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Convincing John
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I was 13 when I found out. I was in junior high and I didn't find out until that evening on the news. Anyone remember when they played The Muppet Show on TNT back then? Well, I programmed the VCR to tape them in the mornings so I had something to look forward to when I got home from school. I was trying to collect all 120 episodes.
Anyhow, I was watching the episode I got that morning (Crystal Gayle) when I found out. Mom told me to run to the other room, where some footage of Jim and Sprocket was on the TV in the kitchen. "What's Jim Henson doing in Doc's Workshop? Is there a new Fraggle Rock documentary?" The clip went to an anchorman...and then I found out what we all found out that day.
The next day, when I came home from school and checked my "daily catch" (the Elton John episode), a 20 second clip preceded it. there was a photo of Jim with 1936-1990 underneath it. The announcer, whose voice I remember from a lot of the TNT promos and commercials, said "TNT remembers the man behind the Muppets, the face behind the Fraggles: Jim Henson...we'll miss you."
24 years later, it's not any easier. I'm just a fan. I never knew Jim Henson or even got the chance to write a proper, well thought out fan letter. (Some time ago, I came across a clunky one written in crayon when I was 6 years old, asking Jim if I could visit Fraggle Rock).
When I was little, I imagined Jim as not a puppeteer, but as some kind of Jacques Cousteau or Jack Hannah. During my childhood, I believed in the Muppets as real creatures, not as puppets. To me, Jim was a cameraman who filmed all of these things, then had his name in the credits. He went around with his camera and filmed the Muppet Show. He was all over the place, the stage, backstage, the audience, Statler and Waldorf's box, wherever he could get the best footage.
Jim somehow squeezed into the hole that led to Fraggle Rock. I had it all figured out. I saw a photo of Jim back then and thought "he's skinny enough to fit in that Fraggle hole. When it's time to go to to Fraggle Rock, Jim turns the camera on, climbs through Doc's window and someone pushes him down the tunnel to follow Gobo." Jim would be on his stomach on a skateboard, then one of those people from the credits (I dunno...that "Hunt" or "Nelson" name I kept seeing back then) would just give him a push. If Jim got stuck in the hole, no worries. That Hunt or Nelson guy would have some Gorg butter handy. (It worked for Sprocket, didn't it?)
Jim filmed certain segments of Sesame Street (the scenes on the street itself). When it was time for a cartoon about the number 12 or whatever, I figured that was when Jim had to eat lunch, pay the parking meter or go to the bathroom. So, Jim would just hook up the TV camera to a film projector somehow and roll the cartoons. It all made sense when I was six. Back then, May 16th on a calendar was a nondescript date that meant summer was very close.
Now, though...I just think about the people who were the closest to Jim Henson each May 16th. I wish I could do something nice for them. All I can say is that my thoughts are with them all today. To anyone who knew Jim Henson personally out there: my condolences and my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
And thank you, Mr. Henson. You were one of the best "cameramen" who ever lived.
Anyhow, I was watching the episode I got that morning (Crystal Gayle) when I found out. Mom told me to run to the other room, where some footage of Jim and Sprocket was on the TV in the kitchen. "What's Jim Henson doing in Doc's Workshop? Is there a new Fraggle Rock documentary?" The clip went to an anchorman...and then I found out what we all found out that day.
The next day, when I came home from school and checked my "daily catch" (the Elton John episode), a 20 second clip preceded it. there was a photo of Jim with 1936-1990 underneath it. The announcer, whose voice I remember from a lot of the TNT promos and commercials, said "TNT remembers the man behind the Muppets, the face behind the Fraggles: Jim Henson...we'll miss you."
24 years later, it's not any easier. I'm just a fan. I never knew Jim Henson or even got the chance to write a proper, well thought out fan letter. (Some time ago, I came across a clunky one written in crayon when I was 6 years old, asking Jim if I could visit Fraggle Rock).
When I was little, I imagined Jim as not a puppeteer, but as some kind of Jacques Cousteau or Jack Hannah. During my childhood, I believed in the Muppets as real creatures, not as puppets. To me, Jim was a cameraman who filmed all of these things, then had his name in the credits. He went around with his camera and filmed the Muppet Show. He was all over the place, the stage, backstage, the audience, Statler and Waldorf's box, wherever he could get the best footage.
Jim somehow squeezed into the hole that led to Fraggle Rock. I had it all figured out. I saw a photo of Jim back then and thought "he's skinny enough to fit in that Fraggle hole. When it's time to go to to Fraggle Rock, Jim turns the camera on, climbs through Doc's window and someone pushes him down the tunnel to follow Gobo." Jim would be on his stomach on a skateboard, then one of those people from the credits (I dunno...that "Hunt" or "Nelson" name I kept seeing back then) would just give him a push. If Jim got stuck in the hole, no worries. That Hunt or Nelson guy would have some Gorg butter handy. (It worked for Sprocket, didn't it?)
Jim filmed certain segments of Sesame Street (the scenes on the street itself). When it was time for a cartoon about the number 12 or whatever, I figured that was when Jim had to eat lunch, pay the parking meter or go to the bathroom. So, Jim would just hook up the TV camera to a film projector somehow and roll the cartoons. It all made sense when I was six. Back then, May 16th on a calendar was a nondescript date that meant summer was very close.
Now, though...I just think about the people who were the closest to Jim Henson each May 16th. I wish I could do something nice for them. All I can say is that my thoughts are with them all today. To anyone who knew Jim Henson personally out there: my condolences and my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
And thank you, Mr. Henson. You were one of the best "cameramen" who ever lived.
