"The Jim Henson Hour" (1989) TV series 1989-

Writers:

Jerry Juhl (writer)
Chris Langham (writer)
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

14 April 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Plot:

This show was Jim Henson's return foray into television and consisted of two separate parts. The first...

Plot Keywords:

The Muppets | Chroma Key | Edited From TV Series | Virtual Set | Shadowmation

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Jim Henson	...	Himself / ... (12 episodes, 1989-1992)
Fran Brill	...	Vicki / ... (10 episodes, 1989-1992)
Kevin Clash	...	Leon / ... (10 episodes, 1989-1992)
Kermit the Frog	...	Himself (10 episodes, 1989-1992)
Dave Goelz	...	Digit / ... (10 episodes, 1989-1992)
Steve Whitmire	...	Bean Bunny / ... (10 episodes, 1989-1992)
Jerry Nelson	...	Beard / ... (9 episodes, 1989-1992)
Dan Redican	...	Anthony / ... (9 episodes, 1989-1992)
Gord Robertson	...	Lindbergh / ... (9 episodes, 1989-1990)
Brian Henson	...	Storyteller's Dog / ... (8 episodes, 1989-1992)
Rob Mills	...	Animal / ... (7 episodes, 1989-1990)
John Hurt	...	Storyteller / ... (6 episodes, 1989-1992)
Sandra Shamas	...	Garbage / ... (6 episodes, 1989-1992)
Chris Langham	...	Additional Muppet Performer / ... (6 episodes, 1989)
Camille Bonora	...	Fern / ... (5 episodes, 1989-1992)
David Greenaway	...	Badger / ... (5 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Directed by
Peter Harris		(3 episodes, 1989)
Jim Henson		(2 episodes, 1989)

Series Writing credits
Tim Burns		(1 episode, 1989)
David Young		(1 episode, 1989)
Anthony Minghella		(1 episode, 1990)
Jerry Juhl		(unknown episodes)
Chris Langham		(unknown episodes)
Bill Prady		(unknown episodes)
Mark Saltzman		(unknown episodes)
Barbara Samuels		(unknown episodes)
Tom Stern		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Stephen Hodgins	....	producer (1 episode, 1989)
Martin G. Baker	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
David Gumpel	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Jerry Juhl	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Lawrence S. Mirkin	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Ritamarie Peruggi	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Peter Armstrong		(1 episode, 1989)
Peter Armstrong		(unknown episodes)
David Gumpel		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Val Strazovec		(1 episode, 1989)

Series Art Direction by
Dean A. O'Dell		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Kenneth Coontz		(unknown episodes)
Stephen Finnie		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Polly Smith		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Lisa Posen	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Leon Van Dyk	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Gumpel	....	segment director (1 episode, 1992)

Series Art Department
Bruce McNally	....	dog designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Michael Baskerville	....	sound re-recording mixer / recording engineer: music & sound section (12 episodes, 1989-1992)
Frank Morrone	....	sound re-recording mixer (3 episodes, 1989-1992)
Floyd Burrell	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Rick Ellis	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Ric Jurgens	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Stephen Lawrence	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Bill Turchinetz	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Gary Ventem	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Fred Buchholz	....	muppet special effects (unknown episodes)
Tim Hawkins	....	muppet special effects (unknown episodes)
Jamie Jackson-Moore	....	muppet special effects (unknown episodes)
Zeke Livingston	....	muppet special effects (unknown episodes)
Tim McElcheran	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Tom Newby	....	muppet special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
John Semerad	....	visual effects (4 episodes, 1989-1992)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Rick McVicar	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1989)
John Rook	....	lighting designer (1 episode, 1989)
Marcel Brassard	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
George Clements	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Rex Grignon	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Kirk R. Thatcher	....	character constructor (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
James Hammer	....	dog costumes (unknown episodes)
Lizzie Harding-Wilkins	....	dog costumes (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Deborah Osborne	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Michael Baskerville	....	score mixer / music engineer (12 episodes, 1989-1992)
Don Gillis	....	musical director (4 episodes, 1989-1992)
Doug Katsaros	....	composer: theme music (3 episodes, 1989)
Arthur Stead	....	composer: theme (3 episodes, 1989)

Series Other crew
Håkon Noodt	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1990)
Michael Earl	....	muppet performer (1 episode)
Eric Andrews	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Linda Bain	....	script assistant (unknown episodes)
Abigail Belknap	....	dog builder (unknown episodes)
Fred Buchholz	....	muppet designer: "Jo Jo" (unknown episodes)
Matthew Campbell	....	dog builder (unknown episodes)
Edward G. Christie	....	dog builder / muppet designer: "Jo Jo" (unknown episodes)
Jitka Exler	....	dog builder / muppet builder: "Zondra" (unknown episodes)
Michael K. Frith	....	muppet design consultant (unknown episodes)
Jane Gootnick	....	muppet designer: "Jo Jo" (unknown episodes)
Joanne Green	....	dog builder (unknown episodes)
David Gumpel	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Rollin Krewson	....	muppet designer: "Jo Jo" (unknown episodes)
Don MacAdam	....	video (unknown episodes)
Chris Matus	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Sherry McMorran	....	dog builder (unknown episodes)
Tim Miller	....	dog builder / muppet builder: "Clifford" and "Chip" (unknown episodes)
Jonathan Moss	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Wayne Moss	....	floor manager (unknown episodes)
Tom Newby	....	muppet designer: "Jo Jo" (unknown episodes)
Betty Orr	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Norman Tempia	....	dog builder / muppet designer: "Jo Jo" (unknown episodes)
Kirk R. Thatcher	....	muppet designer: "Clifford" and "Waldo C. Graphic" (unknown episodes)
Harley Walker	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Jean-Guy White	....	dog builder (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Henson Associates (HA)
• Jim Henson Company, The
• Jim Henson Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1989) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Pacific Data Images (PDI)  computer animation

Also Known As:

Runtime:

48 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Henson Associates (HA)

Trivia:

In Feburary 2004, the rights to the Muppets were bought by The Walt Disney Company. This was the only series where the distribution rights were split between The Walt Disney Company and The Jim Henson Company.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cosby Show: Cliff's Nightmare (#6.14)" (1990)

So I'm not the Only One who Was Watching?

It does my heart good to see that other people remember this series. I remember watching it on NBC and thinking it was the dawn of a new era of Muppet creativity on broadcast television. Then it was canceled. Then Jim Henson died, and a substantial part of my childhood went with him. Actually, I think the show was probably a summer replacement. But still, I was disappointed to see it go. "The Storyteller" segments came back, and are now available on DVD. I'd like to see the segments with Kermit again, and the new characters that didn't last.