Coming Soon: The "Sam and Friends" Script Book!

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the premiere of Sam and Friends, Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin, revealed the cover of his upcoming "The Sam and Friends Script Book"!

The cover was designed by our friend Dave Hulteen Jr. with character photography by legendary Muppet photographer John E. Barrett. 

The book contains 60 scripts from the show, along with annotations by Craig and a foreword by Dave Goelz.

The book will be published by BearManor Media, who also released Craig's first book on Sam and Friends "Sam and Friends - The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show".

No release date has been announced yet, but you can order it later this year from BearManor Media.

Henson Doc Update and a Sam and Friends Follow-Up!

At the "Jim Henson Tele-visionary" screening at the Museum of the Moving Image this weekend, Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin revealed a few pieces of news.

Ron Howard Henson Doc Coming Soon!

The Ron Howard directed Jim Henson documentary is almost finished. The clips used are being reviewed for licensing approvals.

Disney will be premier the film at festivals once that's done with a plan to have it on Disney+ by the end of the year.

A Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show Follow-up Book!

Craig is working on a follow up to his Sam and Friends book that will include scripts from the show. 

Since many episodes from the series itself is lost and Disney/Henson have no plans to officially release what's is available from the show on any format, for now ,this is the only way to experience some of this early Henson shorts.

No release date was announced but we may se it released by the end of the year as well. 

More Screening and Events!

Craig also revealed that February's screening as the museum will be Valentine themed, and March's will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Muppets Most Wanted. 

There also discussions about expanding the Henson-related events at the museum as well, but we'll keep you posted as more details are announced. 

We miss you, Jim!

Another May 16th is upon us Muppet fans. A day to reflect on Jim Henson's passing and the creative legacy he left behind. 

As we all know, Jim gifted the world with many characters and advances in puppetry techniques over his lifetime. It was his very first show, Sam and Friends, that gave us a character now known around the world and changed the way puppets are seen on screen. 

Here's a brief Sam and Friends compilation:

You can read more about this time in Jim's life in Craig Shemin's book Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show from BearManor Media. 

We miss you, Jim!

Smithsonian "Entertainment Nation" Muppet Opening Events!

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's new permanent "Entertainment Nation" exhibit opens Dec 9 and the museum will host some Muppet themed events as part of the celebration.

About the Entertainment Nation Exhibit:

Entertainment has the power to captivate, inspire and transform us. It brings us together. We share it when we spontaneously recite lines from a favorite movie, dance to the same groove or recreate a national sports moment on a neighborhood street. It can also spur critical conversations, expose divides, and foster important historical change.

Through the National Museum of American History’s extraordinary collection of theater, music, sports, movie and television objects, the exhibition Entertainment Nation will feature a powerful, ever-changing selection of objects and interactive experiences. Through the objects and their stories, the exhibition will explore how, for over 150 years, entertainment has provided a forum for important national conversations about who we are, and who we want to be.

No other museum can tell the story of the country’s common entertainment experiences like the National Museum of American History. The museum's collection of 1.8 million objects documents the careers of such influential figures as Selena, Roberto Clemente, Kristi Yamaguchi, Mia Hamm, Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, and Muhammad Ali. Its Broadway, television, and film collections document productions such as Hamilton, Rent, The Handmaid's Tale, M*A*S*H, Sesame Street, Star Wars, and many more. Through online resources as well as exhibitions on the National Mall such as Entertainment Nation, the museum will continue its mission to engage audiences in new and expanding ways.

Get a preview of the exhibit below:

During the opening weekend the museum will host the following Henson related events:

In Conversation: The Impact of Sesame Street
Sat, December 10, 2022, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Sesame Street is one of the best-loved children’s television series of all time, but also one of the most revolutionary. In using television to teach, Sesame’s creators and performers have particularly sought to reach children from minority backgrounds and lower-income families lacking access to educational materials. Join Sesame Workshop’s Akimi Gibson, Rosita puppeteer/performer Carmen Osbahr, and cast member Alan Muraoka for a discussion of Sesame Street’s history and mission to represent and reach all young learners, especially those who have traditionally been underrepresented in children’s television.

Sam and Friends Panel

Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin informed us that there will also be a Sam and Friends panel and book signing that day as well. 

The Sam and Friends event has not yet been added to the museum's ticketing system, see above for event information: 

Also look for the museum's ongoing "Muppets Take American History" pop-up series were Muppets appear "in unexpected places" in some of the museum's best-loved exhibitions" as well.

Tickets are free, but seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Seating will be opened first to Eventbrite-registered attendees and then to walk-in visitors. When maximum capacity is reached, the event will be closed to the public, so make your reservation using the link above ASAP. 

Muppet Mayhem Comes to NYCC!

After conquering D23 last week, The Electric Mayhem will promote their upcoming series The Muppets Mayhem at New York Comic Con.

 

The Muppets Mayhem:

It’s time to play the music! Coming to Disney+ in 2023, The Muppets Mayhem is a brand-new series that, for the first time in the Muppets’ over 65-year history, focuses on the legendary Electric Mayhem band as they maneuver their way through the music world of Los Angeles with one goal — to finally record their first album. Join the “human” stars of the series — Lilly Singh, Tahj Mowry and Saara Chaudry — as well as co-creators and executive producers Adam F. Goldberg, Jeff Yorkes and Bill Barretta for exciting news, exclusive footage and more!

The Muppets Mayhem will be held on the Main stage Sunday, October 9 from 11-12:30pm.

Sesame Street will also get a NYCC panel with Playbill Presents: Sesame Street The Musical Panel:

Now playing Off-Broadway, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Grover, Rosita, Bert, Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, The Count, Gabrielle, and a whole host of Sesame Street favorites have ventured onto the stage to appear in their very own musical– starring… well, themselves. Join us at NYCC as we discuss this all-new stage show featuring live puppetry and classic Sesame Street songs, plus new numbers by Broadway's brightest songwriters! Participants and host will be announced shortly.

Playbill Presents: Sesame Street The Musical Panel will be held in room 401Sun, Oct 9, 2022 from 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM. 

But that's not all. The day before, our friends at ToughPigs will be hosting their own panel about Jim Henson: The Early Years to promote Craig Shemin's new book Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show.

Panelists include:

Craig Shemin – Muppet writer and author of “Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim                                     Henson’s First Television Show”

Ryan Dillon – Muppet performer

         Rollie Krewson – Master Puppet Designer and Builder, The Jim Henson Company

        Susie Tofte – Archivist / Collections Manager, The Jim Henson Company Archives

        Dave Hulteen – Muppet artist, cover artist for “Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim                                              Henson’s First Television Show”

Jim Henson: The Early Years will be held Saturday, October 8th at 4:45pm Room TBD.

More info about New York Comic Con can be found at NewYorkComicCon.com.

Preorder Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show!

As we told you earlier this month, Craig Shemin's long-awaited book about Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show will be rereleased September 24 and is now available to pre-order through Bear Manor Media. 

We also now have the official description:

Long before Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, college students Jim Henson and Jane Nebel created a long-running daily local Washington, D.C. television program called Sam and Friends, where Jim developed his unique approach to comedy and introduced the world to a puppet named Kermit.

In this book, President of The Jim Henson Legacy and author of The Muppets Character Encyclopedia, Craig Shemin, explores the story behind Sam and Friends and creates an episode guide from surviving scripts and recordings.

Includes a foreword by longtime Henson collaborator Frank Oz, several complete scripts and more than 150 rare photos from The Jim Henson Company Archives. 604 pages.

The Museum of the Moving Image will celebrate the book's release on September 24th with a Sam and Friends screening, a discussion about the book with the author and Museum Deputy Director Barbara Miller, the presentation of a newly unearthed Sam and Friends episode and a book signing.

Pre-order your copy now through Bear Manor Media, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon in both Hard cover and paperback!

Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show Coming Sept 24th!

According to the recent Jim Henson Legacy newsletter, Craig Shemin's long awaited book Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show will be rereleased next month.

Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show, published by Bear Manor Media, is an in-depth exploration of Jim's groundbreaking local television show which ran on WRC in Washington, D.C. between 1955 and 1961.

Written by Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin, the book was created with the cooperation of The Jim Henson Company and Disney, includes more than 150 rare images from the Jim Henson Company Archives, five complete scripts, and has a foreword by Frank Oz.

The Museum of the Moving Image will celebrate the release on September 24th (Jim Henson's Birthday) with a Sam and Friends screening, a discussion about the book with the author and Museum Deputy Director Barbara Miller, the presentation of a newly unearthed Sam and Friends episode and a book signing.

Coming Soon: The History of ‘Sam and Friends’!

It was revealed last week that a book about Sam and Friends is in the works. 

Craig Shemin, President of the Jim Henson Legacy, announced via his facebook page that he just signed a deal to write a behind the scenes look at the making and history of Jim Henson's first series. 

Sam and Friends was seen in Washington DC, twice a night for 5 minutes before the local news. 

This will be Shemin's second book following the Muppets after 2014's "Muppets Character Encyclopedia."

We'll be sure to updated you as more details emerge.