' Rainbow Connection Graphic Tee

Find your rainbow connection in this Kermit the frog graphic tee. show off your country roots & rep some iconic style!

          adult unisex sizes: s-xl

I'm not sure why it says "County Roots" but it's a nice image of Kermit with his banjo. 

Each item is $5 and can be bought online at Five Below, and as your local store gets them in stock. 

Adam Savage Inside the Henson Archives and Learns Some Puppet Magic!

Adam Savage posted more videos visiting the Jim Henson company. This time he's going inside the archives and learning more about the techniques used during Puppet Up. 

Adam Savage Visits Jim Henson’s Archives!

In New York, the Jim Henson Legacy shares space with the Creature Shop. Adam Savage talks to archives director and Legacy vice-president Karen Falk about how the two inspire each other (including with the building of puppets for Puppet Up) and sees some very early sketches by Muppets creator Jim Henson, who imbued so much personality and function with just a few lines.

 

 Adam Savage Learns Some PUPPET MAGIC!

One of the Puppet Up! sketches that blew our minds was "The Usher," in which actor and puppeteer Michael Oosterom and his colleague Bishop Rhone use video looping and precise choreography to turn one singing, dancing usher into FIVE. Could YOU ever do this

 

 Adam Savage vs. Jim Henson Puppeteers

When Brian Henson invited Tested to film behind the scenes of Puppet Up, his puppet improv show, we jumped at the chance. What wasn't wholly expected was Brian calling Adam up on stage to try out his own puppet skills in the audience segment. It went ... um,

You can see more Adam Savage’s Tested on his Youtube channel. 

Dave Perillo "Muppet Show" Print!

Artist, and friend of the blog, Dave Perillo has a new, officiality licensed, print inspired by the iconic opening of The Muppet Show.

It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, it’s time to meet the Muppets with Dave Perillo’s print for The Muppet Show!

Dave’s newest print reminds us of the magic of our favorite variety show of all time. We’ve been excitedly working with Dave on prints for Very Important TV Shows, and few shows have entertained and inspired us as much as The Muppet Show. Dave’s print features some of the cutest versions of Muppets that we’ve ever seen!

It's available in two versions, regular (edition size 250) and foil (edition size 150) with each poster hand numbered. 

The Muppet Show by Dave Perillo
Screen print
18 x 24 inches
Hand-numbered edition of 250
$50

The Muppet Show by Dave Perillo - Foil Variant
Screen print on foil paper
18 x 24 inches
Hand-numbered edition of 150
$60

The Muppet Show by Dave Perillo will be available at 12PM EST at Bottleneckgallery.com.

UPDATE:

Both version are now sold out. 

Muppet Stuff - Celebrating Jim Henson's Birthday at MOMI!

Join me as I travel to the Museum of the Moving Image to celebrate Jim Henson's birthday  and watch some rare clips of Rowlf on The Jimmy Dean Show.

More info on Museum of the Moving Image.

Be sure to check out more videos on our Youtube Channel.

Henson Related Shows Nominated for Multiple Children’s & Family Emmys!

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for this year’s 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Emmys.

While no date or place has been set, last year winners were announced during two ceremonies—one focused on creative and technical arts, and the other to performances and programming on December 10 and 11.

Also of note, earlier this year the Academy created two new Emmy categories - puppetry performance and puppet design/styling and a public service initiative Emmy for campaigns that include both an on-air and off-air component.

Below are all the 2023 Henson- related nominees for Children’s & Family Emmys:

PRESCHOOL SERIES
Helpsters (Apple TV+)
Sesame Street (HBO Max)

Sumberkins (Apple TV+)

CHILDREN’S OR FAMILY VIEWING SERIES
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)

FICTION SPECIAL
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock – Night of the Lights (Apple TV+)


SHORT FORM PROGRAM
Sesame Street: Wes’ First Barbershop Haircut (YouTube)
Sesame Street’s #ComingTogether Word of the Day Series (YouTube)


PUPPETRY PERFORMANCE
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby & Tango, “Sesame Street” (HBO Max)
Frankie Cordero as Purple Panda, Penguin Referee & Gregory, “Donkey Hodie” (PBS Kids)*
Ryan Dillon as Elmo, “Sesame Street” (HBO Max)
Haley Jenkins as Donkey Hodie, “Donkey Hodie” (PBS Kids)*
Eric Jacobson as Bert, Oscar & Grover, “Sesame Street” (HBO Max)
Eric Jacobson as Animal/Baby Animal, “The Muppets Mayhem” (Disney+)

*Not nominated for a Henson-related show but is former or current Henson performer.

NOTE: Eric Jacobson is competing against himself in this category for his work on both Sesame Street and The Muppets Mayhem.

WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL OR CHILDREN’S LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
Helpsters (Apple TV+)

Sesame Street (HBO Max)

DIRECTING FOR A SINGLE CAMERA PROGRAM
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)


DIRECTING FOR A MULTIPLE CAMERA PROGRAM
Sesame Street (HBO Max)

ORIGINAL SONG FOR A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
“Community is Everything,” Sesame Street (HBO Max)


EDITING FOR A SINGLE CAMERA LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)


EDITING FOR A MULTIPLE CAMERA LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
Sesame Street (HBO Max)


SOUND MIXING AND SOUND EDITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM
Sesame Street: The Nutcracker, Starring Elmo and Tango (HBO Max)


CASTING FOR A LIVE ACTION PROGRAM
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)


PUPPET DESIGN AND STYLING
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock – Night of the Lights (Apple TV+)
Helpsters (Apple TV+)
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)
Sesame Street (HBO Max

This is the big one, every nominee in this category but one is a Henson-related show.

Below are the total Emmy nominations for each series:

Sesame Street:12
The Muppets Mayhem: 6
Helpsters: 3
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock: 2

Slumberkins: 1

Last year Muppet Babies won for Outstanding writing for Preschool Animated Program, Muppets Haunted Mansion tied with Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock for Outstanding Art Direction/ Set Decoration/Scenic Design, and Sesame Street won for Outstanding Song and Preschool series.

Congrats to all the talented people behind the these shows and good luck on Emmy night. 

Glow-in-the-dark Marley Brothers POP! 2-pack!

The Muppet Christmas Carol glow-in-the-dark Marley Brothers POP! 2-pack is now available to order. 

The set is a Funko.com exclusive, and rounds out Funko's The Muppet Christmas Carol Pop! line which we first told you about in July. 

Enjoy a timeless classic as the Muppets perform Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, featuring Statler™ and Waldorf™ as Pop! Jacob Marley and Pop! Robert Marley!

 

The holidays will last all year when you welcome this exclusive, glow-in-the-dark, 2-pack of the Marley Brothers into your home and reunite them with the rest of the The Muppet Christmas Carol cast in your collection.

 

Vinyl figures are approximately 4.1 and 4.15-inches tall.

You can order the The Muppet Christmas Carol Glow-in-the-dark Marley Brothers POP! 2-pack! exclusively at Funko.com.

You can order the rest of Funko's The Muppet Christmas Carol Pop! from Funko and Amazon including their exclusive flocked Gonzo as Charles Dickens with Rizzo.

Note: We are part of the Amazon Partner Program and all sales through our links go to supporting the blog.