TVSquad

It's that festive time of year when children put tinsel on the television antennas and hang mistletoe over their favorite DVDs. Where celebrities check into rehab to spend the holidays with all their celebrity friends. And where the rest of America is invited to corporate non-specific, non-religious, non-alcoholic generic winter holiday luncheons where they can mingle with their co-workers and say things like "Remember when this company used to have real Christmas parties?"

But while political correctness may have ruined most holiday functions, nothing can ruin Festivus! That magical season in which TV Squadders hope and pray for televisions dreams come true. And I know just what I want...

Sheesh, I guess I haven't checked out Muppet News Flash in awhile, and wound up missing out on some cool Muppet news.

First, a Fraggle Rock album will hit stores in October. There's pretty much zero information on Fraggle Rockin', except that it will contain music from the series. Amazon doesn't even have an album image. Did I mention it's a three-disc set? That's all kinds of awesome.

While it has persevered for almost four decades, Sesame Street's heart and soul is very much a product of the 1970s. There was nothing like it when it first hit the public television airwaves in 1969; while other children's programs took place in mystical and magical lands, Sesame Street took place in a regular inner city neighborhood. Okay, it was an inner city neighborhood where monsters and people lived together, but it's that partial realism which set it apart from other programs, and, perhaps subconsiously, gave kids a sense of community and belonging.

If you've been moaning over the lack of series centered on gay puppets, I have some good news for you.

Last November, I told you about a project from Jim Henson Studios called Tinsel Town (or Tinseltown, everyone seems to spell it differently). The series features two gay Muppets, a bull named Samson Knight and a pig named Bobby Vegan, who adopt a human child.

• Nicole Richie is doing a big interview with Diane Sawyer next week. Does this mean that the pregnancy rumors are true? And if so, what should we call it?
• Muppets! Hundreds of them! Retired muppets are getting a new home.
  
• Oprah's perfect reputation took a hit today.
  

There have been a lot of Muppet projects in and out of development over the last couple years or so. Some came to fruition, some never quite made it, and others still remain in limbo.

There has been talk for awhile now about the possibility of a brand new, primetime Muppet series, a rumor TV Guide recently perpetuated, although Jim Henson Studios denies such a project exists. Citing an inside source, TV Guide writes that the new series would use modern technology to allow the Muppets to actually get up and walk around.

Below I've placed a Muppet sketch from the Ed Sullivan Show, though don't expect to see any familiar faces like Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie or Gonzo.

The bit is actually quite simple: a slinky-like Muppet dances a little jig while his smaller friend tries to join in. What I love about this bit is that it demonstrates how talented the Muppet puppeteers are. The choreography and movements of the two puppets is very subtle, and no movement is superfluous. Watch how the little Muppet examines the "feet" of the bigger Muppet. It's no more than a slight twist of the puppet's "head," but it conveys volumes.

An awesome lady named Martha Fischer sent me a link to a BMW commercial featuring Kermit the Frog. The commercial is in "not English," so if you understand what's being said, you'll be able to appreciate it more than someone like me who can barely grasp the English language, much less an entirely new one. Although, I'm pretty sure he says something like, "I have no time to talk, I'm on my way to have sexual congress with a pig."

That's also how Hillary Clinton ends all her campaign speeches. Thank you! You've been a great audience!

The Muppet News Flash, always a great place for Muppet scuttlebutt, has written that The Disney Channel will be introducing a series of interstitials featuring the Muppets as well as characters from various Disney Channel programs. The goal, apparently, is to introduce the Muppets to the next generation.

Muppet News Flash also mentions a possible new Muppet movie and Muppet Web series, but nothing has been announced to the public yet. I'm just happy to see more Muppet stuff being developed, no matter what the medium.

Speaking of Muppet projects, I haven't heard much about Tinseltown since Jim Henson began shopping the series around back in November. The series centered on two gay puppets (a bull and a pig) who adopt a human child. I loved the concept, but I fear it may have disappeared into the ether. Bummer.

If you were a fan of the Sesame Street: Old School DVD set, the one with episodes from the series' earlier, and arguably better, years, you'll be happy to know that a second set will be released sometime this year. Muppet News Flash has the scoop, which is that the sets should come out sometime between August and October. Sorry I can't be more specific than that, but who cares, it's more of the classic Sesame Street folks my age and older grew up with, and I ain't complaining.

Oh yeah, and despite whatever warnings they may put on the DVD, I say plop your kid down and let them enjoy a show that managed to combine educational material with some truly funny writing, songwriting and animation. There's never been another show like Sesame Street, and that includes today's Sesame Street.