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The Wizard of Id
Added by ScarecroeThe Wizard of Id is a comic strip created by Brant Parker and Johnny Hart in 1964.
In March 1969, Jim Henson shot a short pilot presentaion with puppets built by Don Sahlin. It featured the Wizard, the King, and the Spook, based on designs from the comic strip.
The pilot features a painted castle set against a plain backdrop, as the King discusses Id, before being confronted by the Wizard, who uttering his trademark spell, causes him to explode. The Wizard then explains, "It's a standard Muppet finale. If you don't know how to end it, go out with a --," at which point he too explodes in a puff of smoke. Then all three characters return to dance and bow to a fanfare, with the Spook making a particularly hammy exit.
At the 2003 "Muppet Rarities" event, Craig Shemin cited this as the earliest known occasion when Jim Henson created puppets based on pre-existing characters and designs.
