MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SCREENING SERIES, THE:
THE LEGACY OF JIM HENSON: MUPPETS FOREVER, PACKAGE
4 & 12: ANNIVERSARIES
Summary
For thirty-five years Jim Henson brought wit and
imagination to the art of presenting puppetry on
television. He created a singular world of characters
-- the Muppets -- that he inventively expanded from a
small core of friends to a multitude of families. The
Museum's screening series pays tribute to the artistic
developments of Henson's television career. In 1955 Jim
Henson introduced his Muppets on the late-night series
"Sam and Friends," seen locally in Washington, D.C. His
creations soon began to reach a wider audience in
commercials and in guest appearances on such network
programs as "Today"; "The Tonight Show"; "The Ed
Sullivan Show"; and "The Jimmy Dean Show," which
featured Rowlf the Dog as a cast member. Since 1969
the Muppets have been regulars on the landmark
educational program "Sesame Street." In 1976 Henson
developed his own syndicated series, "The Muppet Show,"
which reached an estimated weekly audience of 235
million around the world and in fall 2001 celebrates its
twenty-fifth anniversary. Among many honors the show
has received the 1978 Emmy Award for Outstanding
Comedy-Variety or Music Series and the 1978 Peabody
Award for its "gentle satire, clever characters, genuine
good humor, and for high standards in family viewing."
During the eighties Henson extended his range in family
entertainment. He created a cable series, "Fraggle
Rock," introducing a new family of Muppets, the
Fraggles; ventured into Saturday morning television with
the animated "Muppet Babies"; contributed characters to
the music appreciation series "Jim Henson's 'Ghost of
Faffner Hall'"; and updated traditional folktales for
network television in "Jim Henson's 'The Storyteller.'"
He received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in
a Variety or Music Program for "Dog City," a segment
from his innovative series "The Jim Henson Hour," while
additional Emmy Awards went to the "Storyteller"
episode "Hans My Hedgehog" for Outstanding Children's
Program, and to "Muppet Babies" for Outstanding
Animated Series in four consecutive years (1985Ð1988).
In May 1990 the world was saddened by Jim Henson's
untimely death, but his legacy endures. The creative
team he brought together continues to produce new
projects in the Henson tradition of quality family
entertainment with such programs as "Farscape," "Bear
in the Big Blue House," and "Jim Henson's 'Animal
Show.'" The universe of Muppets, suffused with
tolerance and love, entertains and enlightens children
and adults alike. The Museum's screenings and
collection testify not only to Jim Henson's optimistic
philosophy of life, but also to his contributions to the
artistic possibilities of television.
"The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years"
Nearly every Muppet ever made appears in this tribute to
Henson's creations, with special recognition given to
the one who began it all, Kermit the Frog. (1986; 50
minutes)
"Sesame Street: 20 . . . and Still Counting"
Hosted by Bill Cosby, this birthday party for one of the
world's most famous streets features appearances by
Ray Charles and Placido Domingo, classic clips from past
programs, and segments from international versions of
"Sesame Street." (1989; 50 minutes)
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 2000
- RUNNING TIME: 1:37:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:64601
- GENRE: Children's; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Puppets
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- For "The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years":
- Diana Birkenfield … Executive Producer
- Andrew Solt … Producer
- Martin G. Baker … Associate Producer
- Peter Harris … Director
- Jerry Juhl … Writer
- Jane Henson … Historian
- Bob Payne … Historian
- John Charles … Conductor, Music (Misc. Credits), Music conducted and arranged by
- Charles, Ray (conductor) … Conductor, Music (Misc. Credits), Music conducted and arranged by
- Val Strazovec … Production Design
- Caroly Wilcox … Production Design, Muppets by
- Faz Fazakas … Production Design, Muppets by
- Michael K. Frith … Production Design, Muppets by
- Kermit Love … Production Design, Muppets by
- Donald Sahlin … Production Design, Muppets by
- Stephen Finnie … Production Design, Set Decoration
- Jim Henson … Muppet Performer
- Frank Oz … Muppet Performer
- Jerry Nelson … Muppet Performer
- Richard Hunt … Muppet Performer
- Dave Goelz … Muppet Performer
- Steve Whitmire … Muppet Performer
- Carroll Spinney … Muppet Performer
- Julie Andrews
- Harry Belafonte
- Carol Burnett
- George Burns
- Ray Charles
- Cher (See also: Mason, Bonnie Jo)
- James Coburn
- Jimmy Dean
- John Denver
- Elton John
- Gene Kelly
- Steve Martin
- Ed McMahon
- Ethel Merman
- Rita Moreno
- Zero Mostel
- Linda Ronstadt
- Diana Ross
- Brooke Shields
- Sylvester Stallone
- Ed Sullivan
- Lily Tomlin
- Ben Vereen
- Orson Welles
- For "Sesame Street: 20 . . . and Still Counting":
- Jim Henson … Executive Producer
- Dulcy Singer … Executive Producer , For the Children's Television Workshop
- Nina Elias … Special Projects Producer, For the Children's Television Workshop
- Diana Birkenfield … Producer
- Peter Harris … Director
- Judy Freudberg … Writer
- Tony Geiss … Writer
- Joe Raposo … Composer, Music (Misc. Credits), Music composed and directed by
- Victor Dinapoli … Production Design
- Bill Cosby … Host
- Ray Charles … Guest
- Placido Domingo … Guest
- Caroll Spinney … Muppet Performer
- Jim Henson … Muppet Performer
- Frank Oz … Muppet Performer
- Richard Hunt … Muppet Performer
- Jerry Nelson … Muppet Performer
- Pam Arciero … Muppet Performer
- Fred Garbo … Muppet Performer
- Fran Brill … Muppet Performer
- Camille Bonora … Muppet Performer
- Judy Sladky … Muppet Performer
- Martin Robinson … Muppet Performer
- Bryant Young … Muppet Performer
- David Rudman … Muppet Performer
- Kevin Clash … Muppet Performer
- Emilio Delgado … Cast, Luis
- Sonia Manzano … Cast, Maria
- Bob McGrath … Cast, Bob
- Loretta Long … Cast, Susan
- Roscoe Orman … Cast, Gordon
- Miles Orman … Cast, Miles
- Linda Bove … Cast, Linda
- Bill McCutcheon … Cast, Uncle Wally
- Alison Bartlett … Cast, Gina
- Northern Calloway … Cast, David
- Caroll Spinney … Cast, Big Bird
- Joan Ganz Cooney