Ask Ken at Palisades

[Fozzie Bear]

BUS>>>

Hey, was wondering, will there be storage for the band's equipment under the bus, you know like where the football team stores their equipment?

And I don't mean the cup...

FOZ

 

[Gordon Universe]

Personal Shrine

I forgot about that Barrell thing when I was thinking about the Ghost Town. Good idea.

Anyway, Ken, I read on here (or maybe it was somewhere else where you posted) that if you like a toy and want to add it to your collection, you buy 2, one to take out of the package and one to keep.

I was wondering what your Muppet collection was like, and I'm talking strictly the Palisades figures. I mean, do you buy multiple figures of your own figures? Do you have 5 Dr. Teeth Black-Suits tucked away? Is your collection displayed in almost like a tiny pseudo-museum shrine-like way, with all original sculpts, and factory screw-up figures, and figures that haven't even put out, as well as the released figures, in and out of package? Or are you so sick of the particular Muppet figures, or for space value, when they are released you box them up for storage or not even go crazy buying them? I'm interested in knowing what your Palisades Muppet collection is like. Just how many regular Kermit action figures do you own?

 

[radionate]

I do remember Ken having a Patrol Bear figure on his desk once. Didn't he?

 

[Fozzie Bear]

YUP!

And I'm jealous.

FOZ

 

[Walker Boh]

Originally posted by Stryder Wolfe
could it also have a spinning, musical water barrell? (music and water not included!)

I'd like that one, but not as much as some others, i think...

... and don't forget the giant prune!

 

[ResidentLilly]

You know, that is a pretty interesting question, one that I don't think I have ever been asked. My Muppet collection is located in four locations and is comprised of a lot of different kinds of items, some of which only we have access to because of what they are. Breaks down like this currently:

Collection 1
Location: Office
In the office, there are various packaged pieces from whatever swag I was given or purchased. There are also PPS samples lurking about most of which get distributed as we gain them, some go to Mike's office, or the guys in the office and I keep some, some will now start going on e-bay rather than being hogged by us. Test shots and unpainted samples can also be found here, although they too get distributed eventually, we all dip in to that bounty when the time comes, after production is complete and we don't need them for reviews or comparison samples anymore. You can also find some original sculpture pieces or prototypes around the office, some of which I end up with, some of which wind up getting distributed or displayed in the office. I technically do not own these...in other words, if a need comes up I give them up, and it is only by the grace of Mike that I even am allowed to occassionally have any of those very choice nuggets. Basically I don't consider the office collection MY stuff, but some of it does wind up being in my possession eventually.

Collection 2
Location: Basement
This is where I have the full set of Muppets loose and on display, on some shelves where there is a bunch of stuff I have worked on both for Palisades and ReSaurus. Right now I have, simply because I had some stuff that I brought back from the last factory trip, all of the series up through Series 2 and obviously the wedding PPS samples have made it into this display. It looks cool. One of every variant or release including the lunchbox item and give aways. Plus a couple of really whacked out color tests that I have from the office, the wilder Harry hair sample, stuff like that. It is really THE display area for my collection, of all things and not just Muppets. Fun room.

Collection 3
Location: Home Office
This is where I have the full set of Muppets in the package tacked up to the wall, although I am considering moving this display downstairs. Might turn this area upstairs into an all loose display. This is the one I tend to study the most...not have fun with. I sort of use it to gauge what the future is gonna look like when new items are added and do some mental comparisons.

Collection 4
Location: Closet
This is where I box up and keep whatever extras I buy or receive gratis. I like to give samples away regularly, always have, so I get to pick up some at a discount for that purpose. So I keep them stored until they are needed. Had an insurance guy in the house tonight finalizing our insurance policy, and it was great to give him a couple of Muppet figures for his kids. Love that feeling probably more than just showing off the collection.

Maybe more than you wanted to know, but I guess I got stoked on a question that wasn't "Hey when is this coming out?" or "When will you do insert favorite Muppet here ?" Not that I mind those questions, but this was different and I had to think about the answer for a bit.

 

[Luke]

Wowzers - quite a collection then ! Mine consists right now of :- The Attic - Only place where the dog can't climb to eat them. I am already concocting a plan to attack it with a bone shaped biscuit ammunition strike from Gonzo's cannon in order to reclaim my bedroom !

Ok, here's another thought provoking question :- Whats the wierdest action figure you've ever been asked to make ?

 

[ResidentLilly]

First, who do you mean is asking? Do you mean a licensor asking the company to make a figure or a fan saying "You should make _______?"

Second, define "weird".

 

[Gordon Universe]

Thanks for the information. I’ve always wondered about that, since I was a kid (about toy-makers and their collections), wishing to be in that sort of a job when I’m older kind-of-a-thing (not just because of the toys, but that’s a perk—even when buying them yourself). There are types of people who grow out of toys, and those who don’t, and when I was like 10 I was very worried that I’d grow out of them, but I haven’t. These Muppet figures are really the best toys currently out there, and I’m not just saying that to kiss butt, or because I’m biased towards the Muppets. I’m into Star Wars, as well, but I hated the Episode 2 line minus the vehicles, which I liked (in my opinion those figures were made as almost little pre-posed knick-knacks to be left in the boxes—no play value; just Mint-On-Card Statues). I hope you have a long successful run with these, because with how perfect these are, you deserve it, and because I want to continue to buy them for a long time.

From Series 1, which figure are you most proud of or like the most? And also, how far up do Beaker’s pants go (are they complete?), it’s hard to see because it’s dark under his lab-coat, and I’d rather not rip it apart.

 

[Luke]

Originally posted by ResidentLilly
First, who do you mean is asking? Do you mean a licensor asking the company to make a figure or a fan saying "You should make _______?"

Second, define "weird".

I mean a fan asking like "Hey Ken Baybee, You should make a figure of Michael Jackson with interchangable faces showing each transition period". That kinda wierd - u know, strange. I'm thinking tutu's and rubber duckies here !