Many TV shows, specials, and films have ties to other companies as well. These productions may need to be to be cleared by the other companies before use of them can take place in distribution of the actual productions (not the characters), for example “Follow that Bird” is also tied to the producing company at Waner Bros.; “Muppets From Space” is tied to Columbia Tri-Star; and Farscape is tied to the Sci-Fi channel; there are other “strings” attached to other productions (not all have them) but none of them should hinder any progress from happening with the production(s) if the owning company wants something to happen.
There are several specials, films or TV shows that blur the line between ownership. For example “The Christmas Toy” and “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas” (both Henson owned productions) feature Kermit the Frog (a Disney owned character); although Kermit is not owned by Henson, the production is. Therefore the parts with Kermit can stay in the production without edits in future releases or airings. Likewise “A Muppet Family Christmas”, “The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years” and “The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson” (which features Muppets, Henson characters, and Sesame characters) is owned by Disney and can be used uncut. The “un-owned” characters can not be licensed for merchandise (Disney can't make a Sproket doll just cause he was in "A Muppet Family Christmas"; nor can Sesame Workshop make a reporter Kermit action figure) and the non-owned characters can not be used as the “selling point” of a product (Kermit can’t be overplayed on the Emmet Otter DVD cover to “trick” people into buying the special thinking it is a Kermit/Muppet/Disney production). Disney-owned “The Muppet Movie”, which features Sesame Workshop-owned character Big Bird, does not need editing; likewise Sesame Workshop-owned “Follow that Bird”, which features Disney-owned Kermit does not need editing.
The only production which has been chopped between companies is the television series “The Jim Henson Hour”. The Muppet segments are solely those of They Muppet Holding Company (Disney), but The Storyteller, and other mini-movies were retained by the Jim Henson Company. Also to clear up confusion, the “Dog City: Mini-movie” (which does feature Muppet character Rowlf the dog), is still owned by Henson (as is the spin-off TV show), yet the pre-movie segments from the episode (with the Muppets going to the movie, and the Bean Bunny “pre-show”) are owned by Disney. Seeing a complete re-release of “The Jim Henson Hour” (either on DVD, VHS, or TV) would require The Jim Henson Company and Disney to create a deal to split earnings, ownership, and rights; it is possible to see in the future – but is not likely. Seeing the show’s divided segments is more likely. All other Henson productions do not need to be edited for content due to the deal; but they may end up being edited for other reasons (music rights, content, time, or releaser discretion).
Welcome to the Muppet Central Forum!
Back to the Rock Season 2
Sesame Street Season 54
The Muppets Mayhem premieres
Bear arrives on Disney+
Sam and Friends Book
