Chapter 18:
Kermit: And now, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for our new member of the Muppet gang, Walter, to present a special tribute to our creator, Jim Henson. And now, here is Walter!
(Applause)
Walter: Thank you all very much! You know, ever since starring in the latest Muppet movie, I always thought to myself, "I'm living the dream!". I've always admired Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppet gang as well as the characters from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock, but one thing I've found out was the real person behind the Muppets proved to the world that anything is possible and the biggest dreams can come true. His name is Jim Henson.
Then shows a film he put together about Jim Henson's life and legacy with montages about different projects throughout his career.
Walter (narrating): After Jim and his wife, Jane, got their start with Sam and Friends, all throughout the 1960s, they created TV comercials featuring brand new and funny characters that delighted TV audiences across the country. During this time, Rowlf the Dog was one of the first Muppet characters to appear on regular TV programming when he appeared on The Jimmy Dean show in 1963. Then later in the mid 60s, the Muppets became a household nam when they made frequent appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. In 1969, a woman named Joan Ganz Cooney, hired Jim and his crew of performers and writers to appear on a then "experimental" children's television show which was given the name Sesame Street. Ever since, the combination of live actors and actresses interacting with the Muppet characters along with original animation to teach children about letters, numbers and all sorts of life lessons make Sesame Street the best children's show ever made.
Offstage:
Ernie: That loose nose joke never gets old.
Bert: Ernie!
Walter (narrating): In the 70s, Jim wanted to be more than just a puppeteer for children, he wanted a program that would appeal to adults, too. So with a lot of hard work and persistence, The Muppet Show premiered on television in 1976. Them the world became familiar with new characters like Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo, The Electric Mayhem, and of course, Miss Piggy.
Miss Piggy: I always love it when moi takes to the stage.
(Other Muppets grumble, then Miss Piggy gives them a dirty look then they quiet down)
Walter (narrating): Because of the success of The Muppet Show, three movies were created featuring The Muppets, The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan.
Miss Piggy: That wedding was the best day of my life.
Kermit: Piggy, I keep telling you, that was just acting, we weren't actually married.
Miss Piggy: Whatever you say, hubby.
Walter (narrating): In the 1980s, Jim continued to create new projects, such as Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labrynth and the Muppet Babies. These projects showed Jim's ability to create brand new worlds that are magical and at the same time, a little strange. Jim's creativity showed in TV specials he created for kids and their families to enjoy throughout the 70s and the 80s like The Frog Prince, Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas, The Tale of the Bunny Picnic and The Christmas Toy. In 1989, Jim created the Jim Henson Hour, a short-lived TV show featuring a brand new world featuring new characters and new stories like The Storyteller, The Song of the Cloud Forest and Dog City.
Waldo: Hey, that's me! I looked really good for being in the 80s.
Walter (narrating): Near the end of his life, Jim partnered with Disney to create and new attraction to the Disneyland and Disney World parks called Muppetvision 3D and a new TV special called The Muppets at Walt Disney World. Sadly, not long after, Jim Henson died from pneumonia on May 16, 1990. It was a sad day for Jim's family, friends and the Muppet family. A memorial was held in New York on May 21st, five days after his death. Even though he's gone, his legacy lives on with new movies and TV shows like Muppets Tonight, A Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Suess and Bear in the Big Blue House.
Walter (on stage): Jim, along with the Muppets and his team of performers, directors, producers, designers and writers, helped me to believe in myself and others and to do my best and follow my dreams. And you know, it just goes to show
Singing: If just one person believes in you, deep enough and strong enough believes in you
Hard enough and long enough, before you knew it, someone else would think, "If he can do it, I cn do it." Making it...
with Kermit: Two whole people who believe in you, deep enough and strong enough believe in you,
Hard enough and long enough, there's bound to be some other person who believes in making it a threesome. Making it...
with Fozzie: three people who can say, "Believe in me".
And if three whole people,
with Mickey: why not four?
All Muppets and Disney characters: and if four whole people, why not more and more and more?
And when all those people believe in you, deep enough and strong enough believe in you, hard enough and long enough, it stands to reason, you yourself will start to see what everybody sees in you.
Walter: and maybe even you (Maybe even you)
Muppets and Disney characters: can believe in you, too.