The Brand New Ask Jim Lewis Thread

[minor muppetz]

3. From Minor Muppetz: I know that the UK broadcasts of Muppets Tonight had extra sketches featuring Polly Lobster and Clueless Morgan from Muppet Treasure island. Was there any reason why Mad Monty wasn't brought back for these sketches?

I love those sketches. I can barely remember them, but I love them. They were written with the great Joe Flaherty, a fellow writer on the show, and were inspired by Jackie Gleason’s “Joe The Bartender” sketches, featuring Frank Fontaine (aka Crazy Guggenheim). Everyone thought the pieces were daft, but that’s exactly why I smile just thinking of them. As for Mad Monty: can’t say I recall why he was left out; probably because Jerry Nelson was not available when we shot them.

Joe Flaherty? I didn't think he was a writer on the show... I guess he means Joe's brother, I forget his name (I think it was Paul Flaherty), who I know was one of the shows writers.

 

[BobThePizzaBoy]

In recent films and television shows, writers have seemed opt to fill their scripts up with crude humor and references to just about everything from the 1980's and 90's. The Shrek movies, various kid's shows and even supposedly "adult" movies like Transformers have all been victims of this and it prevents them from being as enjoyable as they could be. How do you avoid letting yourself fall into that trap while writing?

 

[unclematt]

Jim,

Do you have any contact with the Henson family since the buyout occured?

 

[Beauregard]

JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM! MUPPETS! JIM! MUPPETS! JIM JIM! MUPPETS! QUEEN! MUPPETS! EVERY MUPPET EVER LIKE EVER EVER! MUPPETS JIM! MUPPETS!

...was my original reaction to the Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody.

Luckily I have now calmed down and react in this fashion every time I see it:

JIM JIM! MUPPETS MUPPETS! BEAUREGARD BEAUREGARD! ROWLF ROWLF! MUPPETS! ROWLF! DR TEETH! BEAUREGARD MUPPETS! JIM! MUPPETS!

...although sometimes I react by just going, "Oh, huh?" But I think that was when I accidentally clicked on the Muffins: Bohemian Rhapsody.

Seriously though...What is Animal's Mamma like? And how about his Dadda? Does he get to see them much?

 

[unclematt]

Jim,

I gotta ask the obvious. How involved were you with The Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody?And since in my mind it is still Thanksgiving, I am Thankful for Jim giving his time to give back to us fans.

Matt Blecha aka: unclematt

 

[James Denny]

Hi Jim,

No question, just a huge amount of kudos and thanks to everyone involved in Bohemian Rhapsody and i particularly loved the twist with Kermit and Scooter at the end,

James

 

[theprawncracker]

Jim! As you know, I love the Rhapsody. Very, very awesome. Congrats to all involved.

My question is... who runs MuppetsStudio's Twitter and Facebook accounts? Is it just some random intern, or is there someone specifically enlisted just to do that? ...How much does it pay?

 

[dwayne1115]

Ryan asked my question again! oh well that's ok, I could not be happier to have a Muppet Studio's twitter page anyways. Here is my question: Did Muppet Studios know that the new video would be as big as it has been?





Ryan I'm going to give you a Thanksgiving treat and let you send off these questions!

 

[theprawncracker]

You got it, Dwayne! I'll send away!

 

[theprawncracker]

NOTE: Jim couldn't answer a few questions for understandable reasons. He hopes you'll all understand as well!

ANSWERS FROM Jim Lewis – November 27, 2009

From BobThePizzaBoy…
In recent films and television shows, writers have seemed opt to fill their scripts up with crude humor and references to just about everything from the 1980's and 90's. The Shrek movies, various kid's shows and even supposedly "adult" movies like Transformers have all been victims of this and it prevents them from being as enjoyable as they could be. How do you avoid letting yourself fall into that trap while writing?

I slept through most of the 1980s and 1990s; just ask my wife.
Also, I like humor that’s character driven, not pop culture can-u-top-this. The former lasts; the latter is dated by the time it airs. Fortunately, the Muppets almost always abide by this, even if much of the show biz doesn’t.

THE BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY QUESTION SECTION​

Here are a whole bunch of questions about the new viral video…followed by my response.​

From Beauregard…
JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM! MUPPETS! JIM! MUPPETS! JIM JIM! MUPPETS! QUEEN! MUPPETS! EVERY MUPPET EVER LIKE EVER EVER! MUPPETS JIM! MUPPETS!

...was my original reaction to the Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody.

Luckily I have now calmed down and react in this fashion every time I see it:

JIM JIM! MUPPETS MUPPETS! BEAUREGARD BEAUREGARD! ROWLF ROWLF! MUPPETS! ROWLF! DR TEETH! BEAUREGARD MUPPETS! JIM! MUPPETS!

...although sometimes I react by just going, "Oh, huh?" But I think that was when I accidentally clicked on the Muffins: Bohemian Rhapsody.

Seriously though...What is Animal's Mamma like? And how about his Dadda? Does he get to see them much?

I gotta ask the obvious. How involved were you with The Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody?And since in my mind it is still Thanksgiving, I am Thankful for Jim giving his time to give back to us fans.


Matt Blecha aka: unclematt

From James Denny…
Hi Jim,

No question, just a huge amount of kudos and thanks to everyone involved in Bohemian Rhapsody and i particularly loved the twist with Kermit and Scooter at the end,

James

From theprawancracker…
Jim! As you know, I love the Rhapsody. Very, very awesome. Congrats to all involved.



From dwayne1115…
Did Muppet Studios know that the new video would be as big as it has been?

Okay, here goes….
Glad you liked it. Credit the performers, the workshop folks and the rest of the creative crew. All I did was go to a few meetings and eat donuts.
As for Animal’s pater and mater: beats me. No, literally…beats me.
As for your gratitude, it is returned in kind. Thanks for caring about what little I know.
As for did we know it would be “big as it has been” – who can ever tell? A lot of effort went into it by all involved (hey, there were a LOT of donuts), and there’s been hope it would be greeted with enthusiasm. Good to see it was…and then some.