Coming Soon "A Very Fraggle Holiday" Book!

"A Very Fraggle Holiday," a new activity-filled storybook adaption of the Fraggle Rock: Back to Rock episode “Night of the Lights” will be released this fall. 

It’s the Night of the Lights at Fraggle Rock, and all the Fraggles are excited for the night’s festivities. The Ceremonial Lights are lit, Boober’s root cake is served, and each Fraggle makes a wish. Everyone keeps their wish a secret, except Wembley who wants to see the biggest, most special light ever! And so begins the night’s adventure down unknown tunnels, past the Gorgs, and into the dark where the Fraggles get lost! Will they find their way home and catch the biggest, most special lights?

"A Very Fraggle Holiday"  will be released October 28th and can be pre-ordered form Amazon.  

Note: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Bryan O’Connell Joins The Jim Henson Company As VP Children’s Television!

The Jim Henson Company has appointed Bryan O’Connell as Vice President of Children’s Television. 

A seasoned industry executive, O’Connell most recently held the position of Director of Development at Disney Jr. In his new role, he will lead the creative development of a dynamic lineup of children’s programming, including both animated and live-action series such as The Kissing Hand and Monster Mix, along with reimaginings of beloved classics Sid the Science Kid and Dinosaur Train.

O’Connell becomes part of the Creative Affairs team at The Jim Henson Company, working alongside Tara Billik (VP of Feature Films), Delaney Shiokari (VP of Primetime Television), and Tim O’Brien (Production Executive). The team also includes in-house producers John Tartaglia, who serves as Creative Supervisor for Fraggle Rock, and Halle Stanford, Co-Creator of the upcoming series Wowsabout. Brian Henson and Vince Raisa of Brian Henson Productions continue to develop a robust slate of film and TV projects under the Company’s banner.

Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company, shared her enthusiasm about the new addition:“I have had the pleasure of working with Bryan over several years. It is clear he has a deep understanding of and respect for creating engaging and entertaining content for children. Whether it be wholly new worlds yet to be discovered, or the beloved legacy worlds our audiences know and love, Bryan will be managing an ambitious and exciting slate of shows for our next generation of fans,” said Lisa Henson.

Bryan O’Connell said, “As a longtime admirer of The Jim Henson Company and its iconic properties, I have appreciated the Company’s universal appeal and enduring productions that have spanned generations. Stepping into this new role, I am grateful for the opportunity to develop a slate of live action and animated children’s projects, drawing from a global community of creators and artists that share my commitment to continue and expand this legacy of creating entertaining and impactful content for kids around the world.”

Before joining The Jim Henson Company, O’Connell spent a decade at The Walt Disney Company, contributing across Disney Television Animation, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Most recently, he led development efforts at Disney Jr., guiding the creation of numerous series, shorts, and specials for the preschool audience. He also collaborated closely with Disney’s franchise division to extend properties into merchandise and live events. His earlier experience includes roles at Silvergate Media, Sprout, Illumination, DreamWorks, and Sesame Workshop.

Premium Collectibles Studio - "PCS" - Teases Kermit Statue!

Premium Collectibles Studio, also known by the acronym "PCS", teased on social media that they might be making a new statue of Kermit.

The post might be a little cryptic, but see if you can figure out the mystery item:

 "Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection…"

A little nostalgia, a little mystery. Can you guess what’s coming?  

 

A real head scratcher for sure!

OK, while it's pretty obvious a Kermit statue - presumably on a log playing his banjo - is on the way, we don't yet know any specifics or details.

Below is an example of their 1:1 scale model of the Henson Creature Shop Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles coming out of the sewer as seen on the poster for the original Turtles film.

At $2,5000, that statue isn't cheap, nor is anything else on their site, so whatever Kermit related item is coming expect it to be incredibly detailed, but not cheap.

We'll keep you posted and when more Info is reveled, but in the meantime, you can see the rest of their items at https://collectpcs.com/.

RIP "Teeny Little Super Guy" Animater Paul Fierlinger (1936 - 2025)

Paul Fierlinger, who animated the "Teeny Super Guy" shorts on Sesame Street, has passed away.

Fierlinger had a extensive career and earned three Peabody Awards for Still Life With Animated Dogs (2000) and A Room Nearby (2003), and was nominated for an Oscar for It’s So Nice to Have a Wolf Around the House.

Fierlinger produced segments for Sesame Street and The Electric Company featuring letters, numbers, and more, but it was the “Teeny Little Super Guy,” segments that became an iconic contributions to children’s programming.

The superhero drawn on a cup and household objects became a standout character and has been adored by generations. 

Watch animator Tom Sloan demonstrate how the "Teeny Little Super Guy" shorts were made and a few Fierlinger other Sesame and Electric Company shorts below:

 

You can read more about Paul Fierlinger's life and work at CartoonBrew. 

Paul Fierlinger was 89.

Slushcult Unveils New Line of "Fraggle Rock" Grom Fingerboards!

Slushcult has a new line of Fraggle Rock Grom Fingerboards.

Slushcult has just dropped a new line that’s sure to thrill Fraggle fans and fingerboarding enthusiasts.

Introducing the Fraggle Rock Grom Fingerboards, a collaboration that brings the whimsical world of Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock to the miniature, high-speed world of fingerboarding.

Each board in the Fraggle Rock collection is designed with younger riders (or "groms") in mind, making them easy to handle, smooth to ride, and designed for both beginners and seasoned fingerboarding pros. The boards are made from high-quality maple wood, ensuring they are durable enough for all types of tricks, while still being lightweight enough for quick flips and spins.

The line includes:

Slushcult x Fraggle Rock Grom Fingerboard Complete - Gobo

Slushcult x Fraggle Rock Grom Fingerboard Complete - Red

Slushcult x Fraggle Rock Grom Fingerboard Complete - Surprize!

Slushcult x Fraggle Rock Grom Fingerboard Complete - Holding Hands

Slushcult x Fraggle Rock Grom Fingerboard Complete - Doozers

Specs:

• 34mm x 98mm
• Twin Tail Popsicle Shape
• Medium Concave / Medium Kicks
• Single Axel Metal Trucks
• Polyurethane Wheels With Real Bearings
• 2 Sheets Of Foam Tape Included
• Fingerboard Tool Included
• Pre-Assembled In Box, You Just Have To Grip It!

Slushcult's limited-edition Fraggle Rock Grom fingerboards are available now on Slushcult’s official website and using the links above.

Muppet Stuff - Pick 5 with Dave!

Join us as my guest, Dave (@RetroRestStop) takes us on a special tour of the Muppet Stuff Museum!

In this video, Dave selects 5 items from the museum's collection and together, we'll explore the history, behind each piece.

Follow Retro Rest Stop on Youtube

Be sure to check out even more videos on our Youtube channel.

Hallmark Reveals 2025 Muppet and Sesame Street Ornaments!

Hallmark’s new Dream Book was released this week and in it are photos of this year’s Muppet and Sesame Street ornaments.

As you can see for this year's Muppet ornament we’re not just getting Kermit playing his banjo on a log - but an signing ANIMATED Kermit sitting on a log playing "Rainbow Connection" on his banjo.

Hallmark's Sesame Street ornament is also playing it a bit safe with yet another Elmo ornament, this time featuring the little red monster ice skating.

Both will be available in Hallmark's first wave of ornaments in July.

Thanks to John Papovitch for the heads up! 

Henson Launches New Online Shop!

 The Jim Henson Company launched an official online store this week.

shop.henson.com launched this week featuring products from The Dark Crystal, Farscape, Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth, and The Jim Henson Signature Collection.

So far the items offered are mainly printed goods like stickers, mugs, shirts, and pillows, with coasters being the first featured items. 

I'm not sure, but many seem to be print on demand items.

We're told more collections and items will be added in the coming weeks, including "licensed products that will be accessible to Company’s dedicated global fandom."

To promote the launch a collection of parody ads premiered on the Henson Company’s social media accounts which you can watch HERE, HERE, and HERE and below.

 “Our fans all over the world have wanted one definitive place for merchandise from our most beloved properties and shop.Henson.com gives them a wide selection of high-quality, exclusive products they will love,” said Nicole Goldman, Executive Vice President of Branding at The Jim Henson Company. “Encompassing apparel, accessories, housewares, collectibles and more, shop.Henson.com welcomes fans of The Dark Crystal, Farscape, Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth, and of course Jim Henson himself, to discover their new favorite must-have item.”

Hopefully we'll get some Henson Company branded merchandise and access to any extra cast and crew items. That me be a bit of a stretch, but one can hope!

You can order all the goods at shop.henson.com

New Edition of "Before You Leap" Coming Soon!

As part of the The Muppets 70th anniversary Kermit the Frog has republished his best selling memoir, "Before You Leap."

Below is the official description:

Kermit the Frog is back, and he’s revised and updated his bestselling memoir with life advice and inspiration for a whole new generation of fans!

Just in time for the 70th anniversary of The Muppets--the perfect gift for graduates of any age!

In Before You Leap, the world's most famous frog shares in a funny, heartfelt manner about his life and yours. After telling the tale of his humble swamp beginnings, remarkable career in show business, and about all the amazing people and pigs he's met along the way, Kermit shares his advice on many of life's milestones, including:

Growing up: Every tadpole must drop their tail and grow into a frog eventually—Kermit shares tips on how to navigate change and find your legs in the real world.

Starting a Career: Kermit reflects on how he climbed out of the swamp and into Hollywood—and how you can make a big splash in your own life.

Finding your Inner Tadpole: Life is messy and can change on a dime—Kermit shares his tips and tricks on reconnecting with your "inner tadpole" and finding peace and joy in the most turbulent of times.

Love in All its Forms: From Kermit and Miss Piggy to Robin and Sweetums to Rizzo and his beloved Pizza, Kermit shares his own advice on appreciating all the love we can find in our lives.

Let Kermit’s wisdom be your guide on all aspects of life like work, friendship, love, money, and self-care!

The new edition of "Before You Leap" will be released April 22, and can be pre-ordered now on Amazon. A new version of the audio book will also released the same day as well. 

Note: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Kermit the Frog to Deliver University of Maryland's 2025 Commencement Address!

In celebration of The Muppets 70th Anniversary, The University of Maryland, Jim Henson's alma mater, will have a very special guest delivering the commencement address - Kermit The Frog!

The University of Maryland announced that Kermit the Frog will deliver their commencement address on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at SECU Stadium.

Kermit the Frog returns to the university to share an inspiring message with this year's graduates after a sold-out visit to the campus last fall 2024 as part of the College of Arts and Humanities Dean's Lecture Series.

Kermit the Frog's appearance honors the long history between UMD and Muppets creator Jim Henson, who graduated from UMD in 1960. Henson, a home economics major, invented Kermit by building the original frog puppet out of one of his mother's coats and a ping-pong ball cut in half.

"I am thrilled that our graduates and their families will experience the optimism and insight of the world-renowned Kermit the Frog at such a meaningful time in their lives," said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. "Our pride in Jim Henson knows no bounds, and it is an honor to welcome Kermit the Frog to our campus, 65 years after Mr. Henson graduated from the University of Maryland. I sincerely thank The Muppets Studio, Disney and their creative teams for making this possible."

"Nothing could make these feet happier than to speak at the University of Maryland. I just know the class of 2025 is going to leap into the world and make it a better place, so if a few encouraging words from a frog can help, then I'll be there!" said Kermit The Frog.

You can watch the announcement below:

They even changed their social media profiles to celebrate!

More details about the campuswide ceremony are available at commencement.umd.edu.

Muppets Fill The GAP!

Gap is bringing a wave of Muppet madness to its apparel collection with the debut of its first-ever limited-edition Muppets collaboration.

The retailer is launching a seven-piece lineup of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies featuring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Animal, all dressed in classic 90's GAP attire.

Each character was styled Gap’s creative director and executive vice president, Zac Posen. The collection blends the timeless charm of the Muppets with Gap’s classic essentials, including denim jackets, T-shirts, and organic cotton poplin shirts.

The Muppets Oversized Sweatshirt - Miss Piggy or Kermit

The Muppets Graphic T-Shirt - Available in Miss Piggy, Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, or Animal.

Here's a closer look at the images. 

The collection is available exclusively at Gap.com. You can order them in stores and online and at the links above.

Muppet Stuff - Chris' First Visit to Sesame Place!

Join me and Chris as we take a fun and exciting tour through Sesame Place! This is extra special because it's Chris' first time visiting the park.

Chris is a massive Henson fan who lives in England, but now he finally gets to experience Sesame Place in person!

As we stroll through the park, I'll be showing Chris all the fun attractions, including the water play areas and themed rides. From thrilling roller coasters to gentle, family-friendly adventures, there's something for everyone at Sesame Place. And since this is Chris' first visit, I'll be capturing his reactions as he discovers the charm of Sesame Street in a whole new way.

After our trip to the park we made a stop to A Four Foot Prune in Philadelphia and picked up a rare find!

Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kermieuk/ Click the links below for more info. Sesame Place: https://sesameplace.com/philadelphia A Four Foot Prune: https://www.yelp.com/biz/a-four-foot-prune-philadelphia

Be sure to check out even more videos on our Youtube channel.

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Special Filming This Spring!

Fresh off their Emmy win, the cast and crew of Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock are heading BACK to the studio to film a new special.

While no plot details have been leaked, according to Hollywood North Buzz the special will be filming at the Calgary Film Centre April 28 – May 16 under the working title NIVALIS.

Get ready for new Fraggle fun coming soon!

"Fraggles" and "Sesame" Win Children’s & Family Emmys!

Over the weekend the Children’s & Family Emmys were held and Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, and Sesame Street took home some awards.

While Sesame Street surprisingly lost for Preschool Series, they won Short Form Live Action Program for "Elmo and Jesse Remember Uncle Jack," which you can watch below. 

As well as as:

• Public Service Initiative: Emotional-Well Being
• Outstanding Original Song: “That’s Why We Love Nature“
• Writing for a Preschool of Children’s Series: “Can They Be Friends?“
• Directing for a Multiple Camera Live Action: “The Sign Language ABCs“

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph won the Puppetry Award for preforming Abby Cadabby & Tango on Sesame Street.

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock won for Costume Design/Styling (Puppetry Design) and Children's or Family Viewing Series. Watch the creative team's acceptance speech below:

The big winner of the night was Fran Brill, who was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

And, if that wasn't enough, Mokey Fraggle presented a few awards as well which you can also see below. 

You can see the full list of winners at Variety. 

Muppet Stuff - New Items!

Join me as I showcase some of the exciting new releases from beloved franchises like Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, Dinosaur Train, and, of course, The Muppets!

Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer, there's something for everyone in these latest addictions to The Muppet Stuff Museum.

Be sure to check out even more videos on our Youtube channel.

Muppet Labs Field Test: Gravity! Featuring Adam Savage!

Muppets Labs posted a new video featuring Adam Savage!

Greetings from Muppet Labs, where the future is being made today! Join Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker as they dive into gravity with help from Adam Savage. Celebrate The Muppets 70th Anniversary all year long on social media with the hashtag #TheMuppets70.

This is obviously a hold over that was shot and not used for Muppets Now! It's nice that they use this to plug the series on Disney+. Hoping we see anything else left on the cutting room floor soon too, 

Toy Fair 2025!

Last week we once again scoured New York Toy Fair for all the Henson related merchandise we could find. 

As you'll see, most of the new items are for Sesame Street, but there was a few new and first looks at Muppet and other Henson items as well. 

BanDai:
Sesame Street statues coming soon

Elope/ Fun.com:
Will continue to sell Muppet costumes with more on the way (though not shown).

Tonies:
New Elmo & Tango, Abby Cadabby figures join their Sesame line. No new Muppets were announced. 

Monogram:
The bad news, Muppet Blind Bag Keychain Series 2 won't be coming until 2026.

the good news, Sesame Street Series 3 is May 2025. Characters include Alice Snuffy, Prairie Dawn, Rosita, Bert and Ernie in PJs, Orange Oscar, Two Headed Monster, Big Bird with Radar, Chef Cookie Monster and two mystery chase characters. 

Sesame Street blind bag plush keychains are also on the way featuring the Count, Oscar, Bert, Ernie, Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Zoe, and Abby.

They also have two different Elmo magnets in the same style and an Elmo vinyl bank.

Magnetic Play:
More Sesame title toys coming. 

Blockeez:
New Sesame figures out now including Cookie, Abby, Big Bird, Elmo. The rest coming in April.

Just Play:
Hokey Pokey Elmo animated plush and a Slinky Oscar, yes you read that right. Take a look below.

Kids Preferred:
Sesame plush line out now. Baby's First Wrist and Foot Rattles Summer, if not early 2026

Master Pieces:
Sesame Street has new puzzles and games for 2025.

Jazwares:
The Muppets Squishmallows sold well, but no concrete plans to add more characters. 

Super Impulse/ World's Smallest:
Sesame Stretchies and World's Smallest Tickle Me Elmo will be out this spring and they are continuing to produce their Bert and Ernie Mr. Potato Head figures. 

Surreal Entertainment, Inc.
Has a license to make Labyrinth items. They are continuing to make items as retailers and customers suggest. The only item they had on display was this 'Ello Worm plush. 

Precious Moments:
Sesame snow globes, Keychains, banks and their line of Cozy Memories socks are out now with the line expanding. An exclusive line for Sesame Place's 45th Anniversary is coming soon, but wasn't shown.

Erik:
Sesame cookies jars, bowls, planner, notebooks, and bags.

Bleeecher Creatures:
Has a line of Sesame Street / NBA plush that will be available exclusivity at participating teams arenas in August and a Sesame super hero Bleecher Buddies line coming in April.

Sun-Staches:
Sesame Street sunglasses out now and in 2 sizes/styles.

Atomic Arts & Crafts:
Extensive line of Sesame crafts items continues to grow. New this year is a bath line, chalk holders, a puzzle car, egg shaped plush, a light up giggling Elmo notebook, and more will be released throughout the year. 

Funko / Loungefly:
Sesame Street Loungefly has mini backpacks, purses, bags and blind box pins.

Diamond Select:
The Muppets action figure line continues with Uncle Deadly & Pepe which should coming out soon, Sweetums this summer, and Lips and Lew Zealand late 2025 / early 2026.

Kid Robot:
Kermit and Robin The Muppet Christmas Carol plush coming spring of 2025, More Muppets are coming though not named yet. 

No new Dinosaurs phunny are expected yet, but a large Baby Sinclair plush and a talking Baby Sinclair  plush that says "Not the Mama" are coming, but were not shown. 

Again, more Muppet and Sesame plush and puppet are expected, but none were shown or have been revealed yet. 

NECA:
Sesame Street Action Figures Bert and Ernie are starting to arrive in stores.

The Count will be out in March or April. 

The Big Bird figure comes variant season one head and roller skate feet. Should be available later in 2025.

The Sesame Street lamp/sign and wall is being looked at being sold as an accessory set.

Herry Monster will be available sometime this year and comes with his doll.

Oscar comes with an old shoe, wrapped fish, toy, Slimey and a bunch of elephant trunks 

Here's a look at the packaging. 

More Toony Sesame figures are on the way including Cookie Monster, The Count, and Oscar

The back of each package creates a Sesame Street scene

Bobbles heads of the Count, Oscar, Cookie Monster, and Bug Bird are coming soon

And their eneco brand has this iridescent Kermit bank coming this summer.

Super7:
A ton of new Sesame products are on the way including Wave 4 of their Sesame Street ReAction figures include Elmo with Baby David, Chef Cookie Monster, Roosevelt Franklin, and The Alligator King.

There will also be a Big Bird and Snuffy ReAction 2-pack

A new super sized Big Bird is on the way with cloth tie like the version that appears at live events and in theme parks. 

As well as a Winter version with a cloth scarf that will be a Box Lunch exclusive. 

Super Fun Big Bird and Cookie Monster (not shown) Super Deluxe plush will be Walmart exclusives before going to other retailers. 

The Sesame gang is joining Super7's FUN!Fun! line. The first wave of Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie will be out soon, followed by wave 2 with Grover, The Count, and Oscar. 

Super7 has a new wave of Sesame blind box figures. As with the last two waves, Bert and Ernie are the common figures, while their are two versions of Oscar (on that glitters) and a repainted version of Guy Smiley. 

And that's all we spotted at the show this year. Gund wasn't at the show this year, so this is far from a complete list of what's coming in 2025.  

We hope you enjoyed this sneak peek and be on the lookout for our video of our time at the show coming soon to our youtube channel.