The
Muppet Show season 1 slated for August 9 release
Here
is everything you want to know about the long-awaited Muppet Show
season 1 debut on DVD
By
Greg James
June
1, 2005
Last
November word reached us that The Muppet Show was coming to DVD
in complete season sets, and in March we were able to get a hold
of some of the early information on the upcoming project. Now, the
details of the first season box set’s features and release
are here.
“The
Muppet Show: Season One (Special Edition)” DVD box set will
be released on August 9, 2005. It was announced on the official Muppet
website, Muppet.com,
that the first season would be hitting stores the same day as “The
Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” DVD and will boast a standard
retail price of $39.99. On-line
pre-orders are already available.
The four-disc collection
will hold all 24 season one episodes along with a great collection
of bonus features and other goodies that Muppet fans will love.
The video is reportedly transferred from their original British
(PAL) tapes. Aside from getting a beautiful transfer and mastering
of the video like never seen before, the episodes are unedited and
will contain the UK skits. It has been reported that Disney worked
to secure the needed character and music rights needed to keep the
episodes intact.
Aside
from the 24-episodes, Disney’s Home Entertainment has stated
that the set will hold the following bonus features; "Muppet
Morsels"; the original Muppet pitch reel; original pilot; a
Jim Henson retrospective; a season one promo gag reel; the world
premiere interstitials; and much more!
One
of the newly created features, “Muppet Morsels”, will
expose all kinds of information about the show, the characters,
the guests, the skits, and more (even the die-hard Muppet Show fans
will learn something). The “Muppet Morsels” feature
allows viewers to view optional “pop-up” trivia on each
episode. The trivia was created and worked on by Michael Dixon (webmaster
of Kermitage.com),
Craig Shemin (Henson writer/historian), Jerry Juhl (Muppet writer)
and Dave Goelz (Muppet performer). The trivia found in the “Muppet
Morsels” are specific to each episode, and was created on
the basis of a new "morsel" pop-up about every 30 seconds
(giving viewers around 50 trivia facts per episode).
Another
great addition to the set is the rare and hilarious short film that
was originally sent to CBS executives to help sell the idea of "The
Muppet Show". In a true Muppet fashion, Leo the announcer desperately
tried to pitch the idea without being quite so subtle. This is the
same pitch tape that was shown at Muppetfest
in 2001. It not only is extremely entertaining but a nice historic
piece that fans are ecstatic to see included.
If
you continue to look at the list of features fans will notice the
item of “original pilot”. As many Muppet fans will tell
you, there were two pilot episodes produced for The Muppet Show
(“The Muppets Valentine Show” and “The Muppet
Show: Sex and Violence”). Members of the DVD production team
have said that they hope to include both pilots on the set, but
depending on the disc space available they may only be able to fit
one (exactly which one is unclear right now). If both pilots don’t
make the cut for the season one set, the unreleased pilot may be
included on the season 2 set. Fans will have to wait for Disney
to release more information to know for sure if both pilots made
the cut – but at least one pilot episode will be included
(and maybe more).
Another
feature created for the DVD set is a brand new retrospective. In
the “Jim Henson Retrospective” viewers can hear from
friends and co-workers as they take a look back at the man who started
it all. This is a loving feature that showcases the legacy, the
magic, and the creations of Muppet-creator Jim Henson. Many Henson
performers, co-workers, family members, friends, and fans were interviewed
on camera for such a feature; including Craig Shemin, Jerry Juhl,
Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Carroll Spinney, Michael Frith and many
more.
The
sets will also included other goodies for fans including the season
one promo gag reel, the world premiere interstitials, sneak peeks
and much more. Since this product is arriving the same day as “The
Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” DVD, Disney is hoping to promote
fans to pick up both items. There will not only be a trailer for
“The Muppet’s Wizard of Oz” on the Muppet Show
season one DVD, but it has been reported that consumers who buy
both will be able to get a discount though a mail-in rebate.
At
the moment Disney is working on features for similar sets for the
other four seasons of The Muppet Show, and they hope to release
all five seasons on equally impressive sets. But like all things,
the success of season one will determine the amount of investment
Disney gives to produce other season sets. Information on the release
schedule, and set details is not available at this time.
For
more information on the season one episodes check out our first
season Muppet Show guide, that includes detailed descriptions,
cast lists, photos and more.
The
Muppet Show: Season One [Special Edition]
- All 24 season one episodes (with UK skits included)
- "Muppet Morsels" (all new pop-up trivia available
on every episode)
- Original Muppet Pitch Reel (the presentation by Jim Henson that
started it all)
- A Jim Henson Retrospective (an all new look back at Muppet creator
Jim Henson)
- Original Pilot
- Season One Promo Gag Reel
- World Premiere Interstitials
- The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Sneak Peek
- ...and much more!
Release
Specifications:
- $39.99 retail, pre-order
for $27.99
- 4-disc DVD collection
- Release date: August 9, 2005
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