Weinstein Company Signs on for Fraggle Film

According to Variety, The Weinstein Company is planning to bring Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock to the big screen. The Henson Company has been actively working to bring the Fraggles back in an all-new feature film for several years. The film, based on the original story treatment developed by Ahmet Zappa, will be helmed by writer/director Cory Edwards, who is currently writing the screenplay for the Fraggle film. Producers on the project include Brian Henson, Jason Lust, Lisa Henson, Ahmet Zappa, and Brian Inerfeld.

The film, produced by the Jim Henson Company and distributed by the Weinstein Company, will take the Fraggles - Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober and Red - outside of their home in Fraggle Rock and into the human world.

Previous statments from the Henson company have projected a 2009 release for the film; and I'll be sure to keep you updated with more Fraggle news as it surfaces.

Sam Plenty in "Hat of Doom!"

The Jim Henson Company has just released the fifth installment of "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!"

When we last left our hero, Sam was purified and Queen Verbosa ordered that he wear the undergarments of Underdoom. Meanwhile, Hanalei, the professor, Bob and Fetcheye were captured and being exploded! What will become of Sam and his friends? Tune in to part seven of "Sam Plenty in Underdoom" to find out!

If you haven't checked out the wild world of Sam Plenty, be sure surf on over to samplenty.com and enjoy the webisodes, puzzles, activites, interviews, and fun. I will be sure to keep you updated on The Jim Henson Company's "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!" as information surface.

Jim Henson's Pajanimals are Coming

The Pajanimals are the newest group of soft and cuddly characters from the creative minds at The Jim Henson Company. This original pre-school series features songs and storylines starring a unique (and adorable) group of puppet characters as they go through their regular bedtime routines. Continuing their long line of successful preschool and family programming, The Jim Henson Company is planning to launch the Pajanimals later this spring with a whole series of media and merchandise. "Jim Henson's Paganimals" is set to debut on PBS KIDS Sprout later this spring as part of the network's evening programing block.

Tied to television debut of "Jim Henson's Pajanimals", 4Kids Entertainment is developing a full line of related merchandise - including toys, apparel, books, DVDs and more. At the center of the Pajanimals line is a series of soft and cuddly Pajanimals plush dolls - each coming with a special DVD feeaturing bedtime stories, music and other Pajanimal fun.

The original puppets of "Jim Henson's Pajanimals" are sure to make moms, dads and young children smile, laugh and sing along. The Pajanimals' bedtime antics are designed to help parents and children unwind at the end of the day, with their fun and imaginative tales, songs and adventures. I will be sure to keep you updated with the development and release of this exciting new bedtime series as more information surfaces.

Puppet Up Every Month

The Jim Henson Company's "Puppet Up! – Uncensored" stage show is set to perform monthly shows at the Avalon Hollywood throughtout the summer. The Jim Henson Company's renowned puppeteers will demonstrate what happens when traditional comedic improvisation is mixed with the anarchy of live puppet performance. This "adult only" stage show is not your average night of improv and is sure to be an evening you'll never forget.

Show dates for the Saturday shows are May 24th, June 21st, July 26th, and August 23rd. For show information be sure to visit AvalonHollywood.com or Henson.com; and you can order tickets here. So if you live in the Hollywood area (or want an excuse to visits), be sure to check out the Jim Henson Company's Puppet Up! stage show, as the troupe of performers will now be performing every month at the Avalon Hollywood.

Sam Plenty in "March of Doom!"

The Jim Henson Company released "March of Doom!", the fourth installment in "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!", onto the web earlier today. When we last left our hero, Sam had been captured and brought to the underground civilization of Underdoom where Queen Verbosa ordered that he be purified in the often fatal purification chamber. What will become of Sam Plenty? You'll have to tune in to part six of "Sam Plenty in Under Doom" to find out!

If you haven't discovered the wild world of Sam Plenty, be sure surf on over to samplenty.com and enjoy the exclusive webisodes, sing-along, puzzles, activites, interviews, and rootin'-tootin' fun. I will be sure to keep you updated as more information develops on The Jim Henson Company's "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!".

New Farscape Comics Coming Soon!

The Jim Henson Company just signed a licensing agreement with BOOM! Studios in order to produce a brand new series of original comic books based on the beloved universe of Farscape. The first installment in the series is set to make its debut later this year.

BOOM! Studios will publish several Farscape mini-series which will explore and expand the stories of the Farscape universe. Each four-issue mini-series will also be collected into subsequent trade-paperback editions.

"It’s so exciting to work with BOOM! Studios on this project knowing that their team members are true fans of the show," said Brian Henson, co-CEO of The Jim Henson Company and executive producer of Farscape. “Working with one of our favorite comic publishers, we know our loyal supporters will enjoy these original adventures while new audiences will have a fantastic introduction to the Farscape universe." The Farscape comic book series is also said to take advantage of the upcoming webisodes being produced by The Jim Henson Company and RHI Entertainment for SCIFI.COM.

I will be sure to keep you updated with more information on these upcoming comic book as soon as more details become available.

Sam Plenty in "Purification of Doom!"

The Jim Henson Company has just released "Purification of Doom!", the long awaited third installment in "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!".

When we last left our hero, Queen Verbosa's Doom Riders had marched to the Plenty Ranch to capture Sam Plenty. Sam's attitude angered Sergeant Munch who turned his exploding gun on Sam's friend. What will become of Sam and his friends friends? You'll have to tune in to part five of "Sam Plenty in Under Doom" to find out!

If you haven't checked out the wild world of Sam Plenty, be sure surf on over to samplenty.com and enjoy the exclusive webisodes, sing-along, puzzles, activites, interviews, bios and fun. The series, which launched last month, has already gained a lot of fans from all over the web. I will be sure to keep you updated as more information develops on The Jim Henson Company's "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!".

Henson's Fantastic World Come to Louisiana

"Jim Henson’s Fantastic World" opened last week at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The traveling exhibit, which gives an in-depth look at the imagination and creations of Jim Henson, is now on the third stop of its a four-year, 12-city national tour.

"Jim Henson’s Fantastic World" is the most comprehensive Henson exhibit to date. The exhibit is filled with original puppets, drawings, props, artwork, storyboards, photographs, videos and other rare artifacts from the Jim Henson archives.

In conjunction with the exhibit's Louisiana debut, the museum has produced a unique audio tour to accompany the displays. The special audio podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at the life and creations of Jim Henson. The 38-minute tour features personal insights from Karen Falk, Craig Shemin, and Cheryl Henson; plus appearances by Dave Goelz and the Great Gonzo. You can download the entire 22 chapter audio podcast for free via the Smithsonian's podcast website or through the iTunes Store. This set of MP3s provides listeners unique insights on the creations and displays found within the exhibit.

The "Jim Henson’s Fantastic World" exhibit will be on display in Louisiana until June 22th, at which point it will head off to the Smithsonian's International Gallery in Washington DC (where it will be open from July 12 - October 5). For more information on the Louisiana Art and Science Museum and the Henson exhibit visit the museum's website at Lasm.org; and be sure to check out this page for the exhibit’s complete four-year tour schedule.

Who is Sid the Science Kid?

For the past year The Jim Henson Company has been hard at work producing "Sid the Science Kid," a brand-new television series set to debut on PBS in September 2008. The Jim Henson Company has partnered with KCET to produce this new educational series. The animated series will showcase the Henson Digital Performance Studio, a revolutionary tool that allows puppeteers to perform digital characters in real time.

"Sid the Science Kid" is a unique sketch-comedy show designed for 3-6 year olds and aims to promote science-readiness and critical thinking skills. The series stars Sid, an inquisitive young boy attempting to demystify his quirky observations of the world around him (such as why people sneeze, how a drinking straw works, why bananas turn brown, and how birds fly).

Longtime Henson performer and Muppeteer, Drew Massey is bringing the titular character of Sid to life. In addition to simply supplying the character's voice, Massey performs the digital puppet in real time. The ditial puppeteering provide the show with its fresh performances and spontaneous connections among characters. Joining Sid in this scientific adventures is an ensemble of friends -- including May (Julianne Buescher), Gabriela (Alice Dinnean Vernon) and Gerald (Victor Yerrid). The series also features an extended cast of characters including Sid's parents, grandparents, teachers and neighbors.

Bradley Zweig is serving as head writer for the show, and episodes are being directed by Brian Henson. The half-hour series is already lined-up to debut on PBS in September with an initial order of 40 episodes along with a two-year on-air commitment.

You can take a look at the stars of "Sid the Science Kid" (Sid, May, Gabriela, and Gerald) in the four exclusive pictures posted below. I will be sure to keep you updated as information regarding the production and premiere of this exciting new show is released.

Third Seasons of Fraggle Rock and Farscape on iTunes

Back in January The Jim Henson Company started releasing content onto iTunes. The intial launch brought fans the first season of "Fraggle Rock" (24 episodes) along with the complete first season of "Farscape" (22 episodes). In February the company added a second wave of videos on iTunes -- including the complete second seasons of "Fraggle Rock" (24 episodes) and "Farscape" (22 episodes) plus two classic Henson films - "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth".

Recently iTunes launched added Henson content to their offerings. "Fraggle Rock: Season 3" (24 episodes) and "Farscape: Season 3" (22 episodes) are now available for purchase via The iTunes Store. You can purchase individual episodes or download the entire season. Whether watching on your computer or loading it onto an iPod, this is a great way to watch and re-discover these classic episodes.

The Jim Henson Company plans to release more episodes and titles from their vast video libray in the future - including the final seasons of "Fraggle Rock" and "Farscape". I will be sure to keep you updated as more titles become available.

Play "Red Hot Skrumpy Drummer" at Yahoo! Kids

Last year, as you may remember, the Jim Henson Company launched new series of online videos starring The Skrumps. Throughout 2007 the company posted new videoson Yahoo! Kids featuring these unique characters, animated in real-time by puppeteers using the revolutionary Henson Digital Performance Studio. More than 20 videos have been posted on Yahoo! Kids starring Wishbone, Skrumpy and Raisins and now the first official Skrumps game has been added to the collection.

Yahoo! Kids has launched an brand-new interactive Skrumps game entitled "Red Hot Skrumpy Drummer". The new game allow players to help Skrumpy, Grumblebelly's little red drummer, create a rockin' hot sause while rockin' out on the drums. In addition to finding the game in the Skrumps' portion of Yahoo! Kids, you can access the new game via the Yahoo! Kids game section.

And aside from all the great videos and this new game, there are exclusive e-cards, desktop wallpapers and other Skrump goodies to enjoy. So surf on over to The Skrumps on Yahoo! Kids, play the new game and enjoy all the great Skrump content. I will be sure to keep you posted as more news surface on the future of the Skrumps and other developments reguarding the property.

Sam Plenty in "Explosion of Doom!"

The Jim Henson Company released the second installment of "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!" earlier today on samplenty.com.

When we last left our hero, Queen Verbosa - ruler of all Underdoom - has ordered her Doom Riders to march invisibly to the Plenty Ranch. Using their concealment gyros, the Doom Riders have the ranch surrounded with any hope of escape being impossible! What will become of Sam and his friends? Tune in to part four of "Sam Plenty in Under Doom" to find out!

If you haven't checked out the wild world of Sam Plenty, be sure surf on over to samplenty.com and enjoy the exclusive webisodes, sing-along, puzzles, activites, interviews, bios and fun. The series, which launched last week, has already gained a lot of positive praise and attention from all around the web. I will be sure to keep you updated as more information develops on The Jim Henson Company's "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!".

Jim Henson Presents The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!

As reported earlier, The Jim Henson Company has been developing an original web-series entitled "Sam Plenty". The show comes from the creative minds Paul Rugg ("Puppet Up!", "Animaniacs") and Mitch Schauer ("Bobby's World", "Garfield & Friends"). "Sam Plenty" blends the adventure of the old-fashioned western serials with The Jim Henson Company's unique brand of light-hearted and irreverent entertainment for the whole family.

"The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!" is a new online science-fiction/adventure/comedy/musical live-action series coming from the Jim Henson Company. The wacky webisodes will explore the world of Underdoom, the gadgets of Queen Verbosa and musical skills of a modern-day singing cowboy. "Sam Plenty" is fun for the whole family and unique series unlike anything you've seen before.

The series features a talented cast of actors and actresses; Henson Company fans will enjoy seeing long-time company puppeteers demonstrating their acting skills as members of the Sam Plenty cast - such as Drew Massey as Sam Plenty, Allan Trautman as the professor, and Victor Yerrid as Bob Choppy.

The first webisode and a lot more information on "The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing!" are available at SamPlenty.com. So mosey on over to SamPlenty.com and check out all the action, adventure and fun. I will be sure to keep you posted as more information on this thrilling new series surfaces.

"Tortoise vs. Hare" Coming This Fall

Following this week's release of "Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby", the Jim Henson Company and Genius Products have announced plans to release the second title in the "Unstable Fables" series this fall. The computer-animated direct-to-DVD fill will feature a unique continuation of Aesop's classic fable "The Tortise and the Hare".

"Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare" features the rematch of the century as the Hare and his son challenge the Tortoise and his daughter to go head to head in the Mount Impossible Nature Adventure Race. The two teams face off in an elaborate battle of speed versus strategy full of adventure, comedy and fun for the whole family. The film, written by Tom Martin and directed by Howard Baker, will showcase the vocal talents of Danny Glover, Jay Leno, Vivica A. Fox, Keke Palmer, and Drake Bell.

And looking to the future of the brand, it's been said that the third "Unstable Fable" film, entitled "The Goldilocks & the 3 Bears Show", is planned for release in "early 2009". The film, written by Chris Parrish, will feature a reimagining of "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" and is said to feature an all-star cast, including Tom Arnold, Brooke Shields, and Jamie Lynn Spears, among others.

So be sure to check out the recently released "3 Pigs and a Baby", the first installment in the "Unsable Fables" series; and I will be sure to keep you updated as more information on these films become available.

"Sid the Science Kid" Uses Stand-Up Style to Study Science

As reported earlier, the Jim Henson Company is hard at work producing episodes of "Sid the Science Kid" (originally titled "What's the Big Idea?"). The new educational television series is set to debut on PBS in September 2008 with an initial order of 40 half-hour episodes in the works. "Sid the Science Kid" promotes science readiness by building upon kids' natural curiosity about the world around them.

The show was initially developed around the concept of stand-up comedy for preschoolers, and the idea eventually grew into a funny show about science and the way things work. Each episode of the show begins with Sid (Drew Massey), an inquisitive preschool-aged boy, as he performs a morning monologue to his stuffed animals. Sid's stand-up routine includes quirky observations and explanations about the world around him as he questions why things are the way they are. Why do bananas get brown spots? How does orange juice get inside the orange? And what's the deal with sneezing?

Throughout the day, Sid goes out into the world to talk with his friends, family, teacher, and neighbors in hopes of demystify and explaining his earlier ponderings. Sid's day is full of exploring, observing, experimenting, learning, singing, and playing.

The show utilizes the revolutionary Henson Digital Performance Studio, which allows puppeteers to manipulate animated characters in real time. As a result, the show will look and feel unlike any other series on television.

In addition to launching onto the airwaves this fall, Henson is alo planning a large roll out of supporting merchandise – including books, toys, and appeal - in time for the 2008 holiday season as well. Furthermore, the series will boast an online counterpart at pbskids.org. The interactive website, which is being produced by FableVision Inc., will feature unique experiences and activities that complement the show's content and promote scientific exploration and discovery. Henson is currently seeking international distribution deals for the series. Although no official distribution deals have been announced, the company hopes to be able to bring the show to audiences all around the world.

I will be sure to keep you updated on this exciting new Henson series as things continue to develop.

"3 Pigs and a Baby" on DVD Today!

"3 Pigs and a Baby", the first film in the Jim Henson Company's new Unstable Fables series, hits stores today! The direct-to-DVD film features an all-star cast including Brad Garrett, Jon Cryer, Steve Zahn, and Jesse McCartney.

"3 Pigs and a Baby" is brought to life with breathtakingly artistic computer animation. When three pigs become the target of a special-ops team of wolves and their plan to finally infiltrate the impenetrable house of bricks, the unassuming pigs soon find a tiny wolf cub on their doorstep and raise him as their own. The newest addition to their family, Lucky, grows up into his teens not knowing his history, his role in the wolves' plan or the difficult choice he will have to make about the family that raised him.

This film is hilarious, heartwarming, and shows that families can come in all shapes and sizes. Aside from the 76-minute feature, the DVD also comes loaded with exclusive bonus material including a behind the scenes look at the animation process, a sneak-peek at the voice recording sessions, and a candid conversation with the film's writers.

"3 Pigs and a Baby" provides quality entertainment for the entire family, so be sure to pick up your copy today!

Henson to Bring Late-Night Sketch Show to TBS

Earlier today TBS announced plans to ramp up production on original programming for the network. Aside from the renewal of several already successful TBS shows ("My Boys", "The Bill Engvall Show" and "Frank TV"), the network announced the addition of several new television projects to their upcoming production line up. Among the new projects, TBS has announced that they've partnered with The Jim Henson Company to develop an all-new late-night sketch comedy show. The currently untitled series will feature Henson's signature puppetry style and is expected to be part of the “Henson Alternative" brand of comedy. The original sketch comedy show is expected to enter production later this year with Brian Henson and Lisa Henson serving as executive producers on the project.

This project is not Henson's first collaboration with TBS. In 2006, Henson worked with the network to develop "Late Night Buffet", an unseen pilot for a puppet-based talk show. In November 2006, the network aired an hour-long television presentation of the Jim Henson Company's "Puppet Up! - Uncensored" from the Comedy Festival in Los Vegas. And more recently, Henson has produced original webisodes of "Puppet Up!" and "Del's Vegas Comedy Binge" for TBS.com's laugh lab. I will be sure to keep you updated as soon as more information on this exciting new sketch comedy show develops.

More of the Henson Library Comes to iTunes

Last month The Jim Henson Company launched their content on iTunes. The intial launch brought the first season of "Fraggle Rock" (24 episodes) and the first season of "Farscape" (22 episodes) to the iTunes Store. You can purchase individual episodes or download the entire season. The company has recently released the subsequent season for each of these two programs, plus two classic Henson Company feature films.

the entire second season of "Fraggle Rock" (24 episodes) and the complete second season of "Farscape" (22 episodes) are now available for purchase via iTunes. Additional two classic Jim Henson feature films - "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth" - can also be downloaded from the iTunes Store as well.

The Jim Henson Company plans to continue to release more titles from their vast video libray through iTunes in the near future. I'll keep you updated as more titles become available.

Labyrinth Anthology Series Coming From Tokyopop

Tokyopop made a big announcement at WonderCon this past weekend that is sure to delight fans of Jim Henson's classic fantasy film "Labyrinth". As you may know, the company is currently producing the "Return to Labyrinth" manga series, an epic four-part sequel to the 1986 film. The third installment in the series will be released in November 2008, and the final volume is planned for release in the fall of 2009. Well, the company is now beginning work on a second series of original "Labyrinth" graphic novels - planned to debut in March 2009!

Tokyopop is working with the Jim Henson Company to produce an original anthology series featuring a collection of independent stories based in the world of "Labyrinth". The mangas will include prequels and sequels (and possibly even mid-quels) to the events of "Labyrinth" and "Return to Labyrinth". Each book will tell a story focusing on a different character or element within the world of the Labyrinth - such as Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, the Fierys, the Junk Lady, and even Jareth the Goblin King. While the number of volumes in this series has yet to be determined, the series will feature a large range writing styles and artistic sensibilities, as each story will be produced by different writers and artists. Jake Forbes, author of "Return to Labyrinth", has revealed that he will be writting a story for the series that shows how Jareth became the goblin king.

The first installment in the anthology series is planned for release in March 2009. I will be sure to keep you updated on this new manga series, and the final installments of "Return to Labyrinth", as soon as more information becomes available.

Emmet Otter Takes the Stage

"Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas", the beloved 1977 holiday special, is set to become a stage show. The show - produced in cooperation with the Jim Henson Company, iTheatrics and IntraMusic - is currently in development and is planning to hit the stage soon.

Paul Williams, the songwriter on the original television special, is involved with the project. Williams has said that this is a project he has wanted to do for a long time. The script is being adapted for the stage by Timothy McDonald. McDonald recently adapted such well-known films as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and several Disney animated features for the stage; he also adapted a stage version of "James and the Giant Peach" which is also in development.

Auditions are reported to soon be underway in New York for this stage adaptation of "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas", which is also said to feature puppets.

The production details are currently being kept "under wraps" as the show slowly moves into the pre-production phase, and the creative team has not made any major announcement of the at this time. However audiences can expect to see the Frogtown Jubilee Jug Band take to the stage in the not-so-distant future. I will be sure to keep you up dated with more information on this show as soon as more information surfaces and the producers prepare ready to raise the curtain on this exciting new incarnation of this beloved Jim Henson classic.

Update: Despite listings from several NYC talent agencies, official auditions for the show have not been announced. According to Tim McDonald, the show is still in early development and no auditions have been planned at this time. Special thanks to James Wojtal for helping clear up the confusion.