MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SCREENING SERIES, THE:
THE LEGACY OF JIM HENSON: MUPPETS FOREVER, PACKAGE
3: FRAGGLE ROCK

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.

"Fraggle Rock: The Honk of Honks" Gobo, a member of the FragglesÑa community of creatures who live undergroundÑis chosen by Cantus, the "Mystical Minstrel," to find the "Honk of Honks" so that all the Fraggles will be able to sing the "Song of Songs." (1987; 25 minutes)

"Down at Fraggle Rock . . . Behind the Scenes" Jim Henson conducts a tour of the "Fraggle Rock" workshop and studio, revealing the technical secrets behind the Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs. (1987; 50 minutes)

Details

• NETWORK: N/A
• DATE: November 30, 2000
• RUNNING TIME: 1:14:07
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:64587
• GENRE: Children's; Arts documentaries
• SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Puppets
• SERIES RUN: N/A
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• For "Fraggle Rock: The Honk of Honks"
• Henson Associates, Inc. … Production Statement
• Canadian Broadcasting Corp. … Production Statement
• Jim Henson … Executive Producer
• Lawrence S. Mirkin … Producer
• Martin G. Baker … Associate Producer
• Richard Hunt … Director
• Diana Birkenfield … Production (Misc.), Executive in Charge of Production
• Jerry Juhl … Production (Misc.), Creative Producer, Writer, Head Writer
• Jocelyn Stevenson … Writer, Creative Consultant
• Russell Chick … Art Director
• Michael K. Frith … Conceptual Designer
• Don Gillis … Production (Misc.), Musical Director
• Philip Balsam … Composer, Music and lyrics by
• Dennis Lee … Composer, Music and lyrics by
• Tim Miller … Production Design, Muppets by
• Sherry McMorran … Production Design, Muppets by
• Jane Gootnick … Production Design, Muppets by
• Bonnie Erickson … Production Design, Design Consultant
• Faz Fazakas … Special Effects, Director of Muppet Special Effects
• Larry Jameson … Special Effects, Muppet Special Effects
• Jim Sutherland … Special Effects, Muppet Special Effects
• Stephen Finnie … Production Design, Set Decoration
• Dana Spot … Production Design, Set Decoration
• Tim McElcheran … Special Effects
• Gerry Parkes … Cast, Doc
• Jim Henson … Muppet Performer
• Richard Hunt … Muppet Performer
• Jerry Nelson … Muppet Performer
• Dave Goelz … Muppet Performer
• Steve Whitmire … Muppet Performer
• Kathryn Mullen … Muppet Performer
• Karen Prell … Muppet Performer
• Trish Leeper … Muppet Performer
• Gord Robertson … Muppet Performer
• Bob Stutt … Muppet Performer
• Frank Meschkuleit … Muppet Performer
• Terry Angus … Muppet Performer
• Cheryl Wagner … Muppet Performer
• Robert Mills … Muppet Performer
• Tim Gosley … Muppet Performer
• Sandra Shamas … Muppet Performer
• Mike Petersen … Muppet Performer
• Nikki Tilroe … Muppet Performer
• For "Down at Fraggle Rock":
• Henson Associates, Inc. … Production Statement
• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation … Production Statement
• Jim Henson … Executive Producer
• Diana Birkenfield … Producer
• David Gumpel … Producer
• Ritamarie Peruggi … Associate Producer
• Carol Reynolds … Production (Misc.), Production Executive for the CBC
• Faz Fazakas
• Don Gillis
• Dave Goelz
• Richard Hunt
• Kathryn Mullen
• Jerry Nelson
• Karen Prell
• Cheryl Wagner