The Jim Henson Hour

[Warrick]

Hey Guys,
Hardly anyone has mentioned this show on the new forum yet.
I want to see what other people think about it.

Seeing as im in the UK i didnt get to see the whole show, But we got The Storyteller segments and Monster Maker, I think we might have got more.

When i first saw those shows i have to admit i was scared, But i was only about 4 or 5 !
Later on i saw some clips and realised that i had seen something that Henson made (I knew at the time, But wasnt interested) and i wanted to see it again !

So i got most of The Storteller episodes on video and loved them !

Then i got the rest of The Jim Henson Hour, Again at first i wasnt to pleased with it.
But i left it a while and watched them again and found out that i absolutely love it !

So what does everyone else think of the show ?

And who has a list of all the shows ?

See ya

[dwmckim]

I can't go into a lot of elaboration at the time of typing since i'm getting set to leave out the door, but JHH is one of my all time fave projects to come out of Henson Company. Even though it wasn't without its flaws, it seemed like the whole sense of creativity and experimentation was emerging like a tidal wave and especially given how much of the focus in the '80's was on the Babies and the childrens' projects, this return to the more edgy adult Muppet mania was a welcome return and completely rejuvenated my love/fandom for them.

[White Lion]

JHH is my absolute favorite Henson project ever. It's the one i grew up with. I liked it when I was young because I loved to be scared. The first half of the show always kept me entertained by myself, but when the Storyteller part came on, I'd drag a parent into the room for security. Now I watch the eps I have on tape about twice a month. I'm missing Monster Telethon, Monster Maker, The Garbage Episode, and the Secrets of the Muppets episode.

[frogboy4]

I didn’t like The Henson Hour much because I felt it was too erratic. I did enjoy it, but not as much as The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock or Muppets Tonight. I liked the split between the Muppet half and The Storyteller segment.

I really think The Storyteller was some of the most interesting American network television to come around in quite a while. Unfortunately the American public didn't seem too receptive to it from what I have seen. I am glad that HBO ran The Storyteller series a couple years ago. It really was an innovative series!

As for the first half hour of the show, it was rather slow and nothing really seemed to tie it together. Only Kermit and Gonzo were regulars and though I like new characters, I don't favor them appearing at the expense of old favorites. There were some funny sketches though, but they didn't get the best guest stars.

The opening was fantastic. Probably one of my favorite credit sequences from a Muppet project (The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock being the other two). I remember screaming when I first spotted Emmet Otter row by in the eye of the "wind-tunnel" thingy. And the intros with Jim Henson himself were priceless. Altogether I'd have to give the series a solid C, though The Storyteller definitely deserves an A+ all its own.

Just my thoughts. Not every project can be a Muppet Show or Fraggle Rock and this one wanted to be something different. It definitely succeeded at that and I wish I had my old episodes on tape.

[Warrick]

Lots of people have the tapes for trade !
But they are not so good copies !

Who else is in the opening theme ?

I always thought it was Statler and Waldorf in the boat, Thats how bad my copies are.

Oh and they also made Jim Henson's Greek Myths , It was a series like The Storyteller.

See ya

[frogboy4]

Yeah, the Greek Myths is what was on HBO.

In the opening of THH there were many nods to old productions. i really can't remember them right now. I think Kermit was on his bike somewhere. I don't think I have anymore tapes unforutnately. Where are these trades available? And what did you decide about the exclusives thing?

[White Lion]

I'm gonna watch some JHH later, but from what I remember from the intro, there is:
Kermit on bike
Swedish Chef hitting Fozzie with a Pie
Storyteller photo
Emmit and Ma Otter in a boat
Mad Dog in a red car from Dog City

[frogboy4]

I liked the little themesong jingle too!

[Warrick]

Hey Guys,
If you post an Ad in the "Wanted" forum Jamie, Someone would probably get back to you within a day !

What did you mean about the Exclusives ?
I would like to see a Jim Henson Hour figure set made !

See ya

[EmmyMik]

I've only seen 2 episodes of the JHH (Dog City, and Secrets of the Muppets), so I don't think I have a true opinion of the show yet. However, I love both of these episodes...

[frogboy4]

I proposed an exclusive (for annuals or such) trade a while back, but I'm not sure if you received the post.

[Ryan]

I have all of the first halves, and they are in great condition.
E-mail me @ ryan200012@netscape.net to trade if interested. :)

[Drtooth]

Yes! I too remember the Jim Henson Hour. The one thing that made me Naive in my youth was not getting into the second half (Storyteller) because I never liked Drama or Action. I like the segments now, fine pieces of work. But what I wish was that I taped the Dog City special. All my life, I couldn't remember anything about it. All I can remember is the cartoon show on Fox. Also, I liked Digit the robot.

[Warrick]

Did you post it on here ?
I didnt get it !

It would be great if you could help me out !

See ya

[frogboy4]

Yup, I posted it. I'm really broke and these figures are gonna break me more, but I could definitely help you out for some sort of trade.

[frogboy4]

Darn these threads. I somehow miss so many messages. Thanx for the offer. I will definitely contact you when I am able. I have little new to trade these days, but I'm sure something could be arranged.

[Thog]

I love Digit. I wish that they would bring him back. I saw the Cosby Show the other day and they had cut out the part where he need Cliff to hit him to fix him. But I guess they do cut stuff out when shows go into syndications for time constraints due to commercials.

Dan

[Drtooth]

Yes! Digit was my favorite. Somehow he reminded me of Christopher Lloyd's character on Taxi (reverend Jim) only in robot/android form.

[MIKEB97]

How long was The Jim Henson on their air?

[beaker]

>>Yes! Digit was my favorite. Somehow he reminded me of Christopher Lloyd's character on Taxi (reverend Jim) only in robot/android form<<<

Yeah, Digit is one of my all time fave characters(next to Beaker, Pepe, Swedish Chef and the Fraggle gang)
I think he is definately spose to be very Christopher Lloyd-esque. I also love th efact hes kind of like The Matrix, being able to plug into virtual mainframes and satelite networks. They need to bring him back! I also really like dlindburgh, zondra, and leon on jhh.

finally, does anyone have a good quality uncut jhh test pilot(tubes) or cosby show muppet episode???

///beaker///

*who hopes digit returns in some cameo form or so soon*

[Warrick]

Digit, Leon and the Jim Henson Hour gang all have a special place in my heart ! But i really think with the new 'edgy' style that the Mupptes want to portray, Digit and Leon, Leon especially could help it work !

Up until Leon i dont think there was any Muppet that kept on pushing for the ladies in bikinis and naked Chickens ! So i would also love to see atleast Digit and Leon return, Uboo was actually a good looking Muppet too, Its a shame he didnt have a bigger role.

If there is a 50th Anniversary special, like A Celebration of 30 Years then i shuld think that all the 'groups' from different shows would turn up.

Man, just thinking about that makes me feel so happy !

[Buck-Beaver]

I loved the Jim Henson Hour. It was probably the most interesting thing done on TV in the late 80s. I don' think there has ever been anything before or since with quite the same level of quality, variety and creative energy.

Sure, it had it's problems. The structure of the show was uneven, the format was erratic week to week. You never knew what you were going to watch when you tuned in (a bad thing if you want a regular audience - they like to know what to expect). There didn't seem to be a clear vision of what it was supposed to be, except a personal creative playground for Jim Henson - and I think that was the point.

The story behind this show is kind of glossed over in the official Henson histories but you kind of get the feeling NBC was never 100% behind it. I think the show failed because A) NBC scheduled it in the summer, B) they never really promoted it properly and C) it was waaay to expensive.

One thing that seems to hurt Henson projects on network TV is cost. The shows are top quality and top quality doesn't come cheap on Network TV. The Muppets have never had a truly successful network show. All the best projects from "The Muppet Show" to "Bear in the Big Blue House" were successful on cable, in syndication or on Public TV. I think JHH would have thrived on cable (it at least would have gotten a full run!).

It was successful on CBC here in Canada - they even repeated it a couple of summers in a row I think.

Makes me start to think a Fox show is a bad idea...