An Evening With Jim Henson and Frank Oz - July 1989 PoA
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- čas přidán 14. 05. 2012
- This video belongs to the Puppeteers of America, and if they want me to remove it, all they have to do is ask. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED! I have uploaded it for fans to enjoy this, now out of print video.
Sound qulity isn't great, but I belive it's the best availible.
In July 1989, Jim Henson and Frank Oz made an appearance at the Puppeteers of America national festival at MIT in Boston. The event was documented and added to the Puppeteers of America audio-visual archive with a special introduction by Frank Oz made in 1993. Throughout the one-hour discussion, Henson and Oz perform Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Cookie Monster, Animal, Fozzie Bear and Grover. some of the topics include the history of Henson Associates, research on Sesame Street, and behind the scenes info about the Muppets, The Dark Crystal, The Jim Henson Hour, and Little Shop of Horrors. Frank Oz also demonstrates how they perform the Muppets on film and television.
Jim and Frank were the masters. Listen to this appreciative audience. They know that these men - along with Carroll and Jerry and Fran and Richard and Dave and Steve and Kevin and Louise and everyone - are responsible for a large part of the happiness in their lives, and how much dimmer it would have been without them. God bless you, Mr. Henson. God bless you, Mr. Oz. And God bless all the Muppeteers everywhere.
Also the Muppet are the bigger stars still, which means their work is very good.
"I have a problem, my hat is pinned to my head"
"Well I have a problem, my hand is pinned to my chest!"
That had me in stitches! X'D
Frank & Jim pull our childhoods out of a box and touch our hearts with their charm and talent. I can't get over how effortlessly they bring these lifeless creatures to life.
And we got the answer to what happens when they're not being animated, they're "sleeping". So the real Kermit, the genuine article, has been dreaming in that box for over 30 years now.
RIP Jim Henson. I love Jim Henson, Frank OZ and the whole cast. I love all of their Muppet creations/productions ( Sam & Friends, Sesame Street,The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, Dinosaurs...).
and now... the dark crystal series. :)
What is utter madness is you know THEY'RE doing it. But somehow you miss it, you don't see it, and those Muppets are real and exist
I think it's incredible that the muppets make people of all ages laugh. I love the muppets so much. Ironically so did my grandfather. I never got a chance to meet him, but it makes me happy knowing I shared his love of the muppets
I'm 50 years old and laughing at these awesome characters like a child. Jim and Frank aren't ventriloquists but their alter egos have such strong personalities that the human element completely disappears because you're so enthralled with the Muppet. The saddest thing is that just 10 short months after this interview we would lose one of the greatest talents we will ever witness.
I'm pushing 40 and I feel the same way. Jim and Frank are 20th Century gentlemen, a dying breed. True creatives. And Jim is on that sad list of "taken way too soon".
@@GlennDavey Don't cry because he died, Glenn. Smile, because he lived.
I love how Jim is just itching to get the characters out of their box, he can't wait!
Jim was kinda like Fred Rogers in that way. He felt more comfortable talking through characters. THAT would have been something to see! King Friday the Thirteenth having an interview with Kermit.
Quite impressive with the way he pulled Kermit out. Same with Frank Oz for Cookie Monster.
He knows they're the real stars.
Yes, they were definitely a fun tool with which to bypass his own quiet shyness, especially the confident Rowlf!
The thing about when Jim and Frank did the Muppets is that they didn’t treat the characters like stars. They just treat them like their alter egos
I don't believe in magic. Except when I see clips like this.
Yeah....
....but, is this your card?! :oD
It's May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and CZcams sends me this video. Every time I watch Jim Henson and Frank Oz or any of the other great Muppet puppeteers doing their wonderful work, I have to wonder what the neuro-psychological processes are that are going on in these men's minds and bodies.
It's one thing to be an actor who immerses himself or herself into a role, taking on the full nature of the character they are playing complete with emotions and mannerisms of what is documented on the scripted page. This one can do over and over again. It's one thing to be an improvisational actor to constantly come up with quick responses to situations that are completely unscripted, but still you are a human being reacting to a situation.
But for the life of me, I cannot comprehend the "muscle memory" that is involved in suddenly becoming the alter ego of "Kermit the Frog" and "Cookie Monster." Not only are these 2 men having to maintain the same voices, the same mannerisms, and the same personalities of these beloved characters, but also somehow manage to manipulate the puppet's mouth and an arm or some other body part(s) all while looking at a monitor or the audience with a script and even more so without a script. The links made within the brain that tell all the rest of the human body what to do must be fascinating to consider. Somehow they just become their alter ego. I wonder if they dream in the egos of the puppets they create, hearing their voices in their minds, manipulating their bodies when they dream, etc.
@Infinite Possibilities What's your point? I don't understand your response.
i used to do that. when that happens for me, i don't think i just become the character and go with the flow, hopefully the other character will respond accordingly, some times it can be shocking. worked once at FAO and i was going crazy... picked up yoda and well had a ball with it, without talking. sales when threw the roof. later they hired an actor sales fell... so go with the flow, no thinking just doing. missed my creativity. but there might be hope.
I agree with everything you said, Robert. As someone who plays some instruments I imagine puppeteering would be similar. You do it so much that it becomes a natural expression. After a while you can improvise, play a little jazz. That's how I understand this art. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@Infinite Possibilities I like that you replied and gave him a recommendation he would really enjoy. You could have been mean. Good on you.
@@ln3962 I wish I had a reason to do some character work. There's a puppet-making tutorial on Yt that looks pretty good, for turning a Kermit into a working Muppet. Something to do stuck inside.
Wow! What a treasure for Jim and Frank fans, thanks SO much! 22 years gone today and Jim still lives in my heart.
Fun Fact: the set Frank sits at in the opening is Kermit's Cabin from the Muppet Sing-Along tape "Billy Bunny's Animal Songs".
I like how Frank had Grover say "I do not know what the hell that means."
1:18:47
Its sad that this was only a year before his death
In some ways it's not sad in that he lived and worked up until his death. At least he wasn't sick and at home in his last year of life. Seen people around the same age and younger who have sat around sick with cancer in the last few years of their life. I think what was so sad about his death is that if he had made it to the hospital an hour or two quicker he would have lived and possibly been around another 10-30+ years.
@e n Thanks for keeping everyone accountable on the amount of time Frank had left from this show. Is it acceptable with you that it can still be a sad thing? Would that be ok? lol
That's why it's a treasure.
39:14 These two were so good together. I cant even imagine how much fun the riffing between those two must have been on set while trying to work through sketches. They're comedic geniuses.
It's really weird but as soon as the characters start "talking" I find myself watching them and not Frank and Jim. It's almost like they're alive.
Well, they are alive 😎
I think it's just the pure fantasy fun of it. You could talk to people like Frank Oz and Jim Henson any old day, but how often to you get to talk to a bear and a frog and heaven alone knows what all? That's FUN!
same
I know it's amazing isn't it? You've got complete separation there. Amazing
That means the puppeteers (Muppeteers?) are doing their jobs well. 😊👍
Of course he sounds like Bert, his voice is recognisable, same thing with Jim sounding like Kermit and Ernie.
Of course
he's also Cookie Monster!!!
Yoda, Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie, Cookie Monster, Grover, Sam Eagle, and Bert
Audio may be a bit garbled, but this is an absolute gem nonetheless, to see these two geniuses riff off each other. Thanks for posting.
Loved it. RIP, Jim. Those two, and their colleagues were some of my favorite voice actors growing up.
Frank always calls Rowlf "Ralph", even in performances. Fozzie says "Hi, Ralph!"
Jim,
I wanted to thank you for creating Ernie. He has a very special place in my heart.
This was made the very month I was born....... Frank and Jim are inspirations to me, as far as voice acting goes.
Cameras sucked when I was born.
If you ask me, I think Frank Oz even sounds like the character "Bert" from "Sesame Street" when he talks in his regular voice while he and Jim are talking. He didn't soundthat way in teh beginning of the clip because he was older and his voice had changed. Jim Henson sounds like "Kermit The Frog" when he talks in hs regular voice too. Two extremely talented men indeed!
I grew up with the Muppets but I'm realizing now that they were reruns. This was recorded before I was born. I didn't quite realize how old the muppets were.
Frank Oz is a legendary person and influential person to me.
Thank you, Jim and Frank! 🐸❤️🐷
The fact that Frank never wanted to be a puppeteer really comes out in this. Jim is so much more comfortable in his skin as a puppeteer.
For Frank it just seems like something he has to do, and is good at, but he'd probably rather be doing something else.
But at least he had fun doing it though.
Yeah, I think it was just something he did because Jim asked him to, and he did it out of love for his friend. Once Jim passed away, he didn’t feel he had a good reason to keep doing it.
He only did for those many years because of Jim. His calling in those later years was directing but he still kept doing performing because he and Jim were such good friends
@@Erin-ce5gs Yeah, and I believe he phoned it in a lot after that, not that I hold it against him. I believe he really only did voices after that, he didn't do puppeteering much anymore. Somebody else would do the work for shooting and then he would dub the voice. I could be wrong, but I thought I saw this somewhere. But I totally get it.
Which is funny, because he is considered one of the best puppeteers of all time!
14:13."As some of you know, the show's already been cancelled"
Sadly, that's true. 12 episodes of The Jim Henson Hour were produced, but the ratings were so bad that NBC cancelled the show in May 1989, after only 5 episodes had aired. 4 of the remaining episodes were burned off on Sundays in July of 1989. 2 more aired as specials on Nickelodeon in the early 90s, but the last one never aired in the US.
So sad. They are comedic geniuses!
I love Jim Henson’s voice. It’s like Kermit was the closest to his real personality. RIP.
Thank you so, so much for sharing this! Jim Henson has a huge influence on my life and the way I see things and I'm constantly inspired by him, his friends and their work. This is an absolute gem that I had never seen or knew about before. You have really made my night! Thank you!
I was turning 1 in a couple weeks. cool that I was around when he was around but I obviously don't remember because I was a baby. I really wish Jim lived a lot longer than 53 years. I bet he'd still be performing as Kermit today, even at age 77. And who knows what Sesame Street would be like if Jim was still alive?
Watching this in 2015 and the ad before the video is for the new muppet show, Jim would be very happy with how the muppets have evolved in most recent years
One of my favorites has always been.....GROOVER!!!
That's fine! Jim Henson was an amazing man.
I hope to upload lots of other rare Jim Henson videos in the upcoming weeks, including a complete version of 'The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show' on the 25th of May to celebrate Frank Oz's 68th birthday
Despite owned today by Disney (especially remaking of Muppet Babies), Jim Henson still haven't forgotten the legacy he made even after his death.
“Technology will never replace life” 🥺💙
This was excellent. Thanks for uploading.
Should run the audio through one of the new audio AI's to clean it up. This is a piece of entertainment history.
They're adorable.
loved this video, proves you dont have to be a ventriloquist to entertain the audience with puppets,. these two men are truly THE godfathers of all puppeteers !!
Lennon and mcartney of the muppets
All I can hear:
Frank: Mumble, mumble
Jim: Mumble, mumble
Audience: Mumble, mumble
Cookie Monster: Mumble, mumble
Kermit: Mumble, mumble
Animal: Hi Froggy!
Fozzie: Mumble, mumble
Rowlf: Grumble, grumble
Grover: Hel-lo there!
yeah sucks the audio is so muffled on this. Can't hear most of the questions and even their dialogue gets lost at times
Both of them seem a bit jaded, especially Jim.. and totally lovable. What a couple of wonderful, warm-hearted entertainers
Thank you for this. What an amazing video.
'we were too lazy to perform' rofl! So glad you guys were, you gave us such a fantastic view being 'lazy' much
I was almost 4 two months after Henson died. I really remember watching Sesame Street
Whoever got to see this live is so lucky!! ❤️
Wish youtube or something similar had been around while Jim was alive. He would have probably produced a youtube show and just done literally whatever he wanted instead of being at the mercy of a television network.
He did just that. It's called The Muppet Show.
Notice how because the talent is so incredible you see 2 grown men with puppets but yet you focus on the puppets when they're talking.
I was one years old in 1990 when Jim passed away. I would’ve love to see him in person.
I've never seen this before until now. Thanks so much for uploading!
OMG!! I've been looking all over for this!! Thank you!
That moment when you realise Kermit and Fozzie and just Ernie and Bert on a different show...
The moment when you realize Miss Piggy and Yoda are the same person...
HAHAHA!
@@CaptWesStarwind and Grover
Sweetums is my favourite Muppet, but Animal is a close second
Thanks for the upload.
I came across this video and had the greatest time listening to it. It has been some time since he passed. I love puppetry and the muppets are among g my inspirations. The dream still goes on.
This is really cool. I'm assuming since this is 1989 this is probably one of the last projects Jim worked on before he died.
Watching the Muppet Show with my Dad is one of my fondest childhood memories. And I don't have a lot of those. I always have and always will love The Muppets. Thanks for the memories. R.I.P. Jim.
thanks for this!
I love you fozzie bear your my favorite Muppet ever
thank you!
Awesome video.
39:04 Frank brings out Cookie Monster, my favorite Muppet he performs.
Whoa! Never have seen this before.
I used to watch sesame street, all of the Muppet shows and but not least all of the Muppet movies and they are all awesome too!
With Frank talking about how the little shop of horrors Ending was changed. And how the original might never be shown. So glad it was eventually released to the public. The original ending is a masterclass of practical effects and puppeteering
Jim Henson and Frank Oz They where absolute Legends that where apart of many people's childhood including mine their legacy left a huge impact in my life and seeing this video reminds me how talented the 2 of them where whenever they where paired with eachother
wow. No Bert and Ernie? how?
Not even sam the eagle guy smiley newsman or link hogthrob cactus fraggle convincing John miss piggy
Or Thomas twiddlebug & anything muppets whatnots
The box wasn't big enough.
I bet it's because of the number of people required to control those muppets since they have "real" hands (unlike Elmo, for example, that has his arms attached to sticks).
You smooth-talking devil, Joe, I'm in! Looking forward to whatever goodies you have to share.
It’s too bad Dr. Teeth, Bert and Ernie weren’t in this video.
Grover and Kermit are my favourites
Jim henson animal jam is my favorite TV show in 2003!
Frank oz is in the beginning of the Blues Brothers as the cop giving Belushi his stuff back.
55:51 - Jim & Frank’s reaction is so sheepish and sweet…. I can’t imagine how much Frank misses him…
I LOVE FRANK OZ WITH ALL MY HEART AND I ALWAYS WILL
SUCH A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL MAN! HE'LL ALWAYS BE BERT TO ME!
Wow Jim and Frank together. AWESOME! :)
legendary
Would love this on dvd!
Yes!
I'm 38 years old and still hang on Cookie Monster's every word.
I grew up on the Muppets and many other shows as well
more full length Henson rareties pleeeeaaaase :)
*Reads the comments where people are saying how they were 1 or younger when this came out...I was in jr. high...*
BahstX I wasn't born yet XD
BahstX I was 2 and a half at the time they did this in 1989, 6 in 1993 when Frank did the intro.
I wasn't born until 15 years later.
I was 10...
"Puppe-wha?" lol
This is interesting.
I hope it is not taken down
The Lennon-McCartney of puppetry.
Jim henson animal jam is rocks!
42:14 had me in stitches
That's fine!
i miss jim henson
What was Grover doing when he was trying to get the audience to leave at 1:17:34?
Well this answers where the Muppets "go" when they're not hanging out with their buddies Jim or Frank: they're "sleeping"! And so I like to think the "real Kermit" has been dreaming sweet dreams in that suitcase for the last 30 years.
I grew up watching show with puppets in my first show with puppets is koocla fran and oly
Interesting prologue by Frank.
I wish there were captions.
+Robert Seymour Do you mean subtitles ?
+Stoiss Captions show every word and sound (even falling objects and onomatopoeias). Subtitles are strictly words.
Rip Jim Henson 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Love the muppets
fozzie is my favorite Muppet
R.I.P. Jim Henson
If there is a God his face and voice would be Jim Henson.
Wayne: What you say is so true and I never realized that is what I do too. I loveJohnny Carson saying” Look I’m talking to a frog”.
I saw Jim on a late night show... maybe Carson. And the interviewer (Johnny?) kept looking at the muppet... like it became a live to him.