Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast
By ToughPigs.com
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie PodcastOct 24, 2023
BONUS: Inside Jim Henson Records!
It's an extra bonus! Our EXTREMELY special guest is Robert Kraft, founder and head of Jim Henson Records, who produced Muppet albums in the '90s and later went on to become the head of music at 20th Century Fox! Mr. Kraft tells us all about the genesis of Jim Henson Records and the creation of Muppet Beach Party and Kermit Unpigged!
PLUS: An abundance of happy accidents! An animated film about a mermaid! Finding Rowlf tracks in the archives! How did all those celebrities end up on Kermit Unpigged? Spontaneous songwriting! In the studio with Ozzy Osbourne! And grabbing lunch with Jimmy Buffett!
ALSO: Check out Robert Kraft's film score podcast Score: The Podcast!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Robert Kraft
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
BONUS: Kermit Unpigged
We're talking about the 1994 album Kermit Unpigged, an audio release that feels like a TV special. With special guest Becca Petunia from ToughPigs.com!
PLUS: This is nothing like MTV Unplugged! What's a courtesy phone? An embarrassing music video! Is one of these Muppets a greyhound? Why did they forget about Floyd in the '90s? And what language does "mitout pig" come from?
ALSO: Read Ryan's article "The Muppets Taught Me Every Popular Song I've Ever Heard Of" on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: Watch the odd, celebrity-packed music video for "She Drives Me Crazy" on YouTube!
ALSO: Read Becca's review of the Linda Ronstadt episode of The Muppet Show on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: Watch Telly sing "Three Sides Now" on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Becca Petunia
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
444: Rizzo's Personal Caterer
We're talking about Minutes 87-88-89 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which we have a bunch of stuff to say as the credits conclude.
PLUS: Pop radio versions of Disney songs! An unexpected "When Love Is Gone" TV shipper music video! Foley artists with fun nicknames! Amusing negative reviews! IMDb keyword fun! And we play Who Was the Scrooge?
ALSO: Listen to Ryan and Anthony as guests on the Sounds of Christmas podcast!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest You
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
443: Gonzo, Not Dickens -- But Marley, Not Waldorf
We're talking about Minutes 85-86 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which mice and Charles Dickens say goodbye and credits begin. With special guest Staci Rosen!
PLUS: Which Hugh invented the elevator? Why does Gonzo tell us to read the book? The illustrious career of Mr. Caine's double! 38 additional Muppet performers! Who provided craft services? And should Ryan see King Ralph?
ALSO: Read Staci's article "Strange Revelation: Sesame Street Isn't Real?" on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Staci Rosen
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
442: Can the Whole City Come Over for Dinner?
We're talking about Minutes 83-84 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge invites himself over to the Cratchits' house. With special guest Staci Rosen!
PLUS: How was Piggy going to finish her sentence? What does Bunsen offer to Kermit? When was the word "jacket" invented? Would we drink smoking bishop? What do Rizzo and Peter Brady have in common? And is Scrooge excessively self-congratulatory?
ALSO: Watch the PSA where Superman fights Nick O'Teen on YouTube!
ALSO: Watch Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Staci Rosen
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
441: Old Sam & Elderly Fozzie
We're talking about Minutes 81-82 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which "Thankful Heart" concludes as Scrooge distributes gifts. With special guest Cam Garrity of the Puppet Tears podcast!
PLUS: Acting without speaking! Has life really improved for mouses? An anachronistic gesture! Did Bob Cratchit replace Kermit's personality? And speak into our ear trumpets, sonny!
IMPORTANT NOTE: In this episode, Anthony mentions a now-defunct McDonald's location called "Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's" in Bismarck, North Dakota. Those who are familiar with the Wesley Willis song of the same name, and who are curious whether there is a connection, will find it interesting to know that, in fact, Willis's song was inspired by the rock 'n' roll-themed McDonald's flagship restaurant in Chicago, which abandoned that theming in 2017. The similarly-themed Bismarck location was also known as the McDonald's Rock 'n' Roll Cafe. We have been unable to determine as yet whether Wesley Willis ever visited that location.
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Cam Garrity
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
440: Good Bookkeepers Get Coal
We're talking about Minutes 79-80 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge sings about his "Thankful Heart." With special guest Christy Admiraal of the Pizza Toast YA media podcast!
PLUS: Bean Bunny's moves! Sprocket catches coins! How does one file a friendly chart? Is Scrooge wrong about counting friends? And Statler & Waldorf's haberdashery!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Christy Admiraal
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
439: Turkeys As a Unit of Measurement
We're talking about Minutes 77-78 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge orders a turkey from a bunny and makes a donation. With special guest Beth Cook of ToughPigs.com and the Fraggle Talk podcast!
PLUS: Uncle Traveling Matt interacts with humans! The odd career arc of Bean Bunny! WHY did the spirits do it all in one night? The funniest joke book of 1739! And Bunsen makes a noise!
ALSO:
Read Anthony and Roz's review of Muppet Christmas Carol-flavored tea on ToughPigs.com!
Take Ryan's Muppet Christmas gifts quiz on Sporcle!
Read Ryan and Joe's review of the very strange A Special Sesame Street Christmas on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Beth Cook
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
438: A Joyful Bad Hair Day
We're talking about Minutes 75-76 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge cries in a graveyard and wakes up in his bed. With special guest Grant Harding!
PLUS: A REALLY abrasive sponge! Should we watch Red Dwarf? Arriving at Stave Five! Gonzo and Rizzo return! Are angels happy? Who owns It's a Wonderful Life? And did Wilkins and Wontkins ever do A Christmas Carol?
ALSO check out these things:
- Watch the terrible Muppet ripoff milk commercials from the 1950s on YouTube!
- Check out Tori's Muppet Fan Corner on Twitter, home of the Best Tough Pigs Article Tournament Bracket!
- Read the article that won the Best Tough Pigs Article bracket, "Gonzo: Nonbinary Icon" by Ren Goetz, on ToughPigs.com!
- Read Ryan's article on the difference between Kermit and Wilkins on ToughPigs.com!
- Read Anthony's article on Durwood Clapper on ToughPigs.com!
- Read Danny Horn's article "Jim Henson: The Index" on ToughPigs.com!
- Check out Anthony's ranked list of all the Disney animated movies on Letterboxd!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Grant Harding
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
437: A Clip Nobody Else Wanted to Talk About
We're talking about Minutes 73-74 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge just doesn't want to see whose name is on that gravestone. With EXTREMELY special guest Stephanie D'Abruzzo! She's a Muppet performer and puppeteer from Sesame Street, Helpsters, Donkey Hodie, and more!
PLUS: Scrooge already knows the answer to his question! The lost art of film score themes! Is this a story about greed or cruelty? Can people really change? Donkey Hodie episode recommendations! And plenty of Mr. Magoo talk!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Stephanie D'Abruzzo
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
436: The Same Scene Again, But Sad
We're talking about Minutes 71-72 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which the Cratchit family mourns the loss of Tiny Tim. It's the most heartbreaking scene in any Muppet movie. With special guest Brian Jay Jones, author of Jim Henson: The Biography and other great books!
PLUS: Why doesn't Scrooge go in the house? Is Tiny Tim actually dead yet?! London winters are not very green! Planning a trip to Leland, Mississippi! And what do Bob Cratchit and Data have in common?
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Brian Jay Jones
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
435: Eldritch Pepe and Potato Lady
We're talking about Minutes 69-70 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which unsavory characters sift through a dead man's belongings. With special guest David Levy of the Muppeturgy podcast!
PLUS: Things go from bad to worse! Why doesn't Old Joe have a Muppety voice? Jackie Gleason influences Muppets Tonight! Who do we ship Old Joe with? Why isn't Clifford in this movie? And the world's first Johnny Fiama fan site!
ALSO: Read Anthony's ranking of all the Disney Animation movies on Letterboxd!
ALSO: Read Bright Wall Dark Room's Tribute to The Muppet Christmas Carol!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest David Levy
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
434: Whoa, a VORTEX!
We're talking about Minutes 67-68 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge finds out that the future isn't so cool. But who's dead? With special guest of Jesse Hassenger of Paste Magazine and many other outlets!
PLUS: A lack of pedantry! Dickens cues up a song title! Gonzo and Rizzo peace out! Four pigs in the rain! And serious, scary, funny stuff!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Jesse Hassenger
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
433: Rainbow Sparkle Beard Farewell
We're talking about Minutes 65-66 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which the Ghost of Christmas Past departs and a scarier ghost appears. With specific customer Roz Strand!
PLUS: The Ghost goes gray! What would the Ghost of 2023 wear? Why does Rizzo have to ring the bell? Is smoke expensive? Long... ... ... silences! Kids' movies to avoid! And Easter Island heads!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Roz Strand
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
432: Noisy Games and Joyful Tears
We're talking about Minutes 63-64 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which the Cratchits finish "Bless Us All" and Scrooge finds room in his heart for love. With Anthony's favorite guest, Roz Strand!
PLUS: Fraggles and Gelflings meet up in their dreams! Squawking chickens and musical bears! Beggon, red flips, and Bert! The ghost goes gray! The Academy fails to nominate Jerry Juhl! Why doesn't Dollar Tree play music? And watching this movie after the apocalypse!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Roz Strand
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
431: Did Everyone Hate This Movie in 1992?
We're talking about Minutes 61-62 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Miss Piggy is indignant and the Cratchits begin singing "Bless Us All." With special guest Danny Horn of Superheroes Every Day and Muppet Pictures!
PLUS: Aladdin sabotages Kermit at the box office! The tragedy of Mrs. Cratchit's contractions! Songs that aren't meant to be heard for the first time! Muppets surrounded by fire! And Danny tells us what he REALLY thinks of this song!
ALSO: Read Danny's article on the profound weirdness of everyone liking this movie on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Danny Horn
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along: A Muppet Movie Podcast is available at ToughPigs.com or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or wherever you get podcasts!
430: The World Revolves Under Kermit's Feet
We're talking about Minutes 59-60 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Robin and Kermit finish singing and the Cratchits come together for dinner. With special guest Noah Ginex!
PLUS: Noah remixes Anthony's rap! We learn a LOT about how they achieved this shot! What's Tiny Tim's ailment? A pig gooses a frog! Why are coughs so deadly in movies? Steve Whitmire does Muppet performer impressions! And an amazing connection to the first Superman movie!
ALSO: See Noah's artist's depiction of Anthony and Ryan recording the podcast on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: See photos of the making of the "Christmas Scat" shot on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Noah Ginex
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
429: Miss Piggy Is in This Muppet Movie!
We're talking about Minutes 57-58 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which we meet Bob Cratchit's family. Including some pigs! With special guest Becca Petunia of ToughPigs.com and the podcast Hubba-Wha?!
PLUS: Frog/pig offspring! How did they make Rizzo dance on a goose? Exploding Christmas ornaments! We love Scrooge McDuck comics! And the startling truth behind the true identities of Peter, Belinda, and Bettina!
ALSO: See the back cover of A Merry Muppet Christmas: Through the Window, which credits Simon the Frog, Miranda, and Melinda, on ToughPigs.com! (Thanks to Muppet Wiki!)
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Becca Petunia
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
428: Fraggle Rock Party Guests
We're talking about Minutes 55-56 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge eavesdrops on his nephew's Christmas party. With particular visitor Becca Petunia of ToughPigs.com and the Hubba-Wha?! podcast!
PLUS: Does Rizzo eat things that aren't food? Facts about plum pudding and hansom cabs! Facts about Wander McMooch and Brool! Is Nephew Fred a good host? Ryan's strong feelings about The Chronicles of Narnia! And Becca brings us a party game!
ALSO: Read Becca's article on all the Fraggle Rock characters in this movie on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: Listen to our previous bonus episode featuring Muppet designer Michael Frith!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Becca Petunia
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
SUPER BONUS: Paul Williams on The Muppet Christmas Carol
Super bonus episode! We're talking about ALL the songs from The Muppet Christmas Carol with EXTREMELY special guest Paul Williams! He wrote those songs! And other Muppet songs!
PLUS: Working with Hensons! Parallels between Williams and Scrooge! Writing for cantaloupe! Paul Williams's favorite Paul Williams songs! And which song was most directly inspired by the book?
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Paul Williams
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
427: Yay, the Bus Driver Dance!
We're talking about Minutes 53-54 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which "It Feels Like Christmas" concludes and Scrooge wishes to see family. With special guest Joe Hennes of ToughPigs.com!
PLUS: The return of the snowman! Christmas floor peanuts! How many syllables in the word "child?" Our favorite line in this song! A Whatnot lands in jail! An unexpected Daily Show connection! Necessary horses! And how many times do we describe this scene as "great?"
ALSO: Listen to the book & tape that features the Muppets singing "It Feels Like Christmas" on YouTube!
ALSO: Watch Bob Newhart introduce the Muppets singing "It Feels Like Christmas" on YouTube!
ALSO: Watch Kermit singing "It Feels Like Christmas" at Disneyland on YouTube!
ALSO: Watch Ryan & Joe's puppet video "The Old Man's Christmas" on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Joe Hennes
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
426: Um, Technically It's NOT the Present
We're talking about Minutes 51-52 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which the Ghost brings Scrooge to Christmas morning and starts singing "It Feels Like Christmas." With special guest Joe Hennes of ToughPigs.com!
PLUS: The public domain Avengers! How to make Muppets shrink! The boar's head with mustard! The return of a favorite Muppet! Which part of this scene is CENSORED on Disney+? What is that kid carrying?! And what did Joe get us for Christmas???
ALSO: Look at a blurry screenshot of the kid carrying the mystery item on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Joe Hennes
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
425: A Very Jolly Ghost
We're talking about Minutes 49-50 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge says goodbye to one ghost, and hello to another ghost. With special guest Alina Gulczynski, Anthony's niece! And special guest co-host Roz Strand!
PLUS: Are the ghosts actually torturing Scrooge? Does Michael Caine look like a four-year-old child? There's nothing cuter than a pig in banana curls! The weirdest thing in the book! And we open up the listener comment bag!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Roz Strand
Guest Alina Gulczynski
Produced & Edited & Haunted by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
424: Loving "When Love Is Gone"
We're talking about Minutes 47-48 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Belle finishes "When Love Is Gone" and Rizzo cries. With special guest Sarah Elizabeth Grace, Tough Pigs pal and huge fan of this movie!
PLUS: Our personal "When Love Is Gone" journeys! The Boring Song Theory! The worst parts of Mary Poppins and It's a Wonderful Life! Michael Caine is not a singer! Christmas Carol fanfic! And what if Belle had been played by Miss Mousey?????
ALSO: Read Ryan's immature 2007 article "27 Things to Do During 'When Love Is Gone' on ToughPigs.com!"
ALSO: Read Sarah's review of the Gene Kelly episode of The Muppet Show on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: Read Ren Goetz's article on Gonzo as a nonbinary icon on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Sarah Elizabeth Grace
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
423: Belle Speaks!
Alternate title: When Love Is Braun! We're talking about Minutes 45-46 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Belle and young Ebenezer have a sad conversation and Belle starts singing "When Love Is Gone." With EXTREMELY special guest Meredith Braun! She played Belle in this movie!
PLUS: The Victorian Talking Houses! How does Belle compare to Eponine from Les Miz? Singing with Michael Caine! Chatting with Fozzie! Working with two Scrooges! Musical theater memories! And Belle the suffragette!
ALSO: Learn more about Patti Lupone's memoir on her website!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Meredith Braun
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
A Tip of the Hat to Wilson, Jogchem, Carolyn, Matthew, and KB!
422: Matchmaker Fozzie
We're talking about Minutes 43-44 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge meets Belle and they seem to like each other. With special guest Erik Adams of IndieWire!
PLUS: Does Rizzo ever eat sentient food? Scrooges with matching eyebrows! Is Scrooge more comfortable with numbers than people? When will Beaker turn into a fly? Dick Tracy in B-Flat! And did Robert Marley invent the phrase "dancing fool?"
ALSO: Read Erik's article about the long-lost score of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on IndieWire!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Erik Adams
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
421: Fozziwigs Know How to Party
We're talking about Minutes 41-42 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Fozziwig's annual Christmas party begins. With special guest Matt Wilkie of ToughPigs.com!
PLUS: Our favorite Whatnot is in this scene! Frozen Rizzo looks delicious! Why are the Marleys at this party? What singing food is on the Chef's trays? What's the name of the bootleg version of this podcast? And which '60s pop star does young Waldorf look like?
ALSO: See an image of the inexplicable Kermit "Christmas speech" shirt on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Matt Wilkie
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
420: Gonzo Lights the Rat (PLUS D23 and Sam and Friends)
We're talking about Minutes 39-40 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge leaves school for his job at Fozziwig's. With EXTREMELY special guest Craig Shemin, Muppet writer and author of the book Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show!
PLUS: What does Gonzo whisper in Sam's ear? The brilliance of costume designer Polly Smith! Why don't Muppets get set on fire more often? How does Gonzo stand on a ladder? And Craig tells us all about the Muppet Christmas Carol panel at D23 AND his book about Sam and Friends! It's a Christmas feast of fascinating information!
ALSO: Watch video of the D23 Muppet Christmas Carol panel on YouTube!
ALSO: Find out more about Craig's amazing Sam and Friends book on the official website!
ALSO: Find out more about the Museum of the Moving Image screenings of the movie on their website!
ALSO: See a photo of Gonzo standing on a ladder on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Craig Shemin
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
419: Time-Lapse Ebenezer
We're talking about Minutes 37-38 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge watches his young self work too hard and we meet Headmaster Sam the Eagle. With special guest Shane Keating of ToughPigs.com and Muppet Wiki!
PLUS: What's Scrooge's favorite comic strip? How many siblings does Rizzo have? Why does the classroom fall apart so quickly? Wine and pound cake! Sam gets energized! And when will Ryan watch Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol?
ALSO: Watch Shane's remarkable montage of "the Scooter First" on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Shane Keating
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
418: Rizzo Gets Mauled by a Cat
We're talking about Minutes 35-36 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge arrives in his childhood. With special guest Matthew Soberman of ToughPigs.com!
PLUS: Is magical time travel the best time travel? Rizzo's from New Jersey! Was Shakespeare a Muppet in this reality? And what do smartboards smell like?
ALSO: Learn more about Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips on the Schoolhouse Rock Wiki! (You can watch the episodes on Disney Plus!)
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Matthew Soberman
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
417: Careening Toward the Past
We're talking about Minutes 33-34 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge (and Gonzo and Rizzo) on a wild ride. With special guest Jennifer Garlen, co-editor of Kermit Culture and The Wider Worlds of Jim Henson!
PLUS: A tank full of baby oil! Daredevil Gonzo returns! Rizzo dabbles in vomit humor! Should this ghost be a child or an old geezer? And what are the essential elements for a Christmas Carol movie?
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Jennifer Garlen
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
416: It's a Ghooooost!
We're talking about Minutes 31-32 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Rizzo forgets his jellybeans and the bell tolls one. With special guest Jessica Evans!
PLUS: Is "You are such an idiot" funny or excessively lowbrow? Roger Rabbit is underappreciated by his friends! The Ghost of Christmas Past looks like a Gelfling! Joel Grey doesn't have muscular arms! And we dip into the Movin' Right Along Comment Bag!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Jessica Evans
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
415: "Jellybean" Is a Happy Word
We're talking about Minutes 29-30 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which "Marley and Marley" concludes and Rizzo hates heights. With EXTREMELY special guest Leslie Carrara-Rudolph! She's a Muppet performer!
PLUS: We lose count of "humbugs!" Can Scrooge avoid the past weekend? Leslie gives Cloris Leachman some shoes! Is it okay for Statler and Waldorf to say that word? We want bon-bons! And would Sam the Eagle make a good Scrooge?
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
414: Death, Despair, and Terrible Puns
We're talking about Minutes 27-28 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Jacob and Robert Marley sing their hit song "Marley and Marley." With EXTREMELY special guest Leslie Carrara-Rudolph! She's a Muppet performer! She plays Abby Cadabby and Tango and a bunch of other characters!
PLUS: How tall are Statler and Waldorf? The bully gets bullied! Behind-the-scenes info from Henson puppet builder Peter McKennan! The Marleys' cruelest act! The Olsen twins! And Jerry Nelson's amazing voice!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
413: Scary, Scary, Scary, FUNNY!
We're talking about Minutes 25-26 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which everything is very spooky and we get our first glimpse of Statler and Waldorf as Marley and Marley. With special guest J.D. Hansel of Bad Henson Bistro!
PLUS: How to film a human eating food! Who is Gumshazar? Are Statler & Waldorf among the smoothest recasts? Is their laugh more important than their jokes? And which of them is hotter?
ALSO: Read the entire menu of J.D.'s Bad Henson Bistro on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: Check out Statler & Waldorf Through the Years on Muppet Wiki!
ALSO: Check out Statler & Waldorf's Alternate Identities and Ages on Muppet Wiki!
ALSO: Watch the making-of special for Mickey's Christmas Carol on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest J.D. Hansel
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
412: Gonzo Can't Control His Own Story
We're talking about Minutes 23-24 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge settles in for a quiet evening at home. With special guest Danny Horn of Superheroes Every Day!
PLUS: More post-structuralist literary theory! Scrooge's stairs are SO wide! Is Labyrinth actually bad? Shaming rich people! Gonzo's amazing curling nose! And Scrooge beats up his dressing gown!
ALSO: Read Danny's classic article comparing The Dark Crystal to Thelma and Louise on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: Watch Dave Goelz demonstrate Gonzo's nose mechanism on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Danny Horn
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
411: We Want to Buy Statler Door Knockers
We're talking Minutes 21-22 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Kermit finishes "One More Sleep" and Scrooge sees something scary. With EXTREMELY special guest Noel MacNeal of Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Show-Me Show, and much more!
PLUS: A shooting star shouts "Merry Christmas!" How do Muppets drive horse-drawn carriages? The Ocean's 11 star who steals Rizzo's schtick! The joke of Robert Marley's name! Jerry Nelson's vocal versatility! And Timothee Chalamet dresses like Gonzo!
ALSO: Find Noel and Bear on TikTok and on Cameo!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Noel MacNeal
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
410: Comedy Relief Before the Ghosts
We're talking about Minutes 19-20 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Kermit continues "One More Sleep" and ice-skates with penguins. With EXTREMELY special guest Noel MacNeal of Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Show-Me Show, and much more!
PLUS: How do these cool puppet sequences get made? An imaginary bookshelf! Why was it so hard to make Kermit lock a door? Who are Jolly and Joyal? And the penguins' skating party!
ALSO: Find Noel and Bear on TikTok and on Cameo!
ALSO: Watch the Sesame Street clip of Bert's ice-skating dream on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Noel MacNeal
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
SUPER BONUS: Dave Goelz on The Muppet Christmas Carol
Super bonus episode! We're talking about ALL of The Muppet Christmas Carol with EXTREMELY special guest Dave Goelz! He's the guy who played Gonzo, Bunsen, Waldorf, Bettina, Zoot, and various other characters in the movie!
PLUS: Michael Caine never blinks! Gonzo's three phases of characterization! Getting the Muppet gang back together! Waldorf sings! The art of right-handing! Puppeteering pigs in the rain! And Emmet Otter is good too!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Dave Goelz
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
409: Warm and Fuzzy Kermit
We're talking about Minutes 17-18 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge begrudgingly allows his employees a day off and "One More Sleep" begins. With special guest Tansy Rayner-Roberts of the Doctor Who podcast Verity!
PLUS: The challenges of acting alongside puppets! Doctor Who's Christmas Carol! Remarkable puppet tricks! How many syllables are in the word "Christmas?" And how many rats die in this scene?
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Tansy Rayner Roberts
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
408: Beaker Does Not Flip the Bird
We're talking about Minutes 15-16 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge deals with charity workers and a caroler. With special guest Patrick Cotnoir of The George Lucas Talk Show!
PLUS: Bunsen's deleted song! The lost episodes of the Statler & Waldorf: From the Balcony web series! Beaker speaks! Harpo's new movie! Bean Bunny is so tiny! And how many rats work for Scrooge?
ALSO: Watch the George Lucas Talk Show live show with special guest Steve Whitmire on YouTube!
ALSO: Read Anthony's oral history of Mo Frackle on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Patrick Cotnoir
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
407: The Apex of Muppet Winterwear
We're talking about Minutes 13-14 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge is not amused by nephew Fred and Bunsen & Beaker ask for money. With special guest Patrick Cotnoir of The George Lucas Talk Show!
PLUS: Fond memories of Mercer Mayer books! Rats entertain us when we pause the Blu-ray! So many Steve & Dave duos! How long did Queen Victoria reign? A very controversial Muppet movie ranking! And who invented wreaths?
ALSO: GLTS Steve Whitmire?
ALSO: Watch the George Lucas Talk Show's Muppets Tonight marathon on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Patrick Cotnoir
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
406: Christmas Is BAD
We're talking about Minutes 11-12 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge is grumpy and Nephew Fred drops by to spread cheer. With special guest Marisa LaScala of SportsAlcohol.com!
PLUS: The great Mickey vs. Muppet debate! What does "our assets are frozen" really mean? Are there only two songs in this movie? Mystery Science Theater Rizzo! And when will the name "Ebenezer" make a comeback?
ALSO: Read Ryan's article on the many, many Muppets named Fred on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Marisa LaScala
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
405: Thank You for Making Me a Part of This
We're talking about Minutes 09-10 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge arrives at work and is very mean. With special guest Jarrod Fairclough!
PLUS: How many times does Scrooge say "humbug?" Is Rizzo a good cleaning tool? One of the harshest moments in a Muppet movie! It's a good time to be a Muppet rat! And is this Rizzo's brother?
ALSO: Read Jarrod's review of the Rich Little episode of The Muppet Show on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: Read Roz and Anthony's review of the Rich Little episode of The Muppet Show on ToughPigs.com!
ALSO: Read Jarrod's explanation of how The Muppet Christmas Carol is a horror movie on ToughPigs.com!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Jarrod Fairclough
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
404: Oscar Winners in Muppet Movies
We're talking about Minutes 07-08 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which the song "Scrooge" concludes. With special guest Jarrod Fairclough!
PLUS: Anthony tests our Oscar winner knowledge! Two Whatnots sound like Bert and/or Fozzie! Which part of the song is missing from the soundtrack album? Muppets learn how to use computers! Who is Mr. Curly-Twirly? And what is the Unanswerable Question of all musicals?
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Jarrod Fairclough
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
403: Gonzo Has Thumbs
We're talking about Minutes 05-06 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Gonzo insists he's Charles Dickens and introduces Scrooge. With special guest Julia Gaskill of ToughPigs.com!
PLUS: Should we call Gonzo "Charles Dickens" on this podcast? What does Scrooge have in common with Earl Sinclair from Dinosaurs and Belle from Beauty and the Beast? Paul Williams reads a murder mystery! Muppet choreography! And exactly how dead is a doornail?
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Julia Gaskill
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
402: Humans and Muppets Exist Side by Side
We're talking about Minutes 03-04 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which credits conclude and we meet our narrators: Gonzo and Rizzo! With special guest Julia Gaskill of ToughPigs.com!
PLUS: Sprocket wears clothes! Is Can't Hardly Wait the second-best movie edited by Michael Jablow? Would Muppet lettuce prefer being sold to being stolen? A frog tugs on a chicken! Does Rizzo know he's in a movie? 1840s critics react to the Charles Dickens book! And we're amazed at how quickly the book was adapted!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Julia Gaskill
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
401: The Most Talked-About Muppet Movie
New season! We're talking about Minutes 01-02 of The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which we fly over Dickensian London as credits roll.
PLUS: All movies should have rap songs! How did we first hear about this movie? Are there too many Christmas Carol adaptations? Anthony schools us on Charles Dickens! Dunston Checks In! And did Ryan see these miniature houses in person or is he delusional?
ALSO: Watch a home movie featuring the London miniatures at Disney-MGM Studios on YouTube!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Dickensian London
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along Bonus #10: The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
Bonus episode! We're talking about The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson, the 1990 TV special in which the Muppets learn about their creator and pay tribute to him. With special guest Joe Hennes of ToughPigs.com!
PLUS: Is this special sad or happy? A backstage without a stage! Rizzo is NAKED! The great Joy Buzzer name controversy! Which of the guest celebrities had never worked with Jim? And what was it like to hear the new Kermit for the very first time?
ALSO: Get your "Turn the World Around" t-shirt by Kenny Durkin on RedBubble!
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Joe Hennes
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Theme Music by Staci Rosen
Logo by Morgan Davy
Movin' Right Along BONUS #9: Muppet-Vision 3D
Bonus episode! We're talking about Muppet-Vision 3D, the beloved attraction that's been a staple of Disney Hollywood Studios since 1991! With special guest Matthew Soberman of ToughPigs.com and WDWNT!
PLUS: The history of theme park 3D movies! Is the preshow better than the actual show? Is the food at PizzeRizzo better than garbage? Is Waldo one of the most widely-seen Muppets? Why aren't there more recognizable Muppets in the finale? Is the Disney character cameo amusing? And would it be okay if this attraction closed forever?
Hosted by Anthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Guest Matthew Soberman
Produced & Edited by Ryan Roe
Logo by Morgan Davy
Theme Music by Staci Rosen