Recent content by doctorjpw

This isn't a sign of the apocylpse. Here's how I see it. The Muppets are best represented by their classic TV and film library, which is now in the hands of one of the best home video divisions out there. Take the incredible 2-disc editions of things like "Fantasia", "Who Framed Roger...

"The Muppet Show" aired on all of the CBS Owned-and-Operated TV stations ("O&O's"). These were in big cities like NYC, LA, Chicago, Denver, etc. That's why they're mentioned in the credits. In smaller markets the show aired on whichever station bought it. In Syracuse, NY the show aired on...

It's funny you mention Disney...despite the fact that those "TV Funhouse" parodies I referred to slipped by, Disney is notorious for their dogged pursuit of copyright violators--from the harmless uses you describe to parody and satire that should be covered under the First Amendment. Disney is...

Here's a very simple explanation--not meant to be the exact answer :attitude: ---but something close. "The Rainbow Connection", like nearly all pieces of popular music, was written by a songwriter affiliated with ASCAP or BMI, the two major songwriters' unions. Each year millions of entities...

Satire and parody is very broadly protected under "freedom of speech." Mad magazine parodied copyrighted characters like Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny and the "Archie Comics" gang back in the 1950's. SNL has presented much more repugnant character assasinations (no pun intended) in its "TV...