I remember way back in them olden days when my family got our first VCR.  The very first thing I ever recorded was an episode of “The Muppet Show.”  I must have watched that episode 20 times, amazed at this technology that allowed me to watch anything that I recorded anytime that I wanted.  Good Times!!!!

I’ve been a Muppet fan my entire life.  I still consider the original Muppet Movie one of my favorite films.  But I will admit, as I’ve gotten older, I have not watched everything Muppet.  I look back at the older stuff fondly, but haven’t really connected to the newer stuff.   I do feel that when Jim Henson passed away, some of the core sole of the Muppets went with him.  It doesn’t mean that some of the newer stuff isn’t any good.  It just doesn’t connect with me in the same way. 

But what I did connect with was the Muppet Exhibition currently on display at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. 

Officially titled “The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited” this is the ‘on-the-road’ version of the exhibition that takes up permanent space at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.  But the Skirball Exhibition adds a few new elements to the mix.

This Exhibition covers many aspects of Jim Henson’s career and displays puppets from the full range, including Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and more.  There are also interactive experiences as well.

I have to admit, I felt like a little kid again seeing these puppets up close and in-person.  It was just so neat seeing Burt and Ernie, Kermit the Frog, Grover, Count von Count, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker, and others.  I suddenly found myself having a need to revisit The Muppet Show once again along with another viewing of The Muppet Movie.

So below, I’ve posted a bunch of pics from the Exhibition along with a downloadable PDF of the program that you can pick up at the Exhibition for free.

The Exhibition runs through September 2.  So if you live in, or are visiting, Los Angeles, I highly recommend a visit.

Click HERE for a direct link to the Skirball Cultural Center for hours and location.

(Click Pic for PDF)