MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SCREENING SERIES, THE:
THE LEGACY OF JIM HENSON: MUPPETS FOREVER, PACKAGE
11: JIM HENSON: NO STRINGS

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.

"Adventure in the Arts: The Muppets on Puppets" In this early glimpse behind the scenes of the Muppets' world, Jim Henson -- with the help of Rowlf the Dog, Jerry Juhl, and Frank Oz -- explains the art of puppetry, from building to performance. (1968; 60 minutes)

NBC Experiment in Television: "The Cube" In this surreal example of Henson's occasional forays outside the world of puppetry, Richard Schaal stars as a man who finds himself trapped inside a cube with no exit. Henson directed and produced, and he cowrote the script with fellow puppeteer Jerry Juhl, who later became "The Muppet Show's" head writer. (1969; 55 minutes)

Details

• NETWORK: N/A
• DATE: November 30, 2000
• RUNNING TIME: 1:52:00
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:64923
• GENRE: Children's
• SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Puppets
• SERIES RUN: N/A
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• For "Adventure in the Arts: The Muppets on Puppets":
• Tim Steele … Producer, Director
• Jerry Juhl … Writer, Puppeteer
• Jim Henson … Host, Puppeteer
• Frank Oz … Puppeteer
• Don Sahlin … Guest, Puppet Builder
• Charles Rice … Settings by
• Dennis Stoner … Instrumentalist, Piano music by
• For "NBC Experiment in Television: The Cube"
• Henson Associates, Inc. … Production Statement
• Jim Henson … Director, Writer
• David Robertson … Associate Producer
• Jerry Juhl … Writer
• Richard Schaal … Cast, the Man in the Cube
• Hugh Webster … Cast, Arnie
• Rex Sevenoaks … Cast, the Manager
• Van Evera, Jack … Cast, the Prisoner
• Jon Granic … Cast, the Sergeant and the Straight Man
• Guy Sanvido … Cast, Fritz and the Comic
• Eliza Creighton … Cast, the Seductress
• Don Crawford … Cast, the Black Militant
• William Osler … Cast, the Scientist
• Jerry Nelson … Cast, Monk
• Sandra Scott … Cast, the Decorator
• Claude Rae … Cast, Dr. Conners
• Don McGill … Cast, the Professor
• Ralph Endersby … Cast, the Guitarist
• Trudy Young … Cast, Liza 1
• Ruth Springford … Cast, Liza 2
• Moe Margolese … Cast, the Father-in-law and Dr. Bingham
• Alice Hill … Cast, the Mother-in-law and Mrs. Stratton
• Loro Farell … Cast, Margaret
• Eric Clavering … Cast, Dr. Bradowski and the Old Man
• Jean Christopher … Cast, the Nurse