Today, I started watching Jim Henson: Idea Man.
How could I not take the opportunity to learn more about one of my heroes?
Jim Henson had so many ideas that he felt like he didn’t have enough time to realize them all. So, he worked on multiple ideas at once.
He grew up in rural Mississippi. As a kid, he fell in love with television. He actually got into puppetry to get into television.
Jim got his start with a puppet show called Sam and Friends. Kermit was one of his earliest characters. Over time, he put a lot of himself into Kermit.
Jim married Jane, and they started their company, Muppets, Inc. Jim Henson, Don Sahlin, Jerry Juhl, and Frank Oz became the core group. They used a TV monitor to watch their work as an audience would see it in real-time.
I admire Jim Henson not only for his creativity but also for his leadership skills. He always created a fun environment for his teams. And Jim was great at finding the right people to bring his visions to life.
On Sesame Street, Jim played Kermit, and Frank played Grover. Jim played Ernie, and Frank played Bert. They would go on to create The Muppet Show, the Muppet Movies, The Dark Crystal, and more.
Another documentary I love about Jim Henson is Muppet Guys Talking. Now, I’m tempted to watch it again!
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