Strollerderby : puppets

No More Jack's Big Music Show?

Amy Kuras — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:33:00 GMT

One of the dirty little secrets of parenthood is that sometimes? I make my kid watch something I like on TV because I like some kids shows as much, or more than, she does.

Case in point is Jack’s Big Music Show on Noggin. The show was created by some puppeteers who have been involved with Sesame Street, and it shows with its kind of innocent, zany fun and sense of humor that manages to be both childlike and cool. I fell in love with it about two days after we got Noggin, although I must say I haven’t seen it in a long time. For one, my daughter is now at school when the show is on, and she’s moved on to other favorites when she is home. The other reason is that there haven’t been any new shows in about two years, and there are only about 24 of them in the first place. Brilliant though the Groundhog Day episode is, seeing my TV boyfriend Jon Stewart as Brunk Steingruber over and over is a little much.

So when Jonathan Puliatte sent an email to Strollerderby Central today letting us know he’d started a Facebook group attempting to save the show, I was sad to hear from him that Nickelodeon has so far declined to order a new season of the show from its creators, Spiffy Productions. Check out the group: they’ve got cool little behind the scenes videos, photos and most importantly, contact info for execs at Nickelodeon. If you’re so inclined, ask them to save this show. Quality kids shows, especially those that don’t make you want to rip your eyeballs out are hard to come by!

Muppet Op-Art

Brett Singer — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:20:00 GMT

In a piece in the NY Times today called "Puppet Government", beloved balcony boys Statler and Waldorf trade quips about the Presidential debates. The jokes, written by Hugh Fink, Scott Ganz and Andrew Samson, were obviously written before McCain threatened not to show up, so I'll add one: "John McCain says he won't show up for the debate until Democrats and Republicans stop arguing." "Guess there won't be a debate!"

I wonder if this is part of Disney's Muppet Master Plan. I would say no because it's a political topic. But the jokes are non-partisan and The Mouse House doesn't exactly have a track record of allowing writers to do whatever they like with Disney-owned properties.

Source: NYTimes
Image: Muppet Wiki

More stuff my 3 year old broke

Disney trying to revive The Muppets

Disturbing Origins of 5 Nursery Rhymes

The Babble List: 25 Great Children's TV Shows That Aren't On DVD

Dora the Conservative

Clay Aiken Comes Out

5 Hottest Muppets...Yes Muppets.

SunnyChanel — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:15:00 GMT

The average male thinks about sex every two minutes, so it really isn’t any wonder that some men out there would fetishize and find Muppets, yes Muppets sexy. Yeah, there’s a fetish for pert near everything, but Muppets? Really? The Web Site “DoubleViking.com – Men’s Entertainment” has such heady pieces of journalism as “Bonertown Hottie of the Day” and “The Twelve Best Parades to Pick Up Hot Chicks” (and no, I am not making this up…)

It turns out that these libido laden lotharios have a thing for sticking their hands up their objects of desire…puppets! As they say themselves “The Muppets: a taboo subject to be sure. What if it was socially acceptable to take a felt-covered female in loving embrace? These would be the top 5 choices.” I’m sure you have your own list, but here is their’s.

Mahna Mahna Girl – “Maybe it’s their singing or their perfectly choreographed moves.”

Red Fraggle – “Red Fraggle is the jailbait of the bunch..”

Janice – “Most likely under the influence of many psychotropic drugs and probably reeking of patchouli oil, she is still all about Free Love”

Camilla the Chicken – “Camilla the Chicken is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, shrouded by mysterious sex appeal.”

and of course, Miss Piggy - “She will loan out those pork tenderloins for anyone with the green-backs. With that in mind, it is conceivable that for the right amount of money, you too can have yourself a night in hog heaven.

For all the detials of their lust, check out their post here.

Love Blooms on "Sesame Street"

Amy Kuras — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:02:00 GMT

There hasn’t been a Sesame Street wedding since Maria and Luis's back in the early 1980s sometime. At least not one we’ve seen. However, a couple weeks ago, Annie Evans, one of the show's writers, and Martin Robinson, the puppeteer who plays Snuffy, Telly and Slimey the Worm, were married on the steps of 123 Sesame Street.

The story in the New York Times "Vows" column is simply adorable --- the couple, who met in 1993 and were good friends for years (even through Martin's marriage and divorce), began dating in 2002. Oscar the Grouch (given life by puppeteer Carrol Spinney) helped officiate the ceremony, and guests enjoyed dancing on the Sesame Street set. Click the video on the link –you'll see what Sesame Street would look like if used for a grown-up party (the answer to that is "awesome").

None of the other Sesame Street regulars were in attendance. Too bad, because I bet that Elmo turns into a real jerk after a few glasses of champagne.

Behind The (Big) Bird

Amy Kuras — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:03:00 GMT

The Sesame Street my daughter watches and the one I watched have only a few things in common. I'm BE, for one thing -- "Before Elmo" and all his little pals. The Count used to be scarier, Oscar grouchier, and Bert and Ernie a little less, ahem, ambiguous.

One thing, though, we share: Carroll Spinney's been the man behind the Big Bird costume all that time. Now 74 (which certainly explains why we don’t see as much of Big Bird as we used to), Spinney is still playing the loveable, goofy, 8-foot avian (he also plays Oscar the Grouch). His book about his adventures, The Wisdom of Big Bird and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch, was released yesterday.

A few fun facts from the article: Spinney uses a TV monitor to see where he's going when he's in the Big Bird costume, because there's no other way to see outside.

The top half of the costume weights 25 pounds.

Spinney protects Big Bird's feet with slippers when they aren’t visible in a scene. Giant purple, custom-made slippers.

Back in 1972, some Georgia Tech ROTC students got hold of the costume and ravaged it, leaving the puppet mechanism ruined and the eyes torn out. Spinney said he went into shock at the sight.

And best of all: Spinney, who met his wife at Sesame Workshop,has three grown kids and four grandkids. You know those kids are ruling circle time –after all, what's cooler than having a grandpa who lives on Sesame Street?

Baby's Got Blue (or Green or Brown or Lazy) Eyes

Adrienne Martini — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:00:00 GMT

As part of my ~~court-ordered~~ free-will community service, let me pass some little known knowledge on to you. If you have an infant between the ages of 6-12 months, you can take him or her to a free puppet show that might have long-term benefits to his or her later health.

The InfantSEE program matches up new parents and local eye doctors who can screen their baby's vision for conditions like lazy eye, strabismus (crossed eyes) and glaucoma. Some of these disorders may be easily treatable when the child is very young -- but they under diagnosed because most parents don't know to have their infant screened.

The screening itself is painless and mostly involves a puppet show. Who doesn't love free puppets?

Photo credit: Drdiane.net

Cookie Monster Moves to Bunnytown

editors — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:33:00 GMT

Bunnytown, a variety show for the pre-school set, just moved to weekdays on the Disney Channel at 10 a.m. EST/PT (check your local listings). We talked to David Rudman, co-creator of Bunnytown and voice of Cookie Monster about working in the biz and Sesame Street secrets. – April Peveteaux

How does one get into the puppet business?

I got a job working for The Muppets at eighteen as an intern.

How do you train to mimic the original voice of Cookie Monster?

Well I grew up watching him, so I knew what he sounded like and I worked with Frank Oz a lot on the show when he used to do Cookie Monster. When I first started I used to do his right hand. That’s one of the things you do when you’re starting; the main puppeteer is the voice, head and the left hand. Somebody else is the right hand of the puppet. The voice is close, but it’s the personality and the little quirks of the character that you have to hook into.

How many times have you had to sing C is for Cookie?

Hundreds, probably.

Does Bunnytown have a message?

I think it’s just that humor is important and it’s important for kids to laugh. And education is important too. We do have some educational goals thrown in so it’s not just a comedy-driven show. We also teach counting, shapes, color, healthy foods and healthy eating.

It is very carrot heavy.

Yeah, lots of carrots.

Is Bunnytown based on any real town?

Not really. It’s based on early 1970s variety shows. The original concept was to have it be a variety show set in this town and that’s why there’s lots of music and characters and running comedy bits throughout the show.

It feels a little British.

We shoot it there. The live action segments are shot there also.

Is there a Sesame Street mafia that will come after you if you spill any secrets?

Dirt? There isn’t any behind the scenes Sesame Street dirt. Maybe in Oscar’s trash can.

Why does Gordon not age?

Well, he’s had lots of work (laughs). No, I don’t know. He’s healthy, he eats right, he exercises, and he’s got a great attitude (laughs). Maybe it’s the hair. He’s always been bald so you never see his hair graying and you don’t see his hairline receding. His moustache is still looking good. He’s stylish. He looks the same as when I started on the show in 1985.

Are the people who created Sesame Street filthy rich and vote Republican?

I don’t know anything about the people who created the show. I don’t think it was created to get wealthy. I think it was created to educate inner city kids.

So that’s a “No comment.”

Yeah.

What's Better Than Reading a Harry Potter Book? This Is.

Karen Murphy — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:54:00 GMT

Okay, so I'm not a big Harry Potter fan. So sue me. I read the first book; I get the idea. But in the grand tradition of songs that will remain forever stuck in your head (you can thank me now), I bring you....Potter Puppet Pals:

Babble Talk: Elmo's Heart of Gold

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Wed, 30 May 2007 21:02:00 GMT

Was your child's first word "Elmo?" If so you aren't alone. There's a reason kids love Elmo so much and that reason has largely to do with the man behind (inside? underneath?) the little red puppet, Kevin Clash.

In her latest Babble column, Jennifer Baumgardner writes that Clash's book, My Life as a Furry Red Monster, is E.T.-level tear-jerking when it comes to Elmo's ability to bring joy.

I found myself close to tears many times as I read her article/interview, and I don't think I'd be able to make it through the book without an entire box of Kleenex at my side.

Clash talks of his life-long love of puppets and performing, his family triumphs and struggles, and Elmo's ability to bring joy to children even in the most dire situations. Whatever you think of Elmo, his kid-appeal is undeniable. I think I love him a little more after reading the article.

Futurama Paper Bag Puppets Prove We're Bad Parents

thezeroboss — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 18:06:00 GMT

We admit it. Not only are we not the kind of parents who don't crack down on our kids' TV time - we let them watch Futurama to boot. The result: this trio of hand puppets, depicting (in order) Dr. John Zoidberg, Bender Bending Rodriguez, and Philip J. Fry. At least, that's what our 7-year-old and 5-year-old tell us. Sure, they're a little abstract - but if some kid can throw paint on a canvas and call it a masterpiece, then dammit, my kids can make a bag lunch replica of Matt Groening's greatest show.

Fortunately, none of them has stuck a hand up Bender and made him shout, "Bite my shiny metal ass!"

Yet.