A REPORT BACK FROM MOMI'S SESAME STREET: THE PARODIES

This year, Sesame Street turned 45 and so did I.  To celebrate, I went this past weekend to The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens to see Sesame Street: The Parodies.  It was a generous, 90-minute long compilation of clips of Sesame's version of movies, songs, and television shows.  Many thanks to Craig Shemin, President of the Jim Henson Legacy and a former Jim Henson Company staff writer, for creating this awesome set of clips. (More info about Craig here.)

Here's a punch list of some of the reel's highlights:

• Lovable characters spoof game shows such as Family Food and Squeal of Fortune.
• Sesame Street Muppets joins forces with R.E.M. to sing Shiny Furry Monsters
• A grand Sesame cast spoofs a film classic, and features characters such as Only One Cannoli in Star S'mores 
• Cookie works hard to solve a mystery on Twin Beaks.
• Everything is upside town on Upside Downton Abbey.
• Paul Taylor serenades Oscar the Grouch.
• Muppets pays respects to Madonna in Cereal Girl.
• Billy Idol sings with a Rebel L.
• Monsterpiece Theater features the lovable, silk smoking jacket-clad Alistair Cookie.
• Billy Joel and Marlee Maitlin sing a loving Just the Way You Are to the resistant Oscar.
• Tony Bennett celebrates a worm's trip into space by singing Slimey to the Moon.

3 Ways To Continue the Fun....

1. If you'd like more Sesame adventures, come check out the exhibition Somebody Come and Play: 45 Years of Sesame Street currently on view at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

 

2. Keep checking back with the Museum of the Moving Image website for the highly-antipated 2015 opening of The Jim Henson Exhibition and Gallery. 

 

3. Check out other Sesame-related posts from Creative Times:

• Louis Henry Mitchell: The Art of Sesame Street
• Annie Evans: Wordsmith of Sesame Street
• The Life and Times of Sesame Street’s Martin Robinson
• Fran Brill: The First Lady of Sesame Street
• From Muppets to Mascots: The Incredible Journey of Bonnie Erickson
• Frank Biando:  The Mayor of Sesame Street
• Letters to Big Bird
• Louis Henry Mitchell: Sesame Street’s Storyboard Master

BELOVED MUPPETEER JERRY NELSON HONORED AT MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE

Back in 2011, the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens hosted a nine-month-long exhibit about the body of work produced by film and television pioneer and Muppets creator Jim Henson.  The exhibit was such a huge success that the museum has since hosted a variety other Henson- and Muppet-related screenings and talks.  I had the honor of attending one of those gatherings, a tribute to recently-deceased and beloved Muppeteer Jerry Nelson.

Jerry (1934-2012) played umpteen different Muppet characters, including that of Count von Count on Sesame Street.

The MOMI tribute was hosted by Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin, who immediately introduced the members of Jerry's family who were present in the audience.

Craig's wife and Sesame Street performer Steffanie D'Abruzzo then showed a compilation of 150 clips of Jerry's years as a Muppeteer which she personally  had put together.  Through the collection, Stephanie wanted to the "breadth, depth, and versatility" of Jerry's work.

Fran Brill, another long time Sesame muppeteer, also introduced her own selection of clips.  She talked about Jerry being the backbone of the Muppets and a key character actor with a flexible voice and vocal chords who gave the Muppets voice and soul.  Fran, who described Jerry as being "crusty on the outside, and like butter on the inside,"  also mentioned that Mr. Nelson was  an avid environmentalist and talented musician.

Muppeteer Matt Vogel talked fondly about Jerry's performances as Sergeant Floyd Pepper from the Muppet rock group The Electric Mayhem.  Dave Goelz, who performs Gonzo, talked about Nelson's work on Fraggle Rock, the devastating loss of his (Nelson's) daughter to cystic fibrosis, and the joy of the Muppet gang when Jerry married his wife Jan.

Bonnie Erickson, creator of some of the original Muppets and the Executive Director of the Jim Henson Legacy, shared excerpts of the emails, letters, and calls that poured into the Legacy's office in the wake of Jerry's passing.  She told of how Joe Bailey, a writer for the Muppets, had described Jerry as "mellow, discreet, gentle, and charming."

It was deeply moving to see such an amazing collection of clips and hear key Muppet performers and creators speak about their experiences with and feelings about Jerry Nelson. To bear witness to a performer, environmental activist, and musician being honored with such generosity of spirit simply reflected back the essence of who Jerry was.

PS - Enjoy the video of Dave's highlights of the tribute.

ALL-STAR LINEUP OF GUESTS TO APPEAR AT JIM HENSON'S MUSICAL WORLD AT CARNEGIE HALL ON APRIL 14

On Sunday, April 14th, Carnegie Hall will host JIM HENSON'S MUSICAL WORLD.  The performance is a family concert and performed by The New York Pops.
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To purchase tickets to this special event, click HERE
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Here is an overview of the evening as it appears on the Carnegie Website:

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The magic of the Muppets comes alive as The New York Pops pays a musical tribute to Jim Henson's great legacy through song and puppetry.

In collaboration with The Jim Henson Legacy

With special thanks to Disney, The Jim Henson Company, and Sesame Workshop.

Performers

The New York Pops
Steven Reineke, Music Director and Conductor

John Tartaglia, Host

Essential Voices USA
Judith Clurman, Music Director and Conductor
Craig Shemin, Writer

Daniel Seth, Associate Director

Special Guest Appearances by:
Pam Arciero
Alison Bartlett
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
Kevin Clash
Stephanie D'Abruzzo
Rachel Dratch
Dave Goelz
Eric Jacobson
Rollie Krewson
Lara MacLean
Dr. Loretta Long
Sonia Manzano
Bob McGrath
Alan Muraoka
Roscoe Orman
Karen Prell
David Rudman
Nitya Vidyasagar
Matt Vogel
and
Paul Williams

BITTERSWEET END TO JIM HENSON'S FANTASTIC WORLD AT MOMI......MORE TO COME?



Special commemorative bookmark
distributed at closing day of
Jim Henson's Fantastic World exhibit

Last Sunday, Jim Henson's Fantastic World celebrated its last day at its last stop at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York.

Starting in 2007, this national touring exhibit had come through twelve other venues before making its final appearance in Queens.   From Little Rock to Mesa to Baton Rouge, from Atlanta to Doylestown, to Peoria, this astounding collection of artifacts from Henson's entire body of work brought education and inspiration alike to one million people across the country.

The closing ceremonies for the exhibit at MOMI consisted of various speakers, a film compilation of Jim's work as well as work inspired by him, plus some sweet suprises.

Carl Goodman, MOMI's Executive Director, assured the audience "You have not seen the last of Henson here."  Additional mentions were made throughout the program that the Henson-MOMI relationship would continue on.  (Good news for folks who wanted to get to the exhibit and didn't make it!)

Bonnie Erickson, Executive Director of The Jim Henson Legacy, shared a moving quotation about Jim from deceased Muppet writer Jerry Juhl.  As well, she thanked Jim Henson Legacy staff Nathaniel Wharton and Rhoda Cosme for their behind-the-scenes work.

Craig Shemin, President of The Jim Henson Legacy, mentioned that the MOMI exhibit, which featured more than 100 programs (film screening, lectures, demonstrations, etc.) had been visited by more than 20,000 people.

To acknowledge their incredible patience, hard work, and cooperative spirit in running the projectors for the many films shown throughout the exhibit's run, Craig called employees of MOMI down to the front to hand over some Muppet mementos.

Cheryl Henson, President of The Jim Henson Foundation, acknowledged the hard work and dedication of her siblings, Heather, Lisa, and Brian, in forwarding the work of their father.  She also mentioned the success of the international productions of Sesame Street.

Karen Falk, Henson archivist, introduced the film compilation, explaining that it was composed of Henson and Henson-inspired material from the last 20 years.  The audience got some good laughs out of watching snippets of everything from Muppets Tonight to Hot Dog TV. (My personal favorite was a clip of Sid Knishes and his Mosh Pit-atoes.)

If you'd like to learn more about the programs and events of the MOMI Jim Henson exhibit, you are welcome to read these additional posts:

• Jim Henson's Fantastic World Now at The Museum of the Moving Image
• All Kindsa Crazy Cool Stuff at Jim Henson's Fantastic World
• Free Limited Edition Cookie for First 1,000 Visitors at Jim Henson Celebration this Saturday!
• Report Back from MOMI's Jim Henson: Friends and Family
• The Wonderful World of Frank Oz
• Run, Don't Walk, to Jim Henson's Fantastic World
• Come Chillax on Colorful Beanbags at MOMI and Watch a Great Film About Jim Henson

COME CHILLAX ON COLORFUL BEANBAGS AT MOMI AND WATCH A GREAT FILM ABOUT JIM HENSON




MOMI visitors of all ages relax on comfy beanbags as they watch a great film about the life and work of Jim Henson.



Seriously, folks.  If you haven't already, please get on over to the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens  to see Jim Henson's Fantastic World.  The exhibit closes on March 4.

I have made half a dozen trips out to Queens to see the exhibit itself plus the special screenings and live events that have accompanied it.  I saw Brian Henson give a talk about the evolution of puppetry.  I heard Frank Oz be interviewed by Craig Shemin.  I saw Craig Shemin do a demo of puppetry as it's performed for television.  I saw a film about the history of Sesame Street.

Every time I visit Jim Henson's Fantastic World, I learn something new.  I popped by a few days ago and studied the text on the placards more carefully. One of them read as follows:

"Although Jim never forgot that his puppets were made of foam, fleece, and fur, he and millions of viewers were emotionally attached to the believable characters they had become."

JIM HENSON AND FRIENDS: INSIDE THE SESAME STREET VAULT

If you haven’t taken yourself to MOMI’s exhibit Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, you really should! The exhibit, which has drawn huge numbers of people, has been extended to March 4. It includes special Muppet screenings in the theater, and the remaining screenings and special exhibit-related events can be found HERE.

I started the year by going to see Jim Henson and Friends: Inside the Sesame Street Vault. Compiled by Jim Henson Legacy President and longtime Muppet writer Craig Shemin, it’s an expansive look at the appearances which Jim Henson and other key Muppeteers made on variety and talk shows of the 1970s.

The compilation also features clips from “Old School” Sesame Street.

Vault starts with Kermit making an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. He is sitting at the piano, singing What Kind of Fool Am I? while Grover continuously interrupts him. This clip got lots of laughs from the packed audience.

Here’s some other highlights from Inside the Sesame Street Vault:

• Jim Henson and Carroll Spinney (Big Bird) make a 1971 appearance on the Dick Cavett Show. Carroll is wearing the bottom half of the Big Bird costume.
• Big Bird’s appearance on The Flip Wilson Show.
• Big Bird sings with Carol Channing on the 1985 show Night of 100 Stars.
• Julie Andrews on Sesame Street.
• Various Muppets play on tv game shows such as Family Feud.
• Muppets team up with the cast of The Electric Company for a 1970s tv special.
• Muppets do The Nighty Night Show, a parody of The Late Night Show.
• Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl appear as themselves on The Johnny Carson Show.

FREE LIMITED-EDITION COOKIE FOR FIRST 1,000 VISITORS AT JIM HENSON CELEBRATION THIS SATURDAY!

Did I get your attention with that cookie bit? It's true!

I've been to two special events at MOMI's Henson Exhibit and it is seriously awesome, not to be missed.

This weekend at MOMI is going to be extra special, as it would have been Jim Henson's 75th birthday. There will be all kinds of special things happening, so check out the info below as well as the MOMI website.

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE PRESENTS 75TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION HONORING JIM HENSON ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Special programs and surprises, including free limited-edition cookie for first 1,000 visitors

On September 24, 2011, the world-renowned puppeteer, filmmaker, and television pioneer, Jim Henson would have turned 75. On this day, Museum of the Moving Image, which is currently presenting the exhibition Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, will celebrate Henson’s work and legacy with a program of “Muppet Music Moments” featuring special guests, a limited edition commemorative cookie for the first 1,000 visitors, and other gifts and surprises.

Visitors to the Museum on Saturday, September 24 will be able to participate in the following experiences:

At 1:00 p.m. in the Main Theater, attend the special program “Muppet Music Moments,” with introductions by Craig Shemin, President of The Jim Henson Legacy, and Bonnie Erickson, Executive Director of The Jim Henson Legacy and designer of Miss Piggy, along with guest speaker Larry Grossman, music consultant for The Muppet Show. This 77-minute compilation features performances by Harry Belafonte, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, and other Muppet Show guest stars, in a wide range of musical genres—classic music numbers interpreted as only the Muppets can.

Tickets are free with Museum admission and will be distributed first-come, first-served. Museum members may reserve advance tickets. (This compilation program will also be presented on Sunday, September 25, at 1:00 p.m. with Larry Grossman in person).
Receive a custom-designed commemorative cookie featuring Kermit the Frog’s signature foot prints (as long as supplies last). These artisanal cookies were produced especially for the Museum by Bonne Fete Baking, Inc. and You Cake, Inc., two Queens-based small businesses that operate at the Entrepreneur Space, a partnership of the Queens Economic Development Corporation and Mi kitchen es su kitchen.

Watch a special episode of The Muppet Show in which the cast celebrates Kermit the Frog’s birthday. The 22-minute program will screen continuously in the Museum’s Fox Amphitheater in the Education Center and is included with Museum admission.

Write a personal message and sign your name in a commemorative journal that will be given to The Jim Henson Legacy for their archives.

On this weekend and at the Museum through January 16, 2012, visitors are able to explore Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, the Smithsonian traveling exhibition that has been drawing record crowds across the country. The exhibition features more than 120 artifacts, including puppets of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Rowlf, Mahna Mahna, and others; drawings and storyboards; photographs; props; and rare video material. Guided tours of the exhibition are offered each Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Access to the exhibition is included with regular Museum admission.

Jim Henson’s experimental 1965 film, Time Piece, nominated for an Academy Award, will be on continuous view in the Museum’s Video Screening Amphitheater through November 16, 2011.

Produced and compiled by Craig Shemin, "Muppet Music Moments" is presented by the Museum in partnership with The Jim Henson Legacy, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Irena Kovarova. MUPPET, MUPPETS and the Muppets Characters are registered trademarks of The Muppets Studio, LLC.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World is organized by The Jim Henson Legacy and Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), in cooperation with the Henson Family; The Jim Henson Company; The Muppets Studio, LLC; and Sesame Workshop. The exhibition is made possible by the BIO channel. Support for Jim Henson's Fantastic World at Museum of the Moving Image is provided by The Jane Henson Foundation, Five Napkin Burger, and Cheryl Henson. Additional support is provided by Schmutter, Strull, Fleisch Inc. and The Astor Room.

The Jim Henson Legacy is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Jim Henson’s contributions to the worlds of puppetry, television and motion pictures, special effects and media technology. More information at www.jimhensonlegacy.org.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history. More information at www.sites.si.edu.

Press Contact: Tomoko Kawamoto / tkawamoto@movingimage.us / 718 777 6830

MUSEUM INFORMATION

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, 10:30 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Monday except for holiday openings).

Film Screenings: Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays, and as scheduled.

Museum Admission: $12.00 for adults; $9.00 for persons over 65 and for students with ID; $6.00 for children ages 3-18. Children under 3 and Museum members are admitted free. Admission to the galleries is free on Fridays, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets for special screenings and events may be purchased in advance by phone at 718 777 6800 or online.

Location: 36-01 35 Avenue (at 37 Street) in Astoria.

Subway: M (weekdays only) or R to Steinway Street. Q (weekdays only) or N to 36 Avenue.

Program Information: Telephone: 718 777 6888; Website: movingimage.us

THIS SUNDAY THE 18TH, MOMI PRESENTS JIM HENSON: FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Henson & Bert. Photograph by Ted Neuhoff. ©2007 The Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved.

SPECIAL EVENT at The Museum of the Moving Image

Jim Henson: Friends and Family

Part of Henson Screenings & Special Programs

Sunday, September 18, 4:00 p.m.

Buy Tickets

A roundtable conversation with Cheryl Henson, Bonnie Erickson, Craig Shemin, Fran Brill, Arthur Novell, and Karen Falk, featuring rare archival clips and a 35mm screening of Jim Henson’s avant-garde film Time Piece

Close colleagues and daughter of Jim Henson will participate in a wide-ranging and intimate conversation about working on projects including The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, The Muppet Movie, and more—all accompanied by their favorite clips. The panel will include Cheryl Henson, daughter of Jim Henson and President of the Jim Henson Foundation; Bonnie Erickson, Executive Director of The Jim Henson Legacy and designer of Miss Piggy and other iconic Muppet characters; Craig Shemin, President of The Jim Henson Legacy and longtime writer for The Muppets; Fran Brill, the first female Muppet performer hired by Jim Henson for Sesame Street; Arthur Novell, former Executive Director of The Jim Henson Legacy and longtime publicist for The Jim Henson Company; and Karen Falk, archivist and curator of the exhibition Jim Henson’s Fantastic World. The discussion will be followed by a special showing of Time Piece, Jim Henson’s 1965 experimental short (9 mins.), presented in an archival 35mm print.

Tickets: $15 public / $10 Museum members / Free for members at the Silver Screen level and above. Call 718 777 6800 or order online.

ALL KINDSA CRAZY COOL STUFF AT JIM HENSON'S FANTASTIC WORLD

Last Saturday, I made my first venture out to the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens (actually, right by where they film Sesame Street) to see the new exhibit called Jim Henson's Fantastic World.

One thing I liked about the exhibit was that it featured many of the sketches Jim created, the sketches that were the groundwork for his commercials, Muppets, films, and television shows. I appreciated that the show revealed the creative process behind the final product. With everything so computer-generated in today's world, there's something so reassuring about seeing pencil and pen drawings that come straight from the artist's mind.

During my visit to MOMI, I had the pleasure of attending "Hands Up! Puppets Down!": An Inside Look at Puppetry for Television. Writer/producer Craig Shemin and veteran Sesame Street puppeteer and wrangler Lara MacLean shared behind-the-scenes footage and live demonstration to show how puppetry magic is created for television.

Great fun was seeing the Muppet which Craig's wife and Sesame Street performer Stephanie D'Abruzzo had created in Craig's image. Craig and Lara together were a great team.

They fielded questions from Muppet fans in the audience who ranged greatly in age. Like Star Wars, the Muppet shows and movies have a fan base that spans generations. One young person in the audience asked "Is it true that Tim Burton was a Muppeteer in a scene from one of the Muppet Movies?" Craig confirmed that yes, it is true. Wow, how do people get their hands on this info?!?!?

Click HERE for the full list of Henson-related workshops and screenings. Be sure to note that some events require advance ticket purchase to guarantee a seat.

Here are two that I am particularly excited about:

* September 18 at 4 pm: An Afternoon with Jane Henson: "Look Both Ways and Go"

* September 24 and 25 at 1:00 pm: Muppet Music Moments: A Weekend Celebration of Jim Henson's Birthday (Jim would have been 75 on the 24th)

Photo of Lara MacLean from Muppet Wiki

HIGHLIGHTS FROM BAM'S SESAME STREET FILM CELEBRATION

I was so excited to find out that the Brooklyn Academy of Music was hosting Sesame Street: A Celebration! - "A weekend of films and clips celebrating 40 years of Sesame Street."

I had been looking for a way to participate in the celebration, and this was just perfect. I set aside two full evenings to attend four of the films, and here are some of the highlights of the event:

• First of all, I scored this awesome Alex Ross Super Grover litho (pictured above) along with the book It's Not Easy Being Green by anwering some Sesame Street trivia questions thrown out to film audiences by the event's co-programmer, Craig Shemin. Craig and his wife, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, opened each of the four films I attended by joking around with the audience and providing some nice inside scoops on the films. They were naturals for the job, as Craig is a Muppet historian and Vice President of the Jim Henson Legacy. Stephanie is a Sesame Street puppeteer, as well as a an Emmy-nominated Avenue Q performer.

• The World According to Sesame Street was an amazing documentary directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton & Linda Hawkins. These two women traveled around the world to show how people bring Sesame into countries around the globe, including Bangladesh, Kosovo, and South Africa.. What I learned is that each country goes through a process of figuring out what content and characters will best work for their particular culture. One of my favorite scenes was of a master puppet-maker in Bangladesh staying up in until the wee hours of the morning to create a character in time to start shooting the show there.

• Next up, Jim Henson and Friends: Inside the Sesame Street Vault was Craig Shemin's compilation of Jim Henson and other star Muppeteers' (along with the Muppets themselves) appearances on talk and variety shows from the 1970s.
  
  
• Sunday night's first feature was Sesame Street at 40: Milestones from The Street. This gem showed lots of highlights from the show's history, including the very touching treatment of Mr. Hooper's death as well as the marriage of two of the show's human characters. Elmo was the ring bearer - of course!
  
  
• Lastly - and what a great way to end the weekend - was Sunday's Sing! Sesame Musical Moments - a compilation of Sesame's musical numbers. My favorite pieces were the ones from the disco era - "Me shaggy, me blue, me know how to groove.....................Cookie!" - and Pre School Musical, a spin off on High School Musical wherein the Troy-like Muppet espouses the supremacy of the block corner while the Gabrielle-like Muppet argues that the dress-up area actually rules. I had never seen that piece before and could not stop laughing!
  
  
• Other highlights included a special guest appearance by Bob McGrath, a beautiful singer and long-time Sesame cast member. I also had a nice chat with audience member Bonnie Erickson, who was part of the original design team for The Muppet Show and also Creative Director of the Product Division of Children's Television Workshop.