What's RUINING The Muppets? (The Downfall of Jim Henson's Legacy)

[@Saberspark]

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[@stephanieok5365]

Was your puppet commissioned by someone? I love it's movement.

[@ReaperSaga-3713]

Damn what a great video. Happy holidays Saber, don't forget to take a break after this one.

[@spyro115]

Now that you've become a puppet, we can throw a party playing "PUPPET" by Thousand Foot Crutch.

[@jordancambridge4106]

You need to make a correction about 1 thing that I know of. Yoda was not invented for Star Wars. For Starters Yoda was first in Star Wars in 1983 with The Empire Strikes back. However in ET a kid wore the mask of what we now know as Yoda and ET was released in 1981 before Yoda was ever created. Now note they used box of random old movie props. The mask that was used to pretend to be Yoda is from and I am sad to say this a forgotten movie which has been declared as lost media that I did see in the 1990s but it was a movie called Trolls From Under The Bridge or Trolls Who Live Under the Bridge which was from 1966. It was a campy style movie to say it nicely. Basically people wore bad costumes and destroyed a bunch of cardboard box sets like the original Godzilla movies. It was solid D tier movie. George Lucas never created the creature he just used an existing costume and called it his own creation kind of like how he didn't create Star Wars he took 2 existing franchises and has lied his ass off ever sense after stealing the ideas and claiming he created it out of no where. Go watch the 1963 Thundarr The Barbarian and Star Blazers aka Space Battle Ship Yamato the second series changed its name when it got remade and when it got the American dubbing in the 1960s and when it got an American full release in the 1990s. You watch those 2 shows and you will wonder how in the hell he could blatantly lie about creating Star Wars and not get sued to death for blatant plagiarism. Oh and the 1988 He Man and the Republic Clone Army Versus Droid Confederate Army Movie. Yes that is the actual title of the movie and I am sure you can guess what its about. That live action He Man movie was really really bad and makes you question a lot of stuff.

[@jordancambridge4106]

Sesame Street is set in the back door of high rises between buildings where the trash cans are. Sesame Street is an alley not a street. It should be called Sesame Back Alley.

[@MoonWielder]

Smiling Friends said it best about companies: "It's *MY* IP to sit on and do nothing with!"

[@spiwolf6998]

I can hear this in Zach's screetch.

[@kadeshaderow]

@@spiwolf6998 Okay but he was voiced by Lyle

[@spiwolf6998]

@@kadeshaderow That's fair.

[@somecallmesean_]

@@kadeshaderowthe famous Lyle from “Lyle! Lyle! Turn on the TV! THEY HIT THE FUCKING PENTAGON!!!! They hit the fucking pentagon, Lyle….”

[@disneyvillainsfan1666]

That line gets more and more accurate every year.

[@GrooBladeTheFedSlayer]

Whoever made the decision to get Stadtler and Waldorf cracking jokes at The Games Awards had the right idea and understood the assignment. They stole the show!!!

[@jgee8421]

Look at the previous game awards , muppets are there too

[@RJS2003]

Legit a genius decision from Geoff to have those two come on. They know a lot of people hate The Game Awards and that bringing on the Muppets whose whole thing are to be haters was a brilliant idea to capitalize on. I was legit shocked when the literal first joke they made was directly referencing the infamous "Please, wrap it up" incident. Like damn, they held no punches right from the onset. I've never watched The Muppets but I'm comfortable calling Statler and Waldorf my favourite Muppets now, no doubt.

[@Skellman98]

@@jgee8421 Yeah Swedish Chef had a bit last year... and ended up in Overcooked... at one of them.

[@Lucky_Dagger]

The bits were terrible though.

[@BroZilla-vh3tu]

@@jgee8421 They've always been there, but Statler and Waldorf were by far the best

[@IsleofJaya]

Waldorf: They aren't half bad. Statler: Nope, they're ALL bad!

[@pbase36]

OOOOHHH HO HOHO HO!!!

[@samanderson4024]

HA!!!!!!!!!! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!👏

[@Chirishman6]

Honestly I’d be in for a Statler and Waldorf audio track MST3k style on almost any movie

[@NiallByrne]

Honestly in a perfect world we would have gotten Muppet Adaptions of classic Disney properties instead of the “live action remakes”. Also 100 percent agreed, the muppet is a timeless and iconic. They should be invested in, in a similar fashion to marvel and given a creative director that overseas and green lights creative projects. They are worth a lot of money and there is a lot of potential profit that is being missed out on by not capitalising on their brand.

[@Doodle6151]

YES i already love muppetd christmas carol, it’d be cool to see the muppets do their own verisons of other stories

[@Ryder-z2e]

YES!! MUPPET STAR WARS!

[@RheaZenko]

That would of been amazing. 100%

[@LittleMissLounge]

Ooh, that's an idea. The Hey Cinderella! special was one of my favorites as a kid. I imagine something similar to that, but updated without losing the charm. I will always love the dynamic of serious actors playing alongside Muppets. Edit: Hell, the new live-action Snow White would be improved by having Muppets play the dwarves instead of those CGI monstrosities.

[@animekittykitty]

100%! I've said for years that there are so many comedy remakes they could make with the Muppet IP. Imagine a Beauty and the Beast where Beast is the only human (maybe even get like a Henry Cavil type who is hyper handsome) and have the Muppets call him hideous and dreadful the whole movie just for him to turn into a Muppet in the end. Or a Snow White and the Seven Giants, with the Giants being played by humans and Miss Piggy being the Evil Queen (and her REFUSING to turn into a hag, which is how she gets called out for poisoning Snow White). There's so many opportunities at their finger tips, if they weren't cowards!

[@thedecidueyeguy9146]

Sesame Street is also ruined because got removed from HBO Max/Max and now needs donations to keep the show alive.

[@michaelstrong5383]

You would have to be the worst CEO of all time if you screwed Sesame Street over badly. Oh hi, David Zaslav.

[@frank8917]

​@@michaelstrong5383 complain about it all you want, its not gonna get him out of WB Now, if we went on a strike however...

[@casellpeterson7424]

I had no idea that sesame Street was in trouble I assumed that they were doing alright and I also wonder why they never did a crossover with Muppets and sesame Street instead of just having Kermit show up or sesame Street occasionally?

[@nostalgiamostalgia0319]

that's pathethic irony.

[@juliangandara9552]

So that's why they tried to sell NFTs. Talk about a fall from grace

[@flashfunk0373]

I feel like the treatment of the Muppets is very similar to Warner Bros treatment of the Looney Tunes has been for the past twenty years post-Space Jam and Back in Action. Honestly would like to see a “What’s Ruining Looney Tunes” video from Saber sometime next year.

[@VitaminNick-k1r]

I fell like waner brothers treats the loony tunes more as mascots then an actual franchise at this point.

[@flashfunk0373]

@VitaminNick-k1r The thing is most modern LT stuff has been pretty solid (except Wabbit and Space Jam 2) and the Day the Earth Blew Up is shaping up to be one of the best movies of next year. It literally has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and WB isn't even distributing the movie even though the Looney Tunes are arguably their biggest original asset.

[@garali1973]

I feel like it’s Hanna Barbera who gets the worst treatment by the WB. That terrible Velma series anyone.

[@C0ldIron]

It’s kind of funny that they do short comedy shows like teen titans go but loony toons and Hanna Barbara creations are memory holed.

[@haileyshannon7548]

@@garali1973 I wish they would feature Hanna Barbera shows that aren't Scooby or Tom and Jerry more. Jellystone was an attempt.

[@redman8828]

If you want to watch more about Jim Henson, highly HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Defunctland’s series on him. Kevin Perjurer and the rest of his team go into a lot more detail about certain things that Saber briefly touched on here, and it’s also just a really well written series.

[@reneeangely8446]

And Animat’s Animation Lookback on the Muppets.

[@allien.777]

Seconded, for the love of god i can't recommend Perjurer's documentary on Henson enough. It's so well done, you really wont regret it.

[@jennamcfly]

Thirded! It’s a wonderful docuseries and it will make you cry!

[@ForrestFox626]

Kind of sad Saber didn't mention it

[@comettamer]

I saw that series, and it was amazing how much they did their research. They went so deep it was insane.

[@awesomeocelot7475]

Frank Oz also believes the Disney deal also made Jim sick since he definitely wasn’t a Businessman and couldn’t handle the pressure from Disney.

[@Jok3rsFaVor]

Disney is quite a Devil... 🃏

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

Jim was trying to juggle a lot of things in the last few months of his life. The Disney deal was just more stress that Jim didn't need.

[@markdaly1648]

​@@JCBro-yg8vdjim henson had done everything he wanted to do. He idolised Walt disney. Actively sought them out to run his company after his first attempt blew up in his face. That was to Australian tv mogul and founder of hit. That deal went sour and henson clawed the company back. He was reaching retirement age. And after nearly thinking about ending it all. He wrote the henson letters to his children. Brad grey was furious about the deal he didn't know about. bernie brillsteen told grey after henson died about hensons secret deal re his children. It gave his children control company and looked to grey that he was cut of the picture. There is an old adage in business never put your children in charge of your company

[@LittleMissLounge]

Ultimately, not going to the hospital soon enough (with the very rare toxic shock syndrome caused by S. pyogenes) killed Henson, but I don't doubt that didn't help stress-wise.

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

@@LittleMissLounge I remember reading something that suggested Henson's Christian Science upbringing also made him very hesitant to see a doctor, so that might have contributed too. Then again, I don't know how well known toxic shock snydrome was known back then, so they might not have detected it soon enough.

[@Foxonian]

According to Jim's wife, if you ever wanted to see how Jim Henson and Frank Oz got along, just look at Ernie and Bert. That was basically them.

[@ForrestFox626]

Considering the story Frank told at Jim's wake regarding a gift of many Berts, I can totally see it

[@szaporta]

@@ForrestFox626 Poor Frank - seeing him break at the end of that story. That was just us seeing (and hearing, because Frank's speaking voice sounds just like a deeper version of Bert's voice) Bert lose Ernie IRL 💔

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

As a very long time fan of Muppets, and puppetry in general, I can tell you it's because Disney has no idea about how to run a puppet troupe. As big as The Muppets became during Jim's lifetime, they were still closer to being a community theater or improv group than anything else. (I also like to think that Bob Iger has a terrible phobia of puppets) I'm hopeful though that things may change for the better in the future, despite the bad news about Muppetvision. I can't see the Henson family letting the last major project Jim worked on get lost forever. Personally, I'm hoping that the Center for Puppetry Arts becomes involved and provides Muppetvision with a permanent home at their museum. I'd also like to see them actually own the Muppets IP completely someday. As nice as it would be to see them under the Henson umbrella again, I don't think that will happen for a variety of reasons, some financial and some personal. All we do is keep believing in that Rainbow Connection...

[@Jok3rsFaVor]

Disney does prefer easy CGI over any kind of human-use so... Definitely figures they'd just eliminate the competition vs utilizing it... Jim was the only thing holding this inevitability back... 🃏

[@Dxuser5]

bro i deadass read that in Jane's voice.

[@dinosaysrawr]

Fundamentally, the Muppets embody an anarchic energy that is antithetical to the predictable, controlled, paint-by-numbers M.O. of the Disney suits. Disney doesn't know how to "do" the sentimentality without crossing into sugary, condescending schmaltz and how to "do" the humor without coming across like snarky, self-aware, self-flagellating Gen Xers who are very proud of having seen more movies than you.

[@LittleMissLounge]

I also read this in Jane Lane's voice 🙂. I completely agree. Also, I laughed at the idea of Bob Iger being terrified of puppets.

[@alexanderthealright]

​@dinosaysrawr not just sentimentality; there was an unshakable core of emotional honesty and empathy to the Muppets & Co that a company like Disney perpetually hogtied by the line-must-go-up mentality will always struggle to convey.

[@Kenz-the-oakes]

I wish puppetry weren’t a dying art I make traditional Czech marionettes I wish others shared the passion

[@LittleMissLounge]

Thanks to you, I went down a rabbit hole about Czech culture and puppets. I had no idea how deep the tradition went. Man, I wish my country was more associated with puppets instead of, IDK, imperialism.

[@hanyuuhiiragi3544]

​@@LittleMissLounge Same.

[@Insiderslooks]

That's so cool! I would love to see it. Have any sosial media I can see?

[@kyleevanvorst5424]

I've felt the same too. Everytime that I see that letters about other careers more than puppetry, I've felt like puppetry are slowly dying at this point. That's why I'm passionate about being a puppeteer because I wanna follow Jim Henson's footsteps, and sees everybody happy and laughing. It doesn't matter what age you are when you love puppetry, no one won't judge you, they just surprised that some people wants to be a puppeteer. And I'm glad that The Muppets, Sesame Street, etc are bring puppetry to life and our passion. I wish people talks about puppetry more in schools when someone wants to be a puppeteer. We wish that puppetry stays alive for Jim Henson's legacy, and keep puppetry feel more seen and heard. Rest in peace, Jim Henson, we always love your arts and creativity that brings your characters to life.

[@SinEater_]

I wish stop motion wasn't dying. It is just up to those that create to keep it alive. Also, practical effects should definitely make their way back into movies.

[@geoffreyrichards6079]

The whole thing with the Muppets post-Jim Henson eerily mirrors what Disney went through following Walt’s passing, with everything being played safe and there being a lot of division between the old and new generations on where to go next. I guess that’s kinda the result of having an ongoing legacy be built upon one individual’s name and success.

[@ForrestFox626]

We need more creative people in higher positions of power, not just people who want to make money.

[@Vampiyaa]

Not a Saber muppet to narrate the whole video 😭 That's so charming! You went above and beyond in this one my guy, well done

[@michaelstrong5383]

Instead of these live action remakes, Disney should have made Muppet remakes of their classic films. I'd watch those in a heartbeat.

[@CaptainCat101]

That's a brilliant idea

[@SataniaMcDowel]

This would be AWESOME

[@imtyler99yearsago90]

Should Disney make this a movie? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWq0dGhoq9aqocksi=zSA7xl-Xu-EZiIwm

[@geckoguyDaroh]

This, I remember reading a post on Reddit about remaking beauty and the beast, make all characters Muppets except for the one person playing the beast, who is just a normal person, I'd watch that in a heartbeat.

[@joshuav875]

I absolutely agree. They should’ve easily done that with the 2025 Snow White movie as what one user I know named, Aged Boomer mentioned in one stream they did

[@just_a_little_nerd]

Rest in peace Jim Henson. Though the premiere was fun, the main lesson here is your health, mental or physical, is more important than your job. Thanks saber for this amazing video ❤

[@LeBasfondMusic]

I feel like one of the biggest issues with the modern Muppets is literally Iger, because Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island were both done by Disney, and those are masterpieces.

[@GeahkBurchill]

Hey Saber, I gotta mention, as a puppeteer, and a member of Puppeteers of America, good first performance!!! While performing, try to hold your hand rigid for the most part. Talk with only your thumb, especially with human puppets. A very common pitfall for new puppeteers is making the entire top of the head open for every word the character speaks. You want the lower jaw to do most of the movement. It’s gonna feel really awkward for a while. Your thumb will feel slow and your hand being more fixed will feel unnatural and uncomfortable. You’ll get a sore wrist and achy thumb from doing things this way. You’ll feel like it’s not worth it and you want to give up. HOWEVER, when you look at the playback, or live monitor, you will see a big difference in the reality and relatability of your character. It will feel more alive and the eyes will hold steady contact with the audience. You’ll see a big difference in the believability of the illusion. Stick with it! You’re doing great!

[@Howard-Kevin]

This! Great research, thanks for that Saber, and such supportive feedback for the video (puppeteers are a very passionate demographic), but yeah the flip topping was fingernails onna chalkboard to some.

[@punklover99]

Muppets is being handled by people who don't know how to use them. Jim's son Brian did some of the best works the Muppets have been involved with. For the love of everything holy let him handle things

[@geministrial950]

The suits upstairs can't tolerate creativity anymore, that's too expensive!

[@matthiasschulz3569]

OTOH, Brian Henson also directed The Happytime Murders, for whatever that is worth ...

[@geministrial950]

@@matthiasschulz3569 but he also made The Muppets Christmas Carol

[@yosefdemby8792]

@@geministrial950 And Muppet Treasure Island. But he did oust Steve Whitmire. Jim Henson and some of the other co-creators of Fraggle Rock (Jerry Juhl, Michael Frith, and Jocelyn Stevenson) chose Whitmire for Wembley after extensive auditions and improvisations. I think getting rid of Whitmire as the puppeteer of Wembley is even worse than getting rid of him as Kermit.

[@arex9000]

They get people who do especially the stuff that did work but fans were too stuck up to accept change

[@researcherchameleon4602]

Time to mention the fan proposed muppets movie where they play D&D, and it goes between the muppets at the table, and their characters played by celebrity actors, but the muppets still do the voices, so you have a Barbarian played by Jason Mamoa, voiced by Miss Piggy

[@soundbreaker-sk8lh]

Why do we not have this? I want to see this

[@TheSlowpokeIsAGamer]

That would be really cool whichever way they ended up doing it.

[@researcherchameleon4602]

@ according to the original fan pitch, it alternates between the table and the characters enacting the story, sort of like “The Gamers” trilogy (soon to be quadrilogy) (hopefully this comment actually ats you this time)

[@alchemystudiosink1894]

@@soundbreaker-sk8lh Well, DnD film rights are owned by WB.

[@emb3863]

Glad to see you're also here on the Holding a Grudge Over The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance Train, it was so good I'll never be over it, ever

[@ecofriendlyadventures5154]

I will never forgive Netflix for cancelling it. It was absolutely perfect. They captured the charm and feel of the film, whilst brilliantly balancing the practical effects with the CGI, which was used by only to open up the world, (and allow the Gelflings to actually fly, rather than sort of float downwards, aka; falling with style!) The story, the characters, the humour, the emotion! As far as I'm concerned, everything was perfect. And we all know where it had to end, we knew none of the characters would make it out, but goddamit, I wanted to go on that journey with them, and be with them to the end!

[@GaaraLover1792]

I'm still pining over what we could've had with Age of Resistance. I know a new graphic novel was just announced recently, which is at least something, but damn I'd love to see it in motion. It really was perfect....

[@ChickenKing08]

ITS THE MUPPET SHOW WITH OUR VERY SPECIAL GUEST STAR SABERSPARK YEAaaaaAAAaaAAAAAaAA

[@dillontrainvids25]

When’s the last time I heard people talk about a variety show that wasn’t SNL? Why….when they brought back The Muppet Show in 2017 for the Hollywood Bowl and 2018 for the O2 arena in the UK of course. Both of those live shows proved there’s an audience that wants it to come back. Honestly, I am shocked Disney didn’t capitalize on those shows and have them tour the US and the UK.

[@Cubeytheawesome]

Yeah, why can’t we have a good variety show today? SNL sucks

[@LeBasfondMusic]

I always really loved watching re-runs of the original Muppet Show as a kid, because they would have the most amazing guests, like everyone from Beverly Sills, Debbie Harry, Linda Ronstadt, etc., and it would just BLOW MY LITTLE MIND. The Muppets would ab*se the guests and everyone would just interact like this was all 10000% #casual. Way better than SNL.

[@icecreamhero2375]

@Cubeytheawesome Nah its pretty funny. Some sketches have always been better than others. The last episode was pretty funny. Especially the skit with the homeless man.

[@Cubeytheawesome]

@@icecreamhero2375 really? Modern SNL being funny? I find that hard to believe

[@icecreamhero2375]

@Cubeytheawesome Well it makes me laugh. A couple of my favorite skits are the nice criminals skit and the evil scientist skit with the child molester robot.

[@stevesamuals2651]

This and veggietales created the genre of "characters making a show in a show." Which is quite interesting to reflect on. We wouldn't have harvey birdman if the muppets didn't exist

[@Beeezledrop]

Putting the muppets in serious situations with serious people working against their wacky zany presence is what makes them great. A Christmas Carol is great cause Michael Caine played it so straight with them. I think putting them in serious situations and allowing them to contrast those situations would do wonders for the IP. Honestly, a muppet style mockumentary is a brilliant idea if they really focus on quality. I'll have to check that show out eventually.

[@KinkajouSoup]

I really loved this video. It feels like lots of people are talking about the Muppets right now and it’s telling that, while it’s largely critical, everyone starts with a mini doc on their history because everyone is unanimously coming from a place of deep love for them.

[@LittleMissLounge]

The overwhelming love for the Muppets makes the criticism all the more… telling? Understandable? Justified? It's like when a teacher knows their problem student who used to be a model student has immense potential, but they repeatedly squander it.

[@ashesrosepetals6769]

If Disney is so set on remaking old Disney films as live action, they should make muppet versions instead. A muppets Beauty and the Beast where the beast is the only human, and gets turned into a muppet at the end would be amazing

[@FortuneZer0]

Im concerned. Still not one word about the obvious problem that is the abomination called Rocko.

[@banquetoftheleviathan1404]

Omg, that thing is still around? I hope Elmo is doing OK

[@shrumi1133]

Omg this comment sends me haha

[@bugginonthewall]

It hurts to see Muppets suffer like this. We are neglecting human history 😢

[@Icecanon]

Just let it go

[@bugginonthewall]

@@Icecanon you’re not even old enough to appreciate Jim’s legacy. Hush kiddo.

[@milk_n_bikkies6345]

You are right but also wrong about the Muppets needing to evolve. Sesame Street has added embellishments but never changed its core, which is gentle development, education & wholesome depth of understanding that children are little people that need to be helped with the big world. New Muppets have lost the core of what made them appealing. It was a found family, dedicated friendships, uplifting in the face of failure, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. They are designed for the WHOLE family to enjoy together this is what the Muppets lack. If Disney want to resurrect the Muppets they need to do so with the family in mind. I wholly believe that The Muppets Christmas Carol & The Muppets Treasure Planet are the best examples of how we can use these characters to reboot both them & family entertainment back into Cinema. Carry on with the legacy of wholesome storytelling - we have plenty of classic literature that could be used by The Muppets. Around the World in 80 Days, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Mysterious Island, Oliver Twist, How the West was Won, Sherlock Holmes ect ect. Once re-established you can look to The Muppets returning to a tv-style show format not as a talk show but as a "Disney+" studio putting together multiple programmes, ie. The Swedish Chef Cooking Show, Miss Piggy's Next Top Model, Gonzo & Rizzo's Nature Channel. Be light-hearted return to tongue in cheek humour, remain faithful to the ultimate design of the Muppets, as FAMILY entertainment, as storytellers, as unlikely friends to unlikely family. Never forgot that Parents today want their kids to be introduced to wholesome content this is the opportunity to create it.

[@tree8925]

Let's all bring back "The Dark Crystal" series people! I am with you Saber, I HATE Netflix for canceling it. I love the Muppets so much. The Rainbow Connection will be in my heart always. We sang that at my sister's celebration of life because us sisters would karaoke that song and the rest of the Muppet Songs together.

[@DaddyBiscuits]

It was too expensive for something not enough people wanted to watch, even though they were already paying their Netflix subscriptions. Nine month shoot schedule and over $10million per episode. The original film only made money after a long time in circulation. Hensons actually sold it at one point and bought it back at a much lower price before the property and designed were co-licensed to produce the Netflix show.

[@JackalopeBunny]

I wish they had given us an actual conclusion. It was really interesting and I was enjoying it. We know how it ends still, but it would of still been cool. They left it as an non ending with a feeling there was more to the story, but then they canceled it with no satisfying end.

[@DaddyBiscuits]

@@JackalopeBunny The show had something like an eight season arc planned. Being cancelled after one season didn't seem to be an eventuality that was considered, given the non-ending. But you never really know.

[@jessewilley531]

You're forgetting the OTHER reason he took the Sesame Street job. Henson got ripped off on some of his commercial gigs and on top of that he felt it was selling out. So he would be getting steady pay and be involved in a project that offered a sense of integrity.

[@Valhalla2105]

If you liked the history of Jim Henson section of this video, I HIGHLY recommend watching the the defunctland series on Jim Henson

[@bChipps]

The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance is one of my favorite series and I am still devastated that Netflix failed to give us a second season to wrap the story up.

[@nostalgiamostalgia0319]

I remember when puppets were NOT exclusive to children's media, now it's sadly too synonymous.

[@fabianshedenhelm2986]

Jim felt the same way

[@geckoguyDaroh]

Which is a shame, because puppet media not for children can be excellent, Don't hug me I'm scared being a good example, I also really enjoyed the Muppets sitcom, just a shame it was cancelled.

[@Its_hoekin_time]

Same could be said about cartoons unfortunately and now I’m even seeing people say this about anime too like why tf do people think like this it can be for anyone doesn’t matter how old you are

[@Cubeytheawesome]

Where’s the next Sifl and Olly or Strange Hill high?

[@Babbleplay]

I'm going to argue a point you made at the end. The Muppet Show original format could very much come back; I mentioned before how the most recent TV series was a Reality Show when that format was on the way out. Before that, it was Muppets Tonight, with a Muppet TV station just as streaming was really starting to emerge. The theatre stage was already ancient in the 60s and 70s. It does not date the show as heavily as watching, say, Muppets loading VHS tapes into VCRs to air shows on broadcast TV.

[@OverlordZeroULTIMA]

As a creative (by hobby, I could never turn it into a profession), I thank you for the reminder to take care of yourself first and always. I have at times lost sleep because I would be working on a (not even super detailed) piece and before I know it, it's midnight and I realize that I needed to be in bed around 2 hours ago. Other times I forget to eat or hydrate (which in my defense, sometimes I'm just not hungry anyway, but I struggle with remembering to hydrate daily - and I don't even have an active lifestyle, though I know I do require fluids either way). I tell this to fellow creatives all the time as well: Your life and health come first ALWAYS. Even if you're doing commissions, as long as you communicate a sliver of what's going on, that's good. You don't have to be specific and say that your house is on fire, you're barfing up blood, and someone just kidnapped your child and ran over your dog. If you simply say "life got complicated, and I may take a few weeks to finish; Apologies for the delay", that is already better than ghosting others who gave you their trust to do something for them in a timely manner. On the other hand, some people also don't realize that yes, we may be artists, but we are also ALIVE. We're not the AI people rely on to generate things in 3 seconds. WE BREATHE, LIVE, AND THRIVE ON ART. We must eat, use the restroom, hydrate, and take care of ourselves as well: Meaning that if we get sick, we really need to take care of that illness first, as screen time really can make it harder by giving headaches, migraines, and (I dare say in my personal experience) nausea. People don't seem to understand that we've not forgotten about their request, and will try to rush us to do things. Which in that regard, I see no harm whatsoever in informing that you no longer want to work for them - if it's a freebie, then you're already able to simply block and move on. If it's a commission, refund for anything you may have done and move along. As long as you communicate things that may cause a delay, you're safe, imo. Side note: I'm honestly so sick of Vader being thrown in for everything Star Wars...He's the cash cow of the franchise and I hadn't been into him since I was a kid who just watched SW for the first time. I'd like backstories on lesser known characters - like Embo.

[@dissraps]

You obviously don't "live on art" if it's a hobby for you when you're not writing essays on youtube

[@Kilthan2050]

Disney doesn’t understand the muppets anymore than it understands Marvel or star wars. Steve Whitmire was fired for trying to keep the soul of the Muppets together. Disney told Frank Oz they didn’t want him involved with the muppets anymore. Disney has the goal of making the Muppet performers interchangeable. Essentially, Disney wants to strip away everything that made the Muppets what they were. You can lay about 90% of the failure of the Muppets on Iger’s Disney. Just like Marvel and Star Wars, they stripped away everything that fans loved and replaced with generic formulaic focus grouped slop.

[@PrototypeSpaceMonkey]

Dude, there is no "Marvel" and there is no "Star Wars", they're all just the product of the current cynical zeitgeist. Compare Marvel's silver age silliness to the dark 90's edgelord phase and it's like they're not even the same genre. And I'm old enough to remember a time when "Star Wars" included the Star Wars: Droids cartoon, Ewok Adventure movies, Star Wars: Ewoks and let's not forget the holiday special. As fans we've all just pushed those to the back of our minds and pretend they didn't happen. And when the prequels came out they were tonally and stylistically nothing like the original trilogy, but they've seen a lot more appreciation in recent years. A movie or show is only as good as it's writers. Obviously, studio execs hold a lot of sway, but the current approach of "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" is infinitely preferable to the "Sit on you ip for decades and enshrine it in holy canon" that Lucasfilm took for years. I've really enjoyed some of the Star Wars stuff to come out of Disney in recent years. And some of them... not so much. I'll just relegate those to the back of my mind, and pretend they didn't happen. Like those cringey 90's comics or the holiday special.

[@DanGamingFan2406]

First off, Puppet Saber looks amazing. Nice work, Jacob. Secondly, it's a travesty that such a massive series of lovable characters, great songs, and intricate puppetry is falling into obscurity. The recent Muppets Haunted Mansion proves they're still capable of far more than Game Awards cameos. I hope things change in a big way some day, but whatever happens, I'll always adore these guys.

[@michaelstrong5383]

Why even buy the Muppets in the first place if you're not going to do much with them?

[@kkkjvgukbvcj]

​@@michaelstrong5383so no other company has it because arguably other companies probably could have found interest and could have possibly meet up there your success causing Disney to have to come up with a solution to deal with the Muppets so to avoid that why don't we just buy the company so no one else can seems much easier

[@SinEater_]

Yeah. I love the fact that he changes up his character art style to the style of what he is covering sometimes.

[@ForrestFox626]

​@@michaelstrong5383Don't forget, Bob wasn't the one who bought them

[@JackalopeBunny]

I really disliked the haunted mansion muppets it was kinda awful.

[@kylegarrison6216]

First Schaffrillas, then YungJunko, and now Saber. Everyone’s doing a Muppet video for the holiday season

[@Hyper_Drud]

Now we just need Arlo to make one.

[@sablelioness]

Defunctland did a whole multi-part series covering Henson's life and legacy - though that was a few years ago.

[@JWooden271]

Might have to do with Disney announcing the closure of MuppetVision 3D

[@ricardonb6375]

Which channel do you like the most when it comes to the Muppets?

[@Babbleplay]

Sanitized Kermit is stupid. He's not a bad guy, but, his very core is a good guy, but with his patience stretched to the breaking point by the chaos and stuff the cast pull.

[@yosefdemby8792]

It's like how Mickey was sanitized and lost his personality.

[@Babbleplay]

@ Mickey has it 1 million times worse than Kermit. He has to be the ultimate good guy/sweet guy. He can’t even be seen to want to slack off. I have seen published notes of comments that Disney higher-ups have made. Bizarre and inexplicable questions used to shoot down cartoon ideas. The one that sticks in my head, most was some unnamed executive insisting he didn’t think Mickey would run a gas station.

[@sillymothz]

saberspark as a muppet-style puppet was unexpected, to say the least.

[@Awesomewithaz]

Nicest thing I can say about it

[@SuperFlashDriver]

I mean, if Bobsheaux literally had some movie reviews in the alpha omega movies into a werewolf himself, then Saberspark turning into a muppet himself wasn't shocking to me to say the least. It goes to show that if someone out there was able to find a way to alter the way we look and shapeshift into, I don't know, different versions of ourselves, whether anthro, toy, or other items with our souls, faces, and body features intact, it would spice our ways of life a bit and make others surprised or joy for the time being. Now I'm not sure if I want to turn into say an inanimate object or a piece of food, but I'm not shocked he went down that route, since it wouldn't be good if that opportunity talking about the muppets was completely skipped.

[@MrJechgo]

His hand must have been hurting after filming ^^;

[@SuperFlashDriver]

@@MrJechgo Eh, sometimes it could take a few days to sync both the audio recordings and him moving the character to sync the puppet's mouth with the audio recording (I'm sure I've done that with my BTTF 2015 video back in 2015, which I dubbed over my voice lines when I didn't have a lavalier microphone 9 years back).

[@F-UppetsOfficial]

It was fitting, plus it's cool to see more puppets being used on KZbin in a non-educational manner.

[@Jak7mish]

Cool video. Also it'd be pretty cool to see a puppet sabie. She'd look cute as a puppet

[@SerenaPheles]

Man, I feel like we’re just collectively regressing as a country. So many advertisements are shoved in children’s faces these days. I couldn’t imagine ACT or the FCC being founded today.

[@joeyvancleve4552]

Seeing saber using a puppet for this video after watching Animats history of muppets video where he also uses a puppet brings me smiles because it shows how much effort they put in these videos

[@Bawl16]

the animation at 53:23 is actually not by disney, it was for a game commissioned by disney to a Big Blue Bubble studios (the creators of my singing monsters). the idea of the game was just my singing monsters, but muppets. the game was called "my muppets show" and has since been discontinued, but efforts are being put in to open a private server for the game. The game shutting down was Disney's decision, and the games music has been reused for the actual my singing monsters games (the pirate ship song was remixed into the loading screen theme for the prequel msm game, etc).

[@slothfulcobra]

I think the muppets needing to be "The Muppets" proper is kind of a testament to how Jim's aspirations kinda failed in the long run, since he didn't want to just create an IP, he wanted to advance an artform. And puppetry has really fallen out of most major productions and been replaced mostly with CGI.

[@GreatMewtwo]

Over the years, the Jim Henson Company eventually did explore the use of puppetry-driven computer animation with shows like "Sid the Science Kid."

[@jessewilley531]

Brian Henson said that he only had a hand in writing a small number of episodes of Farscape, the conservation Crichton has with his father in the pilot was written by him. It was very similar to his own final conservation with his father. 'You don't have to the type of man I was, son. Be your own kind of hero.'

[@jrdavis9578]

I remember when I heard Jun had died I was in Junior High and was crushed. It was really the first bit of my childhood to be effected by death. Although I am not artistic in really any way, it weaghed heavily on me. Still tear up a little just for the reasons you mentioned the impact he has on all those around him and people my age in general.

[@1visualfxguy]

I wasn't born yet when Jim died, but that perfectly describes how I felt when Tom Petty passed away in 2017.

[@BlythePennyBicycle21]

It kind of says something when the 2018 Muppet Babies series on Disney Junior is the most successful Muppets project made by Disney after 2011. I mean, running for 3 seasons, 71 episodes, and 4 years is definitely something the other shows wanted.

[@alexd0617]

I love the transformation from cartoon to Muppet BTW...thank you for addressing the realities of being a workaholic because I can definitely relate. I get so deep into my projects that sometimes I get carried away. Great message for any creative person.

[@mikkyasara5438]

Last I saw of these guys was The Game awards. I had no idea that was basically ALL they've been doing the past few years

[@Cubeytheawesome]

That’s it? What the fuck! No wonder Trump won.

[@mathieuleader8601]

Jacob did a great job on the Saberspark puppet

[@MrBIGDON1992]

For The Muppets to return, we need someone that actually cares, someone that sees a true potential, a fan of the Muppets.

[@ZomBreeBear]

One thing I always thought was kinda cool that I wanna say Brian Henson talks about in the muppet show dvd commentaries is that at the time of the Muppet Show, they didn't exactly have the biggest budget to pay for guest stars. So celebrities would be getting paid less to do their show than others. To make it more enticing, Jim worked to make sure that for those guest stars, working with the Muppets was an absolute blast, that they were treated well, that they felt valued, etc etc. And word got around that sure, you could make more for a guest slot on other shows, but if you worked with them it was going to be a great time

[@asunflower6194]

I wasn't ready for you to drop Cookie Monsters government name like that "Cookie **the** monster"

[@matthewg8419]

I've been a puppeteer since I was 11 and I've seen people who have done puppetry for years still fail at the basics. In this video I have seen no sinking, no "taco neck", good eye contact, moving the bottom jaw correctly. Good work!

[@animateerstudios5899]

I think he's doing a good job. His eye contact is jumpy, he should study and practice the "Henson Punch". Poke with the top fingers forward and drop the thumb.

[@OceanFragments]

M-I-C... "I rock the mic properly!" K-E-Y... "When it comes to turning profits, I've got the key!" Deathknell of the muppets.

[@miranimal]

I love the Muppets so much. Watching the service for Jim Henson makes me tear up every time. His work was a big part of my life between Sesame Street, The Muppets, Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. I’m really hoping to feel some of that Muppet magic again when Electric Mayhem takes over Rock N Rollercoaster

[@MidnightSonnet]

I was 8 when Jim died. As someone who grew up on all of his early work, he and his creations meant the world to me. His passing still hurts a lot. I still cry my eyes out whenever he's talked about. His funeral kills my soul. Not only was it a beautifully touching memorial, it never fails to show how important he was to millions of us. I agree that it's so damn sad thinking about what we'd be getting from him had he taken care of himself. It was always Jim's plan to sell his IPs to Disney, so I don't blame his family for doing so. As they said, they were just respecting his wishes. Jim could've never predicted what the media industry would be like after the internet was invented. The world is so fast paced now that it's hard for companies to keep up. Jim's success came at a time when TV was new, inventive, and experimental. Jim could've taken his time. It's just sad he was a workaholic. Tbh, I don't think Jim would've handled modern media very well, considering his strict work ethic. An intervention would've happened, though admittedly, it should've happened while he was still alive. As he was getting sicker and sicker, his family and coworkers should've pushed for him to see a doctor. Unpopular opinion, but I'm not sure if The Muppets belong in the modern world, and this is coming from an older millennial who adores the hell out of them. I'm not saying they can't have any semblance of relevancy today. However, even with the 2011 movie being a hit, media is so fast paced and brain rot seems to be the thing people, especially, especially kids, crave. People want instant gratification, which you can't necessarily get from shows that existed before the internet. Most things that are thought provoking aren't what minors seek out. This goes for adults, too. Mindless scrolling has become a huge problem. My fiance is a victim of it. He loves scrolling through KZbin shorts and imgur just to distract himself from his thoughts, stressors, and anxiety. The Muppets are smart, witty, and engaging. Jim's humor might translate to modern times, but I'm not placing bets on that. Jim was the heart and soul of every single one of his creations. Without him at the helm, things fall apart. There are hundreds of shows that were great before the turn of the millennium, but never got a revival because sometimes, that's just how it should be. If you look at what Disney did to Doug and The Rugrats when they got their hands on those properties, you can see why keeping an IP alive just for the nostalgia factor doesn't work the majority of the time. So maybe, just maybe.... The Muppets should do the same. It's had a very, very long mostly great run. It can rest with Jim. We can keep Sesame Street running, though I am very disappointed it's not with PBS anymore. Again, I adore The Muppets. They mean the world to me. But so did all the pets I once owned in my life. Nothing lasts forever. Things are brought into our lives at the right time to bring joy, comfort, and worth. It'd be like hiring a new person to be Mr Rogers just to keep the legacy alive. It just wouldn't feel right. He offered the world something that can't be replicated. Same with the Muppets. In the hands of people who don't have Jim's vision, it's bound to fail, and oddly enough, I'm okay with that. We still have access to everything Muppets related. It will never truly die. "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die." Jim's legacy will live on long after we all pass on. That's how legendary he was. We can allow some of his work to stop. It's okay.

[@MarcusBurkenhare]

As for Lew Grade, his policy from the 1960s onwards was to take British television and make it look American, that way he could be certain of a head-start on transatlantic sales. Alledgedly he made an appearance at a primary school and was asked 'what's two plus two?' and his answer was 'depends. Are you buying or selling?'. He was responsible for bankrolling some of the best Brit shows of the 1960s though.

[@yosefdemby8792]

Frank Oz recalled Lew Grade telling Henson et al, "Don't be British."

[@magnetoonproductions9541]

Did you have this video planned for a while or is this based on recent events? Because this came out following some recent events regarding the Muppet brand.

[@EmeraldYakumo]

Probably awhile since he has his own custom made Muppet of himself for the vid. Not sure how long they take but with the time it took to make the Muppet, script the Muppet, and voice over it, I'm guessing a few months.

[@fusionsigh]

What news it that?

[@cloudlion1610]

@@fusionsighMuppet Vision is planning to shut down, and Rock ‘n” Rollercoaster is getting a Muppets rebrand.

[@magnetoonproductions9541]

@ Well Muppet Vision is gone and Sesame Workshop needs a new distributor.

[@fusionsigh]

@@cloudlion1610 thank you for the info

[@BigMac-gj1ih]

Jim Henson was a living legend. I'm only 19, but when I was younger, Sesame Street and The Muppets were a big thing part of me growing up. I remember reading a book from the library in elementary school from the "who was" series, and it had one about Jim Henson's life and his works and I remember also learning more about Jim when checking out Defunct Land's Muppet History series which was amazing. Also, those clips of that Memorial Service of Jim Henson always make me tear up every time especially when Big Bird showed up. 😔

[@w7100]

It's an extreme balance you have to do. You have to update them, but not modernize them, if that makes sense

[@KappaRipple]

Easily the best vid I’ve seen on this topic. I think it’s really eye opening that you presenting a new view point on this subject outside of bashing Disney. The start of the vid was also really great for bringing home your points. 10/10 vid man

[@icecreamhero2375]

I don't think the Muppeteres are too stuck in the past is a valid criticism. Steve Whitmire may have disagreed with the characterization of certain characters but he still showed up and performed in the movie, ABC's The Muppets and in other projects.

[@Duth_Olec]

For many years I thought of Jim Henson's death as the start of the Muppets' downfall, completely ignoring how great the following few films were (Muppets From Space might be a mixed bag, but Muppet Treasure Island might actually be my favorite Muppet film). Eventually a friend pointed out Jerry Juhl, one of the most prolific writers for the Muppets: he died in 2005, and it appears the last production he worked on was Muppets From Space. Wikipedia even says that Lisa Henson said "So much of the humour, irreverence, caring and heart began with Jerry. He was, in many ways, the real voice of the Muppets." While Jim Henson was certainly a major part of the Muppets, I think his biggest contribution to the style of the Muppets might have been in the filming magic, the sort of directorial camerawork pizazz that early television got him interested in, and which Muppets Tonight was definitely missing compared to The Muppet Show (the former feeling a lot more straight and standard compared to the latter), though it also appears that Jerry Juhl didn't write for it so, there you go. I was just going to talk about Jerry Juhl but uhh now I wrote some more stuff I thought the 2015 Muppet TV Show was okay when I watched it but don't really look back on it fondly. Giving them "modern sensibilities" really has to be balanced with who these characters are--have the story serve the characters, not the other way around. I feel like a lot of Muppet works since the 2011 movie have either tried to rely on old references too much or make the Muppets something they aren't--or both. In the case of the former this is just trying to light a used match, and in the latter... I'd rather just see someone make something new that isn't tethered to a corporate-owned property. Going off the bit about having backup performers, and the sort of media landscape that requires all these special appearances and such, I feel like the Muppets just aren't suited for the modern era. To me, the Muppets always felt more than just characters, but themselves actors, not just because, unlike cartoon characters, they so easily interacted with the real world, but the characters being sort of "owned" by the puppeteer who performed them, which allowed the performers to embody them and grow with them, like how Gonzo gained confidence as Dave Goelz did. You can't have two Will Smiths, so why would you have two Kermits? So while I understand why they would want understudies, it feels disconnected to the way the Muppets grew into what it is, and it makes me feel like the Muppets just aren't suited for this media landscape, at least the media landscape at the scale Disney would want. It's making the Muppets be something that it isn't. And as I said, at that point I'd rather see something new. I've made my peace with a lot of properties I liked as a kid not coming back, so if the Muppets succeed by becoming more of a brand identity than something real, or if they fail because they can't appeal to modern entertainment, doesn't really matter to me anymore. It's time for indie puppeteers to make the new era of Muppetlikes. No one's going to read this and That's Okay, because this was mostly just to work out my own thoughts on the matter. This is just a comment, not an essay. It's largely stream of consciousness.

[@luigiboyinblu]

Honestly, I think Jason Segel should’ve been that Muppet’s Kevin Feige. I know many of the OGs including Frank Oz disagree on many changes made by Segel, but the script he wrote wasn’t meant to be a direct adaptation, it was meant to reinvent The Muppets and bring them to life once more in a world that has forgotten about them. He convinced me there’s no bigger fan of The Muppets than him that has the medium and has proven to be able to bring them back to their former glory.

[@DaddyBiscuits]

Jason Segel also had to concentrate some energies into being Jason Segel. The Muppets helped as a vehicle for Jason Segel.

[@nine_tails137]

For me, the reason I didn't like that new Muppets TV show, was because the Muppets felt dead inside. Where as the previous Muppets movie had life to it. Plus I don't like The Office, which is why I was bored watching the first episode. In other words: I'm all for the Muppets evolving and getting with the times, as long as they keep their individual personalities. Even Saberspark's example of Miss Piggy being a fashionista I wouldn't mind seeing.

[@SRP3572]

It was them trying to do what the two most popular non-reality shows in America at the time "The Office" and "Modern Family" were doing, and it just doesn't work with The Muppets. I got bored with it after the first episode.

[@MKLettis]

Iger: I love all my children equally. Also Iger: I don't particularly like The Muppets.

[@nicksorenson940]

Eisner, probably: "I didn't work for years to acquire Disney the Muppets characters for this."

[@jamiemartin6603]

It’s a bit weird that this video comes out right after that Schaffrillas video ranking the Muppets movies just came out and made me want to go through all the movies again with some I still haven’t seen. As someone who became a fan of the Muppets when the 2011 movie came out when I was very young and is one of my earliest memories, they mean a lot to me and I have been desperate for a new proper movie that revitalises the franchise again.

[@Sahxyel]

Just like Piglet Disney dropped the ball with replacing the character's voice with someone who actually SOUNDS like the previous voice actor so I'd say that argument is pretty moot, I dread to think what's going to happen when Jim Cummings can't work anymore. I'd listen to devilartemis' Kermit a thousand times over the new Kermit VA, who sounds terrible and wrong.

[@patrickdees5256]

I remember muppets: treasure island was my favorite as a kid. Its sad Disney has no idea what to do with the Muppets.

[@gipadonimus]

I feel like your own opinion and even understandable dissatisfaction with the "old- guard's" conduct at times, starts to overshadow a pretty good video that felt pretty unbiased up until that point. There are things I can agree with Steve Whitmire on, and things that I can't. Same with Frank Oz, but I cannot see each detail for each old-guard OG, in black and white like that and together as one. At least not enough to say "all the old-guard is the problem itself," any more than the "this is mine now" mentality of people disrespecting the property. There's value and merit in preserving an already established character, just as much as it's important to add and evolve them with the times. If you actually see it as many arguments made are all petty, that's fair, however I can't say I concluded the same. Some things said by the "old-guard" are nitpicky and bitter, yeah, but some fundamental points about respecting the characters are things I feel have been neglected in ways myself, and the specific people interjecting (Steve and Frank for example) have at least earned the right to interject their own takes by this point. Is speaking for Jim, and so confidently, completely right? Probably not.. but even I speak for my dead best friend a lot on topics we discussed together, knowing him as I did, and having valued his opinion on things so much. If their defenses came from that same place in any way, I couldn't blame them tbh.

[@Casey-jonesjr-and-Sakura-lover]

I wonder, can you do what ruined Sesame Street as a sequel to this video.

[@Game_Hero]

is it ruined or just stagnant teaching the same lessons since the 70s?

[@yosefdemby8792]

⁠@@Game_HeroNope. They kept teaching different things, expanding curricula.

[@Game_Hero]

@@yosefdemby8792 If that's the case, how could that be a bad thing.

[@icecreamhero2375]

It wasn't ruined at all. It always adapted to its changing audience and is still educating kids. Although they repeat segments its best watched in small doses.

[@yosefdemby8792]

@@Game_Hero I never said it was a bad thing.

[@Nicky2414]

*What's killing The Muppets?* Disney

[@Game_Hero]

42:24

[@Icecanon]

What's killing sesame street? Warner bros

[@DaddyBiscuits]

Consider that Disney bought the Muppets so nobody else could.

[@Molly_Dollyy774]

38:43 That is a beautiful memorial, no black clothes, jazz music was played, his creations where there. They lost their creator, it was a lose for them aswell. Such a sweet thing to do. It's beautiful

[@EdwardandJessicaMiller]

The Bob Iger Company (Formerly Known as Disney) has ruined everything it has bought out.

[@isleofredemption]

"Kermit shouldn't live in a mansion- it works against his humble nature." "You're leaving out that he should live in a mansion so the plot and musical numbers will work the way the writers want it to." That's not a strong argument.

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

The Muppets need an entire cast of leadership and creative talent that believes in them and is willing to take risks with them, rather than just letting them collect dust on a shelf. I guarantee you that if there's anything Disney and the Henson clan should be able to agree on, it's that Jim would've *NEVER* wanted The Muppets to be forgotten about and doomed to irrelevancy.

[@DaddyBiscuits]

Consider that Disney bought the Muppets so nobody else could. Jim was developing away from the use of the Muppets before he passed - they were a means to an end for many people.

[@Eucep]

When talking on how one can easily forget there is a puppeteer behind a muppet, that goes further then many realize. Muppets themselves have proven that over and over again. But the simplest one are interviews of Jim and Kermit, despite so blatantly his arm being inside Kermit, not hiding it even and seeing Jim's lips move while Kermit talk, the magic still perfectly worked, every single time. But guess people have also seen the viral posts of artists who have gotten to interact with the muppets themselves and themselves just completely forgetting they were interacting with puppets. The one of Danny Trejo for me standing out strongly with how, when he was in a mentally bad period, completely broke down crying, being able to give form to feelings he had to repress for professional reasons.

[@jarrickhillery8664]

Muppets Mayhem should’ve been about the Electric Mayhem finding their place in the modern musical landscape after a hiatus. This would’ve been a great way to tie in the old with the new. Plus there are so many fun ideas they could work with like - Dr. Teeth experimenting with autotune - Animal getting into production and making the most insane, incomprehensible beat known to man (or muppet) - Janice being put into different ridiculous outfits to stand out to fans (this is more 2000’s era, but it’d still be funny) - The band trying to integrate hip hop into their sound by using Lips as a (mumble) rapper - The band trying to establish a social media presence and learning all the quirks of that - The band dealing with industry executives getting between them and performing with crazy requests

[@ShadowEclipex]

Part of what happened with the Muppets is sounding like what is currently happening to Power Rangers under Hasbro. Former CEO of Hasbro bought the Power Rangers franchise with big plans for it, but sadly passed away a few years ago. Ever since the current management of Hasbro don't want anything to do with the franchise and have slowly been moving it onto the back burner. It's a shame to see that this practice is a common thing with this big companies.

[@maemadl54]

A modern day Muppet show with guests like Chappell Roan or Timothee Chalamet would be so fun and draw in younger viewers tho…

[@DaddyBiscuits]

The same can be achieved by Chappell Roan and Timothee Chalamet sitting on a chair, and speaking to a human also sitting on another chair.. 2 humans + 2 chairs is cheaper than puppets, puppeteers, costimes, music, writing, and probably several more chairs.

[@maemadl54]

@ who will mourn you when you go?

[@DaddyBiscuits]

@@maemadl54 Fans of the Muppets. I never worked in talk shows.

[@nightal13]

My first Muppet movie was The Christmas Carol which my grandparents showed me. It has a special place in my heart as I quote it every year and often. Now, I have introduced my girls to it. I wish Disney would do more with The Muppets, but they have no idea how to handle the franchise. They just know to replace it with a monster inc ride.

[@nathanfuller8118]

I met carol spinney in 2019 unfortunately he passed away

[@rrecherei9092]

He just lied there cold and motionless, but still it was an honor to meet him.

[@nathanfuller8118]

@@rrecherei9092 I did a tribute to him on my channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/opW2oWN-ndqol9Usi=OqttXMGz8i1EZ4Wz

[@nathanfuller8118]

@@rrecherei9092 I did a tribute to him on my KZbin channel

[@PiccsChannel]

Steve Whitmire was right. If you didn't grow up with the muppets you might not get it, but Ill make this simple. Muppet fans don't want to see "modern" muppets, we want to see wholesome muppets. All the new stuff seems mean spirited, the frog who sung rainbow connection was not the same frog on the most recent sitcom. Honestly I'm happy enough to see the muppets dormant during the tenure of the current management.

[@icecreamhero2375]

The Muppets is very easy to get its not rocket science. They are trying to put on a show in a theater. Kermit is overwhelmed and trying to make sure everyone does their jobs. He is surrounded by weirdos. There is slapstick, original music, cover songs, absurdist humor, good jokes, really corny jokes, celebrity cameos, and fourth wall jokes sprinkled in. That is all there is to it. They can easily have both. They can keep doing reboots of back to basics muppet shows and they can have modern experimental stuff on the side. I agree the characters were out of character sometimes in abc's the Muppets. Whitmire probably should have loosened up a bit.

[@DarkAtHearts]

The last time I remember hearing anything about the Muppets was when Kermit the Frog made a cameo appearance on amphibia

[@matthewlawton9241]

Same thing that's ruining everything else: Corporate risk aversion. Henson wasn't safe. He spoke on a child's level, he didn't speak DOWN to them. The muppets were flawed people with real problems and had to solve those problems as individuals in a world of interconnected groups and systems, in which genuine bad actors exist as a part of those systems. Yes, Henson was interminably optimistic, but he wasn't cute about it. Disney is, because they don't understand that being safe is talking down to people.

[@blueyblue5831]

You didn't bring up how the Muppets courtyard is being replaced in Disney world. Honestly, that alone is enough to show how Disney feels about the Muppets

[@trickykappa]

The script for the video was locked in before that news was announced sadly so I wasn’t able to reference it.

[@JavenVirtudes]

Puppet SaberSpark looks like an SML character. I hope he returns when the “What ruined SML” video comes out.

[@funnyhappystudios]

The lip syncing being off on Puppetspark is so distracting. But it’s such a cool looking puppet 😂

[@imtyler99yearsago90]

It reminds me of this kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWq0dGhoq9aqocksi=zSA7xl-Xu-EZiIwm

[@zidanx3972]

​@@imtyler99yearsago90 💀

[@greshaminc156]

I think these points you made probably makes sense. The fact that Brian Henson never really had a plan to do with the muppets to continue Jim’s legacy was one thing, but the fact a CEO with less interest and a lack of moving forward to the times is a bigger point. If Warner Bros was able to evolve the Looney Tunes into relevancy with Nike and Space Jam, then Disney needs to do something with the Muppets in order to appeal to the next generation. If not, then they could easily be forgotten in a generational limbo. I just hope the new Disney CEO in the future would have some more dignity to the Muppets than Iger. Also the fact you use a puppet version of yourself for a muppet related video should be a tradition for all film reviewers since Animat also did one as well

[@BlazingCyberKnight95]

Don’t forget that in Muppets Most Wanted, Pepe said “Diddy Daddy” to Sean Combs. There’s a reason why it was called Most Wanted lol.

[@potentfrog]

whitmire needs to have kermit back. Matt Vogel sounds nothing like henson or anything like kermit should. Also, the Muppets ABC show was gold in my opinion lol. the disney plus show that tried to copy it was SO BAD lol. i would argue that whitmire gave kermit more personality and lifelike-ness than ever before. ESPECIALLY in the ABC show. that show made them more expressive than ever given it relied on that type of humor. idk, i think a lot of the complaints about whitmire are flipped and moreso applied to vogel.

[@Asukenick]

It was ABC actually.

[@potentfrog]

@Asukenick ahh my mistake, I'm very tired haha, fixed!

[@ForrestFox626]

There are bigger problems than Matt's Kermit

[@yosefdemby8792]

@@ForrestFox626 The problem is that Disney thinks they know how to handle the Muppets better than a guy who worked for them since he was a teenager.

[@mx9226]

“Oh I missed the premiere. How long has it gone on so far?” *sees runtime* “Wow!”

[@vang.609]

I blame disney for canceling The Muppets after 1 season

[@TheSimba86]

I remember when they introduced Lily the first ever muppet to experience homelessness and everyone reminded them that Oscar the grouch has been living in a trash can for like 50 years LOL

[@Cubeytheawesome]

Isn’t his trash can 3 stories on the inside?

[@haileyshannon7548]

@Cubeytheawesome It's like the Tardis

[@yosefdemby8792]

It has a pool, a tennis court, a crystal ballroom, and more.

[@Bliffenstimmers]

This is a wonderful video. I can’t quite pull together my thoughts in a cohesive way right now, but this video brought to light things I hadn’t known, and changed my mind about things I had known but didn’t know the full story of. Excellent work!!!

[@pbase36]

1:11:11 - IS the variety sketch show REALLY dead? Isn't that what TikTok is, a variety sketch show writ large? The only challenge seems to be to get this generation to watch one thing for 30 minutes at a time.