Bret McKenzie to Adapt Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas!

In the, I'm not sure why this is a thing department, Variety is reporting that Flight of The Conchords' Bret McKenzie is going to "adapt" Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas into a feature film. 

McKenzie, who will pen the script and write the music also has the option to direct the new adaptation. The film will based on both the TV special and the original children’s book by Russell Hoban.

No distributor is currently on board, but the movie will be a co-production between The Jim Henson Company, Pacific Electric Picture Company and Snoot Entertainment.

We're big fans of McKenzie's work and we know he's a huge Henson fan, but the announcement that he's going "pen the script and write the music" gives us pause. There's a reason why people have bought and watched the special, over and over again over years, and why the recently soundtrack releases have been so popular.. the story and the music. 

Paul Williams wrote a timeless selection of songs for the original special and it's going to be interesting to see if McKenzie's movie will expand upon, add to them, or have all new songs. 

We shall see what direction this production takes, or if like many Henson feature productions (cough The Fraggle Rock movie cough), it get's made at all. I'd be much more excited though if McKenzie was attached to write the music for the Fraggle Rock movie then to reboot or remake an already perfect production. 

The Jim Henson Retrospectacle Takes New Zealand!

There a special event happening right now for those able to get to New Zealand. The Jim Henson Retrospectacle, a 3 week Jim Henson extravaganza, began last week and we're now beginning to see some news makes it way to the states.

If your unfamiliar, The Jim Henson Retrospectacle is sort of like all the Henson appearances and live events we've been lucky to have here in the US over the last few years all rolled into one.

Yesterday, Bret McKenzie hosted a panel featuring Ernie and Kermit.This is not only extremely rare because the Muppets and Sesame characters are not owned by the same companies anymore, but that both characters used to be performed by the same person - specifically Jim Henson then Steve Whitmire, which would have made a live appearance like this extremely difficult. 

You can watch the entire panel below: 

Make sure to check out their website, and if you can make a trip to New Zealand wile the festival is running, do. 

It's great that there is such a full fledged effort to bring the characters and their performers to audiences around the world.

And while most of us won't be able to make any of the events in the series, we can all live vicariously through the reports and videos that are starting to surface.Friday and Saturday night is the full "Jim Henson Retrospectacle Live in Concert" featuring Bret McKenzie, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and characters from The Muppets, Sesame Street,and Fraggle Rock.

Which seems like it will be similar to 2012's "Jim Henson's Musical World at Carnegie Hall."We'll be sure to share any videos that surface of the shows. 

Happy Birthday, Bret Mckenzie!

Happy Birthday to "The Muppets" and "Muppets Most Wanted" music supervisor,
Bret Mckenzie!

Here he is with Kermit signing "Life's A Happy Song."

And giving Miss Piggy and Constantine what they want (Cockatoo In Malibu) from Muppets Most Wanted: