MOMI Celebrates Sesame Street’s 50th!

The Museum of the Moving Image has two great events planned next month to celebrates Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary.

On Sunday, November 10th at 2:00 p.m. Craig Shemin presents "Sesame Street: The Premiere."

On the actual date that marks the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street’s debut, MoMI will present a screening of the first show with a special panel of guests including Bob McGrath (Bob), Frank Biondo (Camera Operator), and Dick Maitland (Sound Effects).

Then on Sunday, November 24th at 2:00 p.m. Craig is back with "Sesame Street “Lost and Found.”"

MoMI is cracking the vault wide open to take a look at rare footage of Sesame Street that never aired, was shelved after initial broadcast, or featured characters that have been retired. A panel of insiders will shed light on such stories as why Margaret Hamilton (who played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz) never reappeared, and why viewers never saw Snuffy’s parents get a divorce. Special guests include: Rosemarie Truglio (Sesame Workshop Senior VP of Curriculum and Content) and Norman Stiles (Former Head Writer).

More information about the museum as well as tickets to each event are available at the links above. 

More Muppets Connect Via Portal!

After launching last month, Portal (by Facebook) unveiled a slew of new commercials featuring The Muppets. 

Check out the next 8 commercials below, some featuring characters we haven't seen in years!

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. 

Breaking: Sesame Place Theme Park Coming to San Diego!

SeaWorld San Diego announced today that it will convert its Aquatica water park into the west coast's first Sesame Place theme park.

According to SeaWorld, the Aquatica water rides will stay, and SeaWorld will expand the park with new attractions, providing a Sesame Street overlay to the entire property.

The renovated and rebranded park will feature 17-acre of "family rides, water slides, live character shows, parades and interactive experiences," according to SeaWorld and will reopen as a Certified Autism Center, like the original Sesame Place outside Philadelphia. 

That staff will undergo autism sensitivity and awareness training and park locations will include designated quiet spaces with adjustable lighting and comfortable seating.

"We share Sesame Workshop's goal of educating and entertaining generations of children, and the opening of a second park, the only one of its kind on the West Coast, furthers our company mission to provide guests with extraordinary experiences," Marc Swanson, Interim Chief Executive Officer, SeaWorld Entertainment, said. "We are thrilled to be able to grow the presence of Sesame Place theme parks in the United States, and San Diego is the perfect complement to our Philadelphia location."

For now, the only existing Aquatica slide targeted for removal is HooRoo Run, which has an 80-foot drop, said Hannes.

“San Diego was not the only place we looked, but it seems like the best next step for us to go,” said Steve Youngwood, chief operating officer of Sesame Workshop, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. “The weather is wonderful. We have good brand awareness in that area in general and from our heritage with SeaWorld San Diego. And (Sesame Place) can draw on a larger area like Los Angeles and beyond.”

“It is a significant investment for the company,” said Hannes. “This is the first new Sesame Place park in 40 years. It certainly expands our commitment to the San Diego region, as well as to theme parks in the United States. It is a big decision and big investment for us.”

The Aquatica water park will open for one more season next year before being re-branded and re-named Sesame Place during the off season.

Sesame Place San Diego will then open in spring 2021.

Macy's Isaac Mizrahi Sesame Street Plush!

Macy's and Isaac Mizrahi have teamed up to create an exclusive line of Sesame Street plush.

The Isaac Mizrahi Loves Sesame Street plush include Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird with different patterns on their feet. 

They are usually priced at $30 each, but Macy's currently has them on sale for 50% off!

You can order them online from Macy's or at your local store. 

Coming Soon: More Dark Crystal: AOR Statues From Weta!

Weta released a new image touting the addition of Aughra, Brea, The Hunter, and The Scientist to their Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance line of statues.

If you look closely, you can see the Deet, The Archer, and Chamberlain are the next to be revealed. 

Here's a closer look Brea and the Scientist:

The folks at Weta is extremely happy to working on these figures as evident by the promotional video they put together:

No release date has been announced this figures yet, however the first wave of statutes are expected in April. 

Brea is an open edition and now available to pre-order. The Scientist is a limited edition and will be available to pre-order from Weta soon.

DVR Alert: Sesame Street Sets Date(s) for 50th Anniversary Special!

Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration is getting not one, but two air dates.  

The star-studded primetime special will premiere Nov. 9th on HBO, then PBS will air it Nov. 17.

Below is the official description:

Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration is an all-ages primetime event that offers a sweeping look back at fifty years on the Street. Hosted by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the special reimagines classic segments and songs as the Sesame Street gang gets ready for a big party to celebrate the neighborhood’s 50th birthday. When the famous street sign goes missing before the party, it’s up to Elmo, Rosita, Grover, and Abby to track it down, while Big Bird and Snuffy plan a surprise of their own.

This star-studded special includes cameos from rare characters like Roosevelt Franklin and Kermit the Frog, and visits from celebrity guests. Joseph Gordon-Levitt serves as the audience’s guide, breaking the fourth wall to talk to viewers about his favorite Sesame Street memories. (He also pops up inside some of those classic moments, discovering a telephone with the Yip Yip Martians, practicing “near” and “far” with Grover, and joining the shocked crowd meeting Snuffy for the first time.) Norah Jones sings "Welcome to the Party" as neighbors from yesterday and today return to the street. On the roof of 123 Sesame Street, music legend Nile Rodgers sings "The People in Your Neighborhood" with a little help from Grover and Ernie. Sterling K. Brown masters Cookie Monster’s patented cookie-eating technique, and Elvis Costello joins Kermit in a touching rendition of “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” Elmo and Abby Cadabby join Meghan Trainor to sing the uplifting anthem “Count Me In.” Before the big party, Hoots the Owl tries one more time to convince Ernie to “Put Down the Duckie,” with help from friends like Whoopi Goldberg and Itzhak Perlman on the violin. The celebration culminates with a big performance of “Sing” on the iconic stoop, led by Patti LaBelle.

Set you DVR's accordingly... but just in case you miss it, the special will be release on DVD December 3rd! 

You can already pre-order it from Amazon.