Muppets from Space (1999)

Director:

Tim Hill

Writers (WGA):

Jerry Juhl (written by) and
Joey Mazzarino (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 July 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy | Sci-Fi | Adventure

Tagline:

Space. It's not as deep as you think.

Plot:

Gonzo is contacted by his alien family through his breakfast cereal. He is kidnapped and it's up to Kermit and the gang to rescue Gonzo and help reunite him with his long-lost family.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Breakfast | Escape | Rat | UFO

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Dave Goelz	...	Gonzo / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Waldorf / The Bird Man / Swedish Chef / Zoot (voice)
Steve Whitmire	...	Kermit the Frog / Rizzo the Rat / Beaker / Cosmic Fish #1 / Bean Bunny / Beach Hippie (voice)
Bill Barretta	...	Pepe the Prawn / Bobo as Rentro / Johnny Fiama / Bubba the Rat / Cosmic Fish #2 / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf (voice)
Jerry Nelson	...	Robin the Frog / Statler / Ubergonzo / Floyd Pepper (voice)
Brian Henson	...	Dr. Phil Van Neuter / Sal Minella / Talking Sandwich (voice)
Kevin Clash	...	Clifford (voice)
Frank Oz	...	Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Animal / Sam the Eagle / Swedish Chef (hands) (voice)
Jeffrey Tambor	...	K. Edgar Singer
F. Murray Abraham	...	Noah
Rob Schneider	...	TV Producer
Josh Charles	...	Agent Barker
Ray Liotta	...	Gate Guard
David Arquette	...	Dr. Tucker
Andie MacDowell	...	Shelley Snipes
Kathy Griffin	...	Female Armed Guard
Pat Hingle	...	General Luft
Hulk Hogan	...	Man in Black (as Hollywood Hogan)
Veronica Alicino	...	TV Stage Manager
David Lenthall	...	Mikey the Cameraman
Richard Fullerton	...	Guardian of the Gate #2
Mark Joy	...	Guardian of the Gate #3
Carl Espy	...	TV Associate Producer
Deron Barnett	...	Child
Chrissy Mullins	...	Little Girl (as Christina Mullins)
Elaine Nalee	...	Mashed Potato Lady
Rickey Boyd	...	Beach Hippie / Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Alice Dinnean	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Kristina Donnelly	...	Additional Muppet Performer / Baab the Sheep (voice)
John Henson	...	Sweetums / Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Adam Hunt	...	Scooter / Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
John Kennedy	...	Beach Hippie / Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Peter Linz	...	Beach Hippie / Miss Piggy (performer) / "Shakes" the Rat / Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Drew Massey	...	Beach Hippie / Fast Eddie / Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Ed May	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Andrew Stone	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice) (as Andy Stone)
Kim Allen	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Evy Berman	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
John Boone	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Dennis W. Britt	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tyler Bunch	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Lisa Consolo	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Rowell Gormon	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
BJ Guyer	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice) (as B.J. Guyer)
Greg Jarnigan	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Rob Killen	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
James J. Kroupa	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice) (as Jim Kroupa)
Bruce Lanoil	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Bob Lynch	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Pamela O'Conner	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Tim Parati	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Thom Stanley	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Lisa Sturz	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Mark Sutton	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Allan Trautman	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Jay Tyson	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Gregg Wallace	...	Additional Muppet Performer (voice)
Joe Cobb Jr.	...	M.I.B. Guard (uncredited)
Courtney Driver	...	Beach Hippie (uncredited)
Kermit the Frog	...	Himself (uncredited)
Katie Holmes	...	Beach Girl (uncredited)
Joshua Jackson	...	Beach Scene (uncredited)
Langley McArol	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Gary Owens	...	UFO Mania Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Miss Piggy	...	Herself (uncredited)

Directed by
Tim Hill

Writing credits (WGA)
Jerry Juhl		(written by) and
Joey Mazzarino		(written by) (as Joseph Mazzarino) and
Ken Kaufman		(written by)

Produced by
Stephanie Allain	....	executive producer
Martin G. Baker	....	producer
Kristine Belson	....	executive producer
Timothy M. Bourne	....	co-producer
Brian Henson	....	producer
Alex Rockwell	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jamshied Sharifi

Cinematography by
Alan Caso

Film Editing by
Richard Pearson
Michael A. Stevenson

Casting by
Allison Cowitt
Mike Fenton		(as Michael Fenton)

Production Design by
Stephen Marsh

Art Direction by
Alan Cassie		(supervising art director) (as Alan J. Cassie)
William G. Davis		(as William Glenn Davis)

Set Decoration by
Marthe Pineau

Costume Design by
Polly Smith

Makeup Department
Betty Lou Skinner	....	hair styles supervisor
Cecilia Verardi	....	makeup supervisor (as Cecelia M. Verardi)
Linda Kamp	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Timothy M. Bourne	....	unit production manager
Robert V. Girolami	....	unit production manager: second unit
Jane Gootnick	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. David Brightbill	....	second assistant director
Frederic B. Clark IV	....	second assistant director
Robert V. Girolami	....	first assistant director: second unit
Thomas G. Smith	....	second unit director
Kirk R. Thatcher	....	second unit director (as Kirk Thatcher)
Michele Ziegler	....	first assistant director

Art Department
C. Scott Baker	....	set designer (as Christopher Scott Baker)
Fred Buchholz	....	property constructor
Vernon Harrell	....	property master (as Vernon W. Harrell)
Alan Hook	....	set designer
John Thomas Jones Jr.	....	construction coordinator
Randy Kenan	....	construction foreman
Edward 'Tantar' LeViseur	....	assistant property master (as Tantar LeViseur)
Gregory Messer	....	on-set dresser (as Gregory H. Messer)
Paul Oliver	....	scenic charge man (as Paul W. Oliver)
Susan Pitocchi	....	property constructor
Vic Simpson	....	construction coordinator (as Victor Simpson)
Linwood Taylor	....	property master: second unit
Helen Williams Ward	....	set designer (as Helen Williams)
Duane Williamson	....	lead man
Adam Cameron	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Chris Crowder	....	gang boss (uncredited)
Thurston Edwards	....	construction auditor (uncredited)
Robert L. Girard	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Jeffrey A. Hughes	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Bill King	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
Alicia Lowe	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
Roger Scruggs	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
John Weeks	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Helen Williams Ward	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kami Asgar	....	sound effects editor
George Berndt	....	adr editor
Gaston Biraben	....	foley editor
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist (as Michael Broomberg)
Kevin Patrick Burns	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Kevin Burns)
C. Douglas Cameron	....	boom operator
Anthony Cargioli	....	boom operator: second unit
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	dialogue editor
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Richard Duarte	....	foley mixer
Todd Egan	....	assistant sound editor
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kris Gendler	....	foley editor
Sandy Gendler	....	supervising sound editor
Scott G.G. Haller	....	dialogue editor
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Andrea Horta	....	supervising adr editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Drake Jenevein	....	foley editor
Robert Maxfield	....	sound mixer: second unit (as Robert K. Maxfield)
Michael Rayle	....	cable person
Stephen P. Robinson	....	sound effects editor
Carl Rudisill	....	sound mixer (as Carl S. Rudisill)
Steven Ticknor	....	sound effects editor
Anna D. Wilborn	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Winter	....	assistant sound editor (as Christopher Winter)
David Abrahamsen	....	sound (uncredited)
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4 (uncredited)
Debby VanPoucke	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
James Chai	....	foam/mold lab supervisor
Larry Jameson	....	electro-mechanical effects
Thomas Kittle	....	special effects supervisor (as Tom Kittle)
Tom Newby	....	muppet effects coordinator
Michael Schorr	....	special effects coordinator
Phil H. Fravel	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
David Hill	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Walter Kiesling	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)
William Purcell	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Robert 'Lucky' Rieker	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Joseph Quinn Simpkins	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Russell Tyrrell	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Arturo Aguilar	....	visual effects
Travis Baumann	....	visual effects
John Cassella	....	visual effects (as John Cassella Jr.)
John L. Chaldu	....	visual effects (as John Chaldu)
Robert Chapin	....	visual effects
Rene Clark	....	visual effects
Richard Cross	....	visual effects
Matt Dessero	....	visual effects
Syd Dutton	....	special visual effects
Tom Gleason	....	visual effects
Carolin Grosser	....	visual effects
Laura Hanigan	....	visual effects
Mary Leitz	....	visual effects (as Mary S. Leitz)
Dan Lopez	....	visual effects
Richard Malzahn	....	visual effects
Fumi Mashimo	....	special visual effects (as Fumi Mashimo)
Alan McFarland	....	visual effects
Kelvin McIlwain	....	special visual effects
Kenneth Nakada	....	special visual effects: Illusion Arts
Rose Lynn Neighbors	....	visual effects photography coordinator (as Rose Neighbors)
Richard Patterson	....	special visual effects
Derek N. Prusak	....	motion control operator
Derek N. Prusak	....	visual effects (as Derek Prusak)
John E. Sasaki	....	composite supervisor
David B. Sharp	....	miniature effects supervisor
David B. Sharp	....	visual effects supervisor
Eric W. Skipper	....	chief model maker
Thomas G. Smith	....	visual effects producer
Rony Soussan	....	visual effects
Jonathan F. Styrlund	....	visual effects
Catherine Sudolcan	....	special visual effects
Kimberly Sylvester	....	visual effects
Bill Taylor	....	special visual effects
Paul M. Wagner	....	visual effects editor
Mike Wassel	....	special visual effects
Wyatt Weed	....	visual effects
Marc Weigert	....	visual effects
Stacey Weigert	....	visual effects
Eric Weinschenk	....	visual effects (as Eric W. Weinschenk)
David S. Williams Jr.	....	special visual effects
Gary Young	....	model builder
John Bozzalla	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)
John Buzzell	....	computer graphics artist (uncredited)
Tyler Foell	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Joey Jarman	....	visual effects artist (uncredited)
Karen Jine	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)
John R. McConnell	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Grant Niesner	....	digital effects consultant (uncredited)
Tomme B. Stanley	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Tommy Mack Turvey	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Bonsignore	....	best boy grip: second unit
Patrick Borowiak	....	second assistant camera (as Patrick J. Borowiak)
Jim Bridges	....	still photographer (as James Bridges)
Stephen Brock	....	gaffer: second unit
Matthew Brookman	....	best boy electric: second unit
Tom Dean	....	electrician
Frank P. Flynn	....	camera operator (as Frank Flynn)
David J. Frederick	....	camera operator
Frank Godwin	....	first assistant camera
Eyal Gordin	....	camera operator: second unit
Mark Graves	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Herb Harton	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as F. Herb Harton)
Robert Hoelen	....	key grip: second unit
Tony Jenzano	....	video assist
Michael Dean Kiesling	....	second grip
Mark C. McManus	....	video assist operator
Darrell B. Sheldon	....	dolly grip
Derek Smith	....	second assistant camera
M. Richard Speranza	....	dolly grip: second unit
Dascious Thomas	....	key grip (as Fleather D. Thomas)
Stephen Thompson	....	chief lighting technician
John Verardi	....	first assistant camera
Troy N. Wade	....	dolly grip
Steven Zaitz	....	assistant video assist operator
Simon Carey	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
Chris Dambra	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Eyal Gordin	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Charles Laughon	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
Adam Mundok	....	grip (uncredited)
Ben Noble	....	electrician: second unit (uncredited)
Alan Pickelsimer	....	electrician (uncredited)
John R. Sutton	....	rigger (uncredited)

Animation Department
Jon Gellman	....	animatronic designer

Casting Department
Courtney Gross	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jeanie Baker	....	key costumer
Barbara S. Davis	....	costumes
Victoria Ellis	....	costumes
James Hammer	....	assistant costume designer (as James P. Hammer)
Doug James	....	costumes
Vanessa Jenik	....	key costumer (as Vanessa C. Jenik)
Connie Peterson	....	costumes
Triffin Rasmussen	....	costumes
Kay Stuntz	....	costumes
Jessica S. Smith	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Brian Day	....	assistant editor
Ryan Folsey	....	assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Annie Kirkley	....	assistant editor
Christopher Kroll	....	first assistant editor
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Richard Villa	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Baber	....	music consultant
John Bell	....	orchestrator
Rupert Gregson-Williams	....	composer: additional music
Cathleen Kushnick	....	music supervisor
Ken Kushnick	....	music supervisor
Ole Mathisen	....	orchestrator
Kim Naves	....	music editor
Maggie Rodford	....	score producer
Miyuki Sakamoto	....	orchestrator
Nick Wollage	....	music mixer
Nick Wollage	....	music recordist
Rynda Laurel	....	soundtrack supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert Gillis	....	transportation co-captain
Neil Hyman	....	transportation captain (as Neil A. Hyman)

Other crew
Bill Barretta	....	puppeteer co-captain
Toni Basil	....	choreographer
Mirjam Bohnet-Brew	....	production assistant
Mary Brehmer	....	production crew
Elizabeth Brescia	....	muppet performer coordinator
Matthew Brooks	....	production crew
Michelle Lee Brown	....	craft service
Amy Cherrix	....	production secretary
Edward G. Christie	....	workshop manager
Don Creech	....	shipping coordinator
David Curtis	....	production assistant: second unit
Paul Davidson	....	adr talent coordinator
Andrew Davis	....	production coordinator
Louis F. DiFelice	....	location manager
Isabelle Dufour	....	production crew
Brad Elliott	....	puppet rigging
Eric Engelhardt	....	muppet builder
Eric Engelhardt	....	muppet designer
Henri Ewaskio	....	muppet builder
Henri Ewaskio	....	muppet designer
Alex Ferguson	....	production crew (as Alex L. Ferguson)
Rachel Fish	....	production assistant
Larry Galanter	....	workshop accountant
Deborah Glassberg	....	muppet builder
Deborah Glassberg	....	muppet designer
Gabriel Gonzalez	....	assistant: Ms. Belson
Jane Gootnick	....	puppeteer co-captain
April H. Grantham	....	craft service: second unit (as April Grantham)
Jeani Harris-Olivieri	....	assistant: Mr. Hill (as Jeani Harris)
Paul Hartis	....	muppet builder
Paul Hartis	....	muppet designer
Tim Hawkins	....	electronic control designer
Rick Heath	....	production assistant
Ann Marie Holdgruen	....	production crew
Margie McLamb Holowaty	....	assistant: Mr. Hill
Ingrid Johanson	....	production coordinator
Scott Johnson	....	floor captain
Rick Kelly	....	production assistant
John Kennedy	....	puppetry
Rollin Krewson	....	project supervisor: muppet workshop (as Rollie Krewson)
Peter Linz	....	puppetry
Lexie Longstreet	....	script supervisor: second unit
Drew Massey	....	puppeteer
Debbie McClellan	....	assistant: Mr. Henson
Tim Miller	....	muppet builder
Tim Miller	....	muppet designer
Christine Moore	....	script supervisor
Elena Pellicciaro	....	muppet builder
Elena Pellicciaro	....	muppet designer
Rudy A. Persico	....	production assistant
Victoria Person	....	production secretary
Kathy Rayle	....	assistant: Mr. Baker (as Kathy V. Parthemos)
Laurie Ritchie	....	production assistant
David Roberts	....	purchasing supervisor
Steven D. Smith	....	promo sequence: "Ufo Mania"
Thom Stanley	....	additional puppeteer
Patricia Story	....	unit publicist
Tom Supa	....	assistant: Ms. Allain
Kelly R. Tenney	....	production assistant: second unit (as Kelly Tenney)
Jason Weber	....	fabric dyeing and painting
Pamela Williamson	....	first assistant accountant
Gregor Wilson	....	production accountant
Heather P. Woods	....	production assistant
Beth Bargas	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
BJ Guyer	....	additional puppeteer (uncredited)
Chad Keller	....	assistant: "Kermit the Frog" (uncredited)
Johanna Klingenberger	....	payroll master (uncredited)
Tim Parati	....	additional muppet performer (uncredited)
David J. Reading	....	assistant: Rupert Gregson-Williams (uncredited)
Ryan Schaetzle	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Jay Tyson	....	puppeteer (uncredited)

Thanks
Frank Oz	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Jim Henson Pictures (presents)
• Jim Henson Company, The (as Jim Henson Pictures)
• Columbia Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (1999) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1999) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (UK) (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Net5 (2002) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2000) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures (1999) (USA) (video)
• Sony Pictures (2002) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• CFC/MVFX (visual effects)
• David B. Sharp Productions (visual effects)
• Dreamscape Imagery (visual effects)
• EFilm (visual effects)
• Illusion Arts (special visual effects)
• Perpetual Motion Pictures (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded at (as Air Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, London)
• Air Studios  music recorded at
• Cinema Research  end titles
• EUE/Screen Gems Studios  production facilities
• EUE/Screen Gems Studios  sound stages
• Epic Records  soundtrack
• Fincannon & Associates  casting: Wilmington
• Fincannon & Associates  extras casting
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals
• Ken and Art's Catering  catering
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Lucasfilm THX / TAP Theater Alignment Program  
• North Carolina Film Office  filmed in
• Picture Mill, The  end title design
• Picture Mill, The  main titles
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound editorial services
• Sony Wonder  soundtrack
• Todd-AO Studios  re-recording facilities
• Varèse Sarabande  score album
• WPA Film Library  additional footage provided by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

87 min | Argentina:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | France:U | New Zealand:G | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G (No. 36467) | Germany:o.Al. | Iceland:L | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Screen Gems Studios - 1223 North 23rd Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Jim Henson Pictures

Trivia:

Randal Kleiser was to direct the film, but was dropped before production began.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: One of the "R U There" messages is shown in Hollywood, California. Later, a globe showing the spiral formation of the messages has the western most portion of the spiral east of California.

Quotes:

[Gonzo appears on live TV]
Clifford:Hey, you better get down there, Kerm.
Kermit:Relax. No one is going anywhere, okay?
Gonzo:[on TV] You see, I was contacted through my breakfast cereal, and then it was confirmed to me by the Cosmic Fish that I am definitely from outer space.
Rizzo:So you want to go now, or wait for the commercial?
Kermit:Now.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005)

Soundtrack:

Shining Star

Great beginning but the rest belongs in space.

Gonzo is tired of being a "whatever." But when his breakfast cereal tells him to "WATCH THE SKY," then asks him "R U THERE," his Muppet friends start to worry about his mental state. Meanwhile, the message also catches the eye of Ed, the head of a government intelligence agency looking for aliens. Cute movie has an excellent beginning song (they all live in a house now?) and goes nowhere but down in boredom. Cute parodies of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and INDEPENDENCE DAY can't avoid the annoying 70s sound track that IS NOT SUNG BY THE MUPPETS!! Two thumbs up for Animal and Pepe, two thumbs down for not making a more creative movie.