You know that I know that you know that The Muppet Show is coming to Disney+ soon. But I also know that you should know that Disney+ will soon be home to another classic Henson series: Dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs will be streaming in its entirety on Disney+ starting this Friday. As great of a show Dinosaurs is, it’s most definitely getting overshadowed by the big Muppet Show news. So we’re here to remind you that there are some extremely good reasons to dive into prehistory.
A Sitcom About Sitcoms
It’s of little surprise that Dinosaurs is a funny sitcom. But one thing I completely forgot about before a recent revisit of the show is that it’s also a parody of sitcom tropes. For example, most episodes feature a “Very Special Episode” moment, which never feels all sappy or sentimental. This show could’ve easily just been an updated version of The Flintstones, as a generic sitcom with prehistoric puns. But no, they went the extra mile for that subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) meta factor.
And somehow, with all those familiar sitcommy traits, Dinosaurs still feels fresh, which is quite the accomplishment for a show that’s 65 million years old.
The Puppets
Oh yeah, this show has puppets! Not just any puppets, but Henson-built puppets. Yes, of course you’re aware of this. But it’s another thing entirely to see them in action. The puppets built for this series are among the most sophisticated created by the Creature Shop. They each seem completely alive, thanks to the seamless partnership between voice actors, costumed performers, and the puppeteers controlling the facial expressions.
But it’s not just the walkaround Sinclair family, but also the mix of hand puppets and unique puppetry styles they use for characters like Roy the T-Rex and Monica the Brontosaurus. It’s endlessly entertaining just seeing how they bring each character to life and make you forget that there are people in those rubber costumes.
The Humans
Dinosaurs is a great spotlight for so many Muppet performers, including (but hardly limited to) Kevin Clash, Steve Whitmire, Brian Henson, Noel MacNeal, and Dave Goelz. The show was also an early spotlight for future Muppet superstar Bill Barretta, who performed inside the body of Earl Sinclair. Within the main cast, you might recognize the voices of Arrested Development‘s Jessica Walter, All in the Family‘s Sally Struthers, Law & Order‘s Christopher Meloni, and The Jeffersons‘ Sherman Helmsley.
But listen close and you’ll hear a slew of well-known celebrities providing the voices for many other characters. Jason Alexander, Jeffrey Tambor, Edie McClurg, Michael McKean, Tim Curry, Buddy Hackett, Michael Dorn, and Dan Castellaneta are just a few of the familiar ones you might encounter during your Dinosaurs binge.
Not the Mama
It’s impossible to think of Dinosaurs without associating it with Baby Sinclair. To some, Baby is the epitome of obnoxious. Thanks to his Kevin Clash falsetto, he certainly evokes the most abrasive parts of Elmo. Well, I’m thrilled to report that Baby Sinclair is hysterical. If he’s annoying, that’s part of the point. He’s every cute and snarky sitcom kid, just with a frying pan. Trust me – give him another shot. He’ll surprise you… once you get past the catchphrase.
That Finale
The Dinosaurs finale might be the greatest, most shocking series finale in television history. (Get ready, we’re gonna spoil it here.) For such a silly show, the show went out in the darkest way possible. After getting to know and love the Sinclair family over 65 episodes, the series ends by killing them, along with the rest of their dinosaur friends and neighbors. Of course, that’s the only way the series could end, according to the history books. But the show had the guts to actually go through with it, which is incredible.
Naturally, there are dozens of other reasons to watch and enjoy this show once it drops on Disney+ this week. And if you get started right away, you may be able to watch all 65 episodes before The Muppet Show launches a few weeks later. And even if you aren’t able to, don’t worry – the Dinosaurs have been around for millions of years. They’re not going anywhere.
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by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com
