Welcome to The MuppetCast! I’m your host Steve Swanson, and this week’s show is jam-packed with so much content that I had to push back the upcoming special edition episode devoted to The Muppets Take Manhattan (which was the winner in the listener poll). This episode is really bursting at the seams with Muppet news, history, listener feedback, a brand new segment, and a feature segment containing some great rare Muppet audio. And on top of all of this, I’m happy to announce the winner of the Make Something Cool contest!
The featured audio this week comes to us courtesy of MuppetDanny. Since The Muppets Take Manhattan did win the poll, and since we had to delay its special episode, together we present something of a warm-up for the real thing. This rare audio comes from a 1984 book-and-record production of the Muppet gang presenting an abbreviated story of the film.
Can you believe it’s almost time for the first Summer road trip of the year for The MuppetCast? I can’t. In fact, I need to go book my hotel room, excuse me…oh, I guess it can wait. Thanks to everyone for continuing to donate to the podcast to help fund these trips. They always bring back great experiences to listen to! Next stop: New Jersey!
Congratulations to Sam Pynes for winning the Make Something Cool contest with his one-man Muppet Show Live! Yaaaay!
Recently The MuppetCast added onto the growing list of ways that listeners can make their Muppet-y presence known online! Along with well-known web destinations like Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr, listeners now have a one-stop shop for all Muppet CDs, DVD, apparel and more at The MuppetCast Store at Amazon! Prices in the store are identical to those on the normal Amazon site, but when you purchase through The MuppetCast Store a small percentage goes back into the show! The same goes for clicking on and purchasing the Amazon Item of the Week.
It’s time to try out a new, experimental segment on the show. In lieu of Beaker, my trusty assistant and good friend Joe Vecciarelli is joining me on Skype this week, as we present The Muppet List. If it’s successful, this will be a weekly new segment involving a different listener joining me on the show each time, and we’ll be discussing our thoughts on various Muppet-related topics in list form. It should be a lot of fun; listen in and hear the first list with Joe!
In the news, Sesame Street seems to be leaking some official clips promoting the upcoming 39th season. Take a look at this one starring Neil Patrick Harris as the Shoe Fairy.
I think you’ll be seeing Muppet fans hanging around at the Detroit Film Theatre soon, as the “Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy” series begins a four-week run, with a different screening taking place every sunday at 2pm.
1, 2, 3, 4, monsters walking across the floor! Singer Feist isn’t the first musician to lend her services to Sesame Street, you know. Many great performers have walked this famous road. Just what is it that attracts them to this children’s daytime destination?
Sesame Workshop continues to promote its Healthy Habits for Life initiative with the release of Play With Me Sesame: Furry, Fun, and Healthy Too. Preorder it now as the Amazon Item of the Week! Release date is August 12, 2008.
Have you seen Northern Ireland’s version of Sesame Street, Sesame Tree? No? Well, take a look at their website! Children’s channel CBeebies is set to air the show beginning August 4.
Sesame Workshop gave a sneak-preview of their new website SesameStreet.org, open to the public on August 11, the same day the new Sesame season airs on PBS. Sounds wonderful!
Henson fans have been hearing for months about the new stage musical based on the book and Muppet special “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas”, and finally the performance dates have been announced! Check out the Goodspeed Opera House official website for details.
Listener Amanda Ulrich is the Regional Manager for Dunder Mifflin Infinity, Medford branch. DMI is an online fan community for fans of the hit comedy series The Office. Right now they’re in the midst of a fundraising drive for Habitat for Humanity. Click here to help!
Minor_Muppetz points out that Sesame Workshop is asking fans through their Facebook page to nominate their favorite Sesame clips for an upcoming 40th anniversary special.
Joe V brings us the evil Cookie Monster slippers!
Jonathan M shows us a story about Animal being the fastest drummer in the world.
Maratei shows us a Swedish Chef-to-English online translator. Bork, bork bork!
Comic book fans will be happy to know that BOOM! Studios recently made their appearance at Comic Con 2008 and had preview copies of The Muppet Show comic on hand to sell! If anyone purchased a copy of said comic, I’d love to see pictures!
You never know just what you’ll find, driving the highways and byways of this great land. Raymond L, the Michigan Hillbilly, recent found some cool stuff at Iowa 80!
Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Come on over to the Muppet Central Forums also, and let’s talk Muppets.
Have a great week!
-Steve
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