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The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson aired on CBS on November 21, 1990.

This one-hour special, "a tribute to the man and his imagination," celebrates the life and career of Jim Henson. The retrospective includes appearances by celebrity guests, a variety of clips from Henson's television and film work, and candid, behind-the-scenes footage of Henson working with his creative team.

As the program begins, Fozzie Bear receives a postcard from Kermit the Frog, who asks him to prepare a lavish production number in tribute to Henson. But Fozzie and the other Muppets don't know who Henson is, and feel ill-equipped to give him a fitting tribute. Carol Burnett, John Denver, Ray Charles, Steven Spielberg, Harry Belafonte, and Henson's friend and close collaborator, Frank Oz, offer via film their impressions of Henson and reminisce about working with him and the characters that he invented, which helps the Muppets to learn more about him.

Topics discussed include Henson's collaboration with the Children's Television Workshop on Sesame Street; the universal message of Kermit's theme song, "It's Not Easy Bein' Green;" the grand scope of Henson's imagination, innovations, and artistry, evident in his design of various "creatures;" his concern for world issues; and the international appeal of Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.

A short biographical film includes home movies of Henson in his youth; clips of early versions of the Muppets on the local Washington, D.C., television series Sam and Friends and on a Wilkins Coffee commercial; and excerpts from Henson's experimental film, Timepiece, which received an Oscar nomination in 1965.

Clips feature Burnett, John Cleese, Charles Durning, John Hurt, Dabney Coleman, Ted Koppel interviewing Kermit on ABC News Special: Wall Street and the Economy, and other performers with the Muppets.

Toward the conclusion of the program, while they are finally ready for the Jim Henson tribute production number which includes a Dixieland band, a Muppet whoopie cushion (and his wife, Joy Buzzer), Vikings and marching accountants, Fozzie finds a stack of letters addressed to Kermit from Henson's fans, who offer their condolences about Henson's death.

Fozzie: (reading) 'I'm very sorry that your best friend Jim died.'

Everyone is stunned.

Gonzo: Jim died? But we were just starting to get to know him!

The sentiments expressed in the letters help the Muppets to realize the importance of Henson and his work, the message of love and faith embued into the Muppets themselves, and how much their "best friend" will be missed. In the finale, led by Kermit's nephew Robin, the cast is joined by most of the Sesame Street regulars, as well as Fraggle Rock's Gobo, Mokey, and Wembley to sing "Just One Person" in loving tribute to their creator. Afterwards, Kermit (now performed by Steve Whitmire) finally appears to congratulate them on a job well done, saying that he knew the others could do the tribute for Jim. He then asks if they have "something silly" to end it with, and Fozzie shouts exuberantly for them to cue the production number. As the Muppets dance around, Kermit thanks the viewers for being with them for their very special tribute and they'll seeing them soon for more Muppet stuff because "That's the way the boss would want it."

Finale

Background performers in the final number include Craig Shemin manipulating Waldorf and Duncan Kenworthy on Statler. Also in the back row with them were Cheryl Henson and Bill Prady.^[1]

Characters:

Animal, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Beauregard, Bert, Big Bird, Bunsen Honeydew, Camilla, Clifford, Elmo, Ernie, Floyd, Fozzie Bear, Gobo Fraggle, Gonzo, Grungetta, Janice, Lew Zealand, Miss Piggy, Mokey Fraggle, Prairie Dawn, Robin the Frog, Rowlf, Sam the Eagle, Scooter, Statler, Telly Monster, Waldorf, Wembley Fraggle, Zoot

Credits

• Producer/Director: Don Mischer
• Coproducers: Martin G. Baker and David J. Goldberg
• Writers: Jerry Juhl, Bill Prady and Sara Lukinson
• Muppet Performers: Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, Kevin Clash, Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, Caroll Spinney, Pam Arciero, Fran Brill, Camille Bonora, Joey Mazzarino, Jim Martin, Peter MacKennan, Carmen Osbahr, Martin P. Robinson, David Rudman, Jim Henson (in spirit)

Sources

1. ↑ Muppets, Music & Magic discussion panel, August 2007