I have MADE an ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY

[MeepBorkMeep]

So here I am sitting in my living room while my mom is cleaning up tapes. And she pulls out one called "Jim henson Special" and I figured it was one of them Christmas specials, right? WELL I'm watching it now, and it's, like, this Great Performances thing "The World of Jim Henson" where they have all these interviews about his early work and Muppet work, and these old clips, they have a Don Sahlin interview, behind the scenes of his work on the Ed Sullivan show, so much stuff it's AMAZING. Keep your eyes out for real copies, this is a must-see for all Jim Henson/Muppet fans. :)

P.S. In the beginning they have this clip where Fozzie and Kermit are talking, and Fozzie is very frightened and tells Kermit "Whatever I say, you can NOT look...there is SOMEONE UNDER ME," and they totally flip out. Does anyone know what this is from? It's good.

[dizzyizzy]

Is this the same thing as "A Tribute to Jim Henson" from right after he died? I actually have a tape of that and I think it's absolutely amazing! It's one of my favorite things to watch. :)

[Tim Kelly]

Is it the one where Frank Oz explains that, when he performs Miss Piggy, he has to bring up the woman inside of him? 'Cause I've been wanting to see that one again for years.

[Barry Lee]

So here I am sitting in my living room while my mom is cleaning up tapes. And she pulls out one called "Jim henson Special" and I figured it was one of them Christmas specials, right? WELL I'm watching it now, and it's, like, this Great Performances thing "The World of Jim Henson" where they have all these interviews about his early work and Muppet work, and these old clips, they have a Don Sahlin interview, behind the scenes of his work on the Ed Sullivan show, so much stuff it's AMAZING. Keep your eyes out for real copies, this is a must-see for all Jim Henson/Muppet fans. :)

P.S. In the beginning they have this clip where Fozzie and Kermit are talking, and Fozzie is very frightened and tells Kermit "Whatever I say, you can NOT look...there is SOMEONE UNDER ME," and they totally flip out. Does anyone know what this is from? It's good.

This special was a PBS special from the series of PBS episodes "Great Performances" The opening is from the Puppeteers of America festival.

[MeepBorkMeep]

I don't believe so, Tim Kelly, unless I wasn't listening at that part. But that sounds neat, do you know anything else about the tribute that clip was in?

DizzyIzzy, it came out in 1994, four years after he died, but it still might be what yer talking about cause it /was/ technically a tribute.

Thanks, Barry Lee. I thought the clip seemed a little too unprofessional for a full blown Muppet Show, and more Sesame Street professional, but Fozzie was never in that, so I was confused. My mother would like to know if they taped the festival and it's open to public. I told her probably, but she wants a better response, so I said I would ask you, if you don't mind.

[Muppetsdownunder]

Its a great documentary that one. I'm just about to put my video of it onto DVD, they should release this commercially.

[MeepBorkMeep]

I know, Gosh, this thing is amazing. I'm gonna go watch it again. *Shuffles off*

[MGov]

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shop/intro.html#2

Scroll to the bottom of the list.

Goooogle is our friend.

[vertigo]

Yes, this was the PBS special from '94, I ordered it back then and it actually had a nice cover design for it. It is one of the best biography's done on Jim Henson, an hour and a half long; shocking at the time. They even used an old segment of Kermit and Piggy hosting Great Performances from the 80's; it was perfect!

[MeepBorkMeep]

Oooh neat. Thanks MGov. I'd order it, but I like my poor tattered copy. Maybe I'll order it fer someone else, though. :)

[Tim Kelly]

I don't believe so, Tim Kelly, unless I wasn't listening at that part. But that sounds neat, do you know anything else about the tribute that clip was in?

Unfortunately, my memory is pretty fuzzy. I know it was a Muppets/Jim Henson retrospective-type of special. I'm trying to recall when I saw it broadcast... Maybe 1986? I know it was before Henson died. Then again, maybe it wasn't!

[D'Snowth]

Goooogle is our friend.
No they're not, lol! But this really is an astounding discovery!

[MeepBorkMeep]

I know, D'Snowth! I must have seen this tape, like, three times in the last 28 hours. S'awesome, it is.

[superboober]

If it is what I think it is, (and what I'm thinking of aired one afternoon on Nickelodeon), I recall the characters standing around "Muppet Central" with loads of TV screens around, and we learn about the fancy pupptry work they've done over the years (including detailed synopses on how the Gorgs and Doozers work, plus how they did all the bike riding scenes over the first few films, which was the first time I heard of Brian Henson). For the denoument, they went to bluescreen and pulled back to show the puppeteers working the main characters. Once back in the fantasy world, Fozzie makes an oath never to look down again. Kermit (and I believe Scooter was there as well, which if so would have made it earlier than 1994) do so anyway, see just the floor, and breath huge sighs of relief that it was all just a bad dream that humans were manipulating them (or so they think...)

Sound familiar to anyone?

[ReneeLouvier]

Wow. As soon as I get some money, I'm gonna get that. XD

I seem to remember watching that show as well. It could have been made in parts before '94, but wasn't shown until then perhaps? That's just my thinking on it.

[MeepBorkMeep]

No, superboober, don't sound familiar to me, but it does sound /wicked/ awesome. Do you have any idea what it could be called?

And ReneeLouvier, if your still talking about the Great Performances thing, yeah I believe most of it had been made before 94, but I think once Jim died they wanted to make sure it was perfect so it could be used as a tribute. That's just what I think, so don't go by it, but it kind of makes sense I suppose.

[super muppet]

Wow I've Never Heard Of Such A Tape Good Find.:)

Goooooooooogle Is EVIL!!

[MGov]

Super Boober, that was an episode of "The Jim Henson Hour" that ran on NBC for a little while. Nickelodeon ran the reruns. I taped it from that.

[Muppetsdownunder]

This was widely available on video in Australia up until a few years ago. It is available on amazon.com but is a different cover and would ofcourse be ntsc which may not play on Australian vhs players.

[Barry Lee]

Super Boober, that was an episode of "The Jim Henson Hour" that ran on NBC for a little while. Nickelodeon ran the reruns. I taped it from that.

The episode is "Secret of the Muppets" a wonderful JHH episode. One of the funny moment's is Bean Bunny seeing "Puppeteers!"

I see puppeteers! I see puppeteers! Great funny episode.

[heralde]

I taped the "Secrets of the Muppets" special when it was shown on Nickelodeon's "Muppet Matinee", circa 1993. I wish Nick still had that!

"Secrets of the Muppets" is great for fans interested in behind the scenes stuff (even if some of it is out of date now, like the computer effects). My favorite part is probably the making of the Viking sketch from the Muppet Show. It was also where I saw some of the other main puppeteers for the first time, other than Jim Henson. The special is also avilable for viewing at The Museum of Television and Radio. ;)

Jim: "Well that's the way it is around here. The fantasy always wins."
Muppets: "Yeah!"

[Beauregard]

Wow...I seriously hope that the "Secrets of the Muppets." comes on DVD one of these days because I would cut of my leg cover it in salt and peper, dip it in garlic mayonase and roast it for two hours to get my hands on a legal copy!!!

[MeepBorkMeep]

Does anybody have Of Muppets and Men? I've been wondering if it's good.

And Beauregard, why on earth would you have to amputate your leg to get a /legal/ copy? :)

[Beauregard]

Muppets and Men is very good, but lacks just basic shots of Pupepteers at work. There are some, but not enough. :)

Bea:zany:{Why not?}regard

[MeepBorkMeep]

Yeah. Those shots are always the best. Unfortunately I've only seen about two. But do they do interviews and stuff? :confused:

[Barry Lee]

Yeah. Those shots are always the best. Unfortunately I've only seen about two. But do they do interviews and stuff? :confused:

Yeah, it's just basically Jim Henson narrating the behind the scenes of "The Muppet Show" WONDERFUL special, the book is good too. :zany:

[MeepBorkMeep]

Yeah, I /devoured/ the book. Awwww. Does anyone know where I can buy this? :o

[MGov]

From IMDB, re: "The Jim Henson Hour"

In Feburary 2004, the rights to the Muppets were bought by The Walt Disney Company. This was the only series where the distribution rights were split between The Walt Disney Company and The Jim Henson Company.

[Barry Lee]

Yeah, I /devoured/ the book. Awwww. Does anyone know where I can buy this? :o

The only way you can buy it is if you are in the UK they have a TMS boxset with that as a Special Feature.

[Beauregard]

It's not a box set, it's a complilation dvd called, "The Best of the Muppet Show Vol. 1."

And it is very good indeed.

[MeepBorkMeep]

Well I guess I'll have to go the UK then. *Packs suitcase and hails a cab*

[Beauregard]

If you are coming to the UK...you should hail a taxi...

[MeepBorkMeep]

If I'm going to the UK, I should hail a /boat/.

[Ilikemuppets]

Is this the same thing as "A Tribute to Jim Henson" from right after he died? I actually have a tape of that and I think it's absolutely amazing! It's one of my favorite things to watch. :)

I think they have done this more than one time; because on what you are referring to, I think it was Gonzo who did this gag.

[Barry Lee]

The special you are reffering Ilikemuppets is "The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson." Wonderful, sad special. :zany:

[Ilikemuppets]

If it is what I think it is, (and what I'm thinking of aired one afternoon on Nickelodeon), I recall the characters standing around "Muppet Central" with loads of TV screens around, and we learn about the fancy pupptry work they've done over the years (including detailed synopses on how the Gorgs and Doozers work, plus how they did all the bike riding scenes over the first few films, which was the first time I heard of Brian Henson). For the denoument, they went to bluescreen and pulled back to show the puppeteers working the main characters. Once back in the fantasy world, Fozzie makes an oath never to look down again. Kermit (and I believe Scooter was there as well, which if so would have made it earlier than 1994) do so anyway, see just the floor, and breath huge sighs of relief that it was all just a bad dream that humans were manipulating them (or so they think...)

Sound familiar to anyone?

You're taking about an episode of the Jim Henson Hour that aired in 89, And the Muppet's were in denial that they were puppets and that there were People were controlling them, not the fact that people were under were actually beneath them and they moved whenever they moved.

[Ilikemuppets]

The special you are reffering Ilikemuppets is "The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson." Wonderful, sad special. :zany:

Yeah, I saw it when it Originally aired.

[Lazarus]

Do they still have 'The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson' avalible? I heard it was amazing (and extreamly touching).

[heralde]

Those three specials (Secrets of the Muppets, Of Muppets and Men, and Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson) are all at The Museum of TV and Radio in New York City. For viewing, not purchase, but still.

They're all great behind the scenes shows. Of Muppets and Men had so much puppeteer footage I'd never seen before.

[MeepBorkMeep]

I'm gettin Of Muppets and Men special for me birthday. *Does happy dance* Can't wait. Do they have most of the things they mentioned in the book in it?