The GelflingWaldo Files

"Muppet Newsflash" Replaces "GelflingWaldo Files"

2005-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, I started this blog back in February. The small and casual project grew and flourished into the place to find all the greatest and latest Muppet, Fraggle, Sesame, and Henson news on the web. When I started out I had no real idea what this blog would be, and what it would ultimately become. After three months, I feel that the site had evolved to a level that I had not considered when starting the little project. The 100+ days working on The GelflingWaldo Files were educational and allowed me to learn what works (and what does not work).

But to respond to the needs of the blog (and the visitors) I decided to rework the project to a level that met the nature that the blog emerged to need. So I created a new blog; a replacement blog. This new blog, called “The Muppet Newsflash” is similar to The GelflingWaldo Files in many ways. Not only does it have the same blogmaster, but it will hold all the latest and greatest Muppet/Henson related news - that includes The Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and the dozens of other shows, movies, specials, and properties spawned from the mind, the magic, and legacy of Jim Henson. I will continue to dig up and compile all the news that Muppet-fans crave. This new blog, like its predecessor, will be the definitive source for Muppet news on the web.

Aside from a new name there are some changes in the format, the dogma, and the look – but the heart is the same of The GelflingWaldo Files. Since I am “moving” to the new blog, the GelflingWaldo Files will no longer be updated. The site will remain (for some time) for historical and reference purposes, but all new news will be on the new blog.

Be sure to check out the new home for great breaking Muppet news! And also don’t forget to update your bookmarks to reflect the new blog’s URL. Remember, it’s the same great news just with a new name. I hope you enjoy!

-- Go to "The Muppet Newsflash" Now! --

"The Muppets' Wizard Of Oz" Airs Tomorrow on ABC

2005-05-19T23:49:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that "The Muppets' Wizard Of Oz" will air tomorrow night at 8/7c on ABC; check your local listings for full details.

In the fun, contemporary take on a family classic, Dorothy Gale (Ashanti) is a teenager with dreams of showbiz that seem far from coming true in the Kansas trailer park where she lives. When she's transported to the magical land of Oz, she and her sidekick, PepÉ the King Prawn as Toto, join with the Scarecrow (Kermit the Frog), the Tin Thing (Gonzo) and the Lion (Fozzie Bear) to fight the Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Piggy) and find the wizard who might make her a star.

The film, which is directed by Kirk Thatcher, is the first Muppet production since the characters were bought by Disney last year. A home video/DVD release of the film is planned for August 9, 2005. Plans for futuring airings of the film are not avalible at this time, but Disney hopes to replay the movie throughout the summer on either ABC, The Disney Channel, or ABC Family. Spread the word, set your VCRs, and be sure to tune in tomorrow night to enjoy "The Muppets' Wizard Of Oz".

"The Muppet Show: Season 1" DVD Details

2005-05-18T23:51:00.000-04:00

As I reported earlier, The Muppet Show is coming to DVD in season box sets. Today The Muppet Holding Company announced that the first season will be released on DVD the same day "The Muppets Wizard of Oz" hits DVD -- August 9, 2005. Disney plans on releasing "The Muppet Show: First Season - Special Edition" on a fully loaded 4-disc DVD collection for just $39.99. You can pre-order the set directly from Disney through the Muppets website, or by clicking here. More details on this awesome set are planned to be released soon.

Full Fraggle Details are Coming!

2005-05-17T13:14:00.000-04:00

Many fans are hungrily waiting for the full details of the "Fraggle Rock - Season 1 DVD Box Set". The box set, which includes all 24 episodes from the first season, is due for release in September. HIT Entertainment, the producers of the set, stated today that a full press release with all the product and retail details will be issued within the next four weeks by the HIT Entertainment PR department. All information (such as disc features, release date, and retail price) will be available then. So be sure to check back throughout the next four weeks as we all wait for HIT to finalize the plans and release their detailed announcement.

We Remember...

2005-05-16T15:45:00.000-04:00

We Remember Jim Henson

September 24th, 1936 - May 16, 1990

- Learn more about Jim -

More Muppet Music!

2005-05-15T14:15:00.000-04:00

This Tuesday Disney will release their first Muppet CD - "The Best of the Muppets Featuring the Muppets Wizard of Oz". The CD which not only holds the songs from the upcoming tele-film (which is this Friday at 8/7c on ABC), it also holds some of the Muppets greatest hits and best songs. Even though this CD has not even been released yet, Disney hopes to continue releasing more Muppet albums.

An internal newsletter at Disney stated that over the next two years, Walt Disney Records plans to release three additional Muppets albums. Included in these plans is a Muppet holiday CD which is due out in time for the 2005 holiday season. It is unsure at this time if the album will contain new recordings of holiday songs by the Muppets, existing recordings of holiday songs from the Muppets' past Christmas movies and specials, or a combination of the two. More details on the upcoming holiday album will be released as it surfaces.

The content of the other two upcoming albums, which are set for a 2006 release, is unsure. It is unsure if these CD will be themed albums, contain new recordings, be collections of unreleased material, be collections of already available songs/soundtracks, or a combination of them all. I'll keep you posted as information on these two additional albums surface.

JHC plans for The Dark Crystal Sequel

2005-05-14T00:13:00.000-04:00

It has been reported that The Jim Henson Company is planning on making a sequel to the 1982 fantasy classic The Dark Crystal. The film, which is titled "The Power of the Dark Crystal", has been written by David Odell (The Dark Crystal, The Muppet Show) and Annette Duffy. No director is yet attached to the film which will start shooting this fall and is is planned for a 2007 release. The film will combine live-action animatronic characters with CG animation. Like its predecessor, the film hopes to push the boundaries of puppetry, special effects, and visual story-telling

The story for the film takes place several years after the original movie. The first film's heroes Jen and Kira are now king and queen, and must fight to save their kingdom when the crystal is once again split.

Any further cast and crew announcements have not been made at this time. But it has been cited that The Jim Henson Company wants to involve many of the people who worked on the original movie. Brian Froud is very interested in the project. Frank Oz (co-director on the first film) is not official yet, but he is watching the film's progress with "much interest". The official word on the cast & crew should be made later this year once production picks up on the project.

The Jim Henson Company had tossed around ideas of a sequel (or prequel) over the years. In late '90s there was strong support from many Henson executives, led by Brian Henson, to make a prequel to the 1982 film. Sadly the plans never materialized; but now that the company is "Muppet-free" they want to work to bring back many of their existing productions and franchises. The film has built a strong cult-following since 1982 and, mixed with the new surge in "fantasy world" films in the recent years, Henson feels that now is the perfect time to bring back the world of the Dark Crystal. Henson says that the script for the film is being polished and they are excited to begin work on the new film.

The company is also working on developing animated series, interactive games and other related media as well. It is unsure how the film will be released. Henson hopes for a theatrical release, but it could ultimately end up as a straight-to-video or a TV-movie release. I'll keep you all posted as more details on the production and release of "The Power of the Dark Crystal" surface.

Participate in our Survey!

2005-05-13T21:35:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned on Wednesday, this blog has been running for over 100-days. After 100 days of of trying things and "getting my feet wet", there are many things that people have commented on. Before going any further I would like to get the blog to a more concrete place. I want to insure that this blog is heading down the right-path and is fulfilling the needs and desires of all the visitors. At the end of March I asked for some feedback from visitors; since then I have been working on ideas to upgrade this blog. Before I make any major changes (and even before making some of the minor ones too) I would like to get a feeling of how the visitors feel on the issues. So please take a few seconds to answer the questions in this simple survey to let me know how you feel on the issues at hand regarding the blog. In the coming week I hope to have some new features and functions on the blog. I don't claim to have the perfect blog, but I want to work toward getting even better. If you have any specific comments or feedback, feel free to e-mail me.Thank you for participating.

Take Survey Now!

Muppets invade your TV!

2005-05-12T16:03:00.000-04:00

In the coming week there will be a huge batch of Muppet television apperiances to promote "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" so be sure to catch all the TV events leading up to the big tele-film. Check local listings for full details, channels, and show times.

Fri. May 13 - Fozzie Bear on Jimmy Kimmel Live (12:05 am EST on ABC)
Thurs. May 19 - Muppets on Good Morning America(check local listings for ABC )
Thurs. May 19 - Miss Piggy on Live with Regis and Kelly (check local listings)
Fri. May 20 - Ashanti appearing on Live with Regis and Kelly (check local listings)
Fri. May 20 - The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Tele-film (8/7c on ABC)

100 (and still counting)

2005-05-11T22:08:00.000-04:00

The GelflingWaldo Files has reached 100 news posts! That's right, 100 post of Muppet news and events. It was over three months ago that I started this blog to post Muppet news each and every day, and I'm glad that people enjoyed the results. Many of you may wonder what the future of The GelflingWaldo Files will be like, and I have some important news on the subject of some big changes that will be taking place here in the coming days. I hope to have all the details ready later this week. I have some big changes planned for this place, so keep visiting, and enjoying the news here at The GelflingWaldo Files. There will be a lot more news and changes to come in the coming week of the GelflingWaldo Files' centennial-celebration.

Muppets' Wizard of Oz Music Video on Disney Channel

2005-05-10T15:19:00.000-04:00

Be sure to check out the Disney Channel as they are now playing the music video for Kansas from "The Muppets Wizard of Oz". The music video features the song from the film sung by Ashanti and is full of a ton of great clips from the film (which will air on Friday, May 20, 2005 at 8/7c on ABC). So be sure to check out the Disney channel to see the video (which is in their regular "commercial break" rotation and is shown pretty regularly), hopefully this music video will also make it onto the DVD release in August.

Fozzie Plugs Oz on Kimmel this Friday!

2005-05-09T21:53:00.000-04:00

In order to promote the upcoming Muppets' Wizard of Oz (which airs on Friday May 20, 2005 at 8/7c on ABC), Fozzie Bear will make an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" this week. Tune in to Jimmy Kimmel Live on Friday, May 13, 2005 to see Ozzy Osbourne, Fozzie Bear, and musical guest Erasure.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" is shown on ABC at 12:05am (so technically it is really early Saturday morning). Be sure to tune in to ABC to see Fozzie and Jimmy chatting and having fun. This should be a fun television appearance by Fozzie (helmed by Muppeteer Eric Jacobson). Muppet fans may remember that Grover also helmed by Eric Jacobson) appeared on the show in April to plug the 36th season of Sesame Street. Kermit the Frog also appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2003. Fozzie is sure to delight the audience and provide a fun segment for fans to enjoy. You don’t want to miss this appearance – so say up late, tune in, and watch (or at least set your VCRs and check it out over the weekend).

A Holiday Greeting from GelflingWaldo...

2005-05-08T22:15:00.000-04:00

AFHV Reminder

2005-05-07T17:34:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that the Muppets will be appearing on the hour-long America’s Funniest Home Videos season fanale on tomorrow (Sunday, May 8, 2005) from 7:00pm-8:00pm EST on ABC. In the season finale of AFHV, the Muppets will be there to help host Tom Bergeron show the best videos of the season and award the season's final $100,000 prize. They’ll also show some never-before-seen Muppet “home videos” during the show as well. So be sure to mark your calendars and set your VCRs to catch the Muppet gang on AFHV. For more information check your local listings and ABC.com.

"Oz" promotion on Regis & Kelly

2005-05-06T22:08:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendar for another TV appearance. Miss Piggy is scheduled to appear on Live with Regis & Kelly on Thursday, May 19, 2005 to promote the Muppets Wizard of Oz tele-film (which airs Friday May 20, 2005 at 8/7c on ABC). And Ashanti (who plays Dorothy in the film) is scheduled to appear on the show the following day (Friday, May 20, 2005) to promote the film. Check local listings for time and channel.

Book 'em Jim!

2005-05-05T13:05:00.000-04:00

A timeless collection of wisdom on life, friendship, individuality, creativity, collaboration, and more will be hitting the bookshelves this fall from the works of Jim Henson (and his friends). Hyperion Books is planning on releasing a new book in September titled It's not easy Being Green - And Other Things to Consider written and compiled from the works and friends of the late Jim Henson by Jim's daughter, Cheryl Henson.

There are few things that evoke such a universal feeling of warmth and humor as the work of Jim Henson. In his own words, as well as those of some of his best-known characters like Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, and Ernie, readers will get a glimpse of the philosophy and humor that was so essential to Jim’s creations. You'll also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the collaborative spirit of this gentle artistic genius from the people Jim knew, loved, and inspired.

This uplifting collection of quotes, stories, anecdotes, songs, and insights gives new life to Jim’s magical world. With chapters titled Dynamite Determination; Listen to Your Heart; Together We Can Do It; It Starts When We’re Kids; and A Part of Everything and Everyone, It’s Not Easy Being Green will be entertaining, inspiring, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny. Readers young and old will cherish this collection.

Culled from The Jim Henson Company archives, program transcripts, personal letters, and interviews, along with some of Jim’s never-before-published writings, It’s Not Easy Being Green is a testament to the legacy of a man who changed the way we see the world. The book will be releases on September 14, 2005 in hardback print, and also on audio CD. More information on this delightful collection to follow as more details emmerge.

Muppet Holding Co. Names New Consultant

2005-05-04T00:08:00.000-04:00

The Muppets Holding Company (MHC), a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, announced today that Martin G. Baker has been hired as a consultant for the organization's new entertainment endeavors. A close colleague of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson, Bakerhas more than 25 years of experience producing Muppets content in all media. Baker's primary responsibilities will be consulting on entertainment initiatives as MHC enters its second year of stewardship of the Muppets brand. The Muppets franchise was purchased by The Walt Disney Company in April 2004 from The Jim Henson Company. Since that time, Baker has utilized his expertise to help integrate the Muppets into The Walt Disney Company family, including serving as a producer on the new ABC telefilm "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz". Baker's duties will include searching for ways to expand the Muppets' unparalleled talent base as demand for the brand grows. He will be leading a search for more multi-talented performers in the world of puppeteering who will serve as understudies to core Muppets performers and help the company develop new characters and service the growing international demands for the classic characters.

"After decades of working with the Muppets, I know how very much they areloved the world over," said Baker. "I am truly delighted to be part of extending Jim Henson's vision for the future of these characters at The Walt Disney Company."

"No one could help us continue and grow these heartwarming and humorous Muppet characters better than Martin Baker," remarked Chris Curtin, general manager and vice president of MHC. "He played an invaluable role in helping ensure that the brand's integrity remained true during MHC's first large scale endeavor, 'The Muppets' Wizard of Oz,' and we are thrilled to have him onboard as we move forward."

Baker has worked with The Jim Henson Company on Muppets productions since1979. As their executive vice president of production, Baker was integral tothe production of such television projects as "The Muppet Show," "FraggleRock," "Jim Henson's The Storyteller," "Jim Henson's Secret Life of Toys," "Muppets Tonight," and the NBC TV movie "It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie." His feature film credits include "The Muppet Movie," "The GreatMuppet Caper," "Follow That Bird," "The Dark Crystal," "The Muppet Christmas Carol," "Muppet Treasure Island," "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland," and "Muppets From Space." Prior to joining The Jim Henson Company, Baker spent 14 years working for the ATV network in the U.K.

An Oz-apolooza of Videos

2005-05-03T23:12:00.000-04:00

As you probally know by now, the Muppets' Wizard of Oz will be airing in just over two weeks in the United States (May 20th on ABC at 8/7c). And Disney is going to be watching the ratings closely in order to decide how popular the Muppets are. Scott (aka scarecroe), the webmaster of Muppet Fansite of Back Stage Left, has put together an online collection of all the video clips that have been made available to (so far) for the Muppets' Wizard of Oz. The page has trailers, promos, interviews, classic clips, and more! Check out all the Oz videos here.

All the clips are RealMedia files and are a delight to view and share. These are just the things to not only entertain viewers but also will get them excited and informed about the upcoming TV movie. Please feel free to share the link (http://mfiles.scarecroe.com/oz/) with anyone (and everyone) via email, blogs, journals, instant messages, forums , message boards, and any other way you can think of. Hopefully film (and the airdate) will get some exposure. And remember Friday May 20th, at 8/7c on ABC.

Sesame "Box Set" Details

2005-05-02T23:30:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I updated The GelflingWaldo Files' Henson/Muppet release calendar with some upcoming Sesame Street DVD titles. Since then I have gotten many questions about three items in particular – the 3-disc box sets.

First of all these are not season box sets; these are not new nostalgic collections; these are not sets of complete episode. These are collections of Sesame Street home video releases (past and upcoming). Sesame Workshop is know for releasing get videos (and now DVDs) of Sesame Street. They usually features a combination some new footage with a bunch of existing show skits/songs/clips all somewhat related to one central story/theme. Sesame workshop is now releasing “box sets” of these releases. The sets are literally a box with three of the existing (or upcoming) DVD. Aside from a cardboard box to keep the three disc cases in, what would cause anyone buy these? Well they are cheaper than buying all three discs independently, and it is a lot easier to track down and buy one item than three. So what are in these sets? I have the answers.

The first set “Sesame Street: Dance and Move” contains the following three discs: “Dance Along”, “Zoe’s Dance Move”, and “Elmocize”. The set will be released on May 10, 2005. All of these discs were released over the past few years independently.

The next set, “Sing Along with Sesame Street”, is due out on June 14, 2005 and contains the following three discs: “Kid’s Favorite Songs”, “Let’s Make Music”, and “Sing Yourself Silly at the Movies”. The first two discs have been released before, and the last title is due for independent release for the first time on the same date as the box set.

The third set, “Sesame Street: Stories, Games, and Songs”, is also due out on June 14, 2005 and will hold the following discs: “Play-Along Games & Songs”, “Big Bird’s Story Time”, and “Sleepytime Songs & Stories” The last two titles are due for independent releases on the same date as the box set; yet the first title is not available on DVD outside the set (yet).

Now you may be saying why would I buy theses? If you don’t own these Sesame Street DVDs pick up these sets; it will be easier than finding all three discs, it will save you money rather than buying them all separate, plus you get a cool cardboard box to keep the discs in. These are great ways to build up your Sesame DVD collection. All these discs are full of great moments, skits, songs, and stories. If you don't have any of the DVDs in the Sesame line, I suggest you check some of these out (and at $20 for three full DVDs, that a pretty good deal).

If you are new to the world of Sesame Street DVD collecting and would like to bulk up you collection with all the greatest Sesame moments in one fowl swoop check out this Amazon.com exclusive – a huge 48 disc Sesame Street DVD collection. You may think $400+ is excessive for a bunch of DVDs, but being that you would spend well over $620 if you bought them independently, it is a huge time and money saver. A full list of the 48 discs can be found at Amazon.com

As more news on any new DVD collections and/or sets is released I’ll be here to share it with you all. Hope this answers all your questions on the "box sets".

MC Radio Wins!

2005-05-01T23:26:00.000-04:00

From the silly to the sacred, Muppet music has impacted generations young and old. Muppet Central Radio, a service of fansite Muppet Central, broadcasts so that people around the world can listen to Muppet music 24 hours a day. The radio service is provided by Live365, an online radio service provider.

This evening Muppet Central Radio won a "Best of Live365" award in the "Guilty Pleasure" category. All of the nominees were fantastic and all of them deserved this honor. Phillip Chapman, webmaster of Muppet Central, wants to thanks everyone who voted and took some time to listen. This awards never would have happened without the faithful Muppet fans who take time to listen.

Phillip Chapman expressed his feelings on the win in the Muppet Central forum by saying, " I am really blown away that we won. It's great to see that lots of people enjoy Muppet music. One of the things the Muppets do best is music and I'm grateful that we can share it with everyone through Muppet Central Radio."

So take some time out of your day to listen to the award-winning Muppet Central Radio. I would like to say congratulations to Muppet Central, and happy listening to all the Muppet-music lovers.

A Date With An Otter

2005-04-30T13:00:00.000-04:00

HIT Entertainment is planning to release Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas on VHS/DVD on October 4, 2005. This re-release of the 1977 holiday special will be edited to remove the few scenes featuring Kermit the Frog. At this time, information on disc details, other edits, or bonus features are not available. HIT says that all the details should be avalible around August/September. I'll keep you posted as more information is released.

Disney Working Hard to Relaunch the Muppets to the Top

2005-04-29T16:16:00.000-04:00

The Muppets Holding Company said that it planned to “develop new content in all arenas, including television, feature films, music, stage plays and theme parks, and to enhance the Muppets’ global licensing and distribution presence”. Some more information on Kermit and the gang’s worldwide comeback has surfaced.

A new television series, destined for a prime-time slot, is in the very early developmental stages. Like the Muppet Show and Muppets Tonight, celebrity guests will again work with the Muppets in an all new format; proposed stars such as Jennifer Lopez to Ricky Gervais have invited to follow in the footsteps of such stars as Liza Minnelli and John Cleese. The project for a new Muppet TV show is in very earlier stages of development at the Muppet Holding Company -- so don’t expect to see it showing up on the new fall line up this year (and it probably won’t be ready by next year either). Information on this project, its format, title, cast, or production are not available at this time, and they are not estimated to be finalized for sometime either – but the Muppet Holding Company is currently working on developing something to get the Muppets back on regular TV again. It takes time to create a new TV show, and (depending on the networks' feelings) the show may never get past the planning stages. Only time will tell for sure but, fingers crossed, the Muppets may be back on regular TV by the end of the decade.

A Muppet stage musical is also in talks at Disney, along with Muppet expansion at Walt Disney World based around Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D. No real information on what Disney is planning in this field yet. But multimedia is a vital part of the Muppets’ strategy. Mobile phone wallpaper and ringtones will be available online in the next month, and The Muppets’ website will be expanded and updated more in the coming month with all kinds of new information and goodies (Miss Piggy is working on writing her Sow in the City weblog right now).

Disney also hopes to collect on the home entertainment market when they release the first season of The Muppets Show is on DVD later this year – and they are working other getting other parts of the Muppet library onto the market. The Muppet Holding Company is working hard on other new merchandise concepts with the Muppets. The Disney Store is already preparing to sell special Christmas products featuring the Muppets; such products should be ready in time for the 2005 Holiday season.

Disney is working on getting the Muppets back in the spotlight full force! Right now they are in the early stages of many products and productions are being worked on. The coming year will be an exciting one for all Muppet fans – old and new. There are even rumblings of another Muppet movie (unsure if it'll be television or theatrical) going into the works after “Oz” airs later this month (May 20th at 8/7c on ABC). I’ll keep you posted as these projects develop! I will work to you your information as the Muppet Holding Company advances and finalizes on items. But rest asured that Disney is working full force to keep the Muppets alive and growing.

Fraggle Season Set No Longer Set in Season.

2005-04-28T13:13:00.000-04:00

As you have probally heard me say several times in the past week, Fraggle Rock Season 1 Box Set is set for release in "fall 2005". Well now I have some good news, the release timeframe has been narrowed from a vague season ("fall 2005") to an exact month (September 2005). HIT has stated that the set is due for release this September - just a little over four months away. They don't know the exact date yet, but it will be in September (either 9/6/05, 9/13/05, 9/20/05, or 9/27/05). The exact date will be released soon. Below is the list of episode titles on that will be included on the set (this list was given to me by HIT themselves). Sadly, they said that information on bonus features and full technical specs is not available at this time; all that information should be avalible later this summer.

Fraggle Rock Season 1 Box Set Episodes:

Beginnings
Wembley and the Gorgs
Let the Water Run
You Can’t Do That Without a Hat
The 30 Minute Work Week
The Preachification of Convincing John
I Want To Be You
The Terrible Tunnel
The Lost Treasure of the Fraggles
Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk
Catch the Tail by the Tiger
The Finger of Light
We Love You Wembley
The Challenge
I Don’t Care
Capture the Moon
Marooned
The Minstrels
The Great Radish Famine
The Garden Plot
New Trash Heap in Town
Gobo’s Discovery
Mokey’s Funeral
The Beast of Bluerock

Animal Jam Details

2005-04-27T15:17:00.000-04:00

As I reported earlier, HIT Entertainment will release Jim Henson's Animal Jam on VHS and DVD on May 24, 2005. The details of these release have surfaced, both titles will feature two episodes from the show and the VHS and DVD versions will have the same exact features (there are no bonus features or extra episodes on the DVD version).

The first title, "Jim Henson's Animal Jam: Hug a Day” will feature two episodes from the show. The first episode is “A Hug A Day”, in the episode Waffle’s quest for the perfect “super hug” to give his mother pushes Edi away. And the second episode is “Not So Lost In Space”, in the episode Edi needs more personal space to move and groove, but Waffle has problems letting her move to her own beat. The run time for the DVD and VHS are approximately 50 minutes.

The second title, "Jim Henson's Animal Jam: Springin’” will also feature two episodes from the show: the first episode is “The Right Size For You”, in the episode Edi wishes she was bigger (like Bozark) and could get more attention, but soon she learns that she’s just the right size the way she is. The second episode is “Everything’s Springin’ Up!”, in the episode springtime comes to the Jam Room are the plants are blooming beautifully – except Edi’s. Waffle tries to help Edi’s plant to grow, but the group soon learns that all things grow at their own pace. The run time for the DVD and VHS are approximately 50 minutes.

The DVD’s and VHS’s are already up for pre-order on many online stores, with a retail price of $9.99 (or less) for the DVD, and $6.99 (or less) for the VHS. HIT has not announced any plans for future Animal Jam DVD/VHS releases, but it is possible that they may consider producing more 2-episode discs and tapes in the future if these sell well.

Fraggle Facts

2005-04-26T23:42:00.000-04:00

Over the past 3-days I have been bombarded with e-mails asking about the details of the Fraggle Rock Season 1 Box Set. And I must say that a lot of the specific details are not known right now. I am working (as I always am) to dig up the information on the set, but there is not that much detailed information available yet. I talked with several people at HIT and they said for certain it was coming, but they stated that they could not share all the release details, or retail/technical specs yet. They plan to have an official press release created soon with all the details, but until then they are trying not to leak any information out (as features could change; not everything has been finalized yet; and they don’t want to take away from the impact of their big announcement). They also said that the creation of box sets for season 2-5 will depend on season 1's sales.

I have written up a full article about what is known about the set, and stating loud and clear that the sets are indeed coming. You can read the whole thing at Muppet Central, by clicking here. Hopefully later this summer there will be more to tell (like features listings, release date, retail price, etc.) But this article pretty much says everything publicly known at this time, as more information is released or uncovered I'll let you know the details. So check out the article and let my inbox have some time to breathe. This is indeed comforting news for every Fraggle fan; hopefully more information on the sets is not to far behind.

Nakajima USA & Sesame Workshop Partner Up

2005-04-25T20:30:00.000-04:00

Nakajima USA and Sesame Workshop announced that they have signed a license agreement to design and market a collection of fashion accessories for "tweens and teens". The new collection will launch in time for the 2005 Holiday season and will feature favorite Sesame Street characters including Elmo, Cookie Monster, The Count and Oscar the Grouch. Products will retail between $4 and $40, with a portion of proceeds from their sale going to help fund Sesame Workshop’s educational projects for children at home and around the world.

Nakajima USA currently serves as the U.S. master licensee for the specialty channel for Japan’s Sanrio, famous for its “Hello Kitty” products, and will unite its unique ability to quickly create thousands of fashionable products over multiple categories along with Sesame Street’s 36-year heritage of educating and delighting children of all ages with characters they know and love. “Sesame Workshop is an ideal partner for Nakajima, marrying Sesame Street’s timeless appeal and popular characters that have a strong emotional connection with they young teen consumers with our exceptional product development and distribution capabilities,” said Eric Weber, Nakajima’s US President.

Liz Kalodner, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Global Consumer Products for Sesame Workshop added, “the collection we are developing with Nakajima USA allows us to keep teens engaged in the Sesame Street brand. The characters are nostalgic and the styles are modern and trend-right.” The multi-category collection will launch in October at the Sanrio stores, and also at many other chains and independent specialty stores to be announced.

Another Fraggle Rock Single-Disc DVD on Tuesday

2005-04-24T13:56:00.000-04:00

"Live By The Rule of the Rock", the third Fraggle Rock DVD, will be released by HIT Entertainment this Tuesday (April 26, 2005). The DVD will feature four episodes of the Fraggle Rock (three standard play, and an unlockable one). The DVD will also feature a collection of bonus features. The entire DVD run-time is set 170-minutes (including bonus features), and will sell for around $14.99 (or less). There will also be a VHS version of "Live by the Rule of the Rock"; it will include only the first two episodes off the DVD version, and it will have none of the bonus features (its runtime is set at 50 minutes). The full details of the episodes and the bonus features for the DVD are listed below.

HIT has announced the fourth single-disc Fraggle DVD, called "Doin' Things That Doozers Do", will be released on September 6, 2005. HIT is also planning to release "Fraggle Rock - Season 1 Box Set" on DVD this fall as well; no exact date has been announced yet. Details on both of these products has not been released. So pick up this new discon Tuesday, it will hold you over until the fall when season 1 is released (and will also hold until the other seasons are released; whenever that will be).

"Live By The Rule of the Rock" Episodes

Catch a Tail by the Tiger (from season 1)
Gobo has not received his usual postcard from his Uncle Traveling Matt. He eventually comes to realize that he must venture out into outer space to look from him – a trip that would terrify a Fraggle.

Believe It or Not (from season 3)
Red and Wembley discover a creature who is whatever you believe he is. The trouble starts when Ma Gorg believes him into being a monster in the basement of the castle.
All Work and All Play (from season 2)
Cotterpin Doozer decides she’d rather be a Fraggle, like Red, than spend the rest of her life building with the Doozers.

"Live By The Rule of the Rock" Bonus Features

Behind the Scenes: Traveling Matt
An except for the behind the scenes documentary "Down at Fraggle Rock", despite the packaging saying it is about Traveling Matt, it focuses on the Gorgs.
Fraggle-oke!
Follow the bouncing radish while singing your favorite Fraggle songs.
Fraggle Rock trivia that unlocks a bonus episode
Answer 10 trivia questions to unlock the episode "'The Great Radish Caper" (season 3). In the episode, Junior Gorg's only friend is a huge radish named Geraldine, a fact which he discovers thanks to Mokey.
Animated Episode: "Mokey’s Flood of Creativity" & "What the Doozer’s Did"
The DVD also features a full episode from the Fraggle Rock cartoon show from 1987.
Pingu Episode: "Pingu and Pinga Go Fishing"
The DVD also features an episode from the HIT owned property "Pingu", a show about a claymated pinguin; this is not Fraggle related.

HIT Commits to Season Sets!

2005-04-23T20:32:00.000-04:00

The following image is a scan the an insert ad that will be found inside the upcoming "Fraggle Rock - Live by the Rules of the Rock" DVD that is being released on Tuesday:

As you can see, HIT is now on the record saying "Coming Fall 2005 Fraggle Rock Season 1 Box Set". Now I don't know the exact date of the release; I don't know the exact details of what will be on the set; I don't know when (or if) the other seasons are coming; but I do know that HIT has officially publicized the first season of Fraggle Rock coming to DVD! And it is coming this fall! I am currently trying to get into contact with HIT for more information and details (but being it is a Saturday I have not been able to get in touch with anyone at HIT yet). I'll keep you all posted as I dig up more details on this awesome news!

Whoopie!

A Holiday Greeting from GelflingWaldo...

2005-04-22T00:51:00.000-04:00

America’s Funniest Home Muppets

2005-04-21T19:03:00.000-04:00

It has been announced that there will be yet another Muppet TV apperance, courtsey of healthy dose of Disney synergy. The Muppets will be appearing on the hour-long America’s Funniest Home Videos season fanale on Sunday, May 8, 2005 (7:00pm-8:00pm EST on ABC). In the season finale of AFHV, the Muppets will be there to help host Tom Bergeron show the best videos of the season and award the season's final $100,000 prize. They’ll also show some never-before-seen Muppet “home videos” during the show as well. So be sure to mark your calendars and set your VCRs to catch the Muppet gang on AFHV. For more information check your local listings and ABC.com.

"Oz" Promo Site Launched with One Month to Go!

2005-04-20T20:00:00.000-04:00

One month to go! Just one month to go! 30-days and counting! That's right everyone, in exactly one month "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" will hit the airwaves (If you missed this information before the details are: Friday, May 20, 2005 at 8/7c on ABC).

To help promote the film, which is one month away, ABC launched an official promo page . This small section of the ABC website has a brief plot overview, six cast bios for the films stars (from Ashanti to Pepé), there are over 50 new pictures from the film, and you can watch videos of all three specialized teaser ads (Alias, Lost, and Desperate Housewives)! This site, which is part of ABC.com, was launched to share some information and promotion for the film (which is in just one month). So what are you waiting for? Take some time to surf on over and check out the pages, the pictures, the information, and the fun --- just click here. And also don't for get to set your VCRs, clean off the couch, call off from work, stock up on popcorn, call your neighbors, and prepare youself because we only have 30 days (less than 720 hours) left until "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" will be upon us!

Did I mention there is only one month to go?

Snooping at the Academy Reveals Jim Henson Honor

2005-04-19T23:06:00.000-04:00

Comics/animation writer Mark Evanier's blog reported that while attending an event at The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honoring the animation legends Joe Barbera and the late William Hanna with a wall-sculpture, he discovered the following:

"One section of wall nearby was covered with a drape which some of us peeked under. Beneath was a very handsome likeness of Jim Henson, surrounded by Kermit, Gonzo, Rowlf, and other Muppets. It was in the same style as the one of Hanna and Barbera, perhaps even by the same sculptor, Richard Ellis. No unveiling date has been announced. In fact, we weren't even supposed to know it was there."

Although Mark has other photos from the event, he didn't risk taking one of the Henson sculpture, for obvious professional, moral, and legal reasons. To read the complete story and see the Hanna-Barbera wall-sculpture (to see the style the Henson one will be in), click here.

The Academy has yet to comment or announce anything regarding Henson's honor. But when the Academy is ready to announce this, you're sure to find a press release at Emmys.tv, plus I'll be here to report the news and all the information as soon as it breaks. Many speculate that given the Academy's current timeframe and schedule, it's likely they could announce somewhere around the time of Jim Henson's birthday in September. I'll keep you all posted as soon as I hear anything.

Tough Stuff

2005-04-18T23:58:00.000-04:00

The great Muppet fan site known as Tough Pigs has posted some more Muppet goodies this week. First off, be sure to check out the transcript and screen-grabs from the new Oz commercial that aird yesterday during Desprate Housewives. Danny Horn, the webmaster, just put them up there and they are great; click here to view it. I know most of you have been waiting to see the ugliest Muppet toys, so you'll be happy to hear that the winner of the Ugly Toy Pageant has been announceld! Be sure to find out who the "winners" are, and be sure to read the colorful comments made by the voters. Just click here to view the toy-riffic horror. Plus there's a bunch of Oz updates -- more photos, a new Oz Merchandise page, ads and commercials, and all kinds of great stuff. Be sure to check out the Muppets' Oz section by clicking here. So take some time to surf over to Tough Pigs and check out all the great stuff they have to share. You won't regret it, heck you may even learn something new.

Another Oz Ad on ABC

2005-04-17T23:46:00.000-04:00

Earlier tonight ABC aired another exclusive "Muppets' Wizard of Oz" advertisements during their primetime programing. A Special commercial aired during ABC's "Desprate Housewives" delighted not only Muppet fans but also the fans of the hit ABC show. The new ads used the Muppet character linked the themes of the current ABC show with the upcoming tele-film. This was similar to the "Lost" and"Alias" themed ads that were seen earlier this month. In the ad Kermit is seen looking at a sign that points to one way to "Oz" and the other way to "Wisteria Lane" . He starts heading toward Wisteria Lane but Miss Piggy yells at him so he goes the other way towards Oz. The ad ends with the ABC logo and quick information plugging the film. ABC and The Muppet Holding Company will not commented on the possibility of any other ads in this campaign and if any promotion will air with during other popular ABC shows. If any other ads surface I'll keep you posted; and hopefully these ads find their way onto the August DVD release of the movie. Be sure to keep your eye on ABC, because the promotion will continue to build as we get closer to the debut on May 20th.

Bids on HIT Point to Buy Out.

2005-04-16T23:33:00.000-04:00

HIT Entertainment is considering buy-out offers due to financial issues in their company. HIT Entertainment is the company that currently holds the distribution and marketing rights to the Jim Henson Family Showcase programming (including Fraggle Rock, Mother Goose Stories, Jim Henson's Animal Show, The Secret Life of Toys, Dog City, Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas, and many more). HIT retains the rights until April 2009; at that point contracts with Henson would need to be filed if they desire to continue the deal. I have been told that all current DVD and merchandise plans should not be affected if any deals take place. After a deal there will still be work, focus and support of the Henson properties by the acquiring owner. In fact many think that a new company may be able to back the Henson programming with even more support, resources, and energy than HIT has been able to in the past year. HIT has been suffering since late August after it issued a profit warning when their net profit dropped 57%.

Among the companies considering the idea of purchasing HIT are Classic Media, and Lions Gate Entertainment. These are all well established companies with a lot of resources and knowledge in producing quality products. Nothing official has been announced and no deals have been made yet. Hopefully the Henson properties don't burred under HIT's other popular properties (Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, The Wiggles, and more). If any deals do take place, I'll be here to tell you all the details, and what it all means to the future of the Henson properties. Although their may be a hick-up in output of stuff while a new company adjusts to their newly aquired company, Henson fans should not worry; this deal should not hurt the Family Showcase programming – if anything it will be helping them get more resources, support, attention, and care. I'll keep you all posted as this story unfolds.

Oz DVD Features

2005-04-15T12:37:00.000-04:00

The Walt Disney Home Entertainment Customer Relations is responding to e-mails about the features for the upcoming Muppet's Wizard of Oz DVD. They say the DVD will include a Making-Of Featurette (Featuring Pepé), "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" Music Video Starring Ashanti, outtakes and bloopers, an extended ending, and more! It is unsure how solid this information is, being they also respond with the DVD's release date as Sunday, May 15, 2005 (which is completely false). The Muppets Holding Co reported to me that the DVD features are still being worked on and nothing definite can be reported yet. Despite what the consumer relations information is reporting, I have been told that the DVD will be release on August 9, 2005; however at this, the exact details of the disc are not completely ready. They are still working on lining everything up. Keep in mind that in a huge company, like Disney, the Consumer Relations representatives work off the small amount of information specially provided to them - sometimes there are errors and misstatements (just look at HIT and the whole Fraggle Rock season box set blunder of last fall). I am working to sort out the claims from the Customer Relations, the DVD producers, The Muppet Holding Co., and Walt Disney Home Entertainment -- I'll keep you all posted as information on the disc develops. And remember, as always, to watch "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" on Friday, May 20, 2005 at 8/7c, only on ABC.

Muppets go Mobile

2005-04-14T13:03:00.000-04:00

According to Jim Hill, Disney recently purchased two new domains - muppetsmobile.com and themuppetsmobile.com. It has also been reported that this sites will eventually have new content for fans, where you will be able to download Muppet-related images, ring tones, and screensavers for mobile phones. Considering the great job Disney did with Muppets.com and many of their other mobile phone licensees, I can't wait to see what develops for Muppet fans with mobile phones. At this time there is no further information on when the site will be activated, what the exact details of this service are, or if there are any other online plans for the Muppets at this time. I'll keep you posted as I learn more - special thanks to Andrew "Buck Beaver" Young from The PuppetVision Blog for the news tip.

Muppets' Wizard of Oz Soundtrack Listing

2005-04-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

Walt Disney Records plans to release “The Best of the Muppets: Featuring the Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” CD Soundtrack on May 17, 2005 (three days before “the Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” TV debut). The compilation will be led by the brand new songs that appear in the new TV-movie, accompanied by some of the Muppet’s classic hits.

This CD marks the first commercial release of Muppet media since Disney acquired the Muppets last year. The Muppet’s Holding Company hopes that the success of this CD will allow them to justify more collections, re-releases, and new recordings featuring Muppet music. The upcoming disc contains the six (6) new songs written for "The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz", and nine (9) Muppet classics.

This collection was not only created to supply fans with the tunes from “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz”, but it also allows Disney to share some of the Muppets’ most memorable (and marketable) songs from the past. By including such hits from the Muppets’ catalog, Disney hopes the release will attract past fans, casual fans, and new fans alike. Many hard-core fans are disappointed that eight out of the nine “classics” also appeared on a 2002 CD compilation, “The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem and More”; Disney states that the success of this album would allow them to dig into the Muppet music archives and release more treasures in the future.

The CD will be in stores on May 17, 2004 with an average retail price between $9.99 and $15.99.

Track Listing:
1. Kansas - Ashanti
2. When I’m With You - Ashanti & Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzie, Pepe
3. The Witch Is in the House - Miss Piggy & the Electric Mayhem
4. Calling All Munchkins - The Munchkin Tap-your-knuckle Choir
5. Good Life - Ashanti
6. Nap Time - The Electric Mayhem
7. The Muppet Show Theme - Featuring the Muppets
8. Mahna Mahna - Mahna Mahna & the Two Snowths
9. (It’s Not Easy) Bein’ Green - Kermit
10. Rainbow Connection - Kermit
11. Lady of Spain - Marvin Suggs and his Muppaphone
12. Halfway Down the Stairs - Kermit and Robin
13. What Now My Love? - Miss Piggy
14. Tenderly - The Electric Mayhem
15. Happy Feet - Kermit and the Frog Chorus

Muppets.com Up For Award

2005-04-12T20:55:00.000-04:00

Muppets.com, the official Muppets website, has been nominated for webby awards, the leading international award honoring excellence in Web design, creativity, usability and functionality.! The website, which is the official source for all your Muppet needs, is not only full of Muppet fun and charm, but is also beautifully designed - complete with custom integrated videos, graphics, games, and more. However in this award competition, the winner will be determined by the public-at-large. The Muppet Holding Company is hoping that all the Muppet fans will go and vote for Muppets.com as best celebrity website under the "People Voices" competition! They need as many people as possible to go to www.webbyawards.com and show their Muppetational support.

There are six easy steps to vote:

1. Go to www.webbyawards.com
2. Click on "People's Voice Awards" link (located in the "NomineesAnnounced" box on the right).
3. Fill in a username and password information (you may need to register, for free, first by using the register link).
4. Connect to the categories listing and click on the "celebrity/fan" Link.
5. Click on the box next to the Muppet.com listing.
6. Press submit!

Support Muppets.com, and the Muppets, earn this award. Not only will you be showing the Webby Awards that you care about the Muppets, but you will also be showing Disney that you care about the Muppets. Go and vote today!

Stamp Story

2005-04-11T11:04:00.000-04:00

When the U.S. Postal Service announced last year the late Jim Henson and his beloved Muppets would grace a panel of 11 postage stamps to be released last month, officials never dreamed how great the demand would be. The stamps feature 13 Muppet characters (Kermit, Fozzie, Sam Eagle, Miss Piggy, Statler & Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, Animal, Dr. Bunsen & Beaker, Rowlf, and Gonzo & Camellia) and one stamp of Jim Henson.

The U.S. Postal Service said that in the past few months the Muppet stamps quickly became of the most requested and most anticipated. Not only have the fans celebrated the news, but the media has picked up on the news of this releases and are sharing the news about these stamps in newspapers, magazines, websites, and more. The USPS says that these stamps will be hot items – similar to when Bugs Bunny appeared on a stamp in the 1997, and Elvis in 1993. But unlike the big hit stamps of the past, this is more than one or two stamp; this is a whole series of stamps (11 to be exact). Needless to say, the USPS is very excited about this release.

In fact, the stamps, originally slated for a March release, were moved back to be released in September. The reason behind the move was deeper than merely giving the Postal Service more time to print and distribute the large number of stamps they anticipate (although that is one big benefit they are now thankful for). But the reason was to have the stamps give a reverent tribute to their inspriation. By releasing the stamps in September they are able to coincide the release (September 14) with Jim Henson’s Birthday (September 24); Jim would have been 69 (2005 marks the 15th anniversary of his death). Vanessa Patterson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Services' commemorative stamp program said despite the push-back with the Muppet series, next month's stamp honoring late actor Henry Fonda is still on schedule to be released May 16, (on what would have been his 100th birthday), and the highly anticipated Muppet stamps will be released in September.

So be sure to stop by your local post office and pick up a few sheets of the Muppet stamps on September 14, 2005. Whether you frame them to hang on your wall, or you use them up sending letters to your friends; these stamps are sure to be a delight to any Muppet fan. The souvenir sheet of stamps will be able to be bought through the USPS Online Store or at your local post office in September.

Got Links? (and an Elmo Alert)

2005-04-10T22:05:00.000-04:00

Upon popular request, I have added a expanded section for me to share and spotlight links to other great sites in the Muppet/Henson online community. The links section can be access though a link in the right column of the site. Be sure to check out the list and all the other great sites. As of right now, the collection is somewhat small, but I hope to see it grow in the future to actually showcase all the great sites that will enhance any Muppet/Henson fan s 'online experience. If you have a website (or know of one) that you would like to see added to our listing of related links please send me the site’s name and URL, and I'll add it. Also, if you have a website of your own, please consider adding a link to this site on your site. Happy surfing!

Also, set your VCRs because Elmo, from Sesame Street, will appear on The Tony Danza Show tomorrow (April 11)! (Check local listings for times, station, and details).

New Images from Oz

2005-04-09T23:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Ashanti's official website, AshantiThisIsMe.com, posted some new pictures from the production of The Muppets Wizard of Oz (click here to view). As you probably already know, Ashanti will be playing Dorothy in the Muppet's twisted version of everyone's favorite story. Ashanti's site is now getting geared up for the debut of the film. More exclusive pictures are reported to be hitting her site in the weeks to come, so be sure to continue to check out the Ashanti community for more Oz developments. Along with the three new images from the set (click here to view), a copy of the new promotional poster has surfaced (see below). It is a great looking work of art that features all the stars of the film coming out of a twister over the Emerald City and Yellow Brick Road. As always, once any more "Oz" news breaks, I'll be there to share it with you -- and be sure to watch The Muppets Wizard of Oz on May 20th at 8/7c on ABC.

Puppet-free Bert & Ernie Spin-off Show in Development

2005-04-08T16:48:00.000-04:00

A new claymated television show show based on the beloved characters of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street is in development. Sesame Workshop has produced a short pilot episode to test a new concept of a show that will be available to buyers and co-producers at the MIP-TV Market show next month. The dynamic duo, Bert and Ernie, have been put into animation by Misseri Studio, one of the leading children’s animation companies located in Europe. A 3-minute claymation pilot, along with development materials for future episodes, has been created and will be available for potential buyers and co-producers to screen at MIP. If the series gets a good response from buyers and investors, the series could be picked up, full length episodes would go into production, and a Bert and Ernie TV show could be seen on your TV in the years to follow. At this time the shows development is in the very early stages, but it is still great to hear Sesame Workshop still loves these characters. The decision to use claymation rather than puppets is perplexing to many Muppet fans, but Sesame Workshop promises that the charm, humor and heart of Bert and Ernie is still there. Other shows that Sesame Workshop has in planning to share at MIP include "The Upside Down Show" and "The Little Carousel" (more details on all these shows can be found in this official press release from Sesame Workshop).

Oz Ads on ABC

2005-04-07T23:07:00.000-04:00

Last night ABC aired two exclusive "Muppets' Wizard of Oz" advertisements s during their primetime lineup. Special commercials that aired during ABC's "Lost" and "Alias" delighted not only Muppet fans but also the fans of the hit ABC shows. The new ads used the Muppet character to link the themes of the current ABC show with the upcoming tele-film. ABC and The Muppet Holding Company have not commented on the possibility of these ads airing again, but it seems likely that other upcoming episodes of "Lost" and "Alias" may air with these ads again. There is no word about any the creation of other ads in this campaign and if any promotion will air with during other popular ABC shows (such as "Desperate House Wives", "Extreme Make Over", "Jake in Progress", "8 Simple Rules", "According to Jim", ect.). If any other ads surface I'll keep you posted; and hopefully these ads find their way onto the August DVD release of the movie. Danny over at Tough Pigs has posted transcripts and screen-grabs from the two commercials last night, you can check them out here. Be sure to keep your eye on ABC, because the promotion should continue to build as we get closer to the debut on May 20th.

Wizard of Oz Soundtrack and DVD

2005-04-06T16:43:00.000-04:00

It has been announced that Walt Disney records will release the CD soundtrack to "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" on May 17, 2005 (three days before the TV debut). The soundtrack will feature the new songs in the TV-movie, along with some classic Muppet songs. Some of the tracks on the soundtrack include Ashanti's solo rendition of "Gotta Get Out of Kansas" and "It's a Good Life," plus a collaboration of Ashanti, Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzie and Pepe on "When I'm With You". It will be rounded out by such familiar Muppets tunes as "Mahna Mahna", "Rainbow Connection", and "The Muppet Show Theme". The complete track listing is not available at this time, but one it is I'll share the full rundown.

It has also been announced today that the DVD release of "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" is scheduled for release through Disney Home Entertainment on August 9, 2005. The exact details of the DVD’s content have not been released yet. I'll share more details with you as soon as Disney releases more information later this summer.

Also remember to mark your calendars, because that the film will air on television on May 20, 2005 at 8/7c on ABC. All these dates have been added to the GelflingWaldo Files' Henson/Muppet calendar for future reference.

Emmet Slaughter?

2005-04-05T20:56:00.000-04:00

In 1977 a holiday special premiered on television and touched audiences around the world. Based on a book by Russell and Lillian Hoban, “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas” is about Ma and Emmet Otter—a family that has little more than each other. When a talent show is held in town, a fifty-dollar prize gives them each hope of buying the other a real present this year.

Columbia Tri-Star released the Henson holiday classic on VHS in 1998 and in 2001 released it for the first time ever on DVD. Both of the Columbia Tri-Star releases were edited from the original broadcast form. The changes in the broadcast original to the Columbia Tri-Star release are as follows: the sequence where Ma and Emmet deliver Gretchen Fox's laundry was slightly re-edited; there was a short cut of Emmet’s introduction to 'Ain't Got No Hole in the Washtub', and two new lines of "Ain't No Hole in the Washtub" were inserted; during the talent show, a new act is shown after Clarence the Dancing Horse; Will Possum's comment to Mayor Fox was removed; and Kermit the Frog's closing appearance watching Emmet's band perform was completely removed. It is unsure exactly why these changes were made, but many suspect they are due to the source material used to master the releases video.

Fans did not take these changes well, and to this day there are people who will do anything for the original edit of the special. It wasn’t until last fall that fans saw hope of seeing the un-edited version of the film released. Information came out that HIT Entertainment would be re-releasing the special on DVD and VHS in the fall of 2005, and people started to get excited. The classic holiday film would be released to the public, but would it be un-edited? I hate to be the bearer of bad news but…

…the HIT Entertainment release will showcase a new cut of the film. I have talked with HIT and have some answers. Now, it is unsure if the “minor re-edits and inserts” (Ma and Emmet deliver Gretchen Fox's laundry; 'Ain't Got No Hole in the Washtub'; the inserted talent show act; and Will Possum's comment to Mayor Fox) from the previous releases will carry over to the HIT release (it all has to do with which cut of film HIT and Henson have access to and feel is best). In fact, the HIT representatives I talked with did not know that most of those edits took place. But there will definitely be something cut out of the upcoming HIT re-release. Brace your self - The HIT release will not feature Kermit the Frog at all. After the Disney-deal it was discussed what would happen to Kermit’s (and the other Muppet character’s) appearance in the non-Disney owned productions. It was originally stated that Kermit would be able to say in. But HIT has gone on the record say that with respect to “Emmet Otter”, Kermit is out.

Since HIT does not own Kermit, including the character would require setting up agreements and deals between Disney and HIT. HIT does not feel the effort would be worth their time and resources in the end, so they took the simple road and just, “clip-clip-clip”, cut Kermit out. I was informed by HIT that Kermit will not be seen in the special – and as for the other edits we’ll have to wait and see when the DVD hits stores in the fall.

This makes it pretty clear that if HIT ever releases “The Christmas Toy” on DVD, you can bet Kermit will be cut too. So if you want to see the specials in their original form, you’ll want to pick up an old VHS on E-bay; if not you’ll still be able to enjoy the classic special – just without our froggy friend. I've already sent HIT a letter saying that because of their lack of effort to work with Disney to be able to preserve the film, I for one will not be buying the disc (I already own one hacked-up version on DVD, I don't need another).

Feel Free To Contact HIT:
Phone: 1-866-405-7625 (toll-free)
Mail: HIT Entertainment; PO Box 9000; Allen TX, 75013
E-mail: consumerrelations@hitentertainment.com

Fraggle Rock DVD Details

2005-04-04T16:23:00.000-04:00

"Live By The Rule of the Rock", the third Fraggle Rock DVD, will be released by HIT Entertainment on April 26, 2005. The DVD will feature four episodes of the Fraggle Rock (three standard play, and an unlockable one). The DVD will also feature a nice collection of bonus features. The entire DVD run-time is set 170-minutes (including bonus features), and will sell for around $14.99 (or less). There will also be a VHS version of "Live by the Rule of the Rock"; it will include only the first two episodes off the DVD version, and it will have none of the bonus features (its runtime is set at 50 minutes). The full details of the episodes and the bonus features for the DVD are listed below.

HIT also announced the fourth DVD release of Fraggle Rock. The next single-disc release will be called "Doin' Things That Doozers Do", and is planned for release on September 6, 2005. HIT has still not commented on the claims of Fraggle Rock season box sets, and there is still a good possibility they could be coming as well. Hopefully some kind of announcment will be released in the coming months to clear everything up.

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"Fraggle Rock - Live By The Rule of the Rock":

Catch a Tail by the Tiger (from season 1)
Gobo has not received his usual postcard from his Uncle Traveling Matt. He eventually comes to realize that he must venture out into outer space to look from him – a trip that would terrify a Fraggle.

Believe It or Not (from season 3)
Red and Wembley discover a creature who is whatever you believe he is. The trouble starts when Ma Gorg believes him into being a monster in the basement of the castle.

All Work and All Play (from season 2)
Cotterpin Doozer decides she’d rather be a Fraggle, like Red, than spend the rest of her life building with the Doozers.

DVD Bonus Features:
- Behind the Scenes: Traveling Matt
- Fraggle-oke! Follow the bouncing radish while singing Fraggle songs
- Fraggle Rock trivia that unlocks a bonus episode
- Animated Episode: "Mokey’s Flood of Creativity" & "What the Doozer’s Did"
- Pingu Episode: "Pingu and Pinga Go Fishing"

Sesame Reminders

2005-04-03T22:51:00.000-04:00

Today I will keep the news post short, sweet and to the point:

Remember that Sesame Street season 36 starts tomorrow on PBS KIDS (check local listings for details). Be sure to tune in, enjoy, and possibly learn something.

Also remember that Grover will be a guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" tomorrow night. Be sure to tune into "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on ABC at 12:05am tomorrow night (check local listings for details).

And lastly, I added 11 upcoming Sesame Street DVD titles to the Henson/Muppet Calendar earlier this week, but I never formally mentioned them in a news post. So check the titles out. Many of the titles are already up fro pre-order on major e-retailers (such as Amazon.com). These look like some great discs; from single disc re-releases of old Sesame VHS productions; to 3-disc DVD sets; to a collection of the 5-part "hurricane on Sesame Street" episodes; to even more Elmo's World DVDs. Enjoy!

Sesame Characters appear in news PSA's

2005-04-02T01:01:00.000-05:00

Members of the United States Senate took time out of their busy schedules to encourage our nation’s children to eat right and exercise as part of an overall “Healthy Habits for Life” initiative launched by Sesame Workshop. More than a dozen U.S. Senators taped public service messages with Elmo and Rosita. The public service announments will be distributed to television outlets as early as this week. Topics of the public service messages range from the importance of health and nutrition to physical fitness and personal hygiene.

The PSAs will be made available to public television stations, as well as cable and broadcast networks and channels. So whenever you are watching TV keep an eye out for Elmo and Rosita to pop up with a breif announcment. Senators joining the Sesame Street gang include Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Kent Conrad (D-ND), John Cornyn (R-TX), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bill Frist (R-TN), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

These messages will unite the trusted characters of Sesame Street with the respected voices of more than a dozen Members of Congress. Sesame Workshop is working to guide preschoolers and their families through lessons related to healthy eating, the importance of active play and other key activities such as hygiene and rest. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these PSA's and also be sure to check out Sesame Street 36th season on Monday (April 4) as well.

Grover and Jimmy

2005-04-01T00:08:00.000-05:00

Sesame Street season 36 is almost here! As many of you may know (or may not know; or may have known, but forgot) Sesame Street will kick off its 36th season this Monday (April 4) on PBS. So be sure to tune in this Monday and checkout the new season of fun on the street. (Check local listings for time and details). More information on the new season’s features can be found at SesameWorkshop.org

To celebrate the new season Sesame Workshop will be sending a blue and furry representative to promote the show and the new season. Grover, the fun and furry monster from Sesame Street, will be a guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Monday night to promote the new season of Sesame Street. "Jimmy Kimmel Live" is shown on ABC at 12:05am (so technically it is really early Tuesday morning).

Along with checking out the new season earlier that day, be sure to tune in to ABC to see Grover and Jimmy chatting and having fun. This should be a fun television appearance by Grover (helmed by Muppeteer Eric Jacobson). Muppet fans may remember the appearances of Kermit the Frog on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2003. Hopefully Grover will be able to delight the audience and provide a fun segment for fans to enjoy. You don’t want to miss this appearance – so say up late, tune in, and watch (or at least set your VCRs and check it out in the morning).

Note: Although today is April Fools day this news post is not a joke. The news reported today is real and is not an elaborate prank set up by myself, Sesame Workshop, Jimmy Kimmel, or ABC. As many of you know, I lost my sense of humor in a horrible accident at rubber-chicken factory many years ago. I also lost my wallet in the same accident; if you happen to find either please let me know.

Wizard of Oz TV Debut is Set!

2005-03-31T11:15:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars! Set your VCRs! Program your TiVo! Because "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" television air-date has officially been set. The Muppet Holding Company press contact alerted me this morning that "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" will on Friday, May 20, 2005 at 8:00pm EST on ABC (check local listings for full details). The decision to sway away from the traditional Saturday night “Wonderful World of Disney” movie programming block was made in hope to get a larger family audience. Hopefully the Friday night debut will be able to not only pull in the ratings, but also entertain millions of viewers. The premiere should be an uplifting and moving experience for Muppet fans, as that Monday (May 16) marks the 15th anniversary of the death of Jim Henson.

I was also told that more information (details of international airings, the home video and DVD releases, additional airings on other dates and channels, and promotion plans) will be available later next week. I’ll keep in contact with the Muppet Holding Company and will keep you all posted as soon as everything is set.

The debut is only 50 days away, and I know everyone has been eagerly waiting any news that they can use to help support the film in being a success. So now be sure to get everyone you know (and even those you don’t know) to watch ABC on May 20th at 8:00pm. It will be a fun event that the whole family will enjoy. So start your countdowns, and prepare yourself – The Muppets Wizard of Oz will soon be here! I’ll keep you posted as more details are avalible.

What do you want to see?

2005-03-30T23:59:00.000-05:00

Calling all comments!!! This Friday will mark two-months of The Gelfling Waldo Files bring you daily bits of news and fun. As you have come to know, this is a place you can find all the greatest and latest Muppet, Fraggle, Sesame, and Henson news on the web. I am doing my best to build a site to please the fans. So now I'm asking you for your help. You are the ones who read this site, you are the ones who benefit from it; so what do you want to see? What do you like? What don't you like? What do you want to see me do? What don't you want to see here? Please share any and all comments, feedback, or ideas for what you would want to see (use the comments feature of this post, or e-mail me). Don't hold back; don't be afraid you'll offend me; don't be afraid to sugest something you may think is "off the wall"; tell me any idea of things you want to see done here; I'm not afraid to shake things ups if you want me to. Please give me details on what you enjoy (and don't enjoy) and what you want (and don't want). I want this site to be what the fans want, so tell me what do you want the GelflingWaldo Files to become?

Note: "Just keep doing what you've been doing" is not a sufficiant answer; let me know what has been good and what was bad; and tell me about anything else you would like to see.

Go Read a Book!

2005-03-29T23:59:00.000-05:00

At first today seemed to be a slow news day in Muppetland. I waited until the last second to post today's bit, hoping a big story would break. I don't have news of a new DVD, the next Muppet production, or details on upcoming events. But I do have some great news that will keep you busy -- Tough Pigs' Muppet Book Club has new selection ready to go today. Hop over to Tough Pigs for a picnic pick-me-up! The Popular Muppet Fansite of Tough Pigs, has a new Muppet Book Club selection up. This time it is the 1986 Tale of the Bunny Picnic storybook. The story has everything you need (and want); pickled parsnips, sleeping potions, public de-pantsings, action, adventure, and giant hedgehogs. The whole book is up on the site, words, pictures and everything. Just click here to start reading. After you finishing reading the short book, go join discussion in the Tough Pigs Forum. The "Tough Crowd" will be discussing the book all week, so feel free to take a crack at it, put your two cents in, and enjoy. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a new exclusive "insider scoop" or some juciy breaking news (rather than the fifth fansite-related news blub in less than a week); but for today just relax, sit back, and enjoy a timeless classic made possible by Danny Horn and Tough Pigs.

The Muppets Take Tribeca Sweepstakes

2005-03-28T21:46:00.000-05:00

The Muppet Holding Company is holding an official contest at Muppets.com that will allow a lucky Muppet-fan (and three friends) to win a special trip to the premiere of "The Muppets Wizard of Oz". The sweepstake's prize will give the winner a trip to New York City's Tribeca Film Festival to attend the red-carpet world premiere of "The Muppets Wizard of Oz". The winner will be able to see the stars as they arrive on the red carpet, enjoy a special meet-and-greet with the Muppets, and get to watch "The Muppets Wizard of Oz" on the big screen before its TV premiere .

The contest is open to adults (18 years of age and older) who are legal residents of the United States. "The Muppets Take Tribeca Sweepstakes" began today and will end on April 17, 2005. To apply for the sweepstakes you must be a registered user of Muppets.com (this is something you can do for free, and takes only a few seconds). Click here to visit the official contest sub-site for more information, official rules, and to apply. Good luck!

A Holiday Greeting from GelflingWaldo...

2005-03-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

Muppet Central Radio Nominated for Award

2005-03-26T23:19:00.000-05:00

From the silly to the sacred, Muppet music has impacted generations young and old. Muppet Central Radio, a service of fansite Muppet Central, broadcasts so that people around the world can listen to Muppet music 24 hours a day. The radio service is provided by Live365, an online radio service provider.

Recently Live365.com nominated Muppet Central Radio for one of it's second annual broadcaster awards under the category of "Guilty Pleasure Station". The station plays all kind of Muppet music 24-hours a day; from The Muppet Show to Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street to The Muppet Movie, and everything else . If you are a Live365 VIP member or a Live365 broadcaster and want to support Muppet Central Radio, take a moment to vote for the station (and any others that you enjoy). Polls will close by Monday April 18 - you can vote by going here.

If you are not a VIP member and have been thinking about signing up, you can do so here. There is also a free VIP trial so that everyone can vote if they want. VIP's get twice the sound quality, no ads, and Radio365, a great mp3pro player.

Philip Chapman, webmaster of Muppet Central, commented on the issue saying, "I'm really surprised by this honor. There are thousands of stations out there and for us to be selected is pretty cool since we are such a non-traditional and specific genre."

So please take some time to show your support and vote. And if you just want to listen to the great music on Muppet Central Radio just click here. Enjoy, and happy listening!

More Fraggle DVD Rumblings

2005-03-25T01:08:00.000-05:00

The third single-disc DVD release of Fraggle Rock will be coming out in one month and one day (April 26). Many fans are eagerly anticipating the news of what's next for Fraggle Rock on DVD. The idea of season box sets has been popping up a lot in the past year, and recent rumors are starting to point towards season sets becoming a reality. Recently, the Muppeteer behind Red Fraggle, Karen Prell, posted some news on her official website that seems to shed more light on Fraggle Rock DVD season sets. On Wednesday (March 23), Karen's site was updated and shares the following news:

"The first two new US Fraggle Rock DVDs, 'Where it all Began' and 'Dance Your Cares Away' containing 3 episodes each plus extras are now available at all major video outlets. Another 3-episode DVD, 'Live By the Rule of the Rock' is due out April 26, 2005. Due to strong fan response, a full season box set of the first season/26 episodes of Fraggle Rock (with 'making of' documentary extra) is promised in the US in fall 2005! Whoopeee!!!"

"Whoopee!!!" is right. I currently have several inquires out to many people (including Karen Prell, HIT Entertainment, The Jim Henson Co., and several other Fraggle performers) to try and see if I can get you some more details and confirmation of this news. But if Karen is correctly reporting this information, than it seems like the all rumors and rumblings of the past few weeks are coming true. I'll keep you posted as more news develops on this great story - hopefully HIT will comment on the issue sometime in the next month (especially once "Live By The Rule of the Rock" is released). But there seems to be a lot more positive signs pointing to season box sets - now all we need is an official statement or press release, and we'll truly be able to dance our cares away! As always, I'll keep you posted.

Sign on Sesame

2005-03-24T15:18:00.000-05:00

Sesame Street will be adding semi-regular segment to the show this season that builds vocabulary of a new language. It's not Spanish (that's already part of the Sesame Street program, and will continue to be), it's not French, nor is it German. Latin? Guess again. Here's a hint, it's not even spoken language. In a new segment, called "The Sign Language Moment of the Day”, children will be exposed to different words of ASL (American Sign Lanuage).

Several actors the Little Theatre of the Deaf (LTD) will be among the cast appearing in new Sesame Street segments that introduce “The Sign Language Moment of the Day”. More than 25 new segments of "The Sign Language Moment of the Day" will appear throughout the upcoming season. The scenes feature the LTD cast with some well-known Muppet friends including Elmo and Big Bird. Together they teach the audience new words in ASL.

Founded in 1967, the National Theatre of the Deaf is the oldest continually producing and touring professional Deaf Theatre Company in the United States. As many Sesame fans may know, this is not the first time the National Theatre of the Deaf has appeared on Sesame Street. Former company member, Linda Bove, first appeared on the show in 1975. The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) is excited about working with Sesame Street to educate and entertain children. Sesame Street will start airing its 36th season on April 4th, 2005 (but the first "Sign Language" segment will not air until April 13). Tune in to Sesame Street throughout the season to see the LTD cast teaching signs like “jump, dance, run, and exercise.”

Check out Tough Pigs

2005-03-23T22:59:00.000-05:00

Many of our readers may know about the great Muppet website that is Tough Pigs (some of you may have even come found this blog because of that site). Tough Pigs is one of the must-stop spots on the Muppet fan-site tour. The site features almost everything a Muppet fan could want; including news, reviews, editorials, commentaries, events, discussion forum, and much, much more. The site is the direct result of dedicated Muppet-fan, Danny Horn. As many of you may already know, Danny posted a nice little blurb about this blog on Tough Pigs earlier today (along with a bunch of other updates). So to return the favor, I'll take today to share a small plug for a large part of the Muppet online community - Tough Pigs.

Tough Pigs updated today with a whole slue of great goodies. There are pictures and commentary on the Macy's "Muppet Wizard of Oz" window displays in New York. If you want to see the characters and displays, but you can’t make it you New York, then you'll want to check this out. There are also photos and transcripts of both appearances of the Muppets on "Extreme Make-Over: Home Edition". There is news about the premier of "The Muppets Wizard of Oz", information on upcoming DVDs, and a endorsement of this blog. But wait there's more; Tough Pigs is also gearing up for their annual Ugly Toy pageant, which you don’t want to miss. So be sure to check all that out.

Not enough for you? When you’re enjoying your visit to Tough Pigs you can also, read past reviews, editorials, and transcripts; check out a great collection of information on the Wizard of Oz; explore all the sections; and of course you can always join the never-ending party going on in their forum.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being an excellent website worthy of framing, and 1 being a festering bowl of dog snot), I give Tough Pigs an "A+". Be sure to check it out, bookmark it, and have fun.

Grover Goes Global

2005-03-22T12:13:00.000-05:00

Grover, the fun and furry blue monster from Sesame Street, is taking on a new adventure - traveling around the world. In Global Grover, a new series of independent 5-minute episodes, Grover journeys around the world and serves as host to short live action films featuring children engaged in activities related to their individual cultures. Whether he is in Mexico, where children learn the art of pottery making; Israel, where kids from a kibbutz make a play house together; or Poland, where grandparents teach youngsters how to make scarecrows, Grover is taking part in the action through his attire, dance or humorous direct-to-camera commentary.

Designed to encourage respect and understanding in a kid-friendly way, the segments introduce viewers to new and exciting customs, traditions and daily life abroad. Global Grover takes it one step further, highlighting not only differences but also celebrating what we have in common.

Currently there will be 30 episodes of Global Grover produced, and they will be ready to be delivered to the broadcasters in Fall 2005. I'll keep you posted as more details are released.

Get in Line for an Early View of "Oz"

2005-03-21T23:41:00.000-05:00

The 4th Annual Tribeca Film Festival will take place from April 19th through May 1st. Of the hundreds of entries, there is one that will have Muppet fans waiting in line. "The Muppet Wizard of Oz" is sure to be popular when it gets its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival before airing on ABC. Screenings are free (first come first serve) and will be on April 27th, 30th and May 1st. Details on the festival itself can be found on their official website.

If you can't make it to New York City to catch the premiere, The movie will air as part of "the Wonderful World of Disney", which is Saturday nights at 8pm on ABC. I have contacted ABC and the Muppet Holding Co about the exact air date, and they all say that it has not been decided yet. But they say it will be in "mid- to late May 2005" (the exact date will not be set until mid-April). So it will be either May 7, May 14, May 21, or May 28. (I'll keep you posted as soon as I hear anything). My sources say an announcement on the air date should be ready by Mid-April, after the whole spring Wonderful World of Disney line-up is all worked out.

They also say that they are working on setting up deals to replay it in either ABC-Family or the Disney Channel over the summer; but nothing official yet. There are also plans for a home video & DVD release, but a date or time when that would be out is not avalible either. I'll keep you all posted as the information about the release is released.

Even more on The Muppet Show DVD season sets

2005-03-20T18:02:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday I brought you all a little news that helped clear-up the Muppet Show DVD season set confusion. People around the internet rejoiced as, for the first time in four months, there was now more information on the subject. Although the little blurb did not hold much new information, people really responded to having a little more confermation. But after that information hit the internet I continued to dig, continued to search, and continued to collection information on the sets. I was able to get in contact with several "insiders" working on the DVD project. And I asked them all a bunch of questions. I have collected all the information on the DVDs that is available. Sadly the project details are very "hush-hush" right now, because all the facts are still very loose and everything is still being worked on. Disney does not want to misrepresent anything, so until they have all the facts they don't want to say anything that could end up changing. But I've done researching, I got answers, and now I'm sharing everything known with you (and there is a whole lot of new information). For all the full details we'll need to wait for an official announcement (which I'm told should be out in the coming months), but until then this news should tide you over.

Yesterday I told you all about my new staff position at Muppet Central. The article I wrote with all the facts about The Muppet Show DVDs is now up in the Muppet Central news section. Rather than re-posting the whole thing here (‘cause it is lengthy), I'll just share a link to the news article (remember although it is not technically on this blog, it is still written and researched by GelflingWaldo, and contains the same great news reporting you’ve all come to know and love). If you have any comments, questions, or feedback on the article feel free to contact me - but I will warn you that everything publicly known at this time is in the article. Enjoy the news.

Click here to read "Separating fact from fiction" on Muppet Central

Me and MC

2005-03-19T19:52:00.000-05:00

I wanted to let everybody know about a new part of my Muppet news reporting career. As many of you may already know, I am now working on the Muppet Central team. Muppet Central is on of the biggest and best Muppet sites on the web. I, GelflingWaldo (or should I say my non-alter-ego name, Greg James), have joinied the Muppet Central staff as a news reporter. I will be assisting Muppet Central with expanded news stories to help keep the site as current and informative as possible. So be sure to check out my work over there too - if you like this blog, you'll love my MC work just as much. My work at Muppet Central should not conflict with the operations of the blog; in fact the blog should only get better because of it. Be sure to check Muppet Central regularly to find the latest Muppet news, read great articles and reviews, explore their guides, listen to Muppet Central radio, discuss almost anything in their forums, and much, much more.

Macy's and The Muppets

2005-03-18T20:54:00.000-05:00

Macy's and The Muppets are partners once again, this time transforming Macy's renowned Broadway windows in New York City into scenes from The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, airing this May. Muppets' Wizard of Oz co-star Ashanti will unveil the windows in a special grand kick-off celebration to Macy's much-anticipated annual Flower Show. The unveiling will take place Sunday, March 20, 2005 at 11am at Macy's Herald Square's Broadway windows.

The windows feature floral renditions of six scenes from the film recreated with thousands of live flowers. Additionally, during the spring season, exclusive Muppets' Wizard of Oz merchandise will be featured and Macy's shoppers will see a previews for the film at special kiosks stationed throughout the store. The Muppets' Wizard of Oz partnership is the latest endeavor in the Muppets ongoing relationship with Macy's. A Kermit the Frog balloon has appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since the early 1970's, and Kermit has made numerous in-person appearances at the Parade over the years. In addition, the Muppets are regularly featured as part of Macy's in-store promotions, including the 2003 Kermit holiday plush offering.

So if you are in the New York area, be sure to stop by Macy's and check out the Muppets. If you can get some pictures, feel free to send them my way, I'll share them with everyone and be eternally grateful.

A Holiday Greeting From GelflingWaldo...

2005-03-17T10:05:00.000-05:00

Muppet Show Season Sets - Fact or Fiction?

2005-03-16T22:56:00.000-05:00

As many of you may know, Craig Shemin announced that Disney will be releasing DVD season box sets of "The Muppet Show" at the "Muppets, Music and Magic: Jim Henson's Legacy" event in New York last November. Interviews with many other Henson performers, employees and fans were filmed for bonus material at the event as well.

It was said at the event that the season box sets would begin arriving in the summer of 2005. Many thought that the estimate seemed a little optimistic, and people began to doubt the claims. Now, over four-months later, nothing more has been announced, reported, or found out about these alleged DVDs. The Disney customer service is unable to answer questions on such products due to lack of information. And many fans have begun to question the reports; especially after last fall brought several misreports, wild rumors, and confusion of similar DVD sets of Fraggle Rock from websites, fans, and even HIT Entertainment customer service themselves. So I decided to do some hunting to see if these reports were rumors or facts, and also try to get some more information on what to expect and when.

I found a contact inside the Muppet Holding Company (yes an actual person working inside the Muppet Holding Company – not just a Disney Customer Service rep.), and I politely asked what the deal with season sets are. Why have we heard nothing official? When will we get more details? Are these being made? And I got a response. Here it is, this is all they are willing to say. Enjoy.

“...Regarding your box set question--a proper DVD release is on the table, and being worked with. But an official release date is not available yet. Sometime this year is likely. Check back with me in a month or two and I'll have more information on the subject...”

So there you have it, you can interpret that however you like. But I do think that they are happening, and most likely sometime this year. I plan on keeping in contact with them and hopefully I’ll be able to bring you more news in April/May on the subject. I’ll keep you posted as I find out more.

Things are Brewing...

2005-03-15T00:46:00.000-05:00

Some exciting things are happening to the GelflingWaldo Files, and in the coming days I hope to share some fun news with all of you. And to help keep the site going strong, I am planning some more little changes and additions around here. So in the next day (or two) there will be some updates, reworking, and new site features. So stay tuned for the latest GelflingWaldo Files happenings. I hope the little digital-Doozers living in my computer don't miding having to go to wok again. Stay tuned...

Ozzy & Piggy

2005-03-14T20:20:00.000-05:00

World famous musician Ozzy Osbourne is releaseing a new CD collection on March 22, 2005 . "Prince Of Darkness", a four-CD, 52-song box-set, will feature Ozzy's great hits of the past, fourteen previously unreleased songs, including nine newly recorded cover tunes. The first two CDs will contain studio, live and demo versions of Osbourne's hits, while the third and fourth discs, titled "Oddities And Duets" and "Under Covers", contain an entirely new collection of covers of some of Osbourne's favorite songs; including songs from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and David Bowie's. And also feature great Osbourne collaborations and duets; including songs with Dweezil Zappa, Wu-Tang Clan, DMX, Kelly Osbourne, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and the one and only Muppet diva - Ms Piggy. That's right, Ms. Piggy will be heard by Ozzy fans around the world on the new Ozzy Osbourne box set. The song "Born to be Wild", originally recorded and released on the Muppet album "Kermit: Unpigged", features Piggy and Ozzy singing the classic Steppenwolf song. And the same song is now included in the box set (disk 3, track 6). So if you are an Ozzy fan (and you don't have a CD of "Kermit: Unpigged") then this box set will have a little Muppet treat for you.

Robert Iger Named New Disney CEO

2005-03-13T21:54:00.000-05:00

The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors announced today that Robert A. Iger has been unanimously elected Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company effective September 30, 2005. He will succeed Michael D. Eisner, current CEO, who announced his intention to retire in a letter to the Board last year, and will step down as CEO on September 30, 2005. Iger first became part of Disney's management team in 1996, when The Walt Disney Company acquired Capital Cities/ABC, where Iger had been president and chief operating officer. Iger has been chairman of the Disney-owned ABC Group, and guided the complex merger of ABC with The Walt Disney Company. He has also been president of Walt Disney International, where he created an organization embracing Europe, the Asia-Pacific Region and Latin America. As Disney's president and chief operating officer, Iger works with Michael D. Eisner, chief executive officer, in overseeing all aspects of The Walt Disney Company's operations on a worldwide basis. It is unsure how this change in leadership will affect the Muppet Holding Company, the division of Disney that over sees the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House properties. Eisner, who was a driving force in the Muppet/Disney deal, has been a strong supporter of building the Muppets up and working with the characters - lets hope that Iger understands, recognizes, and supports the Muppets as well...only time will tell.

Sesame Place Turns 25

2005-03-12T00:15:00.000-05:00

On May 7, 2005 Sesame Place will turn 25. The "Sesame Street" amusement and water park will open their regular season this spring and will be celebrating in style. May 7th will kick off the season long celebration of Sesame Place’s 25th Birthday. Get to Sesame Place early (9:45am) to see the star studded red carpet arrival of all the Sesame Street characters! And when the gates open (at 10:00am) there’s more fun for all with cake and candles to wish a very Happy Birthday to Sesame Place. For 25 years Sesame Place, has made families smile! If you have never experianced the fun of Sesame Place, I might suggest booking a vacation to the Philadelphia/New York area sometime this year. Check out the exciting birthday parade, great special events, plus all the rides, shows, play areas, games, stores, attractions, characters, dining, and all the other things that make Sesame Place the only place where Sesame Street comes to life! Walk down Sesame Street, look into Big Bird nest, explore TwiddleBug land, and watch Elmo's World live. Sesame Place is located 30 minutes north of Philadelphia and 90 minutes south of New York City. For more information, call 215-752-7070 or visit sesameplace.com.

An Interview with a Monster

2005-03-11T23:08:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week I reported on an Australian radio interview with Eric Jacobson. And to continue their support and promotion of the new season of Sesame Street in Australia, ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) Brisbane shared another great audio interview with a Sesame Street icon -- this time it is the fun and furry Grover. Liam Bartlett of 720ABC radio asked the fuzzy monster all about life on Sesame Street; and Grover was not shy to speak up. The little blue monster sang songs, and talked about his favorite Sesame Street musical guest, his favorite food, what Oscar is really like, and much more! Although the interview was broadcast on Australian radio earlier today, you can listen to a RealPlayer file of the interview along with a short article on the ABC Brisbane Website (or just by clicking here). The interview is about 14 minutes long and is a great and fun chat with a Sesame Street icon that we all know and love. So surf over, listen, and enjoy!

A Buzz About the Fraggles

2005-03-10T23:10:00.000-05:00

Here is the juiciest new buzz on the Internet today, please remember it is only a rumor and has not been confirmed by any official sources (i.e. HIT Entertainment or The Jim Henson Company). But here is the "word on the street"; some online sources reported that several Henson employees and performers visited HIT Entertainment this past weekend to tape special intros/bonus material for DVD season sets of Fraggle Rock.

Before you get over excited, please remember that this is just a rumor, and has not been confirmed or supported by any official sources (as of today HIT is still going on the record saying that the decision to produce season sets has not been made yet). The push for season sets is not over, but this could be the first positive sign of HIT working on them (if it is true, which it may not be). So please still continue to press HIT to produce season sets (or at least say that they are producing them). We absolutely must continue to write letters and call HIT to ensure that not only the first season is released, but the other four seasons as well, This company will listen, but they need to continue to hear your voices. Together we can get Fraggle Rock released to the public in proper season sets for all to enjoy. I urge you to write or call today:

HIT Entertainment
Attn: Consumer Relations (Fraggle Rock)
P.O. Box 9000
Allen, Texas 75013

Phone: 1-866-405-7625

Four DVD's of "Bear" in June '05

2005-03-09T21:25:00.000-05:00

Disney (or should I say Buena-Vista Home Entertainment) is planning to release four new DVDs of the hit television show, "Bear in the Big Blue House". Each of the single-disc releases will feature three episodes of the show, and are set for release on June 7, 2005.

The first new DVD, "Early to Bed, Early to Rise", features Bear and his friends in three comfy, cozy episodes that encourage proper rest, consideration for others, and becoming self-reliant! Episodes included are "A Winter's Nap", "Morning Glory", and "Go To Sleep". The DVD also features four bonus sing-along songs, and will retail for $14.95 (or less).

Excitement is everywhere on the next DVD of the Big Blue House -- you can see it, hear it, touch it, taste it, and even smell it – and "Sense-sational" features three delightful adventures that promote creative exploration and imagination! The episodes found on this disc are "Smell-O-Rama", "The Senseless Detectives", and "sense-sational". The disc will also feature four bonus sing-along songs. The total run-time is 72- minutes, and will retail for $14.95 (or less).

The third DVD release, "Storytelling with Bear", is all about storytelling, vocabulary skills, kindness and sharing. Episodes on the disc include "What's The Story?", "Words, Words, Words", and "Read My Book". The disc will also features four bonus sing-along songs, and will have a standard retail price of $14.95 (or less).

The final DVD set for a June release is all about feeling good. "Visiting the Doctor with Bear" was originally released by Columbia Tri-Star in November 2001 (and is now out of print). Disney is now re-releasing the same collection episodes under the Disney brand-name; along with new cover art that matches the other Disney-DVD releases of "Bear" (and new DVD specs, and even a lower price than then the older version). The DVD features the episodes "Picture of Health", "That Healing Feeling", The Big Blue House Call". The disc will retail for $14.95 (or less).

So be sure to pick up these four great DVDs on June 7th. They will be a great addition to any DVD collection, and are a great way to celebrate the new Bear series, "Breakfast with Bear", premiering on Disney Channel in June.

The Muppets' Future is in "Oz"

2005-03-08T21:22:00.000-05:00

You may already know about "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz" which will air on ABC in two months (May 2005), and will be the first major project involving the Muppets since the characters were bought by Disney. And now, it looks like the film is a big factor on determining what's next for Muppets. Since last February, Disney has been building up the Muppets and getting them back into the public's eye. Disney has put the Muppets on many TV shows, commercials, and even on the Internet. From Extreme Makeover Home Edition, to Pizza Hut, and Moves.com to Saturday Night Live - the Muppets are getting eased back into the spotlight. All of this is with the hope that the public will be more aware of the Muppets, and will sit down to watch "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz." in May.

The future, or at least the immediate future, of the Muppets is riding on how well this new Muppet TV movie does in the ratings. If "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz" wins its time-slot (or at least ranks fairly high) when it primers in May, it is rumored that Disney will greenlight production of a new Muppet TV-movie to start immediately. There is no clue of what the project would be, or when it would air (probably in 2006-07). But, based on rumors, here are some projects that have been floating and could be next on the Muppets' list: "The Muppets: Haunted Hotel", "The Muppets of Camelot", "The Muppets Leave Hollywood", or "The Muppets' Alice in Wonderland" (please note that these titles are all rumored projects of future Muppets productions; these may never be made, and whatever is next could be a completely new idea).

If Disney finds success with "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz" in May, they hope to build up the Muppet franchise with another TV-movie (or maybe two). By doing this Disney hopes to then be able to successfully launch new theatrical film or television series with the Muppets. If "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is not successful, then it'll be tougher to tell how Disney will feel about investing more into the franchise. So, in short, be sure to tune in to watch "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz" in May and get all your friends, family, and anyone else you can to do the same.

An Interview with Eric Jacobson

2005-03-07T15:32:00.000-05:00

As I reported earlier, in less than one month Sesame Street will be starting season 36 on American TV; but elsewhere in the world they have a bit of a delay to see the new episodes. In fact today season 35 started showing in Australia. To help promote the kick off of the season in the "land down under", Muppeteer Eric Jacobson was sent to do interviews and appearances for the Australian media.

Spencer Howson from ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) Brisbane had a nice interview with Eric (and Grover, Bert, and Fozzie). He asks about the future of the Muppets, and Eric said the feature films, TV series, specials, and more are all possibilities in the future, and many new projects are in the works. Eric also shares some thoughts on having to take over many of Frank Oz's roles, how the Muppeteers use new technologies, doing all the Muppet voices, and much more.

Although the interview was presented on Australian radio earlier today, you can listen to a RealPlayer file of the interview along with a short article on the ABC Brisbane Website (or just by clicking here). The interview is about 9 minutes long and is one of the first times Eric Jacobson gets put in the spotlight for all his great work keeping the Muppets alive and strong. And if you liked this interview you should check out these two older radio interviews that I reported about earlier from America's NPR with Sesame Street Muppeteers Caroll Spinney and Kevin Clash by clicking here. Enjoy!

Animal Jam comes to DVD

2005-03-06T17:57:00.000-05:00

HIT Entertainment has already brought two shows from the Henson Family Showcase to DVD (Fraggle Rock, and Mother Goose Stories) , and they have plans for many others to be released in the coming year. The next show to get a DVD release is Jim Henson's Animal Jam. The show is a wild, music-driven, live-action dance show for preschoolers. Hosted by loveable puppets, Animal Jam used real-life kids and puppet characters to teach movement and physical skills. Animal Jam is a fun, curriculum-driven series designed to assist in the development of physical, cognative, and creative skills as well as, social and emotional growth. The show had tons of original songs, dance lessons, real animal footage, and humorous character-plots and sketches.

The show has two DVD's planned for release on May 24, 2005. The first one is "Jim Henson's Animal Jam: Springin' DVD" and the second is "Jim Henson's Animal Jam: Hug a Day DVD". Information on the exact features of the DVDs or cover art is not avalible at this time, but if anything is announced I'll let you all know. The DVDs are already up for pre-order on many online stores, with a retail price of $9.99 (or less). So if you are a parent of a 3-7 year-old child (or just an Animal Jam fan), I suggest considering picking up these two DVDs on May 24.

Extreme Make-Over: Home Edition

2005-03-05T10:29:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that tomorrow (Sunday, March 6, 2005) the Muppets will be on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. When Diamond Harris was pregnant, she was put on bed-rest and had to leave her nursing job. Husband Chris's salary as a third-grade teacher wasn't sufficient to cover their expenses, and soon they found their home in foreclosure. But the 2000-sq. ft., three-bedroom house was in desperate need of repair, and matters were made worse when Hurricane Ivan sent a tree crashing through their childrens' playroom.

Because there are so many children in the family, design team leader Ty Pennington thought the Muppets should be brought in to help. Fozzie helped carpenter Paul DiMeo construct a special photo frame for DeWayne's room. Kermit competed with Ty by running around with a mini-bullhorn to warn everyone how much time was left before the family was due home. Animal helped load furniture into the house. And Miss Piggy performed like the diva she is by demanding a script for her lines while shamelessly flirting with Ty

The hour-long episode with the Muppets will air on Sunday, March 6, 2005 at 8:00pm (7:00 central) on ABC (be sure to check local listings for details). Also be on the lookout for the Muppets the following night, Monday March 7, during Extreme Makeover: Home Edition How Did They Do That? Each Monday, the Extreme Makeover team goes behind-the-scenes of the previous night's episode to give the audience a sneak peak of how they renovated a particular families home in a we (check local listings for details, but the Muppets will most likely pop-up in the episode too. Be sure not to miss this excellent Muppet appearance.

One Month Until "Sesame Street: Season 36"

2005-03-04T23:15:00.000-05:00

In one month (exactly) Sesame Street will be back for year number 36. The new season premieres April 4, 2005 on PBS (check local listings). In addition to the traditional goals of Sesame Street (teaching literacy, numeracy, science, and safety, all while having fun) Sesame Street will tackle an issue facing many families today: children's health. The new season features a new curriculum designed to address the importance of establishing an early foundation of healthy habits. Sesame Street's newest curriculum is part of a larger Sesame Workshop company-wide initiative, "Healthy Habits for Life," created in response to the growing crisis of childhood obesity among children. The preschool years are a crucial time in children's lives to foster healthy habits.

Along with the "Healthy Moments," the new season will feature all-new Muppet "street" scenes, new animations and original live-action films that all tout activities and behaviors that are good for you. Sesame Street will continue to introduce preschoolers to other cultures with all-new "Global Grover" segments. This season, Grover travels to Bangladesh, England, Paris, the Netherlands, and more.

New parodies, that take their cue from the world of pop culture, include: "Desperate Houseplants;" "Grouch Eye for the Nice Guy;" "Chasing the Cheese," with a new Muppet created in the likeness of sportscaster Chris Berman; "24," based on the TV series of the same name; "Cookie Monster: Food Investigator," a parody of Dragnet; and the series introduces Donald Grump, a Muppet who looks suspiciously like one of America's real estate moguls. And in addition to all this, Season 36 will also feature five new "Elmo's World" segments.

So be sure to tune in to the all new season next month, and help welcome all your friends on Sesame Street to their 36th season of entertaining and educating us all.

Sesame Street up for an Emmy

2005-03-03T23:02:00.000-05:00

The nominations for the 32nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced in New York, and Sesame Street is up for the award. The Show is nominated several times for several awards. The Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out at Radio City Music Hall in New York on May 20. The show will be hosted by talk show host Maury Povich and will air on CBS. This is not the first time Sesame Street has received Emmy nominations; and let's hope it's not the last. We'll see in May if the show can bring in another batch of Emmy Awards this year.

New Site Features & Your Comments

2005-03-02T21:42:00.000-05:00

Some new features have been added to the GelflingWaldo Files today - including a new frequently asked question section, and a Henson/Muppet calendar. Both of these items will be updated as time calls for it. Check the navigation side-bar for the links to these sections. Check them out! And I also have some other features for the site in the works. They will be added in the coming weeks as I finish them.

I am doing my best to build a site to please the fans. So now I ask you for your help. You are the ones who read this site, you are the ones who benefit from it; so what do you want to see? Please share any and all comments, feedback, or ideas for what you would want to see (use the comments feature of this post, or e-mail me). I want this site to be what the fans want, so tell me what do you want to see?

Pardon the Dust

2005-03-01T22:16:00.000-05:00

Today marks one month since the GelflingWaldo Files first launched, and for that one month I did my best to bring a daily blip of Henson/Muppet news and fun. To celebrate, and also to help keep the site going strong, I am planning a little remodeling. So in the next day (or two) there will be some great updates, reworking of the layout, and new site features. So stay tuned for the latest GelflingWaldo Files happenings. So please excuse the mess as I prepare the new features. Hopefully all the little digital-Doozers living in my computer will be able to help me make the site even better. Stay tuned...

Bear is Back on "Breakfast with Bear"

2005-02-28T00:04:00.000-05:00

Brace yourself Bear fans, because Bear, from "Bear in the Big Blue House", is making his TV come back in a brand-new, daily, hour-long television show for kids. "Breakfast with Bear", a new song-filled hour for preschoolers, will bring Bear out of his Woodland Valley surroundings for the first time ever. The show will illustrate the benefits of healthy living as Bear pays visits to real homes in cities throughout the country. Each weekday morning, Bear will be seen greeting a preschooler (and his or her family), and interacting with them as they go about their daily routines; including brushing teeth, making wardrobe choices and getting dressed, tying shoes, stretching, getting their body moving, and eating a healthy breakfast.

The announcement for the show was made today by Gary Marsh, the Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Production for the Disney Cable Networks Group. "Breakfast with Bear" is the first new entertainment initiative launched by the Muppet Holding Company. And of course fans can expect the new show will be supported with additional initiatives, including Internet content, live theatre shows, and a new merchandise rollout.

The Breakfast with Bear hour, features the highlights from Bear's visits to a new home along with fun songs, activities, lessons, and fun. The show will premiere in June, 2005 during the new learning-based programming block for preschoolers on the Disney Channel. Production of the show begins next month (March 2005) in cities around the United Stated (to be announced soon).

Preschoolers and parents have come to depend on Bear to help decipher the world around them and he's a trusted source for reinforcing the message about good nutrition, healthy habits and age appropriate activity, but from Bear, it's not presented as a lesson, rather a wonderful learning experience where warmth and affection stands out. This new show will not feature as large of a puppet cast as the original show, but will still keep the charm and fun of the original. Stay tuned to the GelfingWaldo Files for more details as they are released.

The Muppets & Oscar (the award, not the grouch).

2005-02-27T22:58:00.000-05:00

On the Academy Awards tonight a short clip of Ms Piggy was played during a tribute to talk show legend, Johnny Carson. The clip showed Piggy talking to Johnny complaining about how she was not nominated for an Oscar for her work with the Muppet. Piggy said "Aren't I good enough for an Oscar?" to which Johnny responded, "Oscar Mayer maybe." It was a great tribute to Johnny and a nice clip with the Muppets too. Maybe in years to come we'll see the Muppet have a bigger role at the awards (presentors, pre-show guests, etc.) - hey maybe we'll see them win an Oscar in the future.

A Look Back: Sesame Interviews on NPR

2005-02-26T14:04:00.000-05:00

I thought that today, rather than bringing the latest happenings in the Muppet-world, I would share some of two fun finds from the past. So after digging thought some of my “favorite places” I found some old (but not too old) links to some awesome audio interviews with Sesame Street stars. These audio interviews are from NPR (National Public Radio), for those not familiar with NPR, check out there website at NPR.org for more information (they are like the radio equivalent of television’s PBS).

The two interviews I dug up are with Carroll Spinney (the man behind Big Bird and Oscar) and Kevin Clash (the man behind Elmo). If you missed the radio broadcast of the segments (or just want to hear them again), NPR has them on their website. Each interview is beautifully done inter-splicing Sesame music and sound clips with interview and narration. I hope you enjoy listening to these (maybe for a second time) as much as I did.

The first one, “A Life Inside Big Bird”, is a great interview with Caroll Spinney from May 5, 2003 (around the time Caroll’s autobiography came out). The interview is a little under eight-minuets in length and provides a lot of information on Caroll’s role on Sesame Street. You can listen to it here (click on the red “listen” button at the top of the article to listen to it). There is also a nice accompanying article also with a Sesame video and audio clip there too.

The second interview is with Keving Clash and Elmo, called “'Sesame Street' Turns 35: Kevin Clash and Elmo”, the interview is from the April 7, 2004 episode of the Travis Smiley Show. It runs just shy of ten-minuets in length. You can listen to it here (click on the red “listen” button right at the top of the article to listen to it). There is also a nice accompanying article with it too.

Grumpy Old Men on Films

2005-02-25T18:26:00.000-05:00

The Disney synergy is working for the Muppets once again, this time giving them a weekly internet gig. The Disney owned website Movies.com, now features a weekly video segment called "Statler & Waldorf: From the Balcony". The 8-minute segment (available for viewing in 2 files sizes for Windows Media, Real Player, or Quicktime) features the classic Muppet hecklers commenting on current films hitting theatres; even Pepé pops in with a review of new DVD releases. Not only do viewers get a look at upcoming films and DVD, but they also get a good laugh from the Muppets. So surf over to the From the Balcony section of Movies.com and watch this week's clip. This is a great use of the characters and gives them a new opportunity to shine, and grow their fan base. So check out this weeks video, and enjoy!

Fraggle Follow-up.

2005-02-24T22:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I reported on the Fraggle UNO game and other upcoming Fraggle products from Sababa Toys. Since yesterday some more information has surfaced, so I though I would share it with you while it is still fresh. Aside from Fraggle Rock UNO, and the Mokey and Traveling Uncle Matt plush dolls I mentioned some smaller doll two-packs with bonus DVDs. I have gotten a bunch of e-mails and questions about what these are; so here are the details (as we know them now).

These dolls (which are similar in size to a beanie-baby) are about half the size of original Sababa plushes. They come in a pack of two characters and a bonus dvd (the DVD contains just one episode of the show on it, and nothing more - no bonus features, no fancy packaging, probally not even a menu - just one episode).

The first one is a Gobo and Wembley dolls with a bouns DVD of the episode "The Beast of Blue Rock". The second one features a Red and Boober doll with a bonus DVD of the episode "Boober's Quiet Day". No set release date was announced, but they are estimated for a summer/fall release.

Again, Mokey (the "fifth-wheel-Fraggle") is left out of this initial release. But if these two sets are sucessfull we will see a third (and maybe even fourth) set next year with Mokey (and possibly Uncle Matt, Sproket, a Doozer, or a Gorg) released with another bonus episode. Only time will tell.

Also the rummor of a Fraggle Box set that was floating around the toy fair has been offcially shot down as false. HIT has no official plans for a DVD box set this spring, or any other time for that matter. So I guess we'll just have to keep nagging.

Uno Fraggles, Por Favor!

2005-02-23T20:11:00.000-05:00

Some more news coming from the New York Toy Fair. This time it is not Sesame related (as we reported earlier this week), nor is it about The Muppets - this time it is Fraggle Rock!

Sababa Toys has created some excellent Fraggle products in the past, and this year they plan to do it again. Sababa plans to create some more dolls of Fraggles - Mokey and Uncle Traveling Matt plush dolls are getting ready to ship (to go with the already existing Gobo, Wembly, Boober, and Red plushes Sababa created). They also have created a new two-pack of "Beanie-baby" type Fraggles coming that will include a bonus DVD with one Fraggle Rock episode.

But one of the more unique and exciting Fraggle products is a Fraggle Rock UNO game. The game, which is a variant of the classic card game UNO, features Fraggle fun on every card! The set comes in a special collectors tin, and a full deck of specialty Fraggle UNO cards. The Fraggle Rock version even features a new special "Travel" card which is new to the UNO game-play experience. There is no set release date for the UNO game announced, but it is coming, probally this spring/summer sources say.

There are also a rumor buzzing around the Sababa booth of a Fraggle Rock DVD Box Set coming real soon (like this spring), but still no official confirmation of these claims. We'll keep you posted on this one. But it is great to see the Fraggles coming back into the spot light on some great products this year.

Henson Gets Rights to More Books!

2005-02-22T23:18:00.000-05:00

The Jim Henson Company has recently purchased the film rights to several books. They plan to turn the books into screenplays, and then into feature films. Henson has been doing this for years from Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas in th 70's, to "The Witches" in the 80's, and "Buddy" in the 90's (just to name a few Henson book adaptations). The books Henson is working on now include:

"Perfect Circle" by Sean Stewart
"Weslandia" by Paul Fleishman
"Conversations With the Goddesses" by Agapi Stassinopoulos
"Gods and Goddesses in Love" by Agapi Stassinopoulos
"Elbo Elf: P.M.O.C." by Ralph Romano and Joe Burke
"The Witch's Children" by Ursula Jones
"Five Children and It" by Edith Nesbit
"Astro Boy" by Osamu Tezuka
"Puss in Boots" by Charles Perrault

These book-to-film transitions are all in diffrent stages of development. Many are just getting ready to have their screenplay written, some are in production, and some are in post-production. These are just some of the things Henson has cooking. If you can't wait to see what these stories are all about go and read the books now!

Toy Story

2005-02-21T22:59:00.000-05:00

Today's post brings you a little more information on the Sesame Street action figures being produced by Palisades Toys. The company had their upcoming Sesame Street figures on display at their showroom at the US ToyFair this week. For those who don't know, series 1 of the Sesame line will consist of Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Guy Smilie, the Two-Headed Monster, and Super Grover. The "mass market" version of the figures will come with a limited number of accessories, whereas the "exclusive market" figures will come with even more accessories, and a piece Sesame Street itsef. The street peices will fit together to make the buildings and areas on Sesame Street (and eventually the whole street). The pieces from the Series 1 collector version will fit together to create Big Bird's nest area. Then Palisades will work there way down the street with Series 2's parts forming the facade of the 123 Seasame Street apartment building.

Series 1 is not due out until this summer/fall, and series 2 may seem a long way off. But Palisades has announced the characters that will be found in the second series of figures this week. Series 2 will include: Bert, Count Von Count, the Yip-Yip Martians. and Roosevelt Franklin. Palisades also assured the fans that a Big Bird figure in the works.

A Muppet Make Over.

2005-02-20T15:10:00.000-05:00

According to ABC's website, The Muppets will be on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." on Sunday, March 6, 2005 at 8/7c on ABC.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition -- along with the help of a special team of Muppets -- gives a home makeover to the family of America's first-ever set of surviving African American sextuplets.When Diamond Harris was pregnant, she was put on bed-rest and had to leave her nursing job. Husband Chris's salary as a third-grade teacher wasn't sufficient to cover their expenses, and soon they found their home in foreclosure. Fortunately their wonderful neighbors rallied around them and raised enough money to stop the bank proceedings. But the 2000-sq. ft., three-bedroom house was in desperate need of repair, and matters were made worse when Hurricane Ivan sent a tree crashing through the living room, which had become the children's playroom. Because there were so many children in the family, design team leader Ty Pennington thought some "child experts" should be brought in to help. The Muppets themselves heeded his call, along with Florence Henderson -- "Mrs. Brady" herself!"

So be sure to set your VCRs and be sure to watch the Muppets lend a hand in making on family's dream come true. (Check local listings for details). Disney has been sending the Muppets to "promo-land" recently with apperancnes on Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, Pizza Hut Commercials, The Apprentice, The Disney Christmas Parade, and many more; now you can add "Extreme Make Over - Home Edition" to that list.

An A-maze-ing Tail!

2005-02-19T22:05:00.000-05:00

Today's daily bit brings you a fun little puzzle made just for you by none other than me, GelflingWaldo. The game is a simple maze (feel free to print it out and try it out) featuring Rizzo the Rat. Your task is to help Rizzo get the cheese, and oh-yeah have fun too! Hope you enjoy.

Get Lost in The Maze Here!

PS - Sorry about the corny title today, An A-maze-ing Tail, but Fozzie Bear was helping me write the daily bit today and cramed more puns then needed into it.

What's all this?: Part 2

2005-02-18T22:41:00.000-05:00

It's been 18 days since the GelflingWaldo files launched. And since then 18 daily bits have been posted. But today instead of bringing news from the Henson/Muppet world I decided to talk a bit more about what the GelflingWaldo files are.

As you may see, each day a new post is added full of information and fun. If you want to read the past items from the days before, simple scroll down (or if you want to go further back, look at the archives on the right - grouped by week).

In the coming weeks and months there will be new kinds of daily posts comings. I've been working on some new and exciting things to share with you all. Some days may bring a new download, some may have a review of a past productions/products, some may have inside looks, detailed descriptions and other information, and others (as you've seen a lot of already) will hold the latest Muppet news. If you ever have breaking news, an idea, or feedback t feel free to e-mail me (their is a link on the right of the page). I'd love to hear your thoughts; or if you want you can reply to any of the posts (like this one) with your feedback. Also be sure to tell your friends and family about this site and get all of them to stop by and check us out (and have them tell a friend too). The more readers the better! Thanks, and I hope you enjoy what will be coming to the GelflingWaldo files in the next few days, weeks, months, and beyond.

The Disney Deal: One Year and Counting!

2005-02-17T18:56:00.000-05:00

It was one year ago today that the news broke of Disney buying the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House from the Jim Henson Company. The transaction included all Muppet assets, including the Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and other characters, the Muppet film and television library, and all associated copyrights and trademarks, as well as all the Bear in the Big Blue House characters, television library, copyrights and trademarks. The deal also included production and consulting agreements under which The Jim Henson Company will develop potential new programming featuring the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House for Disney until at least 2008 . Many people were skeptical of the deal, due to Disney's reputation, but so far Muppet fans have had little to complain about.

Although 2004 had what some would consider "little Muppet action" (although iit was probably more than 2003), Disney has begun to do great things. Some of the things done so far include: forming the Muppet Holding Co. to manage the Muppets, they Re-launched Muppets.com, they put the Muppets on a bunch of TV shows & ads (Saturday Night Live, Disney Christmas Parade, Good Morning America, Pizza Hut, Dr. Pepper, The Apprentice...), and they continued to support and produce other Muppet works already in progress before the deal (The Muppets Wizard of Oz TV-move. US postage stamps, final series of Palisades toys...) The deal also allowed The Jim Henson Company, now free of the Muppet, became able to concentrate on their other properties and productions in their Family Showcase (like Fraggle Rock) and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Library.

That list may seem a little disappointing to the hard-core Muppet fan expecting the deal to sky-rocket the Muppets back on top. But rest assured, this first year was a year of transition, and allowing Disney to get situated and acquainted. Already in the first year Disney has started many projects which should be coming out in 2005 and 2006. These projects include Muppet Show season set DVD, Disney theme park attractions, other DVD/VHS re-releases and special editions of Muppet productions, other Muppet productions, Muppet merchandise, and much more! So although the first year may not have been the most exciting year ever, 2005 and 2006 may be even better as Disney gets more acquainted with Kermit and the gang. So far Disney has done little to upset or disappoint Muppet fans, and I think as the Muppets settle into their new home we will be able to see great things.

The Barretta brothers get ready to pen "Elbo Elf: P.M.O.C." for Henson!

2005-02-16T23:11:00.000-05:00

In December 2004, The Jim Henson Company acquired the rights to Elbo Elf: P.M.O.C., a book by Ralph Romano and Joe Burke. It is a holiday tale about an unusual elf in Santa’s workshop - an elf with four arms. The book is now in development to become a feature length production written by brothers Bill Barretta (Muppeteer and co-writter off Jim Henson's Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story) and Gene Barretta (children’s book illustrator of Merry Creature Christmas and Journey, Easter Journey).

Elbo Elf: P.M.O.C. has a heart-warming message about never giving up and helping others. It’s the kind of project that continues The Jim Henson's mission to "celebrate diversity through creative and inspiring stories.”

Tom Romano, Ralph Romano's brother and co-owner of the rights to Elbo Elf, said, "My favorite holiday has always been Christmas and Henson had the vision to see that Elbo Elf could become a seasonal favorite. After 35 years, we look forward to working with Gene and Bill [Barretta] to bring Elbo to life for all children to enjoy.”

There is no information on when the film would be released, who would star in it, or anything else - they're still working on the script. But as soon as I hear anything, I'll keep you all posted on the status of this production.

Get "Emmet Otter" The Proper Way!

2005-02-15T19:23:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I brought you the news of a future DVD release of “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas" by HIT Entertainment. After following up to see if any more details on the release (and asking if it would be the edited version or the original broadcast version) I got the following response; “At this time, information on which version will be released or if bonus features will be included has not been decided and is not available at this time.” So there is still time to voice your opinion to HIT. If you are not familiar with the changes made in the Columbia Tri-Star 1998 VHS release and seen again in their 2001 DVD release, check out a listing of the edited parts from Muppet Central's FAQ's.

Together we maybe able to get the DVD released the way we want it. Please consider contacting HIT Entertainment in the next few days and do the 3 following things (contact information is listed below).

1) Express your interest in the Emmet Otter DVD.
2) Tell HIT you would like to see the original 1977 broadcast version of the film; not the re-edited version found on the most recent re-release.
3) Also, express interest in bonus features; such as behind the scenes, “making of” features, and other bonus features. There is a nice collection of footage and material in the Henson archives to create some nice DVD features.

Phone: 1-866-405-7625 (toll-free)
Mail: HIT Entertainment, PO Box 9000, Allen TX, 75013
E-mail: consumerrelations@hitentertainment.com

This Christmas HIT will share Emmet with the world again, but let’s get our voice in now and gat HIT to give a great, and proper DVD treatment to Emmet Otter.

A Holiday Greeting From GelflingWaldo...

2005-02-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

Y Happy Valentine's Day Y

To: You
From: GelfingWaldo

The Muppets Keep it Real.

2005-02-13T01:03:00.000-05:00

Last month a Disney employee newsletter made mentioned to a Muppet reality special. This would be a one-shot, one-time only special; not a new series. The reported plot is that the Classic Muppet characters (like Kermit, Piggy, and Gonzo) would be auditioning new and diffrent puppet acts, in an "American Idol"-like format.

Sources have confirmed that a reality show pitch pilot was filmed in Los Angeles during the summer of 2004. Some fans are speculating whether or not it is a good idea for the Muppets to jump on the reality show bandwagon, but this one time special would allow the Muppets do great parody - something the Muppets do best and something that has always been part of the Muppet's make-up. A reality special lIke this might help the Muppets reach a wider audience of teens and adults.

The already compleated special could potentially air alongside "the Muppets’ Wonderful Wizard of Oz" TV-movie in May. It may air at a later date. Or it may never make it to the airwaves, and become one of those few Muppet productions that never see the light of day. Only time will tell.

Action Figures Update!

2005-02-12T13:05:00.000-05:00

Since 2002, Palisades Toys has been creating quality Muppet action figures. Sadly at the end of 2005 their contact to produce Muppet figures will expire. The last figures will be released this year, but unlike the previous sets of figures the figures in this series will only be avalible as exclusives (and will not be avalible in the mass market outlets). The figures that will be produced in this final line are Uncle Deadly, "Rainbow Connection" Kermit (with Robin), Treasure Island Gonzo & Rizzo, and Frog Scout Leader Kermit (with either blue or green Frog Scout). The figures over the years have been a treat and a dream of any Muppet collector, it will be sad to see the line come to an end.

But Henson fans shouldn't worry about their collecting day ending anytime soon, because Palisades has received the rights to produce Sesame Street figures. Each of these figures are planned to be released in a mass market and collector's version. The first series of figures should be out this summer and will include the following characters: Super Grover, Ernie, Oscar (with Slimey), Two-Headed Monster, and Guy Smiley. The official list of the figures that will be created for the second series should be announced this summer. It looks like the teaming-up of Palisades and Sesame Workshop will produce great things for Sesame fans!

Live From New York, It's The Muppets!

2005-02-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

Kermit and the gang showed up on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on December 18, 2004. The Muppets appeared in two segments during the episode with host Robert DeNiro and musical guest Destiny's Child. Kermit sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with Robert DeNiro in the opening monolog. And then Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, and Animal showed up to give Horatio Sanz help with his Christmas greeting by singing the recurring song “Christmas is Number One”. Like many of the current season episodes, this episode will be repeated sometime in the near future (probably sometime in the next month). So check your local NBC listings for Saturday nights to see if this episode will be on up again. It was a great Muppet appearance and a treat for all to see.

Also, I have shared a compleate transcript (and some small pictures) of the skit entitled “Season's Greetings From Saturday Night Live” with a popular Saturday Night Live website, SNL Transcripts. The site hosts the largest collection of transcripts of SNL skits and segments, so be sure to check out one of the Muppet’s skits from December 18th here. Hopefully Disney continues to get the Muppets out there and back in the spotlight.

But Wait There's More!

2005-02-10T13:27:00.000-05:00

Last month HIT Entertainment released 2 DVD collections of Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories on DVD. Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories: Humpty Dumpty and Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories: Jack and Jill. You can read my review of the disks at Muppet Central. Each of the DVDs featured 8 stories from the show (that comes to 16 total), leaving some to wonder what would happen to the remaining 23 stories from the show that are not be found on these two releases.

Well HIT has responded to that question saying that 2 more single-disk DVD collections (similar to the first 2) will be released towards the end of June 2005. The two DVDs, titled Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories: Eensy Weensy Spider and Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, will each contain 8 stories like the first releases. There is no word on which episodes or features will be on the 2 upcoming disks, or the exact release date; HIT says that information is not avalible yet. I'll keep you posted on that information once it is avalible. Hopefully the 7 remaining stories will also get a DVD treatment on a 5th collection later on in order to finish out a compleate Mother Goose Stories collection.