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It's Official: I've Been On MC Forums 8 years!

beaker

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Heading into my 9th year as a regular poster, I've been reading Muppet Central and posting for 8 years this week.

I just wanted to tahnk Phil again for creating something that has had such a profound effect on the direction of the Muppets, and for bringing us all together.

I remember for a couple years I was always looking up Muppet related stuff,
then in November 1998 I finally came upon geocities.com/muppetcentral
and was absolutely blown away. I remember being in the chatroom, and Muppeteers and people associated with Muppets From space were showing us
pictures and telling us tidbits from MFS. There was also news that a new Sesame film was coming to theatres, and JHC was going to make a Dark Crystal prequel. So the lead into 1999 was very very exciting, we all genuinely thought that 1999 would be the true glorious return of the Muppets. Also, those in the tape trading circle had just gotten the "Sex and Violence" Muppet Show 1974 test pilot(available on the Muppet Show dvd season 1 boxset) and a lot of other rare stuff.

So yes, 8 long years! I'm curious who is still around from the early days of
98-2001. I still see Kevin(Fozzie), Dave(Gorgan), Luke, Warrick, and a few others. It's funny to think, looking back how much input the fans had in those days, at least in some sort of way. Just the fact a lot of the principal JHC Muppet people stopped by was great.

2001 was another banner year. It lead into the great "last hope" era known as 2002 -2003, which was THE biggest Muppet merchandise year era since the early 80's. The mainstream stores were brimming with all manner of Muppets(even obscure characters) stuff, non preschooler Sesame and a lot of Fraggle Rock(even Bear in the Big Blue House stuff)

2001 was also MuppetFest, which I consider the #1 highlight of Muppet Central, where about 1400 Muppet fans from literally around the world gathered to celebrate the Muppets; with most the main Muppeteers and Muppets themselves there. Also that was the year Ken Lilly came on here, and announced they would create the most insane Muppet figure line ever.
Looking back, it was both amazing how much they listened to fans input...
but also absolutely strange how zealously fanatic in a bad way(I included)
got bent out of shape about the littlest detail or announcement.

I remember all the silly moments, the epic flame wars, the great friendships forged. The average age seemed to be 17-40 which was cool, I sometimes wonder where everyone went. I miss seeing endlessly silly yet classic threads by Jackie, Emmy, Hogchem, Sarah Yzmah, etc.

Weve suffered some very startling personal losses, a lot of new Muppet fans via births between Muppety couples, and some truly wonderful surprises.
(Kermit the frog referenced Muppet Central in the A Very Merry Muppet Christmas movie for instance, and everyone from Bill Baretta to Jerry Nelson and Karen Prell have at one time posted regularly...some, incognito where only a few knew who they were)

So...what are your favorite memories/events on MC,
who ALL from the older days(lets say, 1998-2002) are still on here or poke around, and do you ever invision a new Muppet gathering?
 

D'Snowth

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Wow, I didn't even realize the forum's been around that long! Boy, I guess that makes you an old codger compared to us young whipper-snappers!
 

Vic Romano

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Wow, that's amazing, man! I dream of another Muppet Fest or something like that where we can all meet. Thanks for sharing, beaker. This place is just brimming with nostalgia this week!
 

sarah_yzma

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Aww Beaker :big_grin: You were the first person I connected with on MC!

Gongrats to you!
 

The Count

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Hey Beaker... Congrats on your 8th anniversary here on MC. Have some thoughts, but I'll share on my 5th next July 12. Lots of good memories will be expounded then, in only eight months' time.

But enjoy the mark that distinguishes or sets you apart from all the rest of the crazy crowd... Except for the others who've been here from the beginning like Phil and Cindy, and Kevin of course...
Big ups to one of the longest-standing members here on the forums.

And after being such a long-standing member, you'd think someone'd've gotten you a chari so you could sit down already.
*Leaves chair so Beaker can sit down already.
 

beaker

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The Count said:
Hey Beaker... Congrats on your 8th anniversary here on MC. Have some thoughts, but I'll share on my 5th next July 12. Lots of good memories will be expounded then, in only eight months' time.

But enjoy the mark that distinguishes or sets you apart from all the rest of the crazy crowd... Except for the others who've been here from the beginning like Phil and Cindy, and Kevin of course...
Big ups to one of the longest-standing members here on the forums.

And after being such a long-standing member, you'd think someone'd've gotten you a chari so you could sit down already.
*Leaves chair so Beaker can sit down already.
I wish I had chosen the name "Cory"(my real name) when the forums switched over. "Beaker" sounds so presumptuous, even tho he's my favorite.
Oh wait, Chilly Down was one of the originals if I recall, whose still around.

So ya came on board in 2002 right? Yeah the Palisades era brought in a lot of people. You seemed to be one of the foremost experts on all things Palisades as well as Sesame.

What I like about this place, is I am not the only one who sees the Muppets as not some "old nostalgia", but current...ever evolving. I just want to see the Muppets rise back to prominence instead of relative obscurity.

Anyone have a list of who still posts or pops in, from the 98-2002 period?

sarah_yzma said:
Aww Beaker :big_grin: You were the first person I connected with on MC!

Gongrats to you!
Whoah, youre still here! What are ya, like 20 now? Good to see ya here, I thought ya had moved on like most the others.
Ha, you were the only one who got my "tumbleweed" jokes!

D'Snowth said:
Wow, I didn't even realize the forum's been around that long! Boy, I guess that makes you an old codger compared to us young whipper-snappers!
Well, I've been collecting Muppet memorabilia since 1981...but I still feel very young. I'm not even 30 yet:smile:

Vic Romano said:
Wow, that's amazing, man! I dream of another Muppet Fest or something like that where we can all meet. Thanks for sharing, beaker. This place is just brimming with nostalgia this week!
Hey call me Cory. I pretty much snagged "Beaker" when the forums switched from Delphi to here in early 2002 as I knew it'd be hotly contested.

But yeah, there were a lot of ugly moments in between 1998-2002 eminating in flame wars, a lot of immaturity(from myself, included) It's amazing how much grown ups in a Muppet community can be at eachother's goad so much back then over silly things.
I myself am deeply ashamed for some of my immaturity that occationally reared its head.

I would LOVE nothing more than a Muppet/JHC/etc gathering of fans next year.
I wish someone could help make that happen, SIX years after the last one
 

Beauregard

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Hey Cory! Wow, man, you are ooooold. *drags in a cake with 8 candles*

I remember how when I joined, you were here, and everyone knew everyone else and I was poking around feeling a little out of place, but you were one of those great, knowledgeable, avid Muppet fans with huge amounts of enthusiasm and the occasional crazy mad posts!

Over time, I've seen you disappear, and reappear, and shake up the forum a little, and disappear, and reappear, and disappear, and every time I see you're username pop up I think, "Yey! He's back!"

Bea:zany:regard
 

The Count

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Yes... Came over in 2002 when the figures started showing up. And rully, that's what I wanna touch upon in my own anniversary thread when it comes time for that.

Won't claim to be an expert who knows everything, just that I know a great amount on a number of topics and subjects.
But no worries, let's just have fun celebrating your 8th MC birthday.

Seems Bo already brought the cake, so here's the ice cream.
*Deposits few containers of ice cream on the table next to the cake topped with the eight shining candles.
 

MrsPepper

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Cory!! You are so ancient. :wink: 8 years is a long time! I'm glad you've stuck around, even though maybe the recent years haven't been as exciting as back then. I know that alot of people love hearing from you, as do I! You are truly an important and longstanding member of this community. Huzzah! Here's to 8 more years! **hugs**
 
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