Sunday, October 02, 2005

Muppets Tonight on DVD?

Ever since news of "The Muppet Show" getting proper season releases on DVD, fans have been wondering if the other major Muppet television shows will make their way to DVD in equally impressive sets as well - most importantly the 22-episode run of "Muppets Tonight". Brian Henson (executive-producer, performer, and director of "Muppets Tonight"; and Jim Henson Company Co-CEO) talked about the show and its future on DVD in a recent radio interview on Salt Lake City's local KUER FM-90.

In the almost hour-long interview, Brian Henson said: "In terms of the DVD releases of the Muppet shows, the first season Disney has done a beautiful release of the first season [of the Muppet Show] which is available now; and they will continue to release the subsequent seasons...In terms of being able to get [Muppets Tonight] on DVD, I'm sure that we’ll put the behind the fifth season of The Muppet Show. So probably it will be that you can continue to get the DVDs of the classic Muppet series, and I pretty sure you’ll be able to get the DVD Muppets Tonight after that - unless we start [releasing] them both together sooner or something."

Brain Henson and the rest of the Jim Henson Company were key players in getting the Season 1 set of "The Muppet Show" produced. Muppets Tonight is something they all want to do. As long as demand for Muppet-TV-DVDs stays (and based on how well The Muppet Show season 1 did, looks very good for future Muppet DVDs), then it looks like Muppets Tonight will come to DVD (probably not for another 2-4 years, but eventually). That is all we really know about the fate of that show on DVD, right now. I'll keep you posted as more information and developments come on the release of this show; but until then, this is all we really know.

11 comments:

Emperor Fred said...

On a recent syndication run of The Muppet Show, the original series was followed by a run of Muppets Tonight!, and then that was followed by a run of the MuppetTelevision series from the short-lived Jim Henson Hour. I hope that we can expect to see that on DVD someday too, as that was a real favourite of mine.

Anonymous said...

Does Disney own the MuppeTelevision segments? I always thought that was one thing they couldn't get, and that NBC still had them. Although I could be making that up, I don't remember anymore.

Anonymous said...

No, Disney has the Muppet segments from the Jim Henson Hour. NBC has no stake in them. The rest of the show is however spit between Henson and Disney.

Lis Riba said...

I was about to ask about the late 80s/early 90s Henson Hour. Obviously, the Storyteller is already out on DVD (though sadly without Jim's introductions), but the completist in me hopes we get those in addition to Muppets Tonight (of course, now I'm reminded of Sandra Bullock "phenomenon" and the entire Garth Brooks episode)

Anonymous said...

Its so good to see the Muppets finally being released. My daughter and I are both enjoying the season 1 DVD's. I have been wondering about another Henson show, The Dinosaurs. I am loathe to buy the bootlegs that are available on eBay, but there is absolutely no news about this amazing show ever coming out in an official release.

Anonymous said...

oh man, i can't wait until the muppets tonight are on dvd, why does it have to take so long...

Anonymous said...

I am almost peeing myself laughing about the Garth Brooks episode....wow...I want those DVD's!!
great Blog!

Anonymous said...

Any news when Muppets Tonight will appear on DVD - I only vaguely remember the original series, it's the Tonight episodes I'm only interested in buying so please hurry up and get them out there!

Anonymous said...

Please release them.....let them go (into shops where we can buy them!) I have been waiting for a release since they were first shown, oh so briefly, on UK TV!! Come on!
Nately.net

Unknown said...

i've been patiently waiting for this release for about 10 years (!!!!!) just to realise that i've been CHEATED all these years. that IS so terribly bad. yeah, liars and fuckers rule the world now. TERRIBLE, i say. all the fans are frustrated, and the other generations just don't give a fuck anymore. TE-RRI-BLE. how can these people watch their face in the mirror and feel good?

Hugorelly said...

Muppets Tonight is brilliant - almost every line is a gem, the Muppet characters are hysterical and the guest stars are fabulous!
I especially love Johnny Fiamma, Seymour & Pepe and Bobo the Bear; also Rizzo the Rat, Andy & Randy Pig, Dr Phil & Mulch, Mr Boodle Pants, Clueless - and of course the old favourites like Fozzie too!
As with the classic Warner Brothers cartoons, it's obviously a show made for adults but which kids can enjoy too. It goes a lot further and deeper than the original Muppet Show, and the canvas is much broader. It's a good idea to take some of the weight off Kermit & Miss Piggy by just having them join in now and then as welcome old friends.
All the guests are great because they really enter into the spirit of the thing: Garth Brooks, Pierce Brosnan, Jason Alexander, John Goodman, Cindy Crawford, Rick Moranis, Coolio and the Artist formerly known as Prince all stand out - and yet they blend in much better than the guests on the original series, who seemed a bit awkward at times. I put this down to the skill of the writers: most of the sketches and musical numbers are genuinely witty and original and they show the stars in a good light! So everyone's happy.
I think the show was excellent - and like many other Muppet fans, I don't understand why it's been so terribly slow to get a DVD release. Please Mr Henson and you Disney people, can you get together a.s.a.p. and let's have the first season of Muppets Tonight released in time for Christmas!!
Pretty please?