JIm Henson The Idea Man was More Than a Puppet Genius – He Was Family

Little did I know my intro into the art of puppetry began watching The Muppet Show, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.  As a former  cast member of the hit Broadway shows Avenue Q and The Lion King, I could’ve never imagined being part of  imaginary worlds bringing characters and songs to life with through the felt, rods ana paper maché looking artistry reached whole new levels in entertainment thanks to the genius of Jim Henson.

Jim Henson Idea Man takes us into the mind of his singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond. Academy Award-winning filmmaker and director Ron Howard captures the restless creativity, ambition, and artistic evolution in the style and spirit of his complex subject, an artist who revolutionized television, inspired generations, and created some of the world’s most beloved characters.

Howard brings us an entertaining and insightful look at a man whose boundless imagination changed the world with new interviews from Henson’s closest collaborators and children, as well as never-before-seen materials from his personal archives—including home movies, photographs, sketches, and diaries. We become privy to brief, yet unpleasant experience on a brand new Saturday Night Live, how a trip abroad inspired the English music hall vibes for the Muppet show, how Kermit was born from ping pong balls and his Mom’s green coat, as well as, what how a single karate chop thrust Miss Piggy out of the chorus and into the limelight.

Becoming a beloved entertainment figure doesn’t come without a price, as Howard doesn’t shy away from sharing the not so lovely side of Henson’s attempting to navigate juggling being a husband, father, friend, boss and the price everyone involved pays.  Most artists never think they are good enough and Henson was no different as the one thing he didn’t think he excelled in was the one thing that changed the education of million of children globally.

Watching colleagues/fans Academy Award winners Jennifer Connolly and Rita Moreno speak fondly on the man who taught the world how to embrace differences with Kermit through the Rainbow Connection and It’s Not Easy Being Green speaks volumes.  His fantasy films  The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth are now considered classics and Sesame Street has become the longest-running children’s program in television history.

The Jim Henson Company remains a family business run by his children creating movies and television shows for audiences around the world while the Jim Henson Foundation keeps the art of puppetry alive.