Hey everybody, come on down to The MuppetCast! This week we hear from Putumayo Kids, as we learn more about the International Sesame Street project “Sesame Playground“. Also, continuing the short series on the Center for Puppetry Arts, I’ve got a full trip report from Brian Henson’s talk about puppetry in the Jim Henson Company! (more…)
Author: Steve Swanson
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Show #77 – September 28, 2008
Welcome to this week’s edition of The MuppetCast! I’m away from the studio this weekend (visiting Atlanta once again), but in my absence I’m proud to feature a conversation with Heather Henson from the Center for Puppetry Arts. We discuss Heather’s history with the Center, as well as her company Ibex, and what she’s generally up to these days. (more…)
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Show #76 – September 21, 2008
Hello and welcome to The MuppetCast! I’m your host Steve Swanson, and in this episode I’ll bring you to Atlanta, GA to visit the Center for Puppetry Arts. The Center just recently celebrated their 30th anniversary, and I was able to capture some very special moments to bring back to the show.
This week will feature the celebration’s opening moments with Executive Director Vince Anthony. Following Mr. Anthony is Cheryl Henson, one of Jim Henson’s daughters, and she talks a bit about the anniversary as well as the new exhibit “Jim Henson: Wonders From His Workshop“. Next we hear Cheryl again, this time from a Saturday morning tour through the exhibit (given for Center members only), and she talks about some of the finer details of the pieces on display, and what was involved in putting this amazing collection together for the public.
The music for this week’s Muppet Montage segment is provided by David Stephens, along with Lucky Yates. The audio was recorded Sunday afternoon of the anniversary weekend. Specifically, this audio is from David’s “warming up” an audience of over 350 people anxious to watch and sing along with The Muppet Movie, hosted by Heather Henson!
As you’ll hear, this was a very special celebration, and it’s an exciting time for the Center! So much sound and video was captured (and many, many wonderful people helped to make that possible) that this episode serves as Part 1 of a multi-part series talking about the Center for Puppetry Arts, and the many people who contribute to its ongoing success.
Coming next week: A big announcement for all MuppetCast listeners who are planning to visit the Center, or are interested in helping the Center reach its membership goals!
This week in Muppet History: Birthdays of Muppeteers Kevin Clash and Steve Whitmire, and of Muppet creator Jim Henson! Also, read on the Muppet Wiki about the Fantastic Miss Piggy Show.
Sesame Workshop, working with the Department of Homeland Security, has developed an important new initiative called “Let’s Get Ready!“. This new program is designed to help families with children of any age come up with a plan of action in case of an emergency. If your family hasn’t talked about situations like this before, now is the time. Visit the Dept. of Homeland Security website, the Sesame Workshop “Let’s Get Ready” website in English, and the “Let’s Get Ready!” website in Spanish.
Oscar the Grouch is the new spokes-Muppet for Canada’s Waste Reduction Week. The furry green sourpuss stars in two commercials (so far) complaining that he’ll have less trash! Both videos are featured at the Muppet News Flash.
Lisa Henson talked recently with MonstersAndCritics.com in an interview about the new Unstable Fables release “Tortoise vs. Hare”.
Matt Blum has a review of the Jim Henson Company’s “Sid the Sceience Kid” that differs somewhat from my personal opinion, but we both think it’s a great new children’s show. You need to read it here and draw your own conclusions.
LAist.com recently got to do what so many of us would like to do, they visited the Jim Henson Company lot on La Brea for a private screening of “Tortoise vs. Hare”. Not only that, but they then got to talk with executive producer Lisa Henson and director Howard E. Baker! Lucky ducks. Quack.
Are you a fan of Jim Henson’s classic Christmas special “The Christmas Toy“? Be honest, do you even remember it? Well regardless, make plans now to buy it when HIT releases a special new DVD version of it on November 4. Go vote and watch a Christmas special!
Continuing to explore the possibilities of digital puppetry, the Jim Henson Company recently announced two new 3D children’s series: “Dinosaur Train” and “The Skrumps”!
Last week on The MuppetCast, Joe H. from ToughPigs.com talked about how he personally got to hang out on the set of the new Muppet Christmas special “Letters to Santa”. The Muppet News Flash now brings us more details about that production.
Jim Henson’s “Pajanimals” will soon be on the PBS Kids Sprout channel. Check out a preview on the News Flash.
The Disney Channel tween-geared special Studio DC: Almost live is about to air its second installment. Look for it on October 5! The Muppets will appear along with many of the Disney Channel’s stable of stars.
Listener Doug H. is setting up his own fan-site for “Sid the Science Kid”. Check it out here.
What is the “key” to a happy life? Why, the Muppets of course! Or the Disney characters, or Sesame Street, or Garfield…hey, take your pick. Howard Keys has been making character keys for a while now, so look for their products at a hardware store near you.
New Muppet look-alike sightings here: Jack Nicholson and Baby Dinosaur, and Christian Bale (Batman) and Kermit the Frog (comments language NSFW).
For the older crowd, here’s a new Muppet parody: Groverfield.
Brent Levy recently started a new website that I’m really enjoying. It’s a daily Disney trivia blog: Mouseketrivia!
Joe V sent a link to a 42-tape Muppet tape library, containing things like the complete Muppet Meeting film collection! A paltry $2,500…what a bargain!
If you’d like, you can nominate The MuppetCast in the 2008 Podcast Awards! Suggested categories include Best Produced, People’s Choice, and Entertainment.
Thanks again to everyone who supports The MuppetCast in our continuing efforts to celebrate the life and work of Jim Henson. Friends of the show include the Center for Puppetry Arts, The Jim Henson Legacy, Muppet News Flash, ToughPigs, Muppet Central, and YOU! Thanks for continuing to listen and supporting the show.
Questions/Comments can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Also stop by the Muppet Central Forums and chat with Muppet fans all over the world.
Have a great week!
-Steve
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Show #75 – September 14, 2008
Welcome to The MuppetCast! Even though I’m not here in the studio, there’s still a great episode on tap for this week! I’m joined by a very special guest, Vince Anthony. Vince is the Executive Director of the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta which, coincidentally, is where I am this weekend! Vince talks about the exciting events taking place during the Center’s 30th anniversary celebration. This particular weekend is for members of the Center only (which still includes a large number of people), and then the Center is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday every week. Make sure to stop by if you’re in the area, and see their amazing new exhibit “Jim Henson: Wonders from his Workshop”. (more…)
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Show #74 – September 7, 2008
Welcome to The MuppetCast! This week’s show is just a bit shorter than normal, as I’m currently preparing for the next MuppetCast Road Trip. I’m traveling to Atlanta, GA next weekend to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Center for Puppetry Arts! So while this show doesn’t contain the usual Muppet news, history and listener email, we do have a new Muppet List (featuring MuppetCast listener Jamie Jones), and also finish up our conversation with Muppet performer and puppeteer Terry Angus.
One special thing to pay attention to in this episode: Terry has been the designer for ALL of the Master Replicas Muppet figures in the past, and we talk extensively about the work that has gone into these figures. Terry also stops in and looks at Muppet Central every now and then, and we discuss the positive feedback the Master Replicas figures have received, as well as the constructive criticism. It’s all great stuff, but hearing Terry’s take on it is very interesting. (more…)
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Show #73 – August 31, 2008
Welcome to another edition of The MuppetCast! On this week’s show, puppeteer Terry Angus talks about his experiences performing with Jim Henson and the Muppets. Listener BJ also joins me for a segment as we talk about obscure and overlooked Muppet characters. This, along with all the Muppet news and trivia you’ve come to know and love makes this a can’t miss episode! (more…)
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Show #72 – August 24, 2008
Welcome to The MuppetCast! This episode features Lou Mongello in a new Profile of a Podcaster segment. I’m also happy to welcome back both David Quesal and Ryan & Joe from Tough Pigs, all good friends of the show. Along with a new Muppet List all about Muppet Musicians with David, the Tough Pigs crew and I discuss the recent Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series announcement from HIT Entertainment. (more…)
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Show #71 – August 17, 2008
Welcome to The MuppetCast! I’m your host Steve Swanson, and this episode is jam packed. Seriously, I had to sit on the suitcase just to get it closed!
Included in this episode is some audio taken from the upcoming Road Trip DVD, in which you’ll hear Jane Hunt (mother of Muppeteer Richard Hunt) and I sitting and talking in her kitchen. If you’ve just joined us, I recently took a trip to New Jersey to visit Jane, who’s become a good friend, at her home. The house she lives in is the same one all of her children, including Richard, grew up in, so naturally there’s a lot of wonderful history there. (more…)
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Show #70 – August 10, 2008
Live from New Jersey, it’s The MuppetCast!
Coming to you from the comfy confines of my hotel room in New Jersey, this week’s episode consists of me giving a play-by-play description of everything I experienced while visiting Jane Hunt (mother of Muppeteer Richard Hunt) and Arthur Miller at their home. I took a small sub-set of my equipment on the road with me just in case I’d need it, and that turned out to be a good decision.
Partly because I knew it would make for a good episode, and partly because it was all fresh in my mind at the time and I didn’t want to forget any of it, you’ll hear me describe in great detail just what happened in the Hunt household while I was there. Next week you’ll hear Jane herself, as she and I conducted an in-person interview on video (of which you’ll hear the audio). (more…)
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Show #69 – August 3, 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s The MuppetCast! I’m your host, Steve Swanson, and I’m not anywhere near Swanson Studios this week. In fact, I’m not even in my home state of Ohio. This weekend marks the first road trip of the summer, and I’m off to New Jersey, visiting a good friend of the show, Mrs. Jane Hunt.
I’ll be back in the studio next week with lots of experiences to share with you, but until then, enjoy some more rare Muppet audio! This is taken from a live taping of an extinct stage show in Disney’s MGM Studios, now called the Hollywood Studios. The show is Muppets On Location: Days of Swine and Roses. Thanks to Kermiclown for the assist! (more…)