The San Diego Comic Con was this past weekend, and although thousands of people were able to attend, I was not one of them. That's some sad news right there. But the good news is that we got a few Muppet-related news tidbits which we'll report as if I was actually the one doing the news gathering. Don't tell the Associated Press!
The Guinness Book of World Records went to Comic Con to award a few world records plaques to things such as Detective Comics for being the Longest Continuously Published Comic Book and The Simpsons for being the Longest Running Animated TV Series. They also awarded Brian Henson with the plaque for Farscape, which has the Most Digital Effects in a TV Series. Good work, Farscape! You look pretty!
Archaia Comics announced that the upcoming Labyrinth and Dark Crystal comics will feature covers by the great Brian Froud, who will also be serving as the Creative Consultant for both titles. That's some great hiring there, Archaia! Now if you can only convince him to do some interior art for the comics, I'd be happy as a baby being tossed in the air by David Bowie.

Archaia also gave us a few more details on the upcoming Fraggle Rock comic book. It will be in anthology format, with both long and short stories. The books will be a bit smaller than a comic book, coming in at just 8"x8". The comics will also contain "new levels of interactivity," which could mean just about anything. Maybe they'll come with instructions on how to grind the pages down and make your own Doozer sticks.
BOOM Studios didn't have much new information about the Muppet comics at their panel, but they did say that they're planning on getting rid of the 4-issue installments of The Muppet Show Comic Book and turning it into an ongoing, which will make it so much easier to keep track of the numbering. And I know you're all very concerned about keeping your Muppet comics organized to an obnoxious degree like myself. The image above is the pencils for the cover of the Pigs In Space one-shot comic, which will be written by Roger Langridge and illustrated by an unidentified artist.
eFX Collectibles had the first signs of their upcoming Muppet Photo Puppets on display, including Rizzo, Reporter Kermit, and a piece of Miss Piggy. Rizzo looks fantastic. I'm tempted to buy him and make him carry my luggage. It's hard to judge that Reporter Kermit, since they made no effort at all to make him look good in that glass case. Muppet News Flash: Nobody wants to buy an ugly Photo Puppet! And the Piggy face looks like they're on the right track, with a chubbier Piggy like we used to see in the Muppet Show days, as opposed to the newer, slimmer Piggy we've gotten used to in recent years. Though I'm staying dubious until we see what her hair and costume will look like, since we all know that the clothes make the pig.
Oh, and these guys were there. Do you think Bunsen is a DC or a Marvel fan? UPDATE: Looks like they did a sketch for the Comic Con masquerade! Enjoy the nerdiness!

Click here to do whatever a spider can on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: awards, comics/magazines, Fraggle Rock, Photo Puppets

Are you a big fan of Fraggle Rock, but you've always felt like it had too darn many Fraggles? Well, the Jim Henson Company has just the show for you.

Kidscreen and various other websites are reporting the announcement of a new animated Doozers TV series, which will follow the adventures of three young Doozers named Baxter, Puzzlebea, and Daze. I guess it'll be sort of like Scrubs, but with apprentice Doozers instead of medical interns, and probably fewer sex jokes.

Of course, the Doozers were way ahead of their time in the area of green construction. All their buildings on Fraggle Rock were made of material that was completely biodegradable, and heck, edible. So it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch when the press releases say this new show will focus on "ecological concepts." As long as Captain Planet doesn't show up at the end of every episode to deliver a sermon about the week's environmental message, they should be fine.

The show will be animated, so that apparently means no puppetry. I'm okay with that, especially because the Doozer in that picture up there looks just like a Doozer from Fraggle Rock, albeit with more hair and a touch of huge-headedness.

We've been talking about this announcement on the Tough Pigs forum, and we have lots of questions: Will there be any Fraggles, Gorgs, or humans? Will there be any kind of tie-in to the upcoming Fraggle Rock movie? Why aren't these three characters named after tools like all the other Doozers? Will we see any familiar Doozer characters (e.g. Cotterpin) on the new show? And will there be songs?

With any luck, we'll get answers in the months to come. This new show is an unexpected move from the Henson Company, but there were some pretty good Doozer-focused episodes of Fraggle Rock, and if they're going to make a spinoff based on any of the supporting characters, the Doozers make the most sense by far... A Doc & Sprocket show wouldn't have the young kid appeal, a Gorg show wouldn't work because as far as we know there are only three Gorgs, and... I don't know, who else is there? The Trash Heap? She never moves from her spot in the garden.

So anyway, it'll be interesting to see what they come up with. And who knows? This just might be the perfect time for a television series about tiny naked green people who are obsessed with engineering.

Click here to talk about Doozers on the Tough Pigs forum!

Labels: Fraggle Rock, in development, Jim Henson Company, news

You may have heard, there’s Fraggles on the horizon. In movie form.

Recently, I was given the rare opportunity to take a peek at the script to the upcoming Fraggle Rock movie. Although writer/director Cory Edwards seems pretty optimistic about the film on his blog (naturally), I fell on the cautious side of that, assuming that the movie will be “good,” with the possibility of “not good enough” right around the corner.

Thankfully after reading the script, most of my fears were diminished. The script could definitely lend itself to a classic family film if done right. For the purposes of this review, I’ll be ignoring the fact that the original cast might not be coming back. Jerry Nelson is, for all purposes, retired, and I'm doubtful that Steve Whitmire, Kathy Mullen, and Dave Goelz would return to the Rock. Karen Prell, on the other hand, is the biggest Fraggle Rock fan on either side of the Mississippi, so I’d be surprised if she refused Red’s revival.

I will be doing my best to keep this review spoiler-free. Releasing spoilers is no fun for the movie-going public, and it’s really not my place to reveal specific details. I will however be answering what questions I can on the ToughPigs forum and via e-mail, so feel free to contact me either way. Just don’t be insulted if I refuse to answer your question for spoiler-related reasons.

To start with, I should say that the movie doesn’t fit in with the timeline of the Fraggle Rock series. The movie isn’t a reimagining or a reboot, but it will be fruitless to try and nitpick on the continuity. The mythology of “Fraggle holes” that was revealed toward the end of the series doesn’t factor into it, nor does the relationships between species. But everything is recognizable, from the characters to the traditions to the postcards. I suppose that’s what happens when you try to make a movie based off of a 25-year-old TV show.

The movie, tentatively called Fraggle Rock: The Movie (clever, no?) is about the Fraggle Five (along with special guest Cotterpin Doozer) searching for Uncle Traveling Matt in Outer Space. It begins with a scene of Doc and Sprocket, just like every episode of the TV show. After a quick intro, we’re sucked into Fraggle Rock ala the opening credits, and newer viewers (read: your nephew) gets a great introduction to what Fraggles are and how their culture works. So far, so good.

Cory Edwards is definitely a fan of the show, as he shows us by giving the one-off lines that would normally be credited to “Fraggle #5” to characters we’d recognize, giving them cameos only the real fans would appreciate. The Storyteller, Tosh, Morris, Rumple, Marlon, and Large Marvin all make appearances, though there are some missing characters I’d expect to see, like the World’s Oldest Fraggle, who will hopefully make an appearance in the final version.

The Fraggles’ misunderstanding of our culture is done in a humorous way, highlighted mostly by their discovery of a cell phone, which Wembley mistakes for a pet. Hilarity, as you can imagine, ensues.

Any ill feelings I had about the script fell away once Marjory the Trash Heap, with Philo and Gunge, made her appearance. She’s written perfectly, giving the Fraggles the advice they think they need (though not exactly what she tried to say). Sadly, they’re in just one scene, but it’s a fun and familiar one.

Once in Outer Space, Doc and Sprocket play a supporting role to Doc’s adult-aged grandson, Randy. Randy becomes our guide through the real world as Doc and Sprocket sleep in the workshop or sit on park benches while the adventures pass them by. Though it’ll be sad to lose the dynamic of Doc and Sprocket, if Edwards can get Gerry Parkes to reprise his role, it would be well worth it just to see him on screen again. I’m a little torn on how I feel about Randy though. If he’s performed well, he could be tolerable, but there’s a lot of potential for corniness and irritation. He also sings a couple songs with the Fraggles throughout the movie, so it will be a challenge to portray that without looking ridiculous.

Once outside, the Fraggles really start to show their faded colors. By that, I mean they lose a bit of the characterization that once made them great. Each of the Fraggles is inherently faulty, but those traits become somewhat muted in the film. Gobo is a strong leader but not quite as cocky, Red is tough but not as competitive, Wembley is silly but doesn’t wemble, etc. One interesting addition, however, is Cotterpin Doozer, who tags along for the adventure. Cotterpin has suddenly become a mechanical whiz, getting the Fraggles out of a jam or two in their time of need. I always liked Cotterpin, and it was nice to see her show up the Fraggles when they got blindingly confused about things (as they are wont to do).

Unfortunately, Cory Edwards got into the same trouble as the cover artists for the Fraggle Rock DVDs, and that is not being able to find a proper place for Mokey. Mokey is left without much of a role, even stepping out entirely during a side-quest. I understand that she’s a hard character to write for, but it will be unfortunate to see her with a diminished role compared to her Fraggle brethren. I can only assume that the Mokey merchandise will suffer the most.

Once we find Uncle Traveling Matt, he is as aloof and hilarious as ever. In fact, my favorite parts of the script involve Matt as he acts oblivious to the increasing danger around him. Edwards definitely got his voice down pat, and he’ll hopefully be a highlight for everyone once he’s on screen.

Most of the stunts and special effects written into the script were obviously made to work to the strengths of the Muppet Workshop. It seems that Edwards will be true to his word regarding few, if any, computer animated effects. One scene in particular tickled my fancy. Picture the scene from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure with the historical celebrities wreaking havoc in the mall. Now picture it with Fraggles instead of dead celebs, and you’ve got comedy gold.

Edwards also kept true to his word regarding pop culture references, of which the script is completely devoid. In fact, aside from the cell phone, the whole movie could take place in 1987. Only two specific celebrity cameos are in the film (two celebs in one scene), and they made me laugh audibly, so I give them my stamp of approval.

One very large missing element that you may have noticed is the Gorgs, which do not appear in the script at all. Understandably, the Gorgs wouldn’t fit in with this storyline, but it’s a shame that such an important part of the series is completely omitted. Then again, that's why Thomas Edison invented the sequel.

In all, the script was very enjoyable, and audiences unfamiliar with Fraggle Rock will probably get a lot out of it. But if you’re looking to nitpick the mythology and the voices (as I’m sure I will too), I think there will be a lot of cracks in the framework. But maybe that’s the best we can hope for if Henson and Cory Edwards want to attempt to revive the franchise.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that Edwards is still rewriting the script, so there might be big changes in the final product. So feel free to assume that anything I said in the above article is hogwash. Hogwash, I say!

Stop by later this week when I’ll review Jason Segel’s upcoming Muppet movie script!
Click here to discuss this article on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: Fraggle Rock

When was the last time you checked out the Muppet Wiki? You can learn a lot just by clicking around randomly for a few hours... There's really a ton of information there that you never knew, even if you're a huge geek, which, let's face it, you are.

So let's play a little game I'm calling Wikitrivia. Below are a bunch of trivia questions about stuff that's on the wiki. Maybe you already know all this stuff, but if not, click on the answer links for the answers to the questions and craploads of further info.

And yes, I know you could just hover your mouse over the links to see the answers without reading the articles, but come on, man. That's no fun.

1. What is the name of Elmo's large-headed father?
Click here for the answer!

2. Which Muppet performer played Scred in the Land of Gorch sketches on the first season of Saturday Night Live?
Click here for the answer!

3. Which Muppet Show guest star appeared in the film Cabaret alongside considerably more famous fellow Muppet Show guest stars Joel Grey and Liza Minelli?
Click here for the answer!

4. Which episode of The Muppet Show included a writing credit for "The Hatrack?"
Click here for the answer!

5. In Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, which member of the Riverbottom Nightmare Band was performed by Richard Hunt?
Click here for the answer!

6. In 1981, the Muppets appeared in commercials for what camera company?
Click here for the answer!

7. What direct-to-video Muppet production featured Caroll Spinney's own puppet creations, Picklepuss and Pop?
Click here for the answer!

8. What 1974 Muppet TV special includes the "Froggy Went A-courtin'" sequence with Kermit riding a bicycle... five whole years before The Muppet Movie?
Click here for the answer!

9. The name "Rgllmzaxpoops" was briefly considered for which group of Fraggle Rock characters?
Click here for the answer!

10. Who was the guitarist for The Jim Henson Hour's house band Solid Foam?
Click here for the answer!

11. Which Frank Oz character sang the instant classic song "Accidents Happen" with Elmo in the 2007 Sesame Street home video release Elmo's Potty Time?
Click here for the answer!

12. What future teen drama star appeared in an episode of the Henson sitcom Aliens in the Family, in which he was eaten by the family pet?
Click here for the answer!

13. What's the name of the Egyptian prince who befriends Big Bird and Snuffy in the Sesame Street special Don't Eat the Pictures?
Click here for the answer!

14. What's the name of the restaurant -- well, it's more of a supper club -- where Kermit and Piggy dance and Lady Holiday's necklace is stolen in The Great Muppet Caper?
Click here for the answer!

15. What actor appeared with the Southern Colonel Muppet in the "Change Your Face" sketch on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1969?
Click here for the answer!

Click here to talk about incredibly interesting/obscure Muppet facts on the Tough Pigs forum!

Labels: fanaticism, Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street, The Muppet Show

The production: Elmo's World: Happy Holidays
The gift: Elmo gives Dorothy a drawing he made

Elmo spends this entire special trying to think of a good present for Dorothy, but gifts such as a new sweater, a bottle of wine, or a puppy are just not appropriate for a fish. On a suggestion from a fat guy in a red suit, he uses his imagination and comes up with an original work of art called "Dorothy's World," which depicts Elmo inside Dorothy's fishbowl. (Presumably in Dorothy's World Elmo has gills.)

Score: 4/10
This is a last-minute gift that looks like something scribbled by a three-year-old. I'm only scoring it this high because Elmo trekked all the way to North Pole and sat through a boring song about the Christmas spirit in order to get Santa's advice.


The production: A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
The gift: The Muppets' neighbor Claire asks Santa for, and receives, Christmas with the Muppets

Santa grants a few different wishes in the new Muppet Christmas special from this year: Nathan Lane gets a tricycle, which, sadly, we don't get to see him ride. Pepe gets an opera voice, which should really come in handy when they get around to making The Muppets' Gotterdammerung. Claire's letter to Santa, the plot device that drives the whole special, is simply to spend Christmas with all her Muppety friends.

Score: 8.5/10
Claire lives in the same building as the Muppets, so she gets to see them every day anyway. So I was going to rate this one pretty low... but then I got to thinking, How great a present would it be to have the Muppets come to your house on Christmas Eve? It would blow 1987's ThunderCats Cat's Lair playset out of the water, that's for sure.


The production: A Special Sesame Street Christmas
The gift: Big Bird gives Leslie Uggams a hat that everyone hates

This is the little-seen Sesame Christmas special (Danny wrote about it on this site a while back) in which Leslie Uggams is inexplicably hanging out on Sesame Street on Christmas. The humans all chip in to buy her a present, and they entrust Big Bird to pick it out, which is a pretty terrible idea. Was he established as being six years old back then? I wouldn't want a six-year-old picking out my present. Anyway, Leslie doesn't even pretend to like the hat, but she turns it into a cue for an inspiring song about really crappy Christmas presents.

Score: 1/10


The production: Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas
The gift: Emmet attempts to give his Ma a piano, while she attempts to give him a guitar

You know the story. The otters have noble gift-giving intentions, but each of them sacrifices the other's prized possession, then they both lose the talent contest, so they don't make any money, so they can't buy any presents so they did it all for nothing. But they still have each other... and then there is that happy ending. Hmm.

Score: I can't decide. What do you think?


The production: The Great Santa Claus Switch
The gift: Santa Claus gives Thog and Thig a toy truck and a teddy bear, respectively.

In this very first Muppet Christmas special, the guy who played Ed Norton on The Honeymooners teaches two naked, monstrous beasts that Christmas is all about giving toys away without expecting anything in return. Rumor has it that Thig was so touched by this lesson that he quit the Muppets and became the head of the Salvation Army.

Score: 7/10


The production: A Muppet Family Christmas
The gift: Robin gives Grover a Fraggle pebble

A tiny rock is just about the cheapest, most worthless gift you could ever give... but when it's changing hands between the two cutest Muppets in the world in a gesture of selflessness, it seems a lot better than one of those XBox 3whatchamacallits. Besides, Grover seems genuinely touched to receive it, and he's not one to fake sincerity. This gifting also happens to connect three different Muppet worlds, which is the point of the whole special.

Score: 10/10
The best part of the Fraggle pebble is that Grover can pawn it off on the first monster, rat, or chicken he sees, and rather than seeming ungrateful, he's just following the tradition!


The production: Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
The gift: Mr. Hooper returns Bert's paper clip collection and Ernie's rubber duckie to their rightful owners

If only they used money on Sesame Street, this story never would have happened. Bert trades Mr. Hooper his paper clips for a soapdish for Rubber Duckie, and Ernie trades Mr. Hooper Rubber Duckie for a cigar box for Bert's paper clips. Then Mr. Hooper gives everything back, which means he gets absolutely nothing from the whole deal except the satisfaction of selflessness, which, of course, is the true meaning of blah blah blah.

Of course, it's not like he would have had much need for a used rubber duckie anyway. The really important thing here, though, is this: Is this the only time a grown-up human was ever seen in Bert and Ernie's apartment? He looks very tall.

Score: 9/10

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! I hope you get presents that don't suck!

Do you agree with my assessments? Disagree? Which ones did I leave out? Click here to talk about this article on the Tough Pigs forum!

ToughPigsRyan@yahoo.com

Labels: Christmas, Fraggle Rock, lists, Sesame Street, The Muppet Show

You know what I can't get enough of? Art by ToughPigs' own Smig! That guy sure can draw. Lucky for us, he likes to draw Muppety things! Just like these here:

Click here to wear spandex on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: fan art, Fraggle Rock, Smig, The Muppet Show

On Tuesday, November 4th, two Jim Henson Company DVD releases went on sale: the Fraggle Rock Complete Series Collection and The Christmas Toy, which is on DVD for the first time.

The Fraggle Rock set's release means that all 96 episodes of the series are now available, from Beginnings to Change of Address, with lots of songs and fun and life lessons and Doozers in between.

But here's the thing: If you're like me (and who isn't?), you already bought the first, second and third seasons on DVD as they came out individually. Those are some beautiful collections, with the episodes looking great and a ton of lovely and informative extras, and they were well worth the $40 or so I paid for each one. But as of now, there are no plans to release a fourth season DVD set. So if you want every episode, you have to buy the first three seasons all over again. The list price is $139.98.

Basically, Henson and HIT Entertainment are saying, "Hey there, loyal fans! Thanks a lot for buying those first three seasons on DVD, thus proving that Fraggle Rock is commercially viable. We'd like to reward you by making you pay 140 bucks for three-fourths of a series you already own! We sincerely hope you have lots of fun giving us more of your money!"

Now, it's possible they'll release a season four set in the future, and when they do, I'll stop complaining. But for now I'm going to sit here and kvetch. Oh, and the other thing -- when they first announced the complete series set, the special features touted included a new short starring Red Fraggle, which was pretty exciting news for the fans. But don't look too hard on your DVDs for this extra, 'cause it's not there. Apparently they made the announcement before the short was actually filmed, and whoops, they ran out of time to make it.

Wasn't there a Fraggle episode where Mokey learned why you should never make promises you can't keep? Maybe the Henson people should have watched that one.

As for The Christmas Toy: It's a classic, and I haven't seen it in years, so I'm pretty happy that I'll be able to own it. But that doesn't mean I couldn't be happier.

As soon as we heard that the Jim Henson Company was releasing this special on DVD, we expected that Kermit would be edited out, and sure enough, the frog is nowhere to be seen. I happen to think the whole "Henson can't release any DVDs with Kermit because he's owned by Disney now" thing is really, really stupid. I'm not a lawyer, so I'm willing to accept the possibility that it's easier legally to just leave him out. But if Fox could release Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium on DVD with Kermit's very brief cameo intact, why can't Henson keep Kermit in a special they've owned the rights to since 1986?

But that's not all! According to this review from DVD Talk, the new disc includes no special features, and no menus. No menus! Can you believe that? I mean, it's not like I love and cherish DVD menus. Usually I don't even pay much attention to them. It's just that their absence makes it seem like Henson and HIT didn't even try. To not bother with menus indicates that they didn't put any more effort into this release than any number of those no-name companies that produce the DVDs littering the dollar bins, with names like Murder Explosion and The Man With the Ugly Hat. The Christmas Toy is such a good TV special; it really deserves more.

Maybe I'm sounding ungrateful, but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Come on, guys. We've been good fans and loyal DVD-buying customers. Can't you try just a little bit harder?

Click here to complain about cool DVDs on the Tough Pigs forum!

Labels: Christmas, complaining, DVD, Fraggle Rock, merchandise

With an outstanding 61% of the vote, Ernie has been elected President! Thanks to the great voter turnout at the ToughPigs forum, President Elect Ernie, along with his running mate Bert, will soon be moving from Sesame Street to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Gobo and Red Fraggle received 32% of the vote, and conceded the election to Ernie from his home in Fraggle Rock. He will continue to serve as Explorer for the Rock until his term is up.

There were, however, several write-in votes, including one for Mr. Scrooge (because he is "rude and badly dressed," according to one voter). Another vote was tallied for Kermit the Frog. As confessed "Joe the Plumber" Nia put it, "I've decided to cast my vote for the only amphibian whom I've ever had complete and total faith in. I'd stand behind this frog until the end. I know him to be a natural born leader who never hesitates to accept the responsibility of command. He rallies the masses and gets the job done. And so, while many will accuse me of tossing my ballot, I see no other option but to vote Kermit The Frog for Commander in Chief of the next 8 years .... at least."

Is this country ready for a frog in the White House? Maybe we'll find out in 2012!

Click here to discuss this Article Elect on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: Fraggle Rock, politics, Sesame Street

My esteemed colleague, Mr. J. M. Hennes, argued earlier this week in favor of a Gobo Fraggle Presidency. He worked hard to paint Gobo as someone who will strengthen the United States and extend a radish leaf of peace to all the nations of the world. It’s a commendable thought, and I certainly respect Joe’s right to feel that way. But the truth of the matter is this – Gobo Fraggle is completely unfit for the job of President.

Now, I could go down the expected path and paint Fraggle society as Socialistic. I could even make an unfair comparison between the name of Gobo’s running mate and the symbolic color of Communism, as seen in ugly propaganda like this:


But I’m not that person. There are many things about Fraggle culture that I admire and respect. I think one day this country would do very well to elect a Fraggle as President. But today is not that day, and Gobo is not that Fraggle. Simply put, the man is selfish and full of himself. He has frequently boasted of his self-reliance and the uselessness of relying on others. “I knew I was good,” he says proudly, with an egotistical grin.

His running mate isn’t much better, proclaiming for all to hear that, “All I need is me, me, me!” She has also shown a fool-hardy obliviousness to the achievements of others. When the Minstrels made their first appearance in Fraggle Rock, she cared only that she was the first one in the pool. Are these the type of people you want running your nation? People who put themselves first and have, in the past, bickered between themselves over who is “the leader”?

I don’t mean to dwell on Red Fraggle’s character, but she has shown an unfortunate willingness in the past to change her personality in order to win the affection of others. Ernie’s running mate, on the other hand, is very proud of being square, and wouldn’t change who he is for any reason.

I’d like to talk for a moment about Mr. Hennes’ specific claims. He mentioned the Last of the Lily Creatures in his pitch. Red’s treatment of that very important animal shows exactly how she and Gobo will treat the rest of this country. She promised she would come back to look after him, but the record shows that she never, ever did.

Mr. Hennes also stated that Gobo would end reliance on foreign radishes. Yet when has Gobo ever attempted to start a radish farm? His entire life has been spent stealing them from the Gorgs or, in the form of Doozer sticks, the Doozers. The Gobo/Red platform is built on empty promises, and there’s no indication that this will change in the future.

His claims that Gobo has a solid track record on foreign policy are simply ridiculous. Gobo spent years treating Doozers like scum and cowering in irrational fear of the Gorgs. A sudden change of heart at the end doesn’t erase that. He has also never taken a clear stand on the environment, switching back and forth between positions based on what his close advisor Convincing John told him to do. This long-standing ignorance is frightening, and sure to be repeated during his Presidency.

Convincing John, of course, is hardly the worst of Gobo’s advisors. Mr. Hennes very proudly stresses Gobo’s connection to his uncle, “Traveling” Matt Fraggle, calling him a capable explorer. Surely even Gobo’s most ardent supporters can see that the man is an embarrassment, a loose cannon and a huge albatross around the campaign’s neck. He thinks chewing gum makes your tongue explode. I can’t stress that enough.



As I mentioned, Gobo genuinely believes that his uncle Matt is exploring outer space. In fact, he is exploring the Earth. Gobo Fraggle cannot tell the difference between:




Think about that.

Now, Gobo Fraggle is certainly an appealing figure. He’s youthful, he’s enthusiastic, and he has big plans. It’s easy to be tempted to vote for him after his rousing speeches and memorable songs. But at heart, Gobo Fraggle will always put Gobo Fraggle first. We need a President who’ll put the American people first, and Ernie is it.

Seriously, though, I’d like to thank our own Joe Hennes for making all of the photoshopped images for this series of articles. That’s all Joe, folks. I tip my hat to him.

He'll be back tomorrow with some preposterous anti-Ernie slander.

Click here to cower in fear of the Gorgs on the Tough Pigs Forum.

Labels: Fraggle Rock, politics

Over the next several days, ToughPigs will be posting a series of articles related to next week's big Presidential election: Ernie and Bert vs. Gobo and Red. At the end of the week, go to the ToughPigs forum to vote for your favorite candidate!

Our country is currently in a state of crisis. The stock market continues to drop, unemployment is at an all-time high, and our fellow citizens are in constant fear of being thwomped by a Gorg. This is a time for change. And that change goes by the name Gobo Fraggle. Along with his running mate, Red Fraggle, he will end our reliance on foreign radishes, promote the “30-Minute Work Week” program, and reach out an olive branch to Inkspots, Poison Cacklers, and Ditzies throughout the Rock.

Economy
Many patriotic citizens already take part in the 30-Minute Work Week, including the Pipebangers, the Moon Greeter, and the Minstrels. Gobo and Red will invite all creatures, both Silly and otherwise, to participate, leaving more time for singing and dancing and playing games. In time, our country will run much more smoothly, and we will have the opportunity to set aside Doozer Sticks in high interest savings accounts for our futures and the futures of our children.

Education
As the candidates from Fraggle Rock know, there is no better education system than that of experience and tradition. Our children will learn about government through the semi-annual Ruler of the Rock Day. They will learn about physical fitness at the Fraggle Pond. They will learn vital communication skills on Joke Day. The limits to what they will learn and share with each other are as endless as the depths of the Echo Hole.

Environment
Fraggles such as Gobo and Red care more about our fragile environment more than anyone. Through his explorations, Gobo has taken appreciation of all types and sizes of species. From fauna like the Blustering Bellowpane Monster to flora like the Grapes of Generosity to minerals such as the Belching Boulder, Gobo has taken steps to allow for every plant, animal, and cavern to thrive in their own environment. Red Fraggle has even made a personal mission to preserve the Last of the Lily Creatures so he may live his life with the dignity he truly deserves.

Foreign Policy
With the close guidance of Marjory, the all-knowing Trash Heap, Gobo and Red will continue to strengthen relationships between the Fraggles, Gorgs, Doozers, and Silly Creatures. It cannot be denied that certain members of the Gorg clan have been shown to harbor terrorist tendencies, but Gobo promises to send troops into Gorg territory to clear the air of all ill thoughts toward creatures of different beliefs. He will also be utilizing his Operation: Radish project in order to show the codependency of our very different, yet interweaving, cultures. Having been incarcerated within Gorg country in the past, Gobo has the experience necessary to deal with the Gorgs as both a threat and an ally. His running mate, Red, will use her diplomatic connections to create a peaceful connection the Doozer community, while his Uncle Traveling Matt will carry on his exploratory mission through Outer Space as he makes continued contact with all types of Silly Creatures. Together, they will build bridges across the species barrier and bring a unity to the Universe.

Health Care
Continuing with his effort of employing people of great talent to his personal staff, Gobo has brought Boober Fraggle into his inner circle to council on the constant threats of disease, pestilence, phobias, death, paranoia, and superstition. Through proper diet and sterilization, he will make sure to keep people everywhere healthy and happy. He will also implement a national program to enforce mandatory Baloobius testing in public schools. As long as he serves in Gobo’s cabinet, he will ensure that there will never be another occurrence like the great Pebble Pox outbreak of 1985.

Immigration
Always an explorer at heart, Gobo encourages everyone to find a home wherever they feel most comfortable, whether it be locally or abroad, and whether it means leaving the Rock or becoming a citizen in another land. People may want to find a cave of one’s own, perhaps in the Caves of Boredom or the Cavern of Lost Dreams, or they may even move to an undisclosed desert location. Likewise, the door to our country will always be open to anyone small enough to fit through it.

Space Travel
After succeeding in his duty to capture the moon, Gobo has turned his sights elsewhere to further our knowledge of what lies beyond the Rock. He has employed the capable (and not at all clumsy) Traveling Matt to explore the entirety of Outer Space and report back to his nephew on a regular basis. If the success of his travels continues, Gobo, Red, and their cabinet may soon partake on an Outer Space mission themselves by the year 2010.

When you go to the voting cave on Election Day, remember Gobo and Red Fraggle. They will vow to use the experience they gained in the Fraggle Wars, the Finger of Light campaign, and the All-Day, Cross-Cave Beanbarrow Race Finals for the betterment of every rock, cave, and workshop within their reach. Don’t Wemble, perform the Solemn Fraggle Oath and vote for the best Fraggles for the job: Gobo/Red ’08!Come back tomorrow to read Anthony Strand's campaign promises for candidates Ernie and Bert!

Click here to discuss the Radish Party on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: Fraggle Rock, politics

In case you haven't looked three inches above these words lately, you may have noticed that we've got a shiny and new logo here at ToughPigs.com! We commissioned the piece a while back from our resident artist, Smig, and then sat on it for a few months before bothering to put it up. Because that's how we roll around here.

In honor of this momentous occasion, we also bring to you three new pieces by Smig. So enjoy the artiness! (Click the images to embiggen)

Click here to help unionize the Doozers on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: fan art, Fraggle Rock, Smig

As a well-connected Muppet fan, chances are that you have heard the big news. No, not that Thog was appointed as George W. Bush's new press secretary. The Fraggle Rock movie is officially in pre-pre-preproduction! Ok, maybe that’s old news for those of us who read about it two years ago, but it’s always nice to see something new when you do a Google search for “Fraggle”.

Labels: Fraggle Rock, in development, Muppet movies

This past Sunday, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the New York Toy Fair, where all of the toy companies come out to show their wares. ToughPigs' own Martha and Andrea were with me as we used our finely-tuned Sixth Sense to spot anything with a Sesame or Muppet logo. And that Sixth Sense was invaluable, as there were hundreds upon hundreds of booths. We were lucky enough to see some great toys that are coming out in the next year, and what kind of friend would I be if I didn't share the news? A pretty crummy friend, that's what. Well, crummy ain't in my profile, so here's some fun things to whet your whistle.

Master Replicas/Corgi

It's times like these that I wish I had a business card with the ToughPigs logo. Because dropping the "I write for a Muppet fan website" shout-out is apparently good enough to get us inside Corgi's closed doors, but not good enough to take pictures or ask detailed questions. Thankfully someone out there was able to grab photos, so you can see what I'm talking about.

The Kermit, Animal, Gonzo, and Fozzie Master Replicas photo puppets were on display. It was the first time I'd seen the Animal, Gonzo and Fozzie ones up close. There's a lot of good to be said for Animal, though I'm still convinced that his facial hair is all wrong. But the ostridge feathers are very pretty, and they flow like he's alive when there's a breeze. Gonzo looks great, with the exception of his nose, which is not-so-arguably the most important feature to get right. I understand the problems that arise when using foam, but I would have much preferred if they caved in and built a nose out of hard plastic. Fozzie, as TP's own Martha put it, makes up for all of the ugly Fozzie merchandise we've ever had. He's beautiful and perfect. I can't think of anything bad to say about him. He's a little shorter than I pictured him, but it fits with the sizes of the other photo puppets. I can only hope that he's affordable, as I pretty much need to own one.


The other Muppet product in Corgi's hidden room was five small Electric Mayhem figurines. They were very pretty, but the design was just flawed enough to make a shopper second-guess. The person I spoke to didn't have any details, but she said that the figures will be sold on the higher-end. Meaning that if they aren't perfect, and they're a little more expensive, they'll probably sell approximately 3 of them. And they'll all be Animal, because everyone loves Animal. Eat drums.



Gund

The Gund showroom was also closed to the public, so we decided to be sneaky and see how much we could see before someone noticed us. Most of the toys were nothing new. Dolls and puppets and some Abby Cadabby stuff. What caught my eye was a beautiful Count von Count doll. He really looked just like the puppet, and I'll shell out some dough for it. Another new (to me, at least) item I saw was Twiddlebug finger puppets. It's an idea so natural, I'm upset with myself for not thinking of it first. At that point, someone realized that we weren't important and we were shown the door. Well, the joke's on you, Gund, because I'm promoting your products anyway! Ha HA!

MINDstyle/Dark Horse

MINDstyle and Dark Horse had two booths across from each other, so forgive me if I didn't bother to tell them apart. They had all of the City Critters out on display, which are very nice. Not quite as Muppety as I'd like, but they're fun little toys. There were three Dark Crystal statues on display, including a pretty statue of Jen and Kira with the Crystal Shard. But the highlights were the Fraggle Rock toys.


First off, there is an 8" Doozer. And he's beautiful. Though Doozers are so simple, I'd imagine they'd be hard to mess up (I'm sure that won't stop the toy companies from trying). They had just received the Doozer that morning, so they didn't have any details yet, but they said he will probably be on a slightly higher-end than an action figure. I'll do some research to try and find out more about it.


The other Fraggle surprise was the upcoming Fraggle Rock blind-boxed figures. They're maybe about 2 1/2" tall, slightly stylized, and very very pretty. Characters include: Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober, Red, Traveling Matt, two Doozers on a Doozer construction, the Trash Heap's head, Pa Gorg's head, Sprocket's head (with bowl), and two generic Fraggles. I'm a little surprised that they included the two generic Fraggles above Junior or Ma Gorg, Cantus, Convincing John, or even some sort of variant (Boober dressed as the Old Gypsy Lady?). The other strange part is that each character is placed on top of an alphabet block. I'd think that these would be marketed toward an older crowd, so the "educational" value might be better left off. Plus, I have no idea what learning letters has to do with Fraggle Rock. But other than that, these figures are terrific, and I can't wait to own them. I'm not excited about the blind-boxes, but a Muppet fan's gotta do what a Muppet fan's gotta do. And that's spend a lot of money.

Toy Vault

The good people at Toy Vault were nice enough to let me take pictures, so I'll let them speak for themselves. And in case my photo skillz aren't good enough for you, here you'll see a pillow with the Dark Crystal logo, a plush Fizzgig (with giant, scary opening mouth), plush of Rygel from Farscape, Labyrinth Door Knocker plush (I can only assume the other one will be produced as well), and a Talking Ludo plush (unfortunately, the demo didn't have the voice chip yet, but he's adorable anyway).



Deal Makers

This is a Dutch company that makes Sesamstraat wooden toys like scooters, toy trains, toy cars, and the like. Their American counterpart will soon be selling these toys (with the Sesame Street logo, I'd wager), and I happen to think they're cutie patootie. I especially like the cars, which wobble as they roll. They've got a vintage look to them, and I'm a sucker for toys that don't even try to be "realistic". Just a wooden ball with Ernie's face painted on it, that's all I need. Also pictured are some Sesamstraat bicycle bells. Not yo-yo's, as I originally assumed.




Putumayo Kids

The last booth we visited was Putumayo Kids, which specializes in international CDs and DVDs. They had a video playing of their new release, called "Sesame Street Playground," which is a compilation of songs and skits from all of the different Sesame Street productions from around the world (subtitled for the mono-lingualled like myself). The video looked like a lot of fun, and it's always interesting to see Elmo trouncing about in some foreign nation. The DVD will come packaged with a CD, so get ready for some new-to-us material from Sesame Workshop! The art in the image is the final album art without the text added yet.


Unfortunately, we were not able to get access to the Fisher Price room where they were unveiling the new Elmo Live doll. But you can see some video of the unbelievable living Elmo here.

So, I hope you enjoyed this quick review of Toy Fair, and I hope you feel like you were there too. If you do, you owe me $8 for the cab. C'mon man, we said we were splitting it! Don't be that guy.

Click here to get all excited over toys that won't hit the shelves for another 8 months on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: DVD, Fraggle Rock, merchandise, Photo Puppets, review, Sesame Street

There's been a lot going on in the news over the last few weeks, and unfortunately our news writers are all on strike. So here's a brief catch-up on the highlights:

The Muppet Show: Season 3 has been announced for a May 20, 2008 release. All 24 episodes are there, and they'll hopefully be edit-free. Fozzie's extreme closeup made the cover, and the special features include the new documentary, "The Making of the Muppets" and the old documentary, "Muppets on Puppets."

Fraggle Rock: Season 4, also known as Seasons 4 and 5 (HBO split the final production season into two broadcast seasons) will be out on DVD this fall. Not much more information than that has been added, but we're all that much closer to owning all documented footage of Fraggle spelunking.

And most recently, the Jim Henson Company has announced that they will be making the entire series of Fraggle Rock and Farscape available on iTunes. Episodes will cost $1.99 each, and the first seasons of each are already online.

So there you have it, lots of old Muppety stuff to watch and to watch out for.

Take a peek at the ToughPigs forum to discuss the above newsbits!

Labels: DVD, Fraggle Rock, Jim Henson Company, The Muppet Show

Thanksgiving is almost here! Do you know what I'm thankful for? Well yeah, okay, I'm thankful for underwear, but do you know what else? I'm thankful for the Fraggle Rock Complete Third Season DVD set. I realize it came out way back in September, but I'm still thankful for it. I am so full of thanks that I slosh when I walk, and I'm going to tell you about it:

I'm Thankful for Episodes I've Never Seen Before. With each new complete season release I grow closer, ever closer, to having seen all 96 episodes. I'll be sad when there are no more left for me to discover, because there are no other good television shows available on DVD. But until then, it's fun to see episodes that are new-to-me, and this season has some real doozies (Not to mention some real Doozers.)

In "The Beanbarrow, the Burden and the Bright Bouquet," Red's life is threatened by voracious foliage and she responds by singing a lullaby to a potted plant. In "Playing Till It Hurts," we meet Rock Hockey Hannah, probably the only Fraggle ever to wear earrings. Who knew they even HAD ears? "Scared Silly" is one of the weaker episodes of the season, but it is notable for affording a rare opportunity to see Boober acting like a total jerkwad. And "Bored Stiff" is a great episode that's really representative of the Fraggle/Gorg relationship... I'd put it on a list of episodes to show a Fraggle neophyte.

I'm Thankful for Episodes I Know and Love. I was a kid and fan of Fraggle Rock during its original run, but I didn't have HBO. Heck, my hometown didn't even have cable yet. I had four channels to choose from, and if the picture got fuzzy, I had to climb up on the roof and adjust the antenna. And I was four years old! So I relied on tapes of Fraggle Rock recorded by my awesome, big-city-dwelling, HBO-having aunt.

A number of those episodes are present here: There's "Wembley and the Mean Genie," with an outstanding performance by Richard Hunt as a genie who's nowhere near as sexy or eager to please as Barbara Eden, although it should be noted that you can't see his belly button either, but it's not so much because of censors as it is because he's a puppet. There's "Boober and the Glob" -- the first Fraggle episode I ever saw, back before I even knew that Fraggles were Muppets -- in which Boober, who can't tell a joke to save his life, has to tell a joke to save someone else's life. "The Secret Society of Poobahs" is here too, with a terrific and occasionally side-splitting Jerry Juhl-penned script about Mokey's attempts to join the ranks of a secret society.

I'm Thankful for the Ever-expanding Universe. By this time all the characters were well-established, so the writers started exploring the world beyond the day-to-day lives of the five principals. There's an all-Gorg episode ("The Battle of Leaking Roof"), as well as two episodes with scenes that take place outside the confines of the Gorg's estate. "The Cavern of Dreams" and "Gunge the Great and Glorious" teach us about Doozer history and politics, and in "Born to Wander," we find out how Uncle Traveling Matt first became an explorer. We even get to see him without his moustache! (Spoiler: He looks weird.)

I'm Thankful for the Presentation of the DVD. We should all bake up some delicious brownies and send them to HIT Entertainment. For the third time now, they've given us a lovely package, suitable for viewing. The episodes all look and sound fine to me, although some of the colors occasionally seem too bright or too dull, but that might just be my TV. (I'll post a review of my TV here next week.)

And talk about extras! Okay, I will. After season one's replica of Jim Henson's brainstorming notebook and season two's copy of the Fraggle Rock pitch book, I was wondering what artifact might remain for inclusion here... a photo of Jerry Juhl's typewriter? A copy of Kathy Mullen's dry cleaning receipts? Well, those aren't here, but instead we get pages and pages of designer Michael Frith's sketches and concept drawings for "The Origin of the Rock." It's fascinating, it comes in a nifty-looking fake pouch, and it's all accompanied by Frith's commentary. Say, did you know that an early incarnation of the Trash Heap was originally conceived as a Sesame Street character? Neither did I -- until now! Just make sure you don't read these in front of an industrial fan, because they're just loose pages, easily susceptible to blowing away.

Oh, and did I mention the featurettes? I hope the producers of the Muppet Show season sets are paying attention, because this is the way to make fans happy. We'd be doing cartwheels and backflips to get this level of quality in our Muppet Show extras.

The 30-minute "Season 3 overview" would have been good enough, with new interview footage of the show's writers talking about how various episodes came to be. For example, "Believe It or Not" came about because writer Jocelyn Stevenson wanted to do an episode about the fact that we all create our own reality, and what you believe things is to be is the way you end up perceiving them. (Is this heavy stuff for a kids' show, or what?) And then you have your "How the heck did they do that?" technical shorts, and your new interviews, including one with Gerry Parkes, the actor who played Doc, and who seems like a wonderfully sweet old man.

As is perhaps obvious, I'm an enormous geek, and I devour any kind of behind-the-scenes footage, so the one featurette that comes as the biggest delightful surprise is "Scared Silly - Art Imitating Life," which is basically footage of the Fraggle folks sitting around talking about how much fun they used to have scaring the heck out of each other on the set. Really, watching the entire "bonus disc" feels like sitting in on a reunion of the cast and crew of the show as they reminisce about what a great few years the show was, and I don't know about you, but I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon.

Having Said That... I'm trying to find something to complain about, but I gotta say, it's difficult. Actually, there is one thing that bugs me. So, there's a postcard from Uncle Traveling Matt in almost every episode of the series, right? Which means they had to come up with 90-something things for him to misunderstand. Apparently season three was when they started running out of good ideas. Rollercoasters and trains are funny, but lightswitches? Not as funny. One episode's postcard features Matt encountering a mirror and mistaking his reflection for an ugly creature who wants to steal his food. Come on. Matt's stupid, but doesn't it stretch credibility to suggest that he has no clue what he looks like?

So, Yeah. I'm thankful for the show, and I'm thankful for HIT, and I'm thankful for these DVDs. They may not taste as good as the mashed potatoes with gravy I'm planning eat on Thanksgiving, but on the other hand, they don't make a big mess when you put them in the DVD player.

Click here to discuss Fraggle Rock: Complete Third Season on the Tough Pigs forum!

Labels: DVD, Fraggle Rock, review

Don't be so glum, chum! Today's the big day! You know, the day. From the calendar. The calendar with the days in it.

Today is the day when the third season of Fraggle Rock is released onto DVD. So go to your local Best Boy, Circular City, or Virginia Mega Store and pick it up before a Gorg catches you.

Where else can you see a Philo and Gunge-centric episode? Or Fraggle fraternity hazing? Or another Philo and Gunge-centric episode? How about some of your favorite characters, like Uncle Gobo, Begoony, and the triumphant return of Wander McMooch!

So get out there and buy some DVDs, or else you may end up like the Fraggles below. It's not a threat, just an insistent reminder.

Click here to do the Trash Heap's bidding and discuss this article on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: DVD, Fraggle Rock

Many apologies to anyone who read the article that used to fill this space. I incorrectly reported that Fraggle Rock was coming back to TV on Boomerang, but it seems that it is only true for UK-based Muppet fans.

So, y'know, check your local listings and all. And feel free to take anything I say with a modicum amount of skepticism.

Click here to publicly mock Joe on the ToughPigs forum!

Labels: Fraggle Rock

Amidst the magic of Fraggle Rock, there is an unseen force. An invisible power that looms over the entire show, its characters, and all that goes with it. Not much is known about this obscured, shadowy figure. Some might even say that he’s “outta sight.” Wow, not even the North American Society of Tinkerers will forgive me for that one.

The translucent gentleman I’m speaking of is Ned Shimmelfinney. Mr. Shimmelfinney has been a large part of more Fraggle Rock B-plots than the Trash Heap herself. He’s tormented Doc to the point of utter insanity and he is loathed (for the most part) by Doc’s faithful ward, Sprocket. But we have never seen Mr. Shimmelfinney, nor have we seen more than a glimpse of his remarkably spry cat, Fluffinella. Why must this incredibly important character be reduced to the likes of Vera Peterson, Charlie, and the lower half of Wilson’s face?

To learn who Ned Shimmelfinney is, we must delve deep into his past. We’ve got to see what makes this guy tick. Travel back in time with me to 1982, when men were men, Time Magazine awards a friggin’ computer as Man of the Year, and Canadian-American film actress Margot Kidder is at the youthful age of 34. In the rolling hills of Dale City, Virginia, 6-year old Kati was a dedicated Muppet Show viewer, as well as a member of the Muppet Show Fan Club. As the show’s run came to an end, so did the Fan Club newsletters. Shortly before the final issue was released, Kati’s parents got a phone call from someone from Henson Associates. They saw Kati’s name on the subscription list and wanted to know how to pronounce the surname and what its origins are. Kati’s last name? Schimelpfenig.

While the story is 100% true, there’s no way to know for sure if the reason for the call was to get an idea for a Fraggle Rock character’s name. Although when Kati and her parents first saw Sprocket’s Shimmelfinney impression, it was hard to think that the phone call was for any other reason.

So why do we love Ned Shimmelfinney like we do? Is it because he reminds us of our subconscious id? Or the neighbor to our subconscious id? Or maybe we all just really like a good pie-in-the-face gag. I like to think it’s because someone, maybe Jerry Juhl or even Jim Henson himself, reached out to the people most important to the Muppets, the fans, and paid homage to us through one little Virginia girl.

Ned Shimmelfinney was born from you and me.

Click here to discuss this article on the Tough Pigs forum!

Labels: fanaticism, Fraggle Rock