Added by Toughpigs

Added by Toughpigs

"Behind the scenes" segment from the first Wilson’s Meats meeting film.

In an early version of what would become the Muppet Meeting Films, two shorts were produced for the sales staff of Wilson’s Meats.

Film #1Edit

In the short, produced circa 1965 (as evidenced by references to upcoming projects such as the Cinderella pilot), Scoop and Skip bring viewers behind the scenes at Muppets Inc. (Skip worries: "You're not gonna tell them the truth, are you?") In their prologue, offering some background on Henson's work, Rowlf appears, as do two of Jim Henson's daughters as "children all over the world." The "behind the scenes" footage follows Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Juhl and Don Sahlin as they work on a batch of Wilson's commercials. Cameraman Del Ankers, sound man Gene Ankers (in an undershirt), and the Wilson's executives are also featured. Henson talks about how much they love the product; they even eat it while they're working. Henson holds a sandwich while he's performing. Soon everyone has sandwiches. Even the puppets have sandwiches in their mouths. They start drinking beer. Then the Muppets Inc. secretaries come in -- young women in short skirts, who start dancing and partying. "Every effort is made to turn out fine commercials for a fine product like Wilson's." A puppet is seen discarded on the floor with the rest of the trash.

Scoop: "You say that you edited that film?"

Skip: "Yeah."

Scoop: "What do you have against Jim Henson?"

Skip: "Nothing."

Scoop: "What do you have against me?"

Skip: "Nothing."

Scoop: "What do you have against Wilson's Meats?"

Skip: "Well, actually, I'm a vegetarian."

BANG! Scoop shoots Skip in the head.

Film #2Edit

Following up on the first film, Scoop and Skip begin by apologizing for the last meeting film, which suggested that the Henson staff does nothing but party and drink beer. The film is a pseudo-documentary revealing the “process” behind the latest series of Wilson’s Meat commercials. Introduced by Scoop and Skip, it features a sober narration by Jim Henson, along with live-action cut-aways featuring Henson, Oz, Jerry Nelson, Jerry Juhl, Don Sahlin, and actual advertising executives from Wilson's Meats and their advertising agency. Jane Henson appears in one of the commercial inserts.

This film showcased Jim Henson’s fascination with animation, live-action, puppetry, and experimental filmmaking.