Lots to talk about this week so let’s get right to it! Ryan Roe and Joe Hennes from ToughPigs.com join me to discuss the latest Muppet news, and with Halloween just around the corner we celebrate with some Muppet monsters!
The MuppetCast is sponsored by our friends at Bell, Book & Comic. Life should be more Fun!
In Muppetology we relive some fun moments with Beautiful Day Monster, one of the original monsters created by Jim Henson. It’s interesting to note, in the three sketches included in the segment (complete list here), Beautiful Day Monster is performed by three different Muppeteers (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and Richard Hunt).
Thanks to Steve Barrett for sending me the new Walt Disney World and Disneyland Hidden Mickeys Guides! I found a few of my own this summer, and it’s always great to compare new sightings with other park enthusiasts.
Master puppet builder Terry Angus has a new puppet on eBay that YOU can own! It’s a beautiful new bat, take a look here. Terry was one of the main puppet builders for Fraggle Rock, so you can bet this is a well-built character.
David Blain sent a link to a clip from Jim Henson’s 1969 experimental TV program “The Cube”. It appears on the official Jim Henson company YouTube page.
The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA is now showing their new original production “Dinosaurs”. See a sneak preview here. Showing now through November 29, get your tickets here!
Sesame Street writer Annie Evans and her husband Muppeteer Marty Robinson have a blog! You can read all about their adventures as parents at Sesame Street’s Parents Blog.
Balcony Puppeteer Jamie Douglas made this incredible video from this year’s annual Puppets Up! festival in Almonte, ON. Hosted by “Creepy Baby”!
Listener Linda pointed out that you can pick up the Master Replicas Gonzo photo puppet for $99 right now on Amazon! Not only that, but you can buy the Gonzo and Animal photo puppets TOGETHER for $199! That’s an unheard-of deal.
Want to watch “The Muppets at Walt Disney World”? Me too! Here’s the YouTube link for Part 1 to get you started.
Elenora Stillwell – the winner of the Kermit the Frog backpack from the MuppetVision 3D meet a few weeks back – has graciously sent some pictures of this wonderful backpack for all to see.
Darrin Granter sent a link to QTV, in a special segment with Oscar the Grouch! It’s a really great 15-minute clip, but due to a kid-unfriendly comment on the page I’d recommend some parental guidance here.
In the news, Sesame Workshop has signed a new multiyear home-entertainment distribution deal with Warner Home Video. Previously Genius Products was Sesame’s distributor, and I believe they’re still working with the Henson Company.
Sesame Workshop, the Jim Henson Company, and the Jim Henson Legacy are all partnering with the Brooklyn Public Library to help commemorate Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary with a three-month exhibition of memorabilia at Central Library. Lots of cool events coming up, so check out the Library’s website for details.
Sesame Workshop is also in the midst of Phase II of “The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families” – a free traveling USO tour featuring five of America’s favorite Muppets. Trekking to six countries in the span of four months, the tour is scheduled to perform a series of high energy shows tailored specifically for military families at 20 military installations worldwide. More details at the USO’s website, and on this special Sesame website.
In Muppet(s) Studio(s) news, the Extreme Makeover Home crew has officially begun demolition on the house for the episode in which the Muppets will appear. I wonder if they let Crazy Harry help them. No word yet on when the episode will air.
As reported by The Muppet Mindset, Disney’s new Haunted Holidays website contains a few new Muppet web videos! The main focus of the website is a spell book of sorts in which you can access many different “sections” of the book that represent different popular Disney properties such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Snow White, and of course The Muppets.
The same Muppet videos found on the Haunted Holidays website can now be found on YouTube in HD-quality!
Sid the Science Kid is back with a brand new episode about the importance of vaccinations. For more information check out The Muppet News Flash.
The News Flash also reports that Lionsgate will be releasing a new Fraggle Rock holiday-themed DVD titled “Fraggle Rock: A Merry Fraggle Holiday” on November 9, along with the previously announced Final Season DVD Collection and repackaged Complete Series Collection.
Thanks for listening! Questions/Comments about the Muppets or The MuppetCast can be emailed to me@muppetcast.com, or called in to the voicemail line at 614-364-4270. Even better, stop by the Muppet Central Forums and discuss this and many other episodes with Muppet fans worldwide. Follow the show on Twitter and join the Facebook page too!
Have a great week!
-Steve
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