I’ve always been a big fan of the Muppets. Loved them as a kid – proof may be found here:
I had always wanted to work for the Jim Henson Creature Shop, and nearly came to a work experience placement with them when I was at secondary school except that due to heavy work commitments they had to pull out (I had an interview all set-up with Neal Scanlan who has now gone on to run his own creature FX studio – one of his most recognisable creations has been the Tweenies).
Somewhat ironically I ended up working in digital VFX instead and the Creature Shop in Camden had then consequently shut back in 2003-2004 – presumably due to the competition from the Soho FX houses and the lack of demand for animatronic creations (MPC itself took on a lot of work replacing creatures which started life as animatronics which just never worked well enough for the director).
But after Jim Henson died back in May 1990, the quality of the Muppets output dramatically declined and I stop watching them pretty much after the Muppets Christmas Carol which was, to me, the only good thingthey did after Henson’s death. Everything else was mediocre, made worse by the lack of the talented writing team that made the Muppets what they were. Sure, the performances from the puppeteers were marvellous (even though quite a few of the original team have retired from performing – most notable is Frank Oz), but they still seemed to lack soul.
So when YouTube videos of the Muppets started to appear over the past few months – with the likes of Sam the Eagle, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew & Beaker, and the rest (now under one roof) – I began to feel that the overall quality has significantly improved. The Muppets feel more like the Muppets again, and not some hollowed out shell that they once were. I particularly love their take on the Bohemian Rhapsody.
So: welcome back, Muppets. I’ve missed you (says this 33 year old man!).
(But is it just me – has the Muppets themselves received a bit of an upgrade in that those Muppets which had “arm sticks” no longer need them? It’s a bit freaky – it’s as though the hands have a life of their own!)
