Could Disney not release the "Muppet Central" segments by themselves on a DVD set? I'd be happy with that, as most all the other segments of The Jim Henson Hour are getting released through Lionsgate anyway.The Jim Henson Hour as we know it is an impossibility. And the segments outside the "Muppet Central" stuff belong to Henson, who's releasing those segments via Lionsgate. So, if anything, we'll get the segments without the Muppet Show Muppets.
Yeah, a lot would be gone.Theoretically yes, but it would be SO chopped up, would anyone really want it? They'd have to cut a LOT of footage out to sever the link between the two shows, and it would be just a mess, and unwatchable. Like ever accidentally tape something near the end of a tape, and it cuts off the ending, and you somehow forget when you watch it years later? Sort of like that. I'm sure it could be done if you select certain ones... but all and all, it would just feel uneven.
What he said! The only thing I can see being cut if it's just the half-hour segments is the mention and clips from the second half hour. For the most part those are the only instances when the second half hour was mentioned in the first half hour (the only exception being Miss Piggy's Hollywood being mentioned in another episode, but even then it doesn't have to be followed by Miss Piggy's Hollywood; In that scene Miss Piggy's hair is different and she gives the impression that she is filming it at the time, plus the fact that it doesn't seem to be as great as the actual special turns out to be).Some of that stuff wouldn't have to be cut. The opening and Muppet Central portions of The Jim Henson Hour aired as a half-hour show called "The Jim Henson Show" in Canada a few years ago and while not ideal it would be much better seeing these segments released as "The Jim Henson Show" than as nothing at all.