12 comments to “And Now for Something Completely Different”

1. ChuckA:
   2 April 2008, on 1:16 am

   Thanks for the “Classic” reminder, Bob…
   I, like many of us ‘older cats’ always dug the Muppets. I was in my late 20s when I used to watch Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street.
   [I never grew up!]
   Of course the classic days of the “Muppet Show” were much more geared to adults.
   For me; when Jim Henson died, things were never quite the same. His totally unique genius couldn’t be replaced. His son,in my opinion, though very talented, doesn’t quite match his father’s unique ability.
   Henson was another totally unique innovator, like Burr Tilstrom [Kukla, Fran, and Ollie]; another amazing puppet genius.
   [OT...I met Fran Allison when I ushered at WGN-TV whilst in music school at De Paul U.
   What a lovely person she was!]

2. democommie:
   2 April 2008, on 7:26 am

   The Muppets, thank Skyboss, had no gays in their group–unless one counts Miss Piggy, who never convinced me, despite that falsetto and false eyelashes that she was not an incredible boar.

3. John Marley:
   2 April 2008, on 8:49 am

   I loved that show.

4. OurLady of Perpetual Motion:
   2 April 2008, on 9:43 am

   ChuckA,

   Couldn’t agree more. I miss Henson. I still love the muppets but without him they’re just not the same.
   I get angry when I think of the circumstances of his death.

   Democommie,

   I always got a “I’m not into chicks” vibe from Captain Link Hogthrob. And then there’s Ernie and Bert.

5. Travdawg:
   2 April 2008, on 11:29 am

   I was always a huge fan of Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas by Jim Henson.

6. Bob Brashear:
   2 April 2008, on 2:26 pm

   Anyone remember if Henson did the skit on SNL with the alien “muppets”? Before SNL became trash. This would be about the late 70’s, I believe.

7. Karen:
   2 April 2008, on 2:45 pm

   Loved it. I couldn’t help thinking of my cousin Danny, who died at age 44 of cirrhosis of the liver. The family played “Danny Boy” at his funeral. I kinda think he would have preferred this version.

8. JJR:
   2 April 2008, on 4:20 pm

   Slightly OT, but did anyone catch the homage/spoof on Robot Chicken doing a “where are they now?” style mocumentary on _Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem_. Darkly humorous, though a little grim.
   (Zoot busted for drug possession, Janice has a terminal illness, Animal had to be “put down”, etc.)

9. Old Viking:
   2 April 2008, on 9:47 pm

   One of the grea moments in the cultural history of the world was when Miss Piggy and Rudolf Nureyev danced Swine Lake.

10. Doubtful Daughter:
    3 April 2008, on 1:35 am

    I’ve never been compelled to comment here until now although I read you guys all the time. This is the best rendition of Danny Boy I have ever seen, or heard! All three of those characters were my top three favorites, with Animal and Beaker the top two. This had me in tears from laughing!

    Thank you for posting this, it gave me a safe post to pop my GifS commenting cherry!

11. Fritzy:
    3 April 2008, on 1:42 am

    JJR

    I love that bit! I have a feeling Henson would have loved it too.

12. OurLady of Perpetual Motion:
    4 April 2008, on 7:53 am

    JJR: I saw that sketch. Loved it

    Bob Brashear: The early muppet sketches on SNL were called “The Land of Gorch” I saw some in reruns. They were funny Classic Henson.

    Travdawg: I love Emmett Otter too. But the thing I remember most about it is seeing Henson talk about making it and how much fun he had doing it.

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