Comments on: Of Muppets and Men

Of Muppets and Men

McLir — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:02:15 -0800

Of Muppets and Men. [1 2 3 4 5 6] Excellent behind-the-scenes documentary showing the mental, verbal and physical athleticism of putting together The Muppet Show. Also, a TMBG video mashup with excerpts from the doc. [All YouTube, Previously]

By: McLir

McLir — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:04:38 -0800

"The Muppet Show" link is Wiki. My bad.

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:35:27 -0800

Everyone's glasses look like windshields. Giant mutant windshields on steroids. It sounds like the puppeteers are doing impressions while talking normally. Jim Henson doesn't have a voice of his own, he can only speak in the Kermit voice.

By: The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew

The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:44:12 -0800

I kind of feel obligated to comment in this post. So, whoo cool.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:56:33 -0800

I miss that Jim Henson fellow something fierce.

By: sebas

sebas — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:57:50 -0800

That is cool, I always enjoyed the Muppets when growing up, however I never actually knew any of the guests that appeared on the show. The Muppet show aged pretty well except for some of the more obscure guest stars. And for someone growing up in the eighties in Europe a lot of them were really unknown.

By: The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew

The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 01:07:41 -0800

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. I particularly enjoyed the bit with John Cleese at the beginning of link 6, and the bit with (who else?) Dr. Bunsen Honeydew about 30 seconds into link number 5. Stavrogin, I noticed that too. Jim Henson's normal speaking voice is far too close to the Kermit voice for comfort.

By: adamt

adamt — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 01:15:35 -0800

My, men sure knew how to wear a beard then.

By: The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew

The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 01:24:01 -0800

(That second comment was after I had actually watched most of it.)

By: billyfleetwood

billyfleetwood — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 01:41:47 -0800

I've had a really bad night. There are very few things that could have put a smile on my face. This did it. Thanks.

By: null terminated

null terminated — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 03:06:32 -0800

What's Frank Oz doing dressed up like David Cross?

By: jb

jb — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 03:19:13 -0800

[this is good]

By: h00py

h00py — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 05:13:47 -0800

I miss Jim Henson too.

By: eponymouse

eponymouse — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 05:21:59 -0800

What a cool bunch of people. And what splendid jumpers! I for one laughed like a silly at the "pillage idiot" line...

By: jiiota

jiiota — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 05:45:49 -0800

I heard Jim Henson say in an interview once that he was shy and introverted, but speaking in Kermit's voice gave him a way around that- he could say what was on his mind. He said this particular thing through Kermit too, now that I think of it. I wish they had laid Kermit to rest when Jim Henson died. Not all of the muppets- even Ernie I was ok with someone else doing the voice. But Kermit- that never seemed right to me. Thanks a lot for this post- I hadn't seen this before.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 06:22:08 -0800

jiiota, Kermit was Jim's most prominent Muppet by far, but the Muppet who was most a part of him, and most an avatar for his own personality, was Rowlf. Rowlf was, though not retired, largely moved into the background after Jim's death. And yeah, seventeen years later and I'm still sad. I know I've already said this about Mister Rogers, but Jim Henson was a saint, too.

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 06:34:17 -0800

null terminated beat me to it. Very cool post. Thanks.

By: evilcolonel

evilcolonel — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 06:42:43 -0800

It's a shame that Frank Oz has essentially retired from performing his characters, though his voice has changed quite a bit from when this was filmed. And it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that I miss Jim as well.

By: thatweirdguy2

thatweirdguy2 — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 07:22:31 -0800

Doesn't watching that documentary just make you wish that somehow, someway, you could've been involved with that team? Creative genius... man, that brought back some memories.

By: Merik

Merik — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 07:37:29 -0800

McLir, Thanks, this is just wonderful.

By: Misciel

Misciel — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 07:43:35 -0800

If only there were something on TV so good today!

By: Knicke

Knicke — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 08:25:14 -0800

My gosh, thank you so much. I thought I had seen all the Muppet stuff out there, but I hadn't seen this somehow. Just so heartwarming and amazing. I actually got goosebumps.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 08:51:50 -0800

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 08:55:18 -0800

FUCK YOU! YOU BROKE THE FOURTH WALL! PUT IT BACK, DAMN YOU, PUT IT BACK! QUICKLY!!

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:30:05 -0800

Fourth walls are built to be taken down.

By: DU

DU — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:38:33 -0800

They are all so sober when they are working the puppets. I think I would be forced to make the same expressions as the puppet.

By: DU

DU — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:40:20 -0800

Frank Oz is mostly retired? I thought he was still working on Sesame Street.

By: Staggering Jack

Staggering Jack — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:41:54 -0800

Great post - thanks. I'm always amazed at how much personality comes across in puppets. It's often so much better than CGI characters.

By: empath

empath — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:41:55 -0800

Do you think the beards were just 'the new guys' mimicking the bosses style?

By: Hadroed

Hadroed — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:13:07 -0800

The Muppets are just about the only thing left that give me faith in humanity.

By: ambulance blues

ambulance blues — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:22:50 -0800

Thanks, McLir! You made my, and probably may people's, day.

By: lekvar

lekvar — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:06:05 -0800

Funny, I was just exposing my daughter to the wonder and glory that is The Muppet Movie for the first time this morning. She's four, and I don't think she's really understands what she's seeing, but she's enjoying it. Me, I'm watching it as an adult for the first time, and fully appreciating the work that went into the puppetry. And laughing my ass off at the jokes that are sailing over my daughters head. "Sparkling Muscatel. One of the finest wines of Idaho."

By: tzikeh

tzikeh — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:23:47 -0800

A number of actors who have appeared with Muppets in tv shows or movies say the Muppets are so real to them that they converse with the Muppet before and after takes. They forget that there is a Muppeteer standing *right there*--and the Muppeteer is so used to communicating through the Muppet that he (or she) conducts the conversation with the actor by way of the Muppet. It becomes intrinsic. Amazing... and don't you wish you'd had the chance to sit down and talk to Kermit.

By: localroger

localroger — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:31:39 -0800

My God that brings back some memories. Oh, and for Jim Henson: .

By: es_de_bah

es_de_bah — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:13:31 -0800

i love you mclir, and i want to have your babies...

By: es_de_bah

es_de_bah — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:50:44 -0800

and now that i'm done watching i must say: it's been really quite a long time since i've been genuinely sad to see something end. great movies and shows that hold my interest still find me anticipating the credits these days. maybe i've become jaded. maybe it's media overload (quite probable given our times). in any case, i often find myself longing for the last chapter, waiting for that last chord to fade out, if only so i can sit and digest what i've just witnessed. but i hated to see this documentary end. for a little while, i lived backstage at jim henson's shop, and i savored every minute. now i almost don't know what to do with myself. that sixties font rolling over my screen evokes in me the harshest ennui and a desire to... oh shit, and the TMBG video, too? KICK ASS!!! gotta go--

By: McLir

McLir — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:27:48 -0800

es_de_bah, do you have any stories living backstage at Jim Henson's shop? Let's know! (As per your offer, do resemble Lola Heatherton or Catherine O'Hara's brother?)

By: starman

starman — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:40:16 -0800

David Cross could play a young Frank Oz.

By: starman

starman — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:41:41 -0800

What's Frank Oz doing dressed up like David Cross? I spoke too soon.

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:44:35 -0800

"Sparkling Muscatel. One of the finest wines of Idaho." Would you like to smell the bottlecap?

By: ambulance blues

ambulance blues — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:09:18 -0800

did anyone else notice that the camera operator of the muppets and men doc was roger deakins?

By: McLir

McLir — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:14:04 -0800

Yow. Deakins has quite the resume.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:35:23 -0800

"do you have any stories living backstage at Jim Henson's shop?" Ditto what McLir said, es_de_bah. When I was a kid, I wanted to be in Henson's workshop when I grew up, but lost interest in puppetry around high school. I've only recently taken puppetry back up as a sorta hobby, and I'd forgotten how difficult, and how rewarding, it could be. My arm muscles are so outta shape. LOL! I used to be able to do live shows for parties and art fairs for hours. Nowadays, just five minutes in front of a webcam leaves me feeling like a wimp.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:55:14 -0800

...wow. That looks like fun! Puppet Improv. If there is a heaven for me, it's gonna have puppet improv, and I'll go through eternity with the unmitigated illusion that I'm actually good at it.

By: daq

daq — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:06:04 -0800

I believe you all misread what es_de_bah was saying. I interpreted the phrase as being "for a while (this documentary made me feel as if), I lived backstage...." But I'd love to be wrong.

By: McLir

McLir — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:22:04 -0800

Good call daq. (es_de_bah may still reward the overly-literally-minded of us.) In other news... Perhaps I should have cruised this link before posting, BUT, here is a heapin' helpin' of season 2. [TV Links]

By: evilcolonel

evilcolonel — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:21:06 -0800

Apparently he does still perform Bert occasionally, though Eric Jacobson also plays the part, as he does Oz's other characters.

By: Outlawyr

Outlawyr — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:23:30 -0800

Fantastic post. Many thanks.

By: chowflap

chowflap — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:21:46 -0800

The Muppet Show was extremely important to me as a kid. One night a week I got to stay up an extra half an hour in order to watch the show with my family. I wanted to grow up and work at the Muppet studios, but it seemed like an impossible dream. Thanks for this.

By: Phred182

Phred182 — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:31:52 -0800

Made my day.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:04:51 -0800

It's a credit to the artistry of the Muppet show crew that during the first scene, I expected the pig puppets to carry on and chat with the operators onstage. It was almost jarring to see them still, because they're infused with so much character and life. I was having an absolutely terrible day, and you've made mine as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

By: jb

jb — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:22:17 -0800

When I was a kid, I wanted to work on the Muppets too. But I thought it was a real theatre, and maybe I could dance with Gonzo's chickens.

By: es_de_bah

es_de_bah — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:26:12 -0800

i hate to disappoint, but i was speaking metaphorically.

By: WCityMike

WCityMike — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:00:38 -0800

I'm really glad that Mr. Rogers and Jim Henson aren't here in this 21st century, because I can just see either of them saying something that the neoconiverse wouldn't like, and then Bill O'Reilly would have to do a 60-minute show attacking Jim Henson, and then I would've been jailed for doing something rather unspeakable.

By: Phred182

Phred182 — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:01:06 -0800

Really interesting how Oz describes the complexity of muppet interrelationships--each of them has an opinion about or an issue with each of the others. Compared to the one-track pap produced now now (thoroughly destroyed here), it's remarkable.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:26:37 -0800

A friend of mine the other day explained to me in detail how Mister Rogers fits the "police profile of a pedophile." I smiled and nodded and changed the subject as soon as possible. Then I mentally did that thing that Chandler used to do on Friends whenever he heard something he didn't wanna hear... Chandler: "That didn't just happen!" [waves arms in the air in front of him, blinks several times, says something incomprehensible and snaps his fingers] *INSERT MUSIC CUE* "Can it be that it was all so simple then Or has time rewritten every line If we had the chance to do it all again-- " *SFX explosion* John Candy: "She blewed up real good!" ... Doesn't work. I loathe the 21st century so far.