This week’s show is a special edition podcast, as it is our tribute to Jim Henson. May 16, 1990 is the date that Jim passed away, and in this episode we remember Jim, and we celebrate his life with laughter, song, and a few tears.
Enjoy the show
–Steve
I’ve been listening since podcast 2 (went back for #1) but this one… Well you made me cry and laugh, made me sad and happy, all at the same time. You made me remember what Jim and the Muppets meant to me. Thank you!!
another wonderful show, perhaps the best so far, brilliantly assembled.
RIP Jim
Great job, Steve. Beautiful work.
A very moving tribute.Thank you.
Amazing tribute! I love the progression and the way the show flowed. Thanks for posting my story. I was surprized however, that nowhere on television did I see anything about the anniversary of Jim Henson’s death. 🙁 Your show definately shed some light on how great a man Jim was and how he affected everyone he met. Thanks for the show!
PS- I staying up till 2:00am listening to it and loved every minute of it!
[…] Steve Swanson at MuppetCast has posted an amazing Podcast tribute to Jim Henson. Packed with audio commentaries from Frank Oz, Jerry Juhl, and Jim Henson himself. I downloaded it yesterday evening and have listened to it 3 times already. This is a well produced piece of work! It demonstrates Jim Henson’s genius as a film maker, puppeteer, and father. The selection of audio commentary materials combined with?perfect pacing, and quality music; makes this?Podcast one of the best tributes ever! Steve also reads?a letter I sent him?about?when I was a child, and the impact the Muppets had on my life. You have to check out the May 16th podcast, it’ll stick with you well after you are done listening to it. […]
I enjoy your show alot. each one is special in every way this one is no exception. You had really out done yourself with this tribute To Jim Henson.
when I was a child, I grewup with the first Sesame Street, The first Muppet Show, and of course the first Fraggle Rock. I to have a room full of muppet stuff, but in the center of my wall of Muppets is a picture.
I had came across this back in 1990 at a puppeters convention. It is of Jim and Kermit. This is one of my fave pics of all time because I found this a month after his death.
Growing up I had always wanted to met Jim and have a chance to work with him, But my dream shattered. I am still in with my puppets that I had builded over the years, And one day I will meet other muppeteers who keeps this magic alive and well. I am thankfull for your podcast. Thank you for being one of the few that keeps the magic alive.
In 1990, two days after my sister’s birthday, I was told that there was a story on the news that Jim Henson had died.
I was kind of surprised at how I felt. I mean, I felt sadness and a sense of loss, but I thought “This should hurt more. Why am I not crying?”
I grew up with Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock. I watched “The Great Muppet Caper” and “The Dark Crystal” over and over. I taped every episode of “The Jim Henson Hour” that I could. I found so much joy in everything he did, but now that he was gone, it felt like the passing of some distant uncle you only saw in home movies and faded photographs. I felt distant, and didn’t want to be. I had this pent-up emotion that just wouldn’t come out.
As I listened to this podcast, I cried. I finally cried the tears I wanted to cry seventeen years ago.
Thank you.
Great job.
The muppets have always meant a lot to me and I do remember how I felt when Jim died in 1990. It was like losing a parent. I was in shock and dissapointed for all the lost things that would never get created.
I was lucky to be of the Sesame Street generation and carried that love of muppets my whole life. I’ve now shared that love to my own kids through all the DVD’s and videos.
The muppets were such an important part of my life growing up that I performed Kermit singing Ranbow Connection at my mother’s funeral last year. My old beat up Kermit on my knee. I wanted to do something special at my mom’s funeral and I thought of the wonderful tribute that was done at Jim’s funeral. I knew that was the right thing to do.
Thanks for assembling such a fantastic show. Podcasters forget to always have an extra link for their classic, must have episodes. Please make sure you keep access to this special episode for all your new listeners.
Steve M
Wheres the New show?
It’ll be out today, I promise. Remember, I warned everyone it wouldn’t be until today that the next show would be posted. I know it felt like a long wait for everyone, but you will have a new MuppetCast today!
Thank you!
I don’t know what else to say, thank you for this incredible tribute to an American hero. Jim Henson was a hero of mine and an inspiration that has kept me going for a long time in my creative career. I am an artist, graphic artist, animator and puppeteer of over twenty years. This episode was wonderful to hear. It brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.
Bless you! Thank you!
May Jim’s Legacy go on for generations to come!
This was a beautiful tribute to Henson. Thank you for helping me remember all the wonderfull memories Henson and the muppets provided.
I did have one question, where did you get the audio of the memorial service(s) and is that available on video somewhere?
Jim Henson’s memorial service was captured on video, though never widely released to the public. It is a beautiful service, and can be found by asking around on places like Muppet Central.
I just listened to this podcast. I’ve been insanely busy and have been meaning to get to this, but other things jumped in the way. I’m really glad I finally got to it.
I think the comment by Sean Walsh really rings true for me. I was hurt when I heard about Jim dying all those years ago, but sometimes I, personally, forget what all he brought to the world and my life. It seems, to me, his work is too sweet and pure and just unadulteratedly good to have a creator. Sesame Street and The Muppet Show have never seemed like television shows written and acted by people, they were natural phenomena. To my childhood mind they must have always been there because I couldn’t imagine the world without them. That’s how they seemed then, and to a degree that impression hasn’t changed much. Couple with that the variety of what the company works on and it seems far far far too large to owe it’s existence to one man.
But it does, and your podcast reminded me of that. That, and the fact all of us whose lives have been enriched so much by such a simple, elegant philosophy of inclusion and love delivered so elequently and enjoyably owe so much gratitude to the same man.
Thanks for saying thanks for unintentional ingrates like myself, Steve.
Thanks Jim.
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