Thanks to Ron Howard for agreeing to be director of this important project. He and writer Mark Monroe managed to include Henson’s family members, people he worked with (including Frank Oz), his fans, his ideas, and creatures he made.  

One pleasure while watching JIM HENSON: IDEA MAN are the clips from some of his shows. For example, my favorite scene with Rita Moreno and Animal performing “Fever” still makes me laugh and want to see it over and over again. 

I also enjoyed some of the Sesame Street clips showing how youngsters react to it by having fun and learning things. And how about that one-of-a-kind Big Bird?   

It’s also interesting to see how hard Henson worked every day. He expanded his work in films like Dark Crystal and Leviathan. I don’t remember those movies being panned but they weren’t as well received as the Muppet films and The Muppet Show.

Well, who can resist Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, Animal, etc.? For example, while waiting for The Muppets, I wrote a skit with a make believe Kermit and Miss Piggy talking about their new movie and that became one of the favorites on my Movie Addict Headquarters radio show. Also, I often watch The Muppets Wanted and believe it’s a movie made just for me because it’s got everything I love in it. And I believe The Muppet Christmas Carol is the best movie version of the Charles Dickens classic.

Jim Henson’s life work dazzles me.

 Just watch this documentary.

We see his ideas come true

and please so many fans not few..

The Muppets, of course, have their place.

Sesame Street still in the race.

A puppeteer and film maker,

Henson became a creator.

Many ideas he still had.   

His early passing seems so sad.

But Henson’s joyful artistry

lives on for all of us to see. 

The Jim Henson quotes below have helped me understand his ideas.

We thought it would be fun to design a show that would work well internationally and that’s what FRAGGLE ROCK does. 

My hope is to leave this world a bit better than when I got here.

Life is like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.

(Available at Disney+)