MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SCREENING SERIES, THE:
THE LEGACY OF JIM HENSON: MUPPETS FOREVER, PACKAGE
2: THE MUPPET SHOW
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 Muppet Show: Harry Belafonte"
Harry Belafonte joins the Muppet menagerie, challenging
Animal on drums and performing an African song about
equality. (1979; 25 minutes)
"Of Muppets and Men: The Making of The Muppet Show"
Jim Henson shares the secrets of Muppet magic in this
behind-the-scenes look at the making of "The Muppet
Show." (1981; 50 minutes)
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 2000
- RUNNING TIME: 1:16:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:64586
- GENRE: Children's; Comedy/Variety; Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Music, Popular (Songs, etc.); Puppets
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- For "The Muppet Show: Harry Belafonte":
- David Lazer … Executive Producer
- Jim Henson … Producer, Writer
- Philip Casson … Director
- Jerry Juhl … Writer
- Chris Langham … Writer
- Don Hinkley … Writer
- Jack Parnell … Conductor, Orchestra conducted by
- Sam Pottle … Theme Music by
- Michael K. Frith … Muppet Design Consultant
- Van Gilder, Amy … Muppet Designer
- Caroly Wilcox … Muppet Designer
- Mari Kaestle … Muppet Designer
- Dave Goelz … Muppet Designer
- Jan Rosenthal … Muppet Designer
- Wendy Midener … Muppet Designer
- Faz Fazakas … Muppet Designer
- Larry Jameson … Muppet Designer
- Don Sahlin … Special Puppets by
- Calista Hendrickson … Muppet Costumes by
- Harry Belafonte … Special Guest
- Frank Oz … Muppet Performer, Creative Consultant
- Jerry Nelson … Muppet Performer
- Richard Hunt … Muppet Performer
- Dave Goelz … Muppet Performer
- Louise Gold … Muppet Performer
- Bob Payne … Muppet Performer
- Jim Henson … Muppet Performer
- For "Of Muppets and Men":
- David Lazer … Executive Producer
- Elizabeth Taylor-Mead … Producer
- Harley Cokliss … Director
- Peter Berry … Director
- Jim Henson … Narrator
- Harry Belafonte
- Milton Berle
- Philip Casson
- Cleese, John (John Cheese)
- James Coburn
- Graham Fletcher
- Dave Goelz
- Louise Gold
- Mark Hamill
- Peter Harris
- Don Hinkley
- Richard Holloway
- Bob Hope
- Richard Hunt
- Glenda Jackson
- Jerry Juhl
- Chris Langham
- Linda Lavin
- Gillian Lynne
- Norman Maen
- Ethel Merman
- Roger Moore
- Rita Moreno
- Zero Mostel
- Kathryn Mullen
- Jerry Nelson
- Rudolf Nureyev
- David Odell
- Frank Oz
- Linda Ronstadt
- Peter Sellers
- Brooke Shields
- Beverly Sills
- Raquel Welch
- Steve Whitmire
- Andy Williams