Food Party Fun

Thu Tran's Food Party is like no cooking show you've ever seen before.

Food Party is a new show on IFC that describes itself as a "mind-bending, non-reality cooking show" and is built around artist/food enthusiast Thu Tran and a cast of puppets who cook up all kinds of bizarre recipes together. Food Party grew out of an art installation and online series Thu created in her hometown of Cleveland and kind of defies explanation. It's a little bit like what Martha Stewart might look like if it was filmed it on the set of Pee Wee's Playhouse.

In an interview with Thu about the genesis of Food Party, Gothamist called Food Party "quite possibly the only cooking program you should be watching" and I'm inclined to agree. It's independent, wacky, weird and exactly the kind of thing we need more of on TV.

Food Party debuts on IFC next Tuesday at 11:15 ET/PT. A bunch of Food Party videos are available on the IFC website, including a look behind the scenes.

Puppets on 30 Rock

The cast of 30 Rock was transformed in to puppets for a very recent, very special episode.

The latest episode of the NBC comedy 30 Rock featured a fantasy sequence with a a cast of puppets. If you live in the U.S. you can check out the episode on Hulu (its title is Apollo, Apollo), otherwise you'll have to make do with Alan Sepinwall's review of the episode.

This is just an aside, but I really wish they'd hurry up and make it possible to watch Hulu in Canada. It's blocked up here and if you live north of the 49th parallel and like online video like I do, Hulu is like the cute girl you're madly in love with who won't give you the time of day.

Links via Puppet U.

29/3/09 Update: For those located outside the U.S., here's a link to the 30 Rock puppet scenes on YouTube (link via Puppeteers Unite).

New Pili Opening Sequence

Zhang Bao-Pin creates stunning opening sequences for Pili, the popular martial-arts themed puppet show in Taiwan.

This is the stunning new opening sequence for the new season of Pili, a martial arts themed puppet show that is insanely popular in Taiwan. According to Kelvin, this sequence was directed by Zhang Bao-Pin, who also created that awesome Chinese martial arts puppet viral video that I linked to last summer. You can also check out Zhang Bao-Pin's previous Pili opening, which is equally impressive.

If you're interested in seeing more Pili puppetry, the AOL Kids site has full length episodes of Wulin Warriors, the bastardized, English-dubbed version of Pili that was created for North American TV a few years ago (see previous post).

Elmo Meets Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais meets Elmo and (of course) hilarity ensues.

This has been circulating around the web for awhile now (I shared it on Twitter earlier in the week)...outtakes from a shoot Ricky Gervais recently did for a guest appearance on Sesame Street. Gervais hits the ground running with Elmo, musing about being the only one on the Sesame set and pondering why Elmo wears pajamas at night but naked during the day. Off-screen you can briefly hear Sesame Street director Lisa Simon (at least I think it's Lisa's voice), who doesn't even attempt to rein these two in because obviously the Muppet and the Englishman are in charge.

Komet Kameratene

The Norwegian puppet series Komet Kameratene airs on NRK One in Norway.

Komet Kameratene is a kid's show that airs on NRK One in Norway. The series is shot in Norwegian and there doesn't seem to be much English-language information available about it, but from what I can gather it's about a group of aliens who come to Earth to study our planet.

There are a few Komet Kameratene clips on YouTube currently, but if you have the free open source Miro Player, NRK has a Komet Kameratene channel with free full length episodes (just download and install Miro, then do a search in the Miro Guide for "Komet Kameratene").

Big and Small

Big and Small work to coexist and understand each other in the preschool series Big and Small.

Big and Small is a new Canadian/U.K. co-production for preschoolers featuring puppets by the Grogs (of Mr. Meaty and Nanalan' fame) that debuted this week here in Canada. It's a brilliantly simple concept built around two best friends who are, well, big and small. Small has to learn to cope with big stuff, and Big has to learn to be tolerant of a small creature who can't sit still in one place very long. It's a wonderfully simple metaphor and really charming series.

Big and Small airs on Treehouse TV in Canada and Cbeebies in the UK. Clips from the show are available to watch online here and here.

Transylvania TV invades YouTube

Transylvania TV's Count LeShoc stars in a series of "TVTV" webisodes.

Gordon Smuder is pushing ahead with Transylvania TV (see previous posts). He and his team are in the midst of producing several short web videos featuring the TVTV characters and have just uploaded four new webisodes on YouTube. As much as I liked the full-length pilot for TVTV, I think these new shorts are even better.

The TVTV crew are also in the early stages of planning The All New Transylvania Television Halloween Special, which will air on local TV in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (and hopefully online too) this fall. They'll also be at MegaCon 2009 in Orlando, Florida February 27th through March 1st.

Sesame on Scrubs

Elmo and bunch of other Sesame Street Muppets make a special appearance on Scrubs tomorrow night.

Sesame Street is coming to Scrubs.

A special episode of the ABC sitcom featuring guest appearances by Sesame Street's Muppets airs tomorrow night, January 27th. According to ABC, the plot of the episode revolves around Scrubs' J.D. "learning the hard way that not even Elmo and his friends from Sesame Street can teach the gift of compassion to those who don't care to learn."

The Muppet Newsflash has a set of promotional images of the Sesame Muppets on the Scrubs set. And if you're a fan of Scrubs (or even just Sesame Street) , don't miss Zach Braff goofing around with Elmo on YouTube.

Scrubs airs in most markets in Canada and the U.S. at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Central Time); check your local listings.

Behind the Scenes with Team Smithereen

Team Smithereen stunt puppet Whoop flies through the air on handmade wings.

If you haven't seen the Team Smithereen Blog (see previous post) or haven't check up on it recently, go have a look. It's updated nearly everyday with photos and tidbits of behind-the-scenes info from the upcoming series from the Dan Clark Company.

Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special in Canada

Canada's comedy network is broadcasting Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham's new Christmas schedule.

Just for the benefit of PuppetVision's Canadian readers, here in the Great White North the Comedy Network will be airing ventriloquist Jeff Dunham's holiday special Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special this Saturday, December 20th. Encore presentations are scheduled for December 22nd and 24-25, check your local listings for air times.

"Letters To Santa" Airs Tomorrow Night

The new Muppet special, A Muppet Christmas: Letters To Santa airs on NBC in the United States Wednesday night.

Just a quick reminder that A Muppet Christmas: Letters To Santa (see previous post) airs tomorrow night on NBC in the U.S. The special is getting one final publicity push on daytime TV Wednesday with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy guesting on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet and Pepe the Prawn appearing as a featured guest on The Bonnie Hunt Show (check your local listings for show times and channels).

Via The Muppet Newsflash.

Jeff Dunham Takes Over Comedy Central Tonight

Comedy Central is running a marathon of TV specials featuring Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham.

Jeff Dunham is one of the world's leading Ventriloquists. He's risen to fame on the internet largely because of his popular character Achmed The Dead Terrorist. If you haven't seen Jeff before - or if you have and want to again - tonight is a great night to stay in and laugh. Comedy Central in the U.S. is running a Jeff Dunham marathon tonight featuring his TV specials Spark of Insanity, Arguing With Myself and Comedy Central Presents Jeff Dunham beginning at 9 p.m. (check your local listings).

You can also check out encores of his holiday special Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special Friday, December 19th at 9 p.m. and on Christmas Day at 7 p.m.

Via Ventriloquist Central.

Classic Canadian Puppetry: Size Small

Size Small was a popular Canadian children's television series in the 1980s.

Well, perhaps classic isn't quite the word for it, but I watched Size Small all the time when I was growing up. I hadn't thought about this show for years, but I recently saw a mention of it on Kristen McGregor's blog and it brought back a lot of memories. I remember nagging my parents to order one of the Size Small record albums that were advertised at the end of each episode.

Size Small was all kinds of horrible and featured some truly bad puppetry, but even so it was a huge hit in Canada back in the `80s. It aired in several other countries as well, including some PBS stations in the U.S. I think.

Team Smithereen Blog

The producers of the upcoming puppet TV series Team Smithereen have launched a behind-the-scenes blog.

Team Smithereen (see previous post) is a currently-in-production puppet series for Disney's Jetix channel that "follows a hapless team of puppet stuntmen who, more often than not, get into trouble on some of their death-defying feats." The series won't hit the air until 2009, but the production team recently launched a behind-the-scenes Team Smithereen Blog and are promising daily updates with photos, videos and profiles of the creative team.

Special thanks to Sean for sending this in!

Team Smithereen

A new Disney/Jetix series called Team Smithereen is currently in production with the Dan Clark Company.

Team Smithereen is the latest project from the Dan Clark Company (see previous post), who describe the show as a "weird and wonderful comedy sporting bone-crushing stunts and the worst "extreme action" team in TV history." Not too many other details aside from the promotional shot above are available yet, but Sean Johnson recently blogged that he and his brother Patrick are puppeteers and puppet captains on the series and that the cast includes some of L.A.'s top puppeteers.

Twenty six 90 sec Team Smithereen shorts are being produced for Jetix International with Wildbrain, which is headed up by Charlie Rivkin, (former CEO of The Jim Henson Company). No word yet on when the series will hit the air and in what countries.

15/10/08 Update: Sean Johnson has posted a copy of the official Team Smithereen press release on his blog.

Behind the Scenes of Sid the Science Kid

The new digital puppetry series Sid the Science Kid (see previous post) is now on the air and TV Guide recently went behind the scenes to see how the Jim Henson Company creates it. The Wall Street Journal has also been covering the show's unique production process.

Speaking of which, Brian Henson was in Silver Spring, MD at the AFI Silver Theatre yesterday and gave a presentation about the history of puppetry and how the Henson Co. has evolved over the years from Muppets to animatronics to it's latest work on Sid the Science kid using the Henson Digital Performance System.

Cross-posted from Machin-X: Digital Puppetry.

29/09/08 Update: Brian Henson's presentation was at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD and not the Centre for Puppetry Arts as I originally reported so I've updated the post accordingly. Brian actually spoke at the Centre for Puppetry Arts on Sunday and Harvey Deneroff has some coverage on his blog.

Studio DC: Almost Live

Disney Channel superstar Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) sings with the Electric Mayhem on Studio DC: Almost Live.

I didn't catch this past weekend's Studio DC: Almost Live!, but it's the latest component of Disney's strategy to reintroduce the Muppets and make them culturally relevant again (see previous post). As if to remove any doubt that they're serious about making the whole Muppet thing work this time (really!), they've brought out their big guns - Disney Channel megastars like Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale and the Jonas Brothers - to co-star with the Muppets (I'm told that if you're under 16 years of age these people are, like, the best thing ever).

For those of you who like your Muppet analysis with a side of snark, check out what the Tough Pigs have to say about it. As for me, well, I'll just say that a world where Kermit the Frog needs the endorsement of a 15 year pop star in order to succeed is a world I don't want to live in anymore (sigh).

Look for a second "Studio DC" special with the Muppets and more Disney Channel tween stars this October.

Scott Land and his turkey on America's Got Talent

Puppeteer Scott Land is competing on America's Got Talent.

Scott Land - who's hilarious turkey puppet I've posted about before (see previous post) - is competing on America's Got Talent this year. You can watch a clip here. Scott's made it past the first round of the competition and he's off to Las Vegas. You can catch him in the second round of the competition either tomorrow night or Thursday, August 7th on ABC in the U.S. (check your local listings).

Ed The Sock Gets The Boot

Ed the Sock - puppet star of Canada's longest running comedy series - is about to go off the air.

Ed The Sock - arguably the most popular puppet in Canada and the star of our longest-running comedy series here in the Great White North - airs his last episode at the end of August. His cancellation is just one of many changes initiated since Rogers Communications (sort of the Canadian equivalent of AOL/Time Warner) bought out City-TV, which airs Ed's late night comedy show Ed & Red's Night Party.

Ed started out sixteen years ago hosting Ed's Night Party (Red would be added to the act years later) on public access TV in Toronto. He quickly developed a cult following and his show was picked up by City-TV locally and syndicated internationally two years later. The show is legendary in Toronto and regularly beats American talk shows like Letterman and Leno in the ratings here. Ed has also been a VJ and personality on MuchMusic (sort of the the Canadian equivalent of MTV) and frequently hosts a worst-of-the-year music video show on Much called Fromage (see previous post).

While Ed might be gone from City-TV, his creator/puppeteer Stephen Kerzner still has a lot of plans for the country's most famous piece of hosiery. He's retained all the rights to the character and there is already talk of developing new shows for Ed and Liana K (Kerzner's wife and Ed's co-host "Red"). An Ed the Sock movie is also rumoured to be in the works.

I think someone said it best in a comment on the Globe and Mail web site, "only in Canada could a sock carry a show for 16 years."

New Henson TV Shows

Sid The Science Kid is just one of several new shows coming to TV from the Jim Henson Company.

The Jim Henson Company must be a busy place to be these days; they've got a bunch of new projects in the works, including the previously-blogged Fraggle Rock movie and three new TV shows for kids! Jim Henson's Pajanimals is a live-action musical series that will debut on the Sprout cable channel in U.S. in November. The show features four soft, cuddly puppets that entertain and comfort viewers with bedtime-themed songs and stories.

Henson's long-in-development digital puppetry series Frances is based on a popular series of books from Russell Hoban, debuts on Sprout this summer as part of a new "Summer Fun Fridays" programming block that runs from June 20 until the end of August. Look for the first episode June 20, 2008 at 12:00pm (noon) in most markets (via The Muppet Newsflash).

Finally, Sid The Science Kid - another animated series made using the Henson Digital Performance System - debuts on PBS on Monday, September 1, 2008 as part of the PBS Kids programing block. "Sid" is a curriculum-based show designed to teach basic science basics to 3-6 year-olds using comedy.