Last month, I asked you all to send in your ideas via email or Discord for Muppet-related documentaries. I was overwhelmed by the tremendous number of responses! I was underwhelmed by the tiny percentage of them that said my writing was funny, and I had only written the article to receive such compliments, but I guess that’s on me for being unclear about my intentions.
Anywho, I’ve put together the following summary of your hopes and dreams for Henson docs, including a handful of examples from emails and the Discord server, organized by category. But first, please note the following:
- There’s no ambiguity this time: the only appropriate response to this article is telling me that I am funny. To borrow a phrase, get in the comments.
- I still don’t have the power to greenlight any of these documentary ideas. I am still not Jarrod Fairclough.
- Jarrod Fairclough’s email address is Jarrod@ToughPigs.com. He’s so well-connected that he can probably get the Muppet companies to make anything you want, I’d imagine. I would tell you to shoot him an email, but they have very strict gun laws in Australia, so you’ll have to stab him an email.
- Please be honest and only say that I am funny if you actually think I’m funny.
Biographical Documentaries
I think Grace from the ToughPigs Discord server was the first to suggest Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Documentary, but certainly not the last. Fans across platforms echoed and expounded on this idea. You’re all clamoring for a Richard Hunt movie, and the powers that be (i.e. Jarrod) should take note.
Unsurprisingly, quite a number of fans would really like to see a Jerry Nelson documentary. Myself included. Preferably now. Right now.
Below are some of the other ideas that got my attention, followed by some commentary from me that you didn’t ask for.
I’d love something about Marty Robinson, David Rudman and Noel MacNeal. Either together (like part of a second Muppet Guys Talking) or separately. All three are some of the longest working Muppet performers after Dave.
– ZK23
From Astoria to Zebediah: The Bob Payne Story
– David H. aka Splurge
My serious documentary idea is one about Karen Prell. She’s had such a fascinating life, working everywhere from the Jim Henson Company to Pixar to Valve and doing everything from puppeteering to animating to playtesting to scriptwriting. Listening to her talk at events like the George Lucas Talk Show makes it clear what an incredible career she’s had, and I want to know more about the specifics.
– Grace
I Am Gonzo: The Dave Goelz Story
One of the core Muppet performers since the early 1970s, Dave gets an opportunity to come into the spotlight and tell his tale, and provides a wealth of detail on creating and performing his cast of memorable characters, with special focus of course on the artistic, long-nosed daredevil weirdo so many of us all know and love so deeply.
– Geoff S
Marlon Brando: A Story
A well-made and researched documentary about Marlon Brando, but the only talking head is a very annoyed Frank Oz.
– Tori Schmidt
I Am Also Rugby Tiger: Another Dave Goelz Story
Dave forgot to mention any of his part in The Christmas Toy in the first documentary, and so this short follow-up was filmed to help rectify that little accidental omission.
– Geoff S
Gobotech: The John Tartaglia Story
Johnny and Gobo chronicle their careers in documentary form, but other Johnny characters including Barry Blueberry, Splash, Tingo, Sage, and the mysterious X (from Sesame Street episode 3833) derail the documentary with their own histories (and Sherry Contrary joins Barry too), making for a legally convoluted production.
– Zee
Being Gummo: A Director’s Journey
A look into the life of film director and Musketeer Gummo Bergman.
– crazydiamond75
No, I Am Definitely Miss Piggy: A Dave Goelz Story?
In this documentary, several performers and crew members form various Muppet productions share fond memories of and expressing admiration for how Dave turned a background character into an internationally known icon. These are intercut with scenes of an increasingly perplexed and exasperated Dave trying to patiently explain again and again that there’s some confusion here, he never performed Miss Piggy. No attention is ever brought to the fact that the other performers occasionally break and crack up a little before they quickly put a straight face back on and proceed to make up another “memory.”
– Geoff S
Seriously though, I want a Dave Goelz documentary!
– Kellerific
Look, They Left Out Danny’s Credit: The Daniel Seagren Story
– David H. aka Splurge
Let’s Be Frank: The Life & Career of Eric Jacobson
– ZK23
It’s no shock, but the people want to watch stories about people. You asked for documentaries about the human cast of Sesame Street, the guest stars on The Muppet Show, and even fictional characters like Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Uncle Deadly, Constantine, Fleet Scribbler, Jimmy Shoe, and Thudge. You know, the usual suspects.
There’s such a demand for more stories about the first class of Muppet performers that Michael Wermuth’s suggestion of a documentary project with multiple parts, each spotlighting a different member of “The Original Five” seems to be in order. On the other hand, I very much agree with MuppetSpot’s point that the second generation of performers was vital to keeping our favorite productions afloat, and they deserve more attention.
I’d also like to echo the fans’ demand that more attention be given to the many incredible women in the Muppet world. Grace had a lot more to say via email about why we need a Karen Prell documentary, which was really valuable, and I wish I had more room to include it all here. For now, you’ll just have to wait a few years for somebody to make The Karen Prell Story, or The Grace Story, or The J.D. Hansel Story, and one of these is bound to include that whole email.
“Making-of” Documentaries
You’re all dying to know how your favorite Muppet shows and movies were made! You’ve asked to see the making of The Muppets Mayhem, Back to the Rock, Bear in the Big Blue House, the entirety of Sesame Street, and so much more. Here are a few highlights!
Behind the Attraction: Muppet*Vision 3D
A glorious three hour documentary (but any interesting new information only takes a minute and a half).
– Tori Schmidt
Below the Frame
Based off of Matt Vogel’s podcast of the same name, this documentary gives us a closer look at what it’s like to be a Muppet performer. A variety of current and former puppeteers share stories of how they came into their line of work, tricks of the trade, challenges unique to their profession, and plenty of memorable moments from on the job.
– Geoff S
Life’s Like a Movie: The Making of the First Three Muppet Movies
– The Quackateers
What would be a really fun documentary is to have a making-of for The Muppet Movie. I don’t mean the 1979 film by James Frawley, but the in-universe film made by The Muppets and shown on the studio lot. I want to see the nuts and bolts about how this ragtag team created their first movie.
– Erdago
Fifteen Seconds to Certain: Guest Stars of The Muppet Show
A documentary featuring interviews with past guest stars of The Muppet Show, talking about their experiences & sharing behind-the-scenes stories of their time on the show.
– DaydreamEAR
Sesame Street’s First Season: “I Liked What You Were Trying To Do.”
– David H. aka Splurge
Rigged Roulette: The Implosion of Out to Lunch
A behind-the-scenes documentary about CTW’s multimillion-dollar blockbuster infamously failed answer to Laugh-In, and how it ended up in its rut. Interviewees include Frank Oz, Rita Moreno, Morgan Freeman, Grover, Elliott Gould, Norman Mailchute, the Puppy Love dog, and Duke the Horse.
– Zee
The History of The Not Too Late Show with Elmo
I would tell you what this one is about, but it was pulled off of Max before I could write a joke.
– Tori Schmidt
The Margaret Hamilton Episode: Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
If nothing else, a timely release on Halloween.
– David H. aka Splurge
For real, I would like to see a documentary about Sesame Street Muppets who didn’t catch on, with interviews with writers, builders, performers… and fans.
– Ryan Roe
There were a lot of pitches for documentaries about Sesame projects that went awry – two of which were just about their ‘90s output in general – and I don’t know how to get Sesame Workshop to give those the thumb’s up, but if they do, we will give them all of our money.
?????
Many of you pitched ideas that I don’t know how to categorize exactly. Some of these are straightforward enough, like Sophie’s idea for a documentary about the Creature Shop. That sounds great! Then there’s whatever this is:
Potato Man
A documentary about the potato Jim Henson ate that one time.
– Tori Schmidt
Several Straight Hours of Nothing But Various Behind the Scenes Muppet Footage
This documentary delivers exactly what it promises in the title – just unnarrated behind the scenes footage compiled from The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, and whatever else the producers could possibly get their hands on. It’s nothing but a big hearty serving of one of your favorite parts of any Henson-related documentary or special!
– Geoff S
AYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA!!!!!: Whoever-Jittered-Behind-Julie-Andrews and Other Unknowns
Reuniting for the first time with Julie Andrews, she and that one violet monster talk about the lives of said monster and various other extremely forgotten Muppets, featuring interviews with that patchy shrimpy thing and the Green Door saxophonist, among others.
– Zee
BA-NAN-AS!
What starts out as just a joke between David Rudman and Joey Mazzarino somehow gets out of hand. Like, really, really out of hand. The end result? A Joey and Davey Monkey documentary that somehow has a running time of three and a half hours.
– Geoff S
The Nuclear Option
How about “Everything Henson”: a multi-part documentary series where just about every Henson production gets an hour-long documentary? Every company they did commercials for, every series the Muppets made at least ten guest appearances on (it would probably be too hard to cover all the Washington, DC shows, though), every full Henson series, every special and movie.
– Michael Wermuth
Huh. Well then. I guess I’ll clear my schedule. Forever.
Click here to TELL ME I’M FREAKING FUNNY ALREADY on the ToughPigs Discord, okay???
by J.D. “Very Funny” Hansel – jdhansel@toughpigs.com
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