The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

When I learned about Jim Henson's death in 1990, it was while I was watching the Muppet Movie. I was only 6 years old at the time, and I didn't understand it. I just enjoyed this special looking back at all the Muppet fun over the past years, not really knowing that what they were trying to remember was the man who gave birth to the Muppets - perhaps the greatest dreamer and visionary of my lifetime. Now as an 18 year old, I have fallen in love with the Muppets all over again - and I dusted off my copy of this special and played it. At the end, where they read the letters from the fans about Jim's death, I never fail to cry. Even as I write this, I'm tearing up a bit from just remembering Scooter (whose voice, Richard Hunt, would pass only 2 years later), Fozzie, and Piggy reading letters, and only then learning that Jim Henson had passed away. Ray Charles performs a beautiful version of "Bein' Green", with the help of the monsters from Sesame Street - and they show clips of Jim working on Muppet projects. They talk to his best friend, Frank Oz. They talk to Steven Spielberg, John Denver, Carol Burnett, Harry Belafonte, and they all remember something great and unique that Jim contributed to this world. This is the most touching tribute to anyone that I have ever seen, and I think it's good to sit down, watch it, and remember the great times that Jim gave us.

I remember seeing this special when i was 5, the year it aired. I couldn't quite understand what was going on or who Jim Henson was, at that age i still thought Kermit was real living breathing creature! That is the magic Jim Henson could weave with the help of every single member of his production team.

Seeing this again, nearly 20 years later and i still remember every word, every single word said about him.

As the special progresses you can not only hear but you can feel the emotion from every performer, the love they all had for Jim and how much its breaking they're hearts every second while they made the special.

This special tries to sum up Jim Hensons impact on the world in just an hour, and it does it in the best way...a way Jim would have loved. It had comedy, ethical questions, social commentery and about all else, it was a fun look at a life that ended far to soon.

The Muppets and they're puppeteers were never the same, they lost they're creator, leader and above all else...friend. They have tried to continue, with they're last great outing being the Christmas Carol. Everything else sadly fell short of the magic.

Those of us lucky enough to have seen the Muppets at the top of the game will never forget them, and we will always enjoy what they have done.

And as the children's letters all said, we all miss you Jim, the world became an emptier place without you.

I think it's safe to say that this is perhaps the last great Muppet work of art that exists. In this television special the Muppets pay tribute to the Muppet Man and my life-long mentor and inspiration, Jim Henson. For anyone who remembers the old Muppets and for anyone who considers themselves a true Muppet fan, you can't miss this. Look for it to buy on E-bay.

Jim Henson died in May of 1990, this aired in November of the same year. It must have truly been the hardest thing for his friends to do and I think that's what makes it work. The emotion is real.

Some people thik it's good that there are people who can continue to produce Muppet Films, but if you've seen these new films you've no doubt felt the loss of a great presence. The Muppets have never been the same since. And never will. So enjoy them, for the last time, as they were in this special. I know I do.

To be honest I never knew that The Muppets would make a tribute of Jim Henson and watch some Documentary & Biography of Jim Henson, but mostly there was Celeberites that knew Jim and I was shocked that Steven Spielberg know him. While I was watching, I was getting more interested in Jim Henson, it taught me of how The Muppets were created and make puppets have more emotion and have more personality than any entertainment programs. As much as I love the special, this one hits me the most that The Muppets that are actully are getting to know him even though that they are aware or getting to know of their creator, like it's not everyday for an animated or puppets and cartoon characters getting to know & learn abot their creator like they wanted to know them & that is heartwarming that they heard from all the great things that Jim Henson bring to the world. When right at the start, they realised that he died, that's the saddest and most heartbreaking scene of the special, like the tone of their voices, it's unfortunate because during the making of their Big production number and tribute, it's mostly like they wanted to meet him in person, right at the song "Just One Person" all of the creation of Jim Henson like obviously The Muppets then Some Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock Characters join in the song its feels like a family reunion to honor Jim Henson is heartwarming. When I first heard of Ray Charles in his interview with Jim Henson, that song "Ben's Green" is terrific, and the same is true of his voice; wherever he sings, it sounds like heaven. For the record, I just wanted to know how excellent Jim Henson is. We should be grateful for what he did and brieng to the world mostly kids that he wanted to make the world happy and laugh for what The Muppets & Sesame Street that taught us even though I respect his work and his creation that he give everyone, I know now that I love Jim Henson work expectly The Muppets.

Jim Henson's muppets were always a joy to watch, and the world was saddened when he passed away in May of 1990, so a few months after this tragic loss, on November 21st, CBS preempted a show for the night to allow this one-hour tribute to air.

Here, Kermit is away traveling, putting Fozzie Bear and the others in charge of putting on a tribute show. A letter from Kermit informs them the tribute is for Jim Henson, and they don't know him, so a show is set up so they learn about his legacy and history. Throughout the special, we see Fozzie planning what he believes to be a horrible tribute, as in between, celebrities like Carol Burnette, John Denver, and even Steven Spielberg appear to narrate various points of Jim's career. With such narration, scenes from various works of Jim Henson are seen (which include Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street and films like The Dark Crystal and obscure TV shows like The Jim Henson Hour). The final number, sung when the Muppets learn of Jim's death, is empowering, as it has the Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock muppets join in. This is a powerful special telling of Jim Henson's life and career,