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| − | '''Bill Prady''' is a writer who wrote or co-wrote many Muppet productions and appearances. Early in his Henson career, Prady served as editorial assistant on the documentary ''[[Down at Fraggle Rock]]''. He subsequently wrote for [[Fraggle Rock (animated)|the animated version]] of ''[[Fraggle Rock]]'' and penned stories for the [[Muppet Babies Comics]] (including the ''[[Star Trek]]'' parody "Out of this World," "Upside Down Land," and several others). Subsequent projects, with the foam Muppets themselves, included [[Muppet Meeting Films]], ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'', ''[[Miss Piggy's Hollywood]]'', ''[[The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson]]'', and ''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]'', as well as Muppet appearances on ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' and ''[[Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration]]''. Prady went on to become writer and producer on such series as ''Dharma and Greg'' and ''Gillmore Girls''. |
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| + | [[File:Prady.Kanakaredes.Landis.Muppets.jpg|thumb|260px|Prady (right) with [[Melina Kanakaredes]] (left), [[John Landis]] (center), [[Kermit the Frog]] and [[Miss Piggy]] in 2007.]] |
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| + | [[File:Henson-Prady.jpg|thumb|260px|Prady (far right) with Jim Henson (center) and others in January 1990 during the making of ''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]''.]] |
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| + | [[File:Henson.Oz-Prady.jpg|thumb|260px|[[Alex Rockwell]], [[Jim Henson]], [[Frank Oz]], (unidentified), and Bill Prady on the set of ''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]''.]] |
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| − | *[http://home.pacbell.net/bprady/ Official Site] |
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| + | '''Bill Prady''' (b. June 7, 1960) is a writer who wrote or co-wrote many Muppet productions and appearances beginning in the mid-1980s. |
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| + | Utilizing his background as a computer programmer, Prady started at [[The Jim Henson Company]] as a production assistant and researcher on [[The Muppet Institute of Technology]]. The project never came to fruition, but he moved over to Henson's licensing department working on various software projects with [[Chris Cerf]], including the [[Muppet Learning Keys]].<ref name="scarecroe">E-mail correspondence with Bill Prady via [[User:Scarecroe|Scott Hanson]]</ref> |
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| + | Eventually, Prady started writing material for the Muppets, the first of which was a speech given by [[Rowlf the Dog]] at the [[New York City]] post office for the dedication of the [[Love Stamp]].<ref name="scarecroe" /> He wrote segments for the [[Muppet Meeting Films]], consulted on scripts for the ''[[Muppet Babies Live!]]'' shows, and served as an editorial assistant on the documentary ''[[Down at Fraggle Rock: Behind the Scenes|Down at Fraggle Rock]]''. He went on to write material for the [[Dial-a-Muppet]] service,<ref name="scarecroe" /> and ultimately wound up writing scripts for television, starting with the [[Fraggle Rock (animated)|''Fraggle Rock'' animated]] episode "[[Episode 107: Ambassador Gorg / Homebody Matt|Ambassador Gorg]]". This work extended into the [[View-Master Interactive Vision]] videos "[[Muppets Studios Presents: You're the Director|You're the Director]]" and [[Muppet Madness (View-Master Interactive Vision)|Muppet Madness]]. |
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| + | In print, Prady penned scripts for the [[Muppet Babies (comic book)|''Muppet Babies'' comics]] (including the ''[[Star Trek]]'' parody "Out of this World," "Upside Down Land," and several others), as well as comic stories for ''[[Muppet Magazine]]'' (including "A Doozer Dilemma" from the [[Muppet Magazine issue 24|Fall 1988]] issue). |
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| + | Beginning production on ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'', Prady and Juhl wrote the [[The Jim Henson Hour Pitch Reel|initial pitch]] shown to networks in order to sell the show. He later found himself on the writing staff, and contributed the script for ''[[Miss Piggy's Hollywood]]''. That same year, he teamed with [[Jim Lewis]] to provide the story for the Muppets' appearance on ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', and co-wrote the Muppets' segment for ''[[The Earth Day Special]]'' with Jerry Juhl. In 1990, he worked on his last project with [[Jim Henson]] receiving sole writing credit on ''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]'' at [[Walt Disney World]]. Also for Disney, he wrote the "Pigerella" segment for ''[[Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration]]'' featuring [[Miss Piggy]] as [[Cinderella]]. |
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| + | Following Henson's death, Prady wrote ''[[The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson]]'' with [[Jerry Juhl]], and published an editorial in tribute to Henson in the June 28, 1990 issue of ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. In the following years, he contributed material for the direct-to-video productions ''[[Muppet Classic Theater]]'' (the "King Midas" and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" segments) and ''[[Billy Bunny's Animal Songs]]'', both with Jim Lewis. |
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| + | Prady went on to become writer and producer on such series as ''Dharma and Greg'' and ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'' and is executive producer and co-creator (with [[Chuck Lorre]]) of the [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]''. |
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| + | In 2006, Prady wrote and produced a [[2007 Presentation Pilot|short presentation pilot]] featuring the Muppet characters. The pilot for a possible series was shot in "mock documentary" style and focused on the Muppets' efforts to launch a network television series. The presentation pilot was directed by [[Bill Barretta]] and featured puppetry by Barretta, [[Dave Goelz]], [[Steve Whitmire]] and [[Eric Jacobson]]. |
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| + | In 2015, Prady returned to his pilot idea and shot a 10-minute presentation which was subsequently picked up by [[ABC]] to air in the Fall as ''[[The Muppets (2015)|The Muppets]]''. He serves as producer on the series with Bob Kushell. |
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| + | ==Trivia== |
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| + | * The ''[[Jim Henson Hour]]'' character [[Chip]] is a caricature of Prady, a joking reference by [[Michael Frith]] to Prady's earlier career as a computer programmer. |
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| + | * Prady was one of many stand-in performers (including [[Craig Shemin]]) for the large number of characters called for in the finale of ''[[The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson]]''. |
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| + | ==Sources== |
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| + | <references /> |
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| + | * [http://www.freep.com/article/20090126/ENT03/901260311 Detroit Free Press interview] Jan 26, 2009 (article behind paywall) |
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| + | * ''Vulture'' [http://www.vulture.com/2015/05/the-muppets-everything-we-know-so-far.html "Everything We Know About ABC’s The Muppets So Far"] by Josef Adalian, May 12, 2015 |
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| + | * ''Variety'' [http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/jim-henson-muppets-big-bang-theory-bill-prady-1201496535/ "Jim Henson Remembered: ‘Muppets’ Producer Bill Prady Pays Tribute to His Legendary Mentor"] by Bill Prady, May 15, 2015 |
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| + | {{DEFAULTSORT:Prady, Bill}} |
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| + | [[Category:Authors]] |
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| + | [[Category:Muppet Puppeteers]] |
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Revision as of 16:58, 15 May 2015
Prady (right) with Melina Kanakaredes (left), John Landis (center), Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy in 2007.
Prady (far right) with Jim Henson (center) and others in January 1990 during the making of Muppet*Vision 3D.
Alex Rockwell, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, (unidentified), and Bill Prady on the set of Muppet*Vision 3D.
Bill Prady (b. June 7, 1960) is a writer who wrote or co-wrote many Muppet productions and appearances beginning in the mid-1980s.
Utilizing his background as a computer programmer, Prady started at The Jim Henson Company as a production assistant and researcher on The Muppet Institute of Technology. The project never came to fruition, but he moved over to Henson's licensing department working on various software projects with Chris Cerf, including the Muppet Learning Keys.[1]
Eventually, Prady started writing material for the Muppets, the first of which was a speech given by Rowlf the Dog at the New York City post office for the dedication of the Love Stamp.[1] He wrote segments for the Muppet Meeting Films, consulted on scripts for the Muppet Babies Live! shows, and served as an editorial assistant on the documentary Down at Fraggle Rock. He went on to write material for the Dial-a-Muppet service,[1] and ultimately wound up writing scripts for television, starting with the Fraggle Rock animated episode "Ambassador Gorg". This work extended into the View-Master Interactive Vision videos "You're the Director" and Muppet Madness.
In print, Prady penned scripts for the Muppet Babies comics (including the Star Trek parody "Out of this World," "Upside Down Land," and several others), as well as comic stories for Muppet Magazine (including "A Doozer Dilemma" from the Fall 1988 issue).
Beginning production on The Jim Henson Hour, Prady and Juhl wrote the initial pitch shown to networks in order to sell the show. He later found himself on the writing staff, and contributed the script for Miss Piggy's Hollywood. That same year, he teamed with Jim Lewis to provide the story for the Muppets' appearance on The Cosby Show, and co-wrote the Muppets' segment for The Earth Day Special with Jerry Juhl. In 1990, he worked on his last project with Jim Henson receiving sole writing credit on Muppet*Vision 3D at Walt Disney World. Also for Disney, he wrote the "Pigerella" segment for Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration featuring Miss Piggy as Cinderella.
Following Henson's death, Prady wrote The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson with Jerry Juhl, and published an editorial in tribute to Henson in the June 28, 1990 issue of Rolling Stone. In the following years, he contributed material for the direct-to-video productions Muppet Classic Theater (the "King Midas" and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" segments) and Billy Bunny's Animal Songs, both with Jim Lewis.
Prady went on to become writer and producer on such series as Dharma and Greg and Gilmore Girls and is executive producer and co-creator (with Chuck Lorre) of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
In 2006, Prady wrote and produced a short presentation pilot featuring the Muppet characters. The pilot for a possible series was shot in "mock documentary" style and focused on the Muppets' efforts to launch a network television series. The presentation pilot was directed by Bill Barretta and featured puppetry by Barretta, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire and Eric Jacobson.
In 2015, Prady returned to his pilot idea and shot a 10-minute presentation which was subsequently picked up by ABC to air in the Fall as The Muppets. He serves as producer on the series with Bob Kushell.
Trivia
- The Jim Henson Hour character Chip is a caricature of Prady, a joking reference by Michael Frith to Prady's earlier career as a computer programmer.
- Prady was one of many stand-in performers (including Craig Shemin) for the large number of characters called for in the finale of The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson.
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 E-mail correspondence with Bill Prady via Scott Hanson
External links
- Detroit Free Press interview Jan 26, 2009 (article behind paywall)
- Vulture "Everything We Know About ABC’s The Muppets So Far" by Josef Adalian, May 12, 2015
- Variety "Jim Henson Remembered: ‘Muppets’ Producer Bill Prady Pays Tribute to His Legendary Mentor" by Bill Prady, May 15, 2015