Jim Henson: Idea Man Reviews!

By now you've hopefully watched Jim Henson: Idea Man at least once (if not multiple times), and so did the critics. Below are a few reviews of Ron Howard's documentary.   

The Wrap: "Ron Howard Takes a Loving, Honest Look at Muppets Creator"

The Hollywood Reporter: "A Middle-of-the-Road Portrait of a Genius"

LA Times: "Ron Howard renews appreciation for the Muppet Mastermind"

KQED: "Muppets Creator Jim Henson Gets a Documentary as Exciting as He Was"

Variety: "A Heartfelt, If Safe, Tribute to a Singular Figure"

Laughing Place: "Showcases the Life and Work of a Modern Genius"

Empire Magazine: 3/5 Stars "Ron Howard’s genial account of the legendary Muppeteer plays it safe, with a fairly traditional documentary-making approach — but it still manages to be adequately inspirational, celebrational and, yes, even Muppetational."

The film currently has a perfect 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 97% Audience Score.

You can read the full reviews at the links above.

We're still working on our review, but in the mealtime what did you think of Jim Henson: Idea Man?

Jim Henson: Idea Man is streaming now on Disney+.

More Muppet Mayhem Reviews!

We've collected even more Muppets Mayhem reviews. Find out what the critics had to say. 

 

Decider proclaimed that "'The Muppets Mayhem’ Breaks The Streak Of Disappointing Muppet TV Ventures."

The Guardian says the show "is impossible to watch without a grin on your face."

The Mary Sue.com said "Disney Finally Figured Out What To Do With the Muppets"

thatshelf.com Muppets Mayhem "recaptures Some Henson Magic" and that you "can rest assured that our favorite furry friends will still portrayed in the spirit that made them the icons we hold so dearly in our hearts."

and Rotten Tomatoes says Muppets Mayhem is The Muppet franchise highest rotated score since 2011!

What did you think of of Muppets Mayhem? Leave your comments on our social media posts. 

Haven't watched it yet, it's streaming on Disney+.

Muppets Mayhem Reviews!

The Muppets Mayhem has been out for a day and I'm sure most of you have watched it and have your own opinions about the show. 

But, lets see what some of the critics had to say. 

Rolling Stone said Muppets Mayhem "Is a Sharp-Toothed Satire of the Music Industry.

AVClub calls it a "blend of music-biz satire and sentimental life lessons that makes for an enjoyable road trip, if not the mind-blowing concert you’ll never forget.

Even though "Dr. Teeth and Company Are Ready to Rock" Collider gave the show a "B"

The Guardian "the Muppets are as glorious as ever. Let Mayhem commence"

Daps Magic

"The result is that the viewer feels uplifted and happy while watching, not to mention amused by the hilarious moments they create. Finally, these characters are all endearing. Watching the series and then interviewing the band I found myself genuinely liking them and wishing for their success."

Laughingplace

The Muppets Mayhem "is a laugh out loud comedy for the whole family"

Mashable "The Muppets Mayhem is a rollicking delight"

Original-cin "It’s The Muppets and it’s fun. What else could it be?" Rating: A

Decider "the creators of The Muppets Mayhem, have accomplished something we haven’t seen with The Muppets since the Jason Segel-written film from 2011: They managed to update the world around their Muppet stars without necessarily updating the Muppet characters themselves"

Observer says it's "everything you want from a new Muppets series."

More reviews at the links below:

Gwinnett Daily Post

Hollywood Reporter

Gizmodo

Looper

Aol

Backlot Magazine

That Hash Tag Show

Disney Plus Informer

Trib Live

The Muppets Mayhem is streaming now only on Disney+.

Muppets Haunted Mansion Reviews!

 Today we get to enter Muppets Haunted Mansion for ourselves.

But before you do, be wary of reviews that spoil the fun! So let's get the negative ones out of the way. 

Joblow: said Muppets Haunted Mansion is "better than Muppets from Space but that isn’t saying much. A brisk watch with some fun pop culture references, this is a diversion that markets Disney’s classic theme park ride and that is about it. Muppets Haunted Mansion is fun but squanders the potential to have been really good. As it is, Muppets fans will enjoy it but wonder where the edge is that used to make these characters destination viewing."

Comic Book Resources: "It's frustrating when projects like Muppets Haunted Mansion rehash the same comedy bits as earlier Muppet films and series, rather than finding more inventive ways of keeping the brand evergreen.

The Hollywood Reporter: said Muppets Haunted Mansion is "definitely feels like a disappointment."

However, it's not all doom (buggy) and gloom. 

Micechat: Said "If Disney+ wants a model for how to please fans of the Muppets and fans of Disney Parks, it looks just like this."

The Playlist praised Muppets Haunted Mansion as "a fun, spooky ride that perfectly utilizes Jim Henson’s creations."

Geeks World Wide: added that "With a wave of the wand (Disney) has given the Muppets new life. Or afterlife at least." and with a SCORE: 9.8 said "It’s scary how funny the Muppets can be if you just let them. Don’t ya just love em…to death."

Rotten Tomatoes currently has Muppets Haunted Mansion at 88% while the audience score is 83%, so a pretty even consensus there. 

IGN: proclaims it's a "seasonal winner because of the ingenious mix of Halloween with two much-loved properties that all blend together perfectly. From the production design to the cameos, all down the way to Gonzo’s impactful and wee bit scary lesson about the importance of your family, this whole special lands the trick of being a huge treat."

Finally our friends at Toughpigs said Muppets Haunted Mansion is "full of tricks and treats, but it’s not much more substantial than a ghost. Like it’s inspiration, it’s an entertaining ride."

The full reviews are available at the link above, but take the ride for yourself first as  Muppets Haunted Mansion is streaming now on Disney+.

TVLine: Earth to Ned (One of) Falls Best New Shows!

 TVLine has named Earth to Ned one of falls "Best New Shows."

Two of their reviewers championed the series thusly:

Andy Swift said "At a time when most late-night TV hosts feel like puppets anyway, this take on the genre from the Jim Henson Company (starring a four-armed alien and his know-nothing crew of intergalactic sass-bots) feels like the next logical step. A worthy successor to Muppets Now, Earth to Ned‘s strongest asset is its cast of characters you can’t help but root for — which is good, because these goofballs really have no idea what they’re doing. 

While NIck Caruso opined "Disappointed by Muppets Now? Earth to Ned can fill that puppet-sized hole in your childlike heart. Helmed by the Jim Henson Company, this mock late-night show is hosted by alien commander Ned, an E.T. who’s obsessed with Earth’s celebrity culture. Assisted by his lieutenant Cornelius, they beam famous faces (including comedians Andy Richter and Kristen Schaal) up to their ship for interviews, games and more, all while trying to figure out the secret sauce behind successful talk shows. The series’ sharp writing and top-notch puppetry make for a super-fun binge for fans of all ages. 

You can read what other non-Henson produced-Alien talk shows they thought were worth your time at TVline.

Earth to Ned is streaming now on Disney+

Earth To Ned Reviews!

Earth To Ned premieres tomorrow and a few early reviews are in.

The series revolves around Ned as he hosts a talk show in order to find out more earth as he decides weather to invade our planet or blow it up. 

Slashfilm calls it a "Delightfully Quirky and Funny Talk Show."


Mike Celestino at Laughing Place says "The biggest compliment I can give to Earth to Ned is that it feels like something Jim Henson would have created had he survived to see the streaming era– a fun and slightly edgy (though thoroughly family-friendly) take on the contemporary talk-show format."
Collider gave Earth To Ned an "A" and says it's "easily the weirdest talk show on the market and a total triumph. It’s as joyous as it is bizarre."

Attractions Magazine says it's "a delightful, somewhat edgy addition to Disney+."
Our friends at ToughPigs say "the show itself is a strange combination of scripted comedy with improv interviews." "But the semi-improvisational nature of the show leads to some off-kilter pacing and inconsistencies, and there are very few genuine laughs."

Find out for yourself if this new Henson company show is worth what's left of your precious time on earth when Earth To Ned premieres tomorrow on Disney+.

More Muppets Now Promotion and Reviews!

We're back with some more reviews and promotion for Muppets Now. Including Miss Piggy on The View, Kermit, Piggy and the gang previewed the show for Entertainment Tonight Canada. 

Miss Piggy told Whoopi Goldberg about her new career venture Muppets Now on The View. 

CNN says "Basically, "Muppets Now" fits nicely in the filler bin of the streaming business model -- the kind of show that would motivate relatively few people to subscribe, but given that it's a recognizable commodity, you might watch if you're getting Disney+ already.

Kermit, Miss Piggy and more previewed the show for Entertainment Tonight Canada:

Granted, that's hardly a ringing endorsement, but on the bright side, it's more enthusiastic than any review the gang would receive from Statler and Waldorf."
While The Sandusky Register says that "Disney redeems Muppets."

Last, but not least, TV Guide gave Muppets Now a Cheers!

You can watch Muppets Now on Disney+!

"Muppets Now" Reviews!

While Muppet Now premiered today, many critics got an early sneak peek. 

Here's what they had to say. 

Collider hails Muppets Now as a "Dazzling, Slyly Subversive Return to Greatness"

The Hollywood Reporter says the show is "Full of potential, despite a repetitious streak that wastes much of the ensemble"

Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+

TV Insider's Matt Roush says the show "Trades on Classic Humor"

The AV Club says "Disney actually made a good Muppet show—yaaaaaaaay!"

Variety says the show is "smart enough update of the franchise that it should have no trouble satisfying longtime fans while converting new ones"

NBC10 Boston calls it "Pure Muppets Magic Served Up Variety Show Style For Streaming Audiences"

Rolling Stone says "While it’s a substantial improvement on the characters’ last TV series, it ultimately misses the point of playing the music and lighting the lights"

NBC6 Miami raves Muppets Now "Is Pure Muppets Magic Served Up Variety Show Style For Streaming Audience"

Vulture says it "Brings the Golden Age of Muppetry Into the YouTube Era."
The Deseret New says "it’s the 2020 comedy we’ve been waiting for. It’s silly, it’s low stakes. But it’s entertaining and gives us a break from the darkness of our modern world — a happy escape amid a pandemic and a stressful world."

Muppets Now is streaming, well ...now on Disney+!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Reviews!

Today's the day! The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is now streaming on Netflix. 

Find out what critics are saying about the prequel.

Beth Elderkin, Gizmodo: "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Is the Groundbreaking Fantasy Epic We've Been Waiting For"

"Age of Resistance is a treasure, one that starts strong and grows even stronger.... This is a story unfolding like a book, each episode bringing me further into a beautiful and thoughtful place where talent can be seen, stories can be appreciated, and legends are born."

Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter:

"Augmented by some new digital technology, but still executed by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is visually breathtaking — building on the wonderment of the movie, not bettering it — and when it comes to story and character, it's in all ways a smarter, funnier and more narratively thrilling enterprise. Whether you're watching for fulfilled nostalgia or current pleasure, this is a whimsical, fun and entertaining series." 
Samuel R. Murrian, Parade: 

"A prequel to the cult-classic feature film animated with puppets, Netflix’s sprawling The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series expands and improves upon its predecessor. This is a high-fantasy masterclass that’s richer and more satisfying than we could have anticipated, an experiment on a grand scale that paid off,"
Matt Fagerholm, RogerEbert.com:

"The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is, quite simply, one of the all-time great fantasy epics, as well as the masterwork of puppetry most closely aligned with Jim Henson’s humanistic philosophy since his son Brian helmed 1992’s holiday perennial, The Muppet Christmas Carol."

Erik Kain, Forbes:

"Whether or not you think you need a ten-episode epic fantasy about puppets in a magical land called Thra, ruled over by evil bird-monsters called Skeksis, I think you should give The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance a try. It's one of my favorite Netflix Originals so far, ranking way up there with Altered Carbon, GLOW, Mindhunter and Stranger Things. It never would have happened if not for Netflix, and I'm hoping that Netflix realizes this and orders another season... one of the best modern fantasies ever made for the small screen."

Richard Trenholm, cnet:

"Netflix introduces gorgeous puppets bringing to life a thoughtful new vision of Jim Henson's classic fantasy....The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance looks wonderful and its starry voice cast has something to say. In another world, in another time, this is an age of wonder."

Erik Adams, the A.V Club:

"Age Of Resistance is the best type of YA fantasy fiction, engrossing and escapist and full of hidden depths, ideal for viewers weaned on Harry Potter and The Legend Of Zelda but not quite ready for George R.R. Martin. There is a complexity at play...There are mystical MacGuffins and blind storytelling alleys littered about, but they’re far outweighed by the intrepid thrust of the Gelfling uprising and every thought of “How did they pull that off?” For decades, bands of true believers have sung the song of Thra; now, thanks to Age Of Resistance, that melody carries with the strength, distance, and richness the Dark Crystal concept has always deserved."

Our friends over at ToughPigs weighed in as well.

Anthony Strand, ToughPigs:

"The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is more than a worthy successor to The Dark Crystal. It’s a huge improvement on the foundation laid by the film. It’s not perfect – there are certainly some storytelling choices I didn’t care for – but it is excellent. It’s an exciting, lovely expansion of the world Jim Henson created, which might be the best possible way to honor his legacy."

As you can see, while most reviews have been glowing, there are few that didn't quite think it's story measured up to it technical achievement 

Glen Weldon, NPR:

"Understand: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is never anything less than impressive: It's beautiful to sit and gawp at, and its narrative, compared to that of the film, is more satisfyingly detailed and nuanced. But in entrusting so much of the story to puppets incapable of adequately executing its emotional demands, the series winds up feeling strangely empty."

Josh Bell, CBR:
"Age of Resistance is like the Star Wars prequels of the Dark Crystal universe, filling in gaps that didn't need to be filled in, and focusing heavily on political machinations among rival factions. There's even a subplot about tariffs."

Ed Power, The Telegraph:

"The puppetry, as might be expected of the Jim Henson Company, is exquisite and, in this era of oppressive CGI, wonderfully tactile. Alas, the story and dialogue are convoluted with a vengeance."

The consensus though is that The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is good and worth your time. 

It currently has and 87% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a audience score of ... 100%!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is available now on Netflix.

Adorkable Rachel Reviews ABC's The Muppets!

Our friends Rachel Herrick is back with a new Muppet Monday video!
This week she talks about ABC's The Muppets.

Check it out below and be sure to watch Rachel's other video as well!

Review: Hallmark Electric Mayhem Bus Ornament!

The Electric Mayhem Bus, this year's Hallmark Muppet ornament, is now available and we got a first hand look at the completed tree decoration.

I was hoping the inside shots of the Muppets were just temporary, but sadly, they are not and they're even worse close up. 

First off, the bus itself looks great. The paint and attention to detail on the bus itself are top notch. It's missing some elements, but for the most part its pretty close. 

The images of Floyd and Fozzie are OK, but Animal and Piggy are over used stock images. Animal's coloring doesn't even fit. He looks flat and needs shading. 

The opposite side fares better with Janice singing with a chicken and Zoot peering out the window (while playing on handed?). But that blank space and not including Rowlf or Lips? For shame. 

There are no Muppets peering out the back looking for sweet nothings? Seriously?

The front features a stock photo Kermit with another chicken(?) and he doesn't appear to be looking at anything in particular - just having a conversation with himself. Since Gonzo is NOT included on the bus, maybe Kermit's looking up for him and his balloons!

Easily the worst part of the ornament though, is the image of Dr. Teeth. It's literally a photo of the puppet that travelled around the country and is now on display in Atlanta. 

His hands are just dangling, barley holding the wheel at all. 

Take a look at the images above and then at the ornament. Hallmark kept them in the exact same pose!

For every detail on the bus itself, there a serious LACK of attention to the images of the characters and which are included. 

The ornament plays a sample from the original recoding of "Can You Picture That?" Which is fine, but we've all heard it numerous times. The Muppets recorded new versions with the current performers, so a updated version would have been nice to hear, but I understand why they used the original. 

The sculpts on past Hallmark ornaments were all pretty great and I expected more from Hallmark. Again, the bus itself has great paint and detail, but everything else about it is a disappointment. 

You can order it online or find it at your local Hallmark store.

"Muppet" Reviews!

Critics other then Statler and Waldorf have gotten their first look at The Muppets and we've compiled links to a few of thier reviews below!

Cinemablend calls the show "Hilarious And Cameo-Heavy Fun For All Ages" and "one of the funniest network comedies I’ve seen in ages."

Gazette said "With a tip of the hat to pop culture but with a clear link to its own past, “The Muppets” does a great job of being true to itself while blending modern comedic sensibilities."

Rolling Stone has a great article about the series titled, "The Muppets' Grow Up and Get Dark."

Philly.com says "Muppets inspire us to make world a better place."

NY Daily News touts the joys of The Muppets putting on an " adult-oriented show."

The LA Times call the show "Sex and drugs and 'The Muppets' -- a little strange, yet clever."

Finally, our friends at ToughPigs got to see the first two episodes and they said,
"Believe the hype! And don’t forget to tune in on September 22nd!"

You can read all the reviews at the links above!

"I Am Big Bird" Bonus Features Blu-ray Review!

"I Am Big Bird" finally arrived on DVD and blu-ray earlier this month. The blu-ray being an exclusive to those that contributed to the Kickstarter campaign to fund the film.

The cover comes signed by Caroll Spinney and the bonus features are exclusives to the blu-ray.

Throughout the making of the film, the filmmakers mentioned how much footage they had to go through and that there would be whole separate blu-ray for the bonus features. 

Before it's release the filmmakers announced that the entire package would only be one disc instead, noting:

Jun 29 2015

"We also wanted to let you know that if you ordered the 2-disc Blu-Ray it will only be ONE DISC. This doesn't mean that there are fewer special features--it just means that all of the stuff we promised fit on one disc, so rather than clutter up your life, we put it on one disc. Eco-friendly and whatnot."

So ALL the planned footage is going to fit on the same disc as the feature? I was skeptical, and rightly so. 

This is the final list of Bonus features as listed on the package:

First, let me say that while I was looking forward to seeing more of Caroll and Deb's video footage, the best feature on the disc is their commentary with the directors. It's one of the best commentaries I've heard in a long time. Insightful, sometimes scene specific, but also giving more information about what's going on and around the pivotal moments we see in the film. 

The rest of the bonus feature section consists of 14 clips, ranging from home movies to professional appearances. Sadly, there is no play all option and each time you finish a clip, the menu returns to the first option - at least for the first half or so at least. 

The first clip entitled "Deb's Song" is spectacular. It's heartfelt and hilarious, featuring a screw up that reminds me of the story of how Carroll got the job for Sesame Street.

The second, "The Crazy Crayon" is equally fascinating as it's a show I never heard of before from the 50s or early 60s that features animation by Caroll. Some of it is seen in the finished film, but it's nice too it in its full context.

"The Goon Show" is comprised of clips of Carol's own personal TV show that he would perform with his family. It's cute and thankfully only lasts a few minutes, but you could easily see how it could have dragged on if more was included. I know the filmmakers had to sit through hours of it and I'm glad they picked just the best clips to show us Caroll's imagination and use of zero budget special effects.

The selection "Carroll on Camera" is Caroll talking about times when he had walk on roles as neither Big Bird or Oscar, yet there are no clips or images shown.

"Training Chinese Big Bird" shows the process of finding and training the Chinese Big Bird.

"Finding Oscars Name" gives a new contact to the story we've heard about coming up with Oscar's voice but as the title implies this gives a new dimension to how Oscar got his name.

"Big Bird Biggest Fan" is a heartwarming tale about a young man with special needs that has a personal connection with Caroll.

"Carol and Michael Jackson" talks about Michael Jackson's appearance on the Sesame Street Christmas Special and you would think there would be a clip or a picture or something to supplement the story, but just like with "Carroll on Camera" there isn't. Not even a still or cover of the DVD. It's quasi insightful about what Michael Jackson 
envisioned his life to be, but disappointing nonetheless.

The bonus features video highlight by far- and you can tell it's going to be just from the title - is the behind-the-scenes home movies from Follow that Bird. It's exactly what I wanted to see from these bonus features, and I wish there was more of. The shots of Richard Hunt acting goofy - just as you always hear he did, were amazing to see. I didn't want that feature to end. Sadly it's only about 5 minutes long. 

You can see some of it here:

For the three years worth of home movies the producers culled through to make the film, I was hoping for a little more behind the scenes footage from the Follow that Bird or Muppet Family Christmas that we see in the film.

That being said, the film, commentary, and what little behind the scenes footage is on the disc are fantastic I was just hoping for a little of the "much, much, more" as touted from the filmmakers and on the cover.