The Muppets on Puppets

Jim Henson and Frank Oz demonstrate how a Whatnot works.

Human hands used as puppets.

The Muppets On Puppets aired on NET in 1968.

In this one-hour special, Jim Henson -- with the help of Muppet character Rowlf the Dog -- explains the art of puppetry, from building to performance. Henson describes the various kinds of puppets; demonstrates how to operate a hand puppet; and provides a brief history of puppet development and performance throughout the world, beginning with the influence of the character Punch from the "Punch and Judy" shows of the 1800s.

Jerry Juhl and Frank Oz demonstrate how other kinds of puppets work, such as the string puppet or marionette, the rod puppet from "Java," the finger puppet, and the Sicilian puppet.

Highlights include:

• Oz performs a puppet sketch called "The Sunday Painter".

• Rowlf talks about the Muppets, and introduces Kermit the Frog.

• Various Muppet characters (including Wontkins and the Rock and Roll Monster) describe all the different types of Muppets.

• Puppet maker Don Sahlin demonstrates the use of special effects and how to build a puppet.

• Oz and Henson jointly operate a Whatnot puppet, which transforms into various characters.

• Henson shows how The Floating Face works.

• Henson talks about the sizes of monsters; at the end of his demonstration, Splurge destroys the set and Henson tells him to clean it up.

• Rowlf takes a stretch break with the Snerfs.

Other highlights include a backstage view of the Muppets in a unique version of the Cinderella story, combined with scenes from other classic children's stories; a skit in which bare human hands are used as puppets; and a demonstration of how to make simple puppets from materials found at home.

The program concludes with a skit about a king and his daughter featuring finger and foam puppets constructed during the show.

Credits

• Producer/Director: Tim Steele
• Writer: Jerry Juhl
• Puppeteers: Jim Henson, Jerry Juhl, Frank Oz
• Puppet Builder: Don Sahlin