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Jan 6, 2025 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel
We’re all fans of Sesame Street here… but does that mean we’re fans of Sesame Workshop? When Sesame Workshop started as the Children’s Television Workshop, its mission was simply to create Sesame Street, and Sesame Street was clearly the product of its philosophy, process, leaders, and staff. Sesame and CTW were one entity. Indivisible. These days, I don’t see Sesame Workshop that way. I may be a fan of Sesame, but I’m not always a fan of Workshop.
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Oct 21, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel |J.D. Hansel
If you’ve seen the photos of the upcoming NECA Sesame Street figures, you may have noticed something kind of funny. Maybe even in the photos specifically, not just in life generally. Bert comes with a pigeon, his book of boring stories, paperclips, and bottlecaps. Ernie has the portrait of the two of them from their apartment, as well as his rubber duckie, of course. Even with Bert’s book being from one specific sketch, it kind of captures his whole deal, you know?
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Oct 7, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel |J.D. Hansel
I saw Kermit last weekend. That’s not really what this article is about, but it helps me set the table, so please indulge me for a bit. Kermit was part of a presentation at the University of Maryland – in fact, he was many parts of it. He gave an interview, he sang some songs, and, surprisingly, he did a Q&A. Now, a Q&A is a risky choice. People can be stinkers.
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Oct 6, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel |J.D. Hansel
Surprising absolutely no one on earth, the viral rumor that the Church of Scientology was in talks with The Jim Henson Company to purchase their historic studio lot in Los Angeles is false, as reported by Deadline.
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Sep 24, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel |J.D. Hansel
Part of J.D.’s Jim Henson Birthday Series2020 – 2021 – 2022 – 2023 – 2024That’s right, losers. Jim Henson is over. There’s a new Jim Henson in town. And his name is Jim Henson. Every September, I write an article to celebrate the birthday of one Jim Henson, the man who started it all. Or so I thought! We now know that the Jim Henson we thought we knew was a lie. Who knew? Ron Howard did.
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Sep 3, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel
Last month, I asked you all to send in your ideas via email or Discord for Muppet-related documentaries. I was overwhelmed by the tremendous number of responses! I was underwhelmed by the tiny percentage of them that said my writing was funny, and I had only written the article to receive such compliments, but I guess that’s on me for being unclear about my intentions.
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Jul 24, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel |J.D. Hansel
What, did you think Idea Man would make us feel thankful and content? Ha! Please. We’re Muppet fans. The more you feed us, the hungrier we get, just like a monster from Greek mythology, I’m guessing.
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Jul 5, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel |J.D. Hansel
You want the short answer? It’s hard because there’s a lot of tension and disagreement between different understandings of neurodivergence, and it’s such a sensitive subject after all the years of stigma that it often feels like it’s not worth touching. That’s it. That’s my whole talk. I will now be taking audience questions. Yes, you in the “Kermit the Gorf” T-shirt. Hi, thanks for that excellent presentation. I was just wondering, what the heck are you talking about? Great question.
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Jun 7, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel |J.D. Hansel
Synopsis: Boober plans on having a nice, quiet day. Unfortunately, Sidebottom returns to help with that, resulting in a web of lies that spins out of control. Original air date: June 4, 1984Wait, this isn’t the episode when Boober goes to the caves of boredom? Darn. Then is this the one that introduces Sidebottom? It has to be, right? No?? Then what else could it be? Oh no. Oh nonononononononono. Please don’t tell me I signed up for the one with…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO oh poopie. Welp.
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Apr 5, 2024 | 
toughpigs.com | JD Hansel |J.D. Hansel
Synopsis: Wembley gets Convincing John to make him stop wembling, but little does he know that Convincing John… and you’re not gonna believe this… has a secret. Original air date: April 2, 1984I love Fraggle Rock. I love Wembley. So it should come as no surprise that I love The Good Place. That show is similarly skilled at fusing the very thoughtful and the very silly. In fact, it has its own Wembley Fraggle.
