New Barretta Bros. Podcasts!

The Barretta Brothers are back with more newly converted Vodcast to podcast episodes. Now you can listen when you're out and about!

The next batch of converted episodes include:

Geoff Keighley:

Dinosaurs Month! Weeks 2-4:

Jim Lewis and the Blasucci family!

Ryan Dillon and the 10th Anniversary Q&A!:

Stuart Pankin and the 4th of July and Muppet Trivia!:

Alton Brown! Ed Christie! Ed Eyth! and Julianne Buescher and Alice Dinnean!:

Louis Henry Mitchell and Q&A Episode #03:

These episode and more can be found at the The Barretta Brothers.com and Apple podcasts.

The Muppets At Disneyland!

The Muppets have invaded Disneyland!

First Sam Eagle wished everyone at Happy Fourth of July from out side the Hall of Presidents:

Sam Eagle of the Muppets celebrating the Fourth of July in Disneyland.

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Then, Animal was spotted on an ornament shopping spree on Main Street, U.S.A.

Animal Goes On A Wild #HalfwayToTheHolidays Shopping Spree:

Animal, our favorite crazed percussionist from The Muppets, recently vacationed at Disneyland park. We caught up with him during his wild holidays shopping spree on Main Street, U.S.A. Check out the hilarious encounter in this new video.

   

Now Fozzie Bear is featured in new video outside The Main Street Magic Shop. 

Our favorite slap-stick quipster, Fozzie Bear, joined the ranks of fellow neighbors, heroes and do-gooders who have been nominated as Disney Magic Makers!

Update: 

Fozzie Bear Gets A Lesson In Comedy From A Jungle Cruise Skipper:

You know him from The Muppets as the un-bear-ably funny jokester. Watch what happens when Fozzie Bear meets his comedic match in the form of one of Disneyland’s most comical cast members: the Jungle Cruise skipper!

So far it looks like only Eric Jacobson's characters have infiltrated Disneyland and we haven't seen Miss Piggy yet, but who knows... maybe we'll see more Muppets invade the Disney Parks soon!

Puppets of New York Coming to Museum of the City of New York!

The Museum of the City of New York is about to host many famous Puppets of New York and examine how puppetry has impacted New York City and the influence the city has on this artform all over the world.

Opening on August 13, 2021, the exhibition features more than 100 puppets spanning New York City history, from theater, television, and street life, including Lamb Chop, Sesame Street, Avenue Q and Lion King on Broadway, avantgarde theater, parades, and more.

Puppets of New York is also part of the partner programming for the International Puppet Fringe Festival (August 11-16, 2021), and is complemented by a companion exhibition downtown at The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center.

“New York City is a global capital of puppetry, where diverse communities and traditions intersect and collaborate, and where new innovations to the art form are born,” said Whitney Donhauser, Ronay Menschel Director and President of the Museum of the City of New York. “Our exhibition showcases the long history of puppetry in New York City and the influence of the city on this whimsical and adventurous art form.”

Puppets of New York covers three themes that emphasize the ubiquity of puppets in urban space—The Stage, The Set, and The Street—and shows the power of puppetry to reveal culture, politics, and art. The history of puppetry in New York is a powerful lens not only into rich cultural traditions and creative stagecraft, but into the dynamics of the multiple communities that have made New York New York.

• The Stage examines how puppets became ingrained in the city’s theater industry, from the Modicut Yiddish Theater of the 1920s, to the masterworks of Tony Sarg and Bill Baird, and Broadway productions such as Avenue Q and The Lion King.

• The Set surveys the role puppets have played within New York City’s media industry and the role of New York television in broadcasting the art of puppetry to a global audience. Featured puppeteers include Shari Lewis and Jim Henson.

• The Street deals with puppets in the city’s street and community life. Examples include Chinatown’s Lunar New Year celebrations, puppets from Halloween Day Parade, and the political work of Bread and Puppet Theater.

“Puppets are not just child’s play. They often reflect the cultural changes, diverse communities, and political events that impact urban life,” said Monxo López, the exhibition’s curator and a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at the Museum. “Immigrants from around the globe turned New York into a mosaic of puppetry traditions that both mirror their places of origin and blend with one another."

Highlighted puppets on display include:

• Lamb Chop puppet (first time ever in a museum)
  
  
• Duke Ellington puppet
  
  
• Howdy Doody
  
  
• Lion King on Broadway
  
  
• Being John Malkovich
  
  
• Albert Einstein puppet
  
  
• Oscar the Grouch
  
  
• Avenue Q puppet
  
  

Puppets of New York opens at The Museum of the City of New York August 13. 

Children’s Programming and Animation Daytime Emmy Awards Winners Announced!

The Daytime Emmy Awards for Children’s Programming and Animation were announced this weekend and Sesame Street took home four awards.

Sesame Street:

• Outstanding Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Program (The Power of We)
  
  
• Outstanding Writing Team for a Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Program (The Power of We)
  
  
• Outstanding Directing Team for a Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Program
  
  
• Outstanding Technical Team

Helpsters:

• Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing

Unfortunately Muppet Babies was completely shut out, as were all the performers nominated.

If you are wondering why Sesame Street didn't win for best Outstanding Preschool, Children’s or Family show it's because it was nominated alongside its Power of We special which won.

To view the full list of awards Sesame Street, Helpsters, and Muppet Babies were nominated  for see our post from June.

Congrats to all everyone involved in these programs reagless if you took home an Emmy or not. 

Rare Muppet Clips Book 2 Vol 5!

 We're back with another batch of rare Muppet performances. 

Again, we do not own these clips, nor do we make any guarantees to how long they'll be available, so watch them while you can! 

First up is Richard Hunt's final performance of Elmo: 

     

After that episode was shot on November 26th, 1984 Richard Hunt literally tossed Kevin Clash the Elmo puppet saying, "Give it a voice, Clash." 

Kevin's first performance of Elmo would be taped later that same day. Below is Kevin's first performance of Elmo:

   

In 2013, Ryan Dillon would take over Elmo. His first performance as teh furry red monster would be at that year's White House Easter Roll.

Editors Note: I couldn't find video of Elmo at the event, so if any readers find it please let me know and I'll update this post. 

Sesame Street Promos from 1970-1975:

 

Friday Night Videos, NBC July 23, 1993: 

Kermit and Clifford appeared on this short-lived series to promote the release of the Muppet Beach Party album. The show premiered the "Kokomo" music video and below you can see Kermit and Clifford performing "Under the Boardwalk" with Branford Marsalis  and the Tonight Show Band.  

The Ed Sullivan Show, October 8, 1967 - Jimmy Dean & The Muppets "Friendship":

We hope you enjoyed these rare Muppet performances.  Join us next time as we present more rare Muppet clips! 

Get Ernie's Shirt and More from Dumbgood!

Dumbgood has a new line of Sesame Street apparel. The Shirts, sweatpants/ shirts, and socks feature both modern and vintage images and characters.

Below are just a few of Dumbgood's Sesame offerings: 

SESAME STREET RUNNING WHITE TEE

SESAME STREET BUSBY TWINS WHITE TEE

SESAME STREET ERNIE & COOKIE MONSTER BLUE TEE

 

The highlight of course is that you can finally own Ernie's signature striped shirt!

SESAME STREET LOGO STRIPED TEE

You get these and many using the links above and at dumbgood.

"Elmo Gets a Puppy" in Upcoming Sesame Street Special and More!

Next month Sesame Street welcomes a new neighbor - Elmo’s newly adopted puppy, Tango, in a 30-minute special Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy.

In the 2D animated special, Elmo and Grover discover a sweet, stray puppy – whom they quickly name Tango – and embark on an adventure throughout the neighborhood with Sesame Street friends Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, and Oscar the Grouch. Together, they search for the local pet adoption fair in the hopes of finding her a “forever home.”

In the sneak peek below Elmo and Grover come up with the perfect name for their newest

friend.

To welcome Tango, Sesame Workshop content featuring Elmo, Tango and other furry friends on the Sesame Street's YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. Games and printable activities are also available on Sesame Workshop’s Furry Friends Forever webpage. 

Tango won't just be related to specials though, she will join the show's 52nd Season as both an animated character and a live-action Sesame Street Muppet debuting this fall on HBO Max and PBS in 2022.

Tango will also be featured in a slew of new products. 

The new products featuring Tango include:

• Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy from Studio Fun.
  This book tells the story of Tango and has touchable textures throughout
  
  
• First Look and Find: Furry Friends Forever from PI Kids.
  
  Elmo and his new puppy Tango search for hidden items in seven scenes based on the “Sesame Street” special, “Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy!” The end of the book features Look and Find challenges. Learning concepts include counting, rhyming, shapes and more
  
  
• Storybooks on General Mills “Sesame Street” cereals.
  
  This summer, six Furry Friends Forever stories including “Elmo and Tango Go for a Walk,” “Elmo Teaches Tango a New Trick,” “Elmo and Tango Play Fetch,” “Elmo and Tango Do a Happy Dance,” “How to Meet a Puppy” and “Hide and Seek” debut. A dual-language storybook featuring Elmo and Tango is attached to every box of 123 Berry and C is for Cinnamon
  
  
• Dance and Play Elmo and Tango from premium plush brand GUND
  
  
• ASO bandages. The new bandage box, available in January, features Elmo and Tango
  
  
• Tango books from Random House Children’s Books
  
  
• Lerner Publishing Group and Bendon
  
  
• Organic toddler snacks from Earth’s Best
  
  
• Custom apparel and pillowcases from CPS
  
  
• T-shirts from Trevco
  
  
• Apparel from Children’s Apparel Network
  
  
• Toddler bedding and nap mats from NoJo
  
  
• Toddler footwear from SG Companies 
  
  
• Customized products from Zazzle.

2D-animated Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy debuts on HBO Max August 5.