Jim Henson

Most of us had our first encounter with Muppets on Sesame Street. But it turns out that wasn’t Jim Henson’s first television show. Long before The Muppet Show, Henson created a quirky little show called Sam and Friends. Defunctland’s excellent miniseries explains how Henson – and Kermit the frog – got their start.

The first full trailer for Netflix’s follow up to Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal is here, and it looks amazing. The story is set many years before the movie, as three Gelfling set out on an adventure to save their world after discovering the source of the evil Skeksis’ power is draining the life from their universe. Premieres 8/30/19.

Fans of Jim Henson’s and Frank Oz’s 1982 classic The Dark Crystal will be thrilled by the teaser for this 10-hour series, which is headed to Netflix this August. Like the original, it’s filled with fantastical creatures and settings, and uses puppetry and practical effects wherever possible.

A charming classic interview from The Arsenio Hall Show featuring the late, great Jim Henson, in which he, Kermit the Frog, and Rowlf the Dog all answered Hall’s questions. We love his explanation about Rowlf’s broken arm.

Jim Henson & Frank Oz’s The Dark Crystal, is a masterpiece. Funko’s retro-style ReAction line is offering a series of figures inspired by the film, including The Chamberlain, Ursol the Chanter, Jen, Aughra, and Kira (with Fizzgig.) There’s also a Landstrider collectible from SDCC 2016.

Mental Floss shares trivia about the multitalented Jim Henson and his creations, such as why he kept his beard, his dream of ending the Cold War and how he arrived at his college graduation in a Rolls-Royce that he purchased with his puppet show earnings.

The founder of Marvel goes up against the creator of The Muppets, slinging powerful superhero insults against the soothing, but still vicious words of the puppet-master. The winner? The Walt Disney Company, of course.

In Jim Henson’s cult-classic Labyrinth, David Bowie likes to twiddle around his crystal orbs. But Bowie never played with his balls, it was juggler Michael Moschen manipulating them on his behalf. Balls.

You wouldn’t be laughing at Muppets this week if it weren’t for the genius of the late, great Jim Henson. Here’s a look at Henson’s early days – a charming 1965 paper-cut animation recently uncovered.