NBC to Re-Air SNL's First Episode with The Muppets!

As part of SNL's 50th Anniversary Celebration, NBC will air the show's very first episode. 

The episode was hosted by comedian George Carlin with musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian.

As we know, SNL made stars of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman,  as well as future Muppet Show guest Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase who made a cameo in Follow That Bird, and Andy Kaufman, who's alter ego Tony Clifton appeared in The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show. 

The Muppets were also part of the SNL's first season in the recurring The Land of Gorch sketches, which the SNL writers famously hated to work on. Sadly, while the sketch wouldn't last beyond the first season, during their time at SNL, the Muppets got a deal for their own show. 

 
You can watch SNL's first episode, featuring The Land of Gorch Saturday, February 15 at 10PM on NBC.

Be sure to watch NBC's 3-hour SNL50: The Anniversary Special the following evening to see if the Muppets return to studio 8H!

RIP Horst Janson (1936 - 2025)

Actor Horst Janson, known for his role as Horst on the German version of Sesame Street, has died.

Janson appeared on Sesamstraße, the German version of Sesame Street, where he played Horst from 1979 through 1983. 

Horst was one of the show’s main characters and was friends with Muppet characters Samson, Tiffy, Uli von Bödefeld, and Finchen.

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Janson first became famous in 1970s television series and was ubiqitous across German TV landscape in the following decades.

Horst Janson Was 89

Exclusive Muppet Items at Primark!

Primark has an exclusive line of Muppet beauty products including pajamas, a hair brush, and bath products.  

Primark’s exclusive Muppet beauty line is a fun and quirky collection that brings a playful twist to your self-care routine. The line includes a variety of items, from cute pajamas that feature your favorite Muppet characters to a hairbrush designed with fun colors and textures. Each item is inspired by the vibrant personalities of the Muppets, making it a nostalgic and whimsical experience for fans.

Unfortunately, there only available in the UK and they don't ship to the US, UPDATE: They're available is US location NOW!

Let's take a look at some of the offerings.

Women’s The Muppets Onesie
A fleece-fabric onesie in a character design with a hood, zip front and rib cuffing

The Muppets Reversible Snuddie

A soft touch snuddie with a Muppets pattern on each side.

Muppets Long Pajama Set
A Muppets pajama set with Miss Piggy and Kermit design

Miss Piggy Bath Fizzer

A novelty bath fizzer, shaped like Miss Piggy.

Kermit Bath Fizzer
A novelty bath fizzer, shaped like Kermit the Frog.

Muppets Novelty Makeup Sponges
Makeup blending sponges with Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog character detail.

Muppets Compact Mirror
A compact mirror with Miss Piggy and Kermit designs.

The Muppets Paddle Brush
Paddle style hair brush featuring Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog.

Overall, this exclusive line from Primark blends comfort, style, and nostalgia with the zany energy of the Muppets, making self-care just a bit more fun. Whether you're a long-time Muppet fan or just love quirky beauty products, this collection is sure to brighten up your routine.

You can buy these and other exclusive UK Muppet items at the links above and at Primark.

BREAKING: Closing Dates Announced for MuppetVision 3D and PizzeRizzo!

As we officially learned a few months ago, MuppetVision 3D is set to close for good this year and we now know the show will take it's final curtail call on June 7.

Walt Disney World announced the closing dates not only for MuppetVision 3D, but PizzeRizzo and the non-Muppet restaurant Mama Melrose as well. 

The final day to see MuppetVision will be June 7 which will also be the last day to enjoy a meal at PizzeRizzo, relieve yourself at Gonzo's Royal Flush, enjoy the exterior of the Stage 1 Company Store, see the Muppet fountain, or the rest of the Grand Avenue area as it stands now. 

Non-Muppet themed Italian restaurant, Mama Melrose, will close a month earlier on May 10.

“ the Grand Avenue area will begin a phase closing in May, with the last day to dine at Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano on May 10. Following that, Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will close, with the last day to experience both locations on June 7. But, the Muppet foolishness doesn’t stop there — Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and more of their friends will be moving right along to Sunset Boulevard! The Muppets will be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!“

This all makes way as Hollywood Studios theme park prepares to retheme Muppet Courtyard Grand Avenue to a “Monsters, Inc.” themed land.

Muppet Stuff Video: Celebrating Richard Hunt and the release of Funny Boy!

Join us as we travel to Museum of the Moving Image to celebrate the life and legacy of Richard Hunt and the release of Max Stein's biography, "Funny Boy." 

This video features clips of Richard's work, close up looks at his characters, insights from Max Stein and more. 

Max Stein’s biography, "Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography," offers an intimate and compelling portrait of a man whose dedication to his craft has left an indelible mark. From poignant moments in Richard’s personal life to his lasting legacy in the film industry, this celebration of his achievements invites you to discover the man behind the stories. 

Whether you are a fan of his work with Jim Henson and The Muppets or simply interested in learning about an extraordinary life in the arts, Stein's book offers an unmissable opportunity to explore the multifaceted career and incredible legacy of Richard Hunt. Join us in honoring Richard Hunt, celebrating the release of "Funny Boy," and delving deeper into the various characters he brought to life. 

You can order your copy of "Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography" by Jessica Max Stein at Rutgers University Press.  

Get more info on The Jim Henson Legacy and Museum of the Moving Image at these links. 

Be sure to check out even more videos on our Youtube channel.

Robert Eggers to Direct ‘Labyrinth’ Sequel!

We've heard rumors of a Labyrinth sequel for years and now it looks a little closer to actually happening as Robert Eggers has signed a deal to create a new Labyrinth film.

Deadline is reporting that Eggers, who recently directed the hit vampire film Nosferatu, will to both write and direct the sequel to the Jim Henson classic.

Nosferatu was just nominated for four Academy Awards for Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, and Makeup and Hairstyling and will be followed up by Werwulf, before Eggers starts production on Labyrinth.

Plot details are under wraps, but Deadline was told the film is a sequel and not a remake of, 1986 film.

Eggers is writing the script with Sjón, his collaborator on the 2022 Viking film The Northman, with whom he’s also working on Werwulf.

Chris and Eleanor Columbus will produce alongside Lisa Henson, with Brian Henson executive producing.

"The Dark Crystal" 3-CD Limited Edition Soundtrack!

La-La Land Records and The Jim Henson Company present an expanded 3-CD soundtrack set of composer Trevor Jones’ original motion picture score to The Dark Crystal. 

From LaLaLand Records: 

The Dark Crystal was a boundary-exploding feat of puppetry and cinema, re-inventing what had been previously thought possible and resulting in a breathtaking achievement of immersive world-building that still retains its power and wonder to this day. A vital part of this endeavor’s success is composer Trevor Jones’ outstanding original music score – a tremendous accomplishment that has also stood the test of time.

Now, for the first time ever, this deluxe 3-CD release, conceived, assembled and produced by Trevor Jones himself, features the bounty of music the maestro composed for the initial, longer cut of The Dark Crystal, in its original intended order. Copies of the master tapes recorded at CTS Wembley were digitized along with the composer’s entire body of work, which is now archived at the University of Leeds. Jones personally reassembled and remastered the audio at Abbey Road for this special presentation.

Produced by Trevor Jones and Tim Greiving, and mastered by Andrew Walter under the composer’s sole supervision and approval, this release includes a wealth of previously unreleased music within its newly Expanded Score Soundtrack presentation, which is spread across two discs, while the original 1982 soundtrack program is featured on Disc 3. Limited to 5000 units, this deluxe set includes a 32-page booklet containing exclusive, in-depth liner notes by Greiving (featuring new interviews with Trevor Jones and Frank Oz) and rare artwork and photos from the Henson Archive. The sharp art design is by Dan Goldwasser.

TRACK LISTING:

DISC 1 (46:58)
1. Power Ceremony And Main Title 4:35
2. Jen Plays Pipes And Mystic Master Dies 3:02
3. Skeksis Funeral Ceremony 2:06
4. Mystics Funeral Ceremony 3:25
5. Jen’s Journey And Council Chamber 2:04
6. Skeksis Fight Duel 3:29
7. Chamberlain Is Disrobed And Garthim Pursues Jen 3:53
8. Jen Encounters Aughra 1:29
9. Mystics 9-Tone Chant And The Observatory At Night 3:15
10. Garthim Attack Observatory And Mystics Leave Valley 4:08
11. Jen And Kira In Forest 2:29
12. Mindspeech, Nebrie And Mystics Journey 3:56
13. Skeksis Celebratory Banquet 3:03
14. Jen & Kira Duet 2:24
15. Introduction And Pod Dance 3:38

DISC 2 (48:54)
1. Kira Brings Down The Bat-Bird And Garthim Attack Pod Village 2:12
2. Jen & Kira Love Theme 4:12
3. In The Ruins Of The Gelfling Village 3:56
4. Landstriders Introduction And Journey 1:49
5. Chamber Of Life 3:29
6. Landstriders Battle With Garthim And The Second Mystics Journey 3:25
7. In The Sewer Of The Castle 1:55
8. Kira Removed To The Council Chamber 2:07
9. Kira In The Chamber Of Life 3:47
10. Kira Is Freed And Jen In The Garthim Lair 2:13
11. Jen And Aughra In The Chamber Of Life 1:48
12. Skeksis Panicked By Gelfling And Jen In The Crystal Chamber 4:25
13. The Great Conjunction And The Arrival Of The Mystics 4:53
14. The Mystics And Skeksis Fuse To Become The UrSkeks 5:22
15. Pod Dance (Reprise) And Finale 3:18

DISC 3 (41:04)
1. Overture 3:13
2. The Power Ceremony 3:54
3. The Storm 1:03
4. The Mystic Master Dies :51
5. The Funerals; Jen’s Journey 5:27
6. The Skeksis’ Duel 2:44
7. The Pod Dance 3:12
8. Love Theme 3:18
9. Gelfling Song 2:20
10. The Gelfling Ruins 2:45
11. The Landstrider Journey :43
12. The Great Conjunction 4:14
13. Finale 7:19
Total Album Time: 136:56

This 3 CD release of The Dark Crystal soundtrack is a limited edition of 5000 units and can be ordered from LaLaLand Records.