i miss jim henson

another great taken from us too soon. the muppets haven't went from being innovative to unfunny drivel since his death (the same thing has happened to the looney tunes characters since mel blanc died and they became nike pitchmen)

earlier, today, i was watching one of the muppet films that came out after his death and did it ever suck. of course, now they're owned by disney, which is even worse.

the henson era muppets were brilliant and clever and one of the biggest influences on my sense of humor growing up. maybe i look at them through the rose-colored glasses of my youth, but i think the muppet movie and it's two henson-directed sequels were among the finest films of the late 70s and early 80s. the muppet movie is in my opinion, the ultimate road trip film.

and add to that list labyrinth and the dark crystal, classics as well

the guy was a liberal, donating massively to environmental causes. and public broadcasting owes the man big time, because, withou seseme street, i think pbs would have been axed by Congress long ago

don't know why i'm writing about this-just random thoughts poppping into my head

people of all ages.

He had an amazing influence on my children, and their ability to separate self interest from what is good. Basically backed up everything that my husband and I were saying. He was a truly good man.

I have the DVD.

That one and "Labyrinth" were Jim Henson's crowning achievements.

   
 
Sam the Eagle - The resident censor and guardian of good taste and culture on the variety program THE MUPPET SHOW/SYN/1976-81. Sam the Eagle is a serious looking muppet bird with low burly eyebrows and a large beak. He often gave editorials. One entitled "Ecology: an opinion by Sam Eagle" began: "Greetings, Here's a list of the animals these so-called conservationists would have you protect: the mountain lion, Huh!; the alligator, Huh!; the timber wolf, Huh!; the American Bald Eagle...the American Bald Eagle!?  Excuse me, this list is now operative."   

Remember the bits the muppets would do on SNL during the first season? Wasn't the main character Scred?
I was 12 when the Muppet show was on. My friends and I would discuss each show and do the characters.
Disney sucks.

He was one of those.

I remember Kermit singing The Rainbow Connection at his funeral. He truly made the world a better place.

Jim Henson workshop also did the creatures for Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy.

I did a project with him shortly before his death. I gotta tell you, he was the only person I ever met who left me 'ga-ga' with admiration...and I met a few or so terrific people in my line of work. Jim was a true gentle giant. I felt like I was working with an absolute genius and couldn't believe how lucky I was. God we had fun.

Somewhere around here I still have the notebook with the story board - the night we finished shooting, we had a 'margarita' party on the stage - otherwise I never would have had to nerve to ask him to autograph one of the pages....and he was so gracious about it.

Soon after,
I was working on another Disneyland project -- and ran into him at the Orlando facility. And then - he was gone. It was an awful shock.

I'm glad you remember him - and that he enhanced your life, too.

You were fortunate to have worked with him.

One thing great about the muppets was the actors underneath. They had such great sense of comedic timing. Those old shows still hold up.

You know what was strange? The 'muppet' puppets were so 'real' to me (and I think everyone else) that you would walk by them 'resting' - I mean,it was like they were humans just taking a break. I can't explain it -does that make sense to you? You couldn't just think of them as inanimate 'objects'.

They were real to me too. They were wonderful creatures!

were exceptional. So talented and special -artists without the ego trips. You have to know that Jim just attracted very special people. He set the - what? - standard, I guess might be the word I'm looking for.

lucky you

the opening of Euro-Disney.

It was the only 3D experience I ever had - the lights are huge and so hot - lots of things were different than what I was used to in film.
I got a nutty idea that we should have goldfish in the test tubes in the lab scenes. Oy vey! It caused delays because the water would get so hot, we'd have to switch out the fish - Jim was always worried we might harm the fish. Any other director would've probaby canned my butt. He couldn't have been more 'in tune'. He really liked the fish. He was like that - a lover of life.

i take it?

sounds like a cool line of work, whatever it is you're doing

retired and working in another field - but I used to be a prop master, yes.

one of my high school friends has been in the field for about a decade now as well-did some work on the new batman film

and a good living. I liked the 'unexpected' challenges- even the stress - it presented. It had downsides - but what doesn't? I'm probably proudest of the fact that I was one of the first dozen or so women to get a master's card.

I swear, if I am in the dumps or sick, I'll watch the Muppet Movie or a DVD of Muppet Show episodes and I'll consequently feel better!

<>

sound than my great-grandaughter's laughter when she watches her Elmo tapes. She's mad for him! (And I'm mad for her - but that's our secret, ok?)

Laughter is so good for us -

it's out of print now, but worth tracking down

I was only nine years old when he died but even then I had a deep appreciation, respect and profound admiration for his talent, compassion and humanity. He was a truly a wonderful person with a big heart and a generous and giving personality and his legacy shone through in all the characters he created

If more people were like Jim Henson, the world would be a better place