The World of Jim Henson

Jim Henson, puppeteer and entertainer extraordinaire, would have been 75 years old as of last week. I believe his legend has only grown since his passing, as a couple new generation of children have grown up seeing his characters on screen, it is difficult to see anyone in the television puppeteering genre that has come close to matching his appeal for creating fun, entertaining and appealing characters. Make sure to check out my epic post of Muppets from the 60s.

It's been about 57 years since 'The Muppets' were initially conceived, both he and their legacy remains as strong as ever. The puppets are still extremely popular in spite of the advancement of first cartoons and then digital animation to change the world of film and television forever. 'Sesame Street,' perhaps 'The Muppets' most famous program, still airs while November will see the release of their first theatrical release since 1999's 'Muppets In Space.' Titled simply 'The Muppets,' the film echoes the television flick 'It's A Very Muppet Christmas Movie' in that the characters' Muppet Theater faces closure and takeover, this time from oil tycoon Tex Richman (played by Chris Cooper.) With a cast including former ACADEMY AWARD nominee Amy Adams, it's a sign that though Henson may have passed away, his creation is still very much alive.

See the awesome TV special about Jim's legacy here.