Muppet Stuff Video: RetroCon 2024!

Join me for an exciting adventure at RetroCon 2024, where I dive deep into aisles packed with vintage treasures in search of all things Jim Henson!

From The Muppets and Fraggle Rock to Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, I'm on the lookout for rare and nostalgic collectibles that celebrate the magic of Henson's incredible legacy. 

Whether it's plush, action figures, puppets, or obscure memorabilia, this video is a must-watch for fellow fans of classic Henson creations and vintage toy lovers alike. 

Also making the trip up from Florida is my good friend RetroRestStop, and you’ll probably spot a few familiar faces along the way, including other friends from past Muppet Stuff, Cinema Sickness, and Retro RestStop adventures. 

Come along for the fun, the fandom, and the fantastic finds—and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you're into retro toys, pop culture, and Jim Henson nostalgia!

If you enjoyed seeing last year's convention, wait till you see this year's, as one of the many special guests is the  one and only PAUL WILLIAMS!

If anyone knows the Rainbow Connection, it’s this man! Meet the legendary PAUL WILLIAMS at Retro Con 2025!!

Paul Williams is one of the most accomplished and respected music creators of all time, having won an Oscar, 3 Grammys, 2 Golden Globes, an Ivor Novello International Award, and membership in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Williams’ timeless classics range from “We’ve Only Just Begun”, “Rainy Days and Mondays”, “An Old Fashioned Love Song”, and “The Rainbow Connection”, to “Touch” and “Beyond” on Daft Punk’s chart-topping Album of the Year “Random Access Memories”.

As an actor, Paul Williams has provided the iconic voice for The Penguin in Batman: The Animated Series. On camera, Williams has played fan-favorite roles such as Little Enos in the Smokey and the Bandit series, the devious Swan in ‘Phantom of the Paradise’ (where he also crafted the film’s score and songs), and Virgil in Battle for the Planet of the Apes, with guest appearances on Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Voyager! Williams often appeared as himself in Jim Henson’s Muppets’ properties, in addition to writing the songs and music for The Muppet Movie and The Muppet Christmas Carol. He also wrote the unforgettable songs for the beloved holiday classic Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas!

“The Rainbow Connection” from the opening of The Muppet Movie has been added to the Library Of Congress’ National Recording Registry, a collection of “audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”

**Paul Williams will be donating all his convention proceeds toward his philanthropic work in addiction recovery and music education. So you’ll not only be meeting a legend, you’ll also be helping some truly worthwhile causes in the process. So please bring along your enthusiasm and your generosity!**

Be sure to come out September 6th & 7th to Oaks, PA!

More information and tickets at: https://retrocons.com/

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

2024 Muppet Holiday Gifts!

Join us once again as our fellow fans show off their Henson-related holiday gifts. 

Christy Walk

Got a Fraggle Rock sweater, an Animal Muppet t-shirt, a Kermit and Miss Piggy Stanley Cup, Fragile Rock Back to the Rock Season 1 DVD, a Sesame Street beach ball, two pairs of Sesame Street crew socks and a Miss Piggy Pigs in Space Christmas ornament for Christmas.

Kimberly Keyes
Labyrinth and Dark Crystal the Ultimate 4K editions with a crystal shard and orb.

Annika Abel
Got a a few vintage Sesame Street Gorham figurines, Muppets 70 magnets, Vintage Muppet ornaments, Muppet PEZ, Fozzie Sigma bookend, Super7 Oscar action figure, Muppet Clue (not pictured), and more. 

Gary Arnold
The new Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas single-carded figures by Plastic Meatball.

Carrie Burdick

Kermit Squishmallow, hand made Bunsen & Beaker scarf, and frog slippers.

David Solove

Rowlf plush and t-shirt, Muppet Clue, Kermit RSVLTS shirt, Mini Kermit and Piggy Squishmallows, Muppet Christmas Carol vinyl album, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock blu-ray, and 3D-printed Fraggle Rock title. 

MuppetHollz

Fraggle Rock blanket, Bag, Back to Rock Mokey and Wembley plush, and "Ultimate Visual History", "Funny Boy" biography.

Justin Talks Puppets

Cookie Monster hat, parody shirt, and other Muppet shirts.

Jayden Libran

Fozzie Geeki Tiki, Kermit and Miss Piggy mini Squishmallows

Justin Reyes

Kermit Tumbler, Muppets Magnets, Muppet Christmas Carol Marley pops, "Funny Boy," Miss Piggy Geeki-tiki, The Muppets Take Manhattan 4k, Sam and Rizzo action figures, and a bunch of shirts. 

Lisa Soares
Swedish Chef wall plaque, Ernie plush, hand made Miss Piggy purse, Labyrinth worm bag, and Animal socks and mug.

Kelly A. Colemen

Got his dog Bark toy's Muppet Christmas Carol "VHS" plush.

Rich Goellinitz

Got his daughter Kermit and Miss plush and a Muppet shirt

Gina Logan

Got Fraggle Rock: Back to The Rock Gobo and Sprocket plush, a vintage Baby Kermit plush, a Kermit the Frog plush, Kermit and Constantine Funko Pop, and a Kermit Cuddleez plush. 

Elisha DeMaria
Got her son Gabriel a Muppet shirt, Elmo and Tango Funko Pop, Fraggle Rock: Back to The Rock plush, and a Little Bird plush.

Kaman Stowell

Received a Palisades Tuxedo Gonzo, Fozzie puppet, Kermit hat, Muppets Most Wanted shirt, 
a Disney Hollywood Studios pack of marshmallows, and an amazon gift card to buy more Muppet stuff.

Josh Hankemeier

Received a Pigs in Space ornament, Alistair Cookie Funko Pop, Super7 Mr. Hooper action figure, and Dr. Loretta Long's "Paw Paw to Sesame Street" book.

Tracy LaValle

Got a Labyrinth Ludo bag from her husband. 

Kevin Hansen

Got a Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Wembley plush, an Emmet Otter action figure, and mini Kermit Squishmallow.

Sylvia Alexis Munoz

Received The Muppets Clue, Muppet drinkware, Mini Kermit and Piggy Squishmallows, Animal and Kermit Kate Spade purses, and a Muppet Kate Spade shirt. 

Rachel Thorby

Received Labyrinth worm socks and slippers.

Kagan Shepherd

Got Dark Crystal playing cards and a Fizzgig plush.

Laura Wolfe-Bosworth

Got a Muppet Loungefly bag, Kermit cookie jar, Muppet pajamas, and a Kermit shirt. 

And finally, our managing editor Chris Stulz got this hand-made Muppet Stuff sign. 

Thanks everyone for sharing their amazing holiday gifts. 

BREAKING: Closing Dates Announced for MuppetVision 3D and PizzeRizzo!

As we officially learned a few months ago, MuppetVision 3D is set to close for good this year and we now know the show will take it's final curtail call on June 7.

Walt Disney World announced the closing dates not only for MuppetVision 3D, but PizzeRizzo and the non-Muppet restaurant Mama Melrose as well. 

The final day to see MuppetVision will be June 7 which will also be the last day to enjoy a meal at PizzeRizzo, relieve yourself at Gonzo's Royal Flush, enjoy the exterior of the Stage 1 Company Store, see the Muppet fountain, or the rest of the Grand Avenue area as it stands now. 

Non-Muppet themed Italian restaurant, Mama Melrose, will close a month earlier on May 10.

“ the Grand Avenue area will begin a phase closing in May, with the last day to dine at Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano on May 10. Following that, Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will close, with the last day to experience both locations on June 7. But, the Muppet foolishness doesn’t stop there — Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and more of their friends will be moving right along to Sunset Boulevard! The Muppets will be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!“

This all makes way as Hollywood Studios theme park prepares to retheme Muppet Courtyard Grand Avenue to a “Monsters, Inc.” themed land.

Muppet Stuff Video: Celebrating Richard Hunt and the release of Funny Boy!

Join us as we travel to Museum of the Moving Image to celebrate the life and legacy of Richard Hunt and the release of Max Stein's biography, "Funny Boy." 

This video features clips of Richard's work, close up looks at his characters, insights from Max Stein and more. 

Max Stein’s biography, "Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography," offers an intimate and compelling portrait of a man whose dedication to his craft has left an indelible mark. From poignant moments in Richard’s personal life to his lasting legacy in the film industry, this celebration of his achievements invites you to discover the man behind the stories. 

Whether you are a fan of his work with Jim Henson and The Muppets or simply interested in learning about an extraordinary life in the arts, Stein's book offers an unmissable opportunity to explore the multifaceted career and incredible legacy of Richard Hunt. Join us in honoring Richard Hunt, celebrating the release of "Funny Boy," and delving deeper into the various characters he brought to life. 

You can order your copy of "Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography" by Jessica Max Stein at Rutgers University Press.  

Get more info on The Jim Henson Legacy and Museum of the Moving Image at these links. 

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

Robert Eggers to Direct ‘Labyrinth’ Sequel!

We've heard rumors of a Labyrinth sequel for years and now it looks a little closer to actually happening as Robert Eggers has signed a deal to create a new Labyrinth film.

Deadline is reporting that Eggers, who recently directed the hit vampire film Nosferatu, will to both write and direct the sequel to the Jim Henson classic.

Nosferatu was just nominated for four Academy Awards for Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, and Makeup and Hairstyling and will be followed up by Werwulf, before Eggers starts production on Labyrinth.

Plot details are under wraps, but Deadline was told the film is a sequel and not a remake of, 1986 film.

Eggers is writing the script with Sjón, his collaborator on the 2022 Viking film The Northman, with whom he’s also working on Werwulf.

Chris and Eleanor Columbus will produce alongside Lisa Henson, with Brian Henson executive producing.

"The Dark Crystal" 3-CD Limited Edition Soundtrack!

La-La Land Records and The Jim Henson Company present an expanded 3-CD soundtrack set of composer Trevor Jones’ original motion picture score to The Dark Crystal. 

From LaLaLand Records: 

The Dark Crystal was a boundary-exploding feat of puppetry and cinema, re-inventing what had been previously thought possible and resulting in a breathtaking achievement of immersive world-building that still retains its power and wonder to this day. A vital part of this endeavor’s success is composer Trevor Jones’ outstanding original music score – a tremendous accomplishment that has also stood the test of time.

Now, for the first time ever, this deluxe 3-CD release, conceived, assembled and produced by Trevor Jones himself, features the bounty of music the maestro composed for the initial, longer cut of The Dark Crystal, in its original intended order. Copies of the master tapes recorded at CTS Wembley were digitized along with the composer’s entire body of work, which is now archived at the University of Leeds. Jones personally reassembled and remastered the audio at Abbey Road for this special presentation.

Produced by Trevor Jones and Tim Greiving, and mastered by Andrew Walter under the composer’s sole supervision and approval, this release includes a wealth of previously unreleased music within its newly Expanded Score Soundtrack presentation, which is spread across two discs, while the original 1982 soundtrack program is featured on Disc 3. Limited to 5000 units, this deluxe set includes a 32-page booklet containing exclusive, in-depth liner notes by Greiving (featuring new interviews with Trevor Jones and Frank Oz) and rare artwork and photos from the Henson Archive. The sharp art design is by Dan Goldwasser.

TRACK LISTING:

DISC 1 (46:58)
1. Power Ceremony And Main Title 4:35
2. Jen Plays Pipes And Mystic Master Dies 3:02
3. Skeksis Funeral Ceremony 2:06
4. Mystics Funeral Ceremony 3:25
5. Jen’s Journey And Council Chamber 2:04
6. Skeksis Fight Duel 3:29
7. Chamberlain Is Disrobed And Garthim Pursues Jen 3:53
8. Jen Encounters Aughra 1:29
9. Mystics 9-Tone Chant And The Observatory At Night 3:15
10. Garthim Attack Observatory And Mystics Leave Valley 4:08
11. Jen And Kira In Forest 2:29
12. Mindspeech, Nebrie And Mystics Journey 3:56
13. Skeksis Celebratory Banquet 3:03
14. Jen & Kira Duet 2:24
15. Introduction And Pod Dance 3:38

DISC 2 (48:54)
1. Kira Brings Down The Bat-Bird And Garthim Attack Pod Village 2:12
2. Jen & Kira Love Theme 4:12
3. In The Ruins Of The Gelfling Village 3:56
4. Landstriders Introduction And Journey 1:49
5. Chamber Of Life 3:29
6. Landstriders Battle With Garthim And The Second Mystics Journey 3:25
7. In The Sewer Of The Castle 1:55
8. Kira Removed To The Council Chamber 2:07
9. Kira In The Chamber Of Life 3:47
10. Kira Is Freed And Jen In The Garthim Lair 2:13
11. Jen And Aughra In The Chamber Of Life 1:48
12. Skeksis Panicked By Gelfling And Jen In The Crystal Chamber 4:25
13. The Great Conjunction And The Arrival Of The Mystics 4:53
14. The Mystics And Skeksis Fuse To Become The UrSkeks 5:22
15. Pod Dance (Reprise) And Finale 3:18

DISC 3 (41:04)
1. Overture 3:13
2. The Power Ceremony 3:54
3. The Storm 1:03
4. The Mystic Master Dies :51
5. The Funerals; Jen’s Journey 5:27
6. The Skeksis’ Duel 2:44
7. The Pod Dance 3:12
8. Love Theme 3:18
9. Gelfling Song 2:20
10. The Gelfling Ruins 2:45
11. The Landstrider Journey :43
12. The Great Conjunction 4:14
13. Finale 7:19
Total Album Time: 136:56

This 3 CD release of The Dark Crystal soundtrack is a limited edition of 5000 units and can be ordered from LaLaLand Records.

Coming Soon "The Muppet Movie" Picture Book!

As The Muppets celebrate their 70th anniversary, they're making sure to highlight their biggest hits including their first blockbuster feature, The Muppet Movie, with a new picture book. 

Kermit, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and more move right along to make their dreams come true in this humorous officially licensed adaptation of the classic cult film, The Muppet Movie!

Kermit the Frog has a big dream: to go to Hollywood so he can sing, dance, and make people happy. On his journey to the West Coast, he finds a new friends: Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, the Great Gonzo, The Electric Mayhem, and more! They all share his dream. The new friends face their fears and stand up to bullies on their way to Hollywood, proving that teamwork can help overcome any obstacle standing in one’s way.

Join The Muppets in making dreams come true! Regain your love for The Muppets and introduce younger fans to Kermit and the gang in this delightful, officially licensed picture book of a classic film.

I'm not sure calling the 6th highest grossing movie the year it was released, that was nominated for an academy award, and still has broad, timeless appeal a "cult classic" is an accurate use of the term, but I digress.

The Muppet Movie picture book adapted by Heather Schwartz and illustrated by Cesar Samaniego will be released September 16, 2025.

It's available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, and more.

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.

Get Ready For Sesame Street's 55th Season!

Sesame Street's 55th (!!!) season debuts this Thursday on Max.

If you've been following the news, you already know this will be the last season on Warner Brother's streaming platform.

However, there is a lot to be excited about for the upcoming season as you can see in the trailer below:

Guest stars stopping by the street include musicians SZA, Reneé Rapp, Samara Joy, Noah Kahan, and Chris Stapleton, as well as Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Van Ness, and Billie Jean King.

The 55th season of Sesame Street will focus on expressing feelings, practicing mindfulness and building on resiliency.

Feature episodes include: Beachball Bop (Thursday, January 16), where Elmo learns how to do volcano breaths after he feels angry; Abby Taps Into Kindness (Thursday, April 10), where Abby learns what it means to be kind to yourself to overcome frustration, all with the help of her friends; Happy Bert Day (Thursday, July 24), where Ernie is excited to throw Bert a big, loud party for Bert’s birthday, but Bert gets frustrated as he wants to celebrate his birthday with a quiet puzzle – can lion breaths help them both feel better?; and New School Scaries (Thursday, September 4), where Cookie Monster, feeling nervous about going to a new cooking school, enlists his friends to help him prepare.

Mecha Elmo, Mecha Cookie, and Mecha Abby make their Sesame Street debut as Mecha Builders shorts air within select episodes. Mecha Builders is Sesame Street’s first-ever 3D CGI animated series, which combines the lovable characters with a STEM curriculum. Plus, Sesame Street’s BFF (best furry friends) duo, Elmo and Tango, along with their adventurous pal Gabrielle and certified fact checker, Grandma Nell, explore the unknown world both on and off the Street in the animated Sesame Street Nature Explorers shorts. And don’t miss Cookie Monster and his popular Foodie Truck!

Sesame Street 's season 55 premieres Thursday, Jan. 16 with new episodes dropping weekly on Max.

While Sesame Workshop looks for a home for future episodes, season 55 and selective episodes from Sesame Street's vast library will be available on MAX until 2027 and season 55 will also debut later this year on PBS.

Muppet Stuff Video: Sesame Street Learn & Play: American Dream!

Join John and I as we explore the exciting Sesame Street Learn & Play area at the American Dream Mall!

Whether you're a parent looking for a fun and educational experience for your little ones or just a fan of the iconic Sesame Street characters, this immersive space is sure to bring joy to everyone. We'll take you on a tour through the colorful, interactive exhibits designed to engage children in learning through play. From meeting Elmo and Abby Cadabby to solving puzzles and learning new skills, there's something for every age group to enjoy. Come along for a day of fun, laughter, and discovery as we dive into this unique attraction, right in the heart of one of the largest malls in North America!

 

More info: Sesame Street Learn & Play American Dream

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

New Muppet*Vision Sam Eagle Drinkware!

Even though Disney announced Muppet*Vision is closing, they also just released new Sam Eagle drinkware inspired by the attraction. 

There is a Stanley-style medal tumbler featuring an illustration of Sam above his classic line in the film “A salute to all nations, but mostly America.”

There's also a mug with the same art work. 

You can find both at the Celebrity 5&10 store inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

Thanks to wdwnt.com for the photos.