Little Muppet Monsters

Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters was a 1985 Saturday morning TV show which aired only three episodes on CBS,Jim Henson: The Works (pg. 208) with as many as 10 episodes going unaired.Jim Henson's Red Book: 6/29/1985 – ‘To NY for Muppet Monster Shoot. End June – buy Falcon – Rabi Gallery.’ The first season of Muppet Babies did very well in the ratings, so CBS decided to expand the series from half an hour to an hour-long block, pairing Muppet Babies with Little Muppet Monsters to make an hour-long package (with its own intro) called Muppets, Babies and Monsters.
The show was anchored by three young Muppet monsters, Tug, Boo, and Molly, living with Muppet rats, their house band Nicky Napoleon and His Emperor Penguins, and other characters. Muppet Show characters such as Scooter, Kermit, Janice, and Floyd appeared in cameos. The Electric Mayhem were featured in both intros watching the show on television, as they excitedly bounced about on a living room sofa. Miss Piggy also appears in the intro.
Muppet segments included "Fozzie's Comedy Corner," with Fozzie discussing issues related to old jokes, illustrated through animation of a baby chicken, and Gonzo presenting a cavalcade of weirdness, using silent film footage. Each episode also featured an original Muppet song.
Recurring animated segments included "Pigs in Space," "Kermit the Frog, Private Eye" (as introduced by the puppet Kermit, with Fozzie and Miss Piggy), "Muppet Sports Shorts" starring Animal, and Muppet Labs with Bunsen and Beaker. Gonzo would also have appeared in animated segments.
The show was split at about 50% animation and 50% puppetry, with appearances by Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo and others being shot in London, and the rest in New York.
Jim Henson was inspired by the potential of kids using camcorders to make their own television, saying: 
Storyboard director Scott Shaw discussed the show in MuppetZine issue #3 (Winter 1993):
A major factor that contributed to the show's cancellation was the fact that Marvel Productions had trouble delivering the animation on time. Marvel "blew it," as series writer and puppeteer Kathryn Mullen remembered in 2013, and there were no completed shows to fill the extra half hour: "So they [CBS] put another Muppet Babies on, two episodes back-to-back, the viewership shot up, and they said, 'Forget Little Muppet Monsters.'" As for the unaired episodes, "We never finished them. The puppet wrap-arounds were done, but they never put the animation in."Tough Pigs interview with Kathy Mullen
Even after Little Muppet Monsters was cancelled, an instrumental version of its opening theme was used in the Muppet Babies end credits from 1985 onward. 
==Episodes==
;Aired
* "In the Beginning" - 9/14/1985
* "Space Cowboys" - 9/21/1985
* "The Great Boodini" - 9/28/1985
;Unaired
* "Hi, Mars"
* "Monster Measles"
* "Gonzo's Talent Hunt"
* "Can't Stop the Music"
* "Boo Monster Ace Reporter"
* "Feels Like Rain"
* "Foo-Foo Phooey"
* "Penguin for a Day"
* "Gunko"
* "Mail-Order Guest"
==Gallery==
MuppetMonsters-30Years-1.jpeg|Little Muppet Monsters
MuppetMonsters-30Years-13.jpeg|Kermit and Fozzie
MuppetMonsters-30Years-8.jpeg|Pigs in Space
MuppetMonsters-30Years-15.jpeg|The Great Boodini
MuppetMonsters-30Years-10.jpeg|Tug and Kermit (unaired)
MuppetMonsters-30Years-7.jpeg|Fozzie Bear
30 years unaired.jpg|Giant carrot, Wilhemina ("Gonzo's Talent Hunt")
MuppetMonsters-30Years-6.jpeg|Tug conducts the chickens (unaired episode)
LMM Intro EV2-21.jpeg|The Great Gonzo (unaired)
lmm_sat_mor_preview2.png|Piggy, Kermit and Gonzo (unaired)
LMM Intro EV2-19.jpeg|Miss Piggy (unaired)
LMM Intro EV2-20.jpeg|Fozzie Bear and a pie.
LMM Intro EV2-15.jpeg|The Electric Mayhem.
LMM Intro EV2-8.jpeg|Animal, animated.
LMM Intro EV2-23.jpeg|Fozzie and Kermit, animated.
LMM Intro EV2-4.jpeg|Pigs in Space.
LMM Intro EV2-5.jpeg|Tug Monster.
LMM Intro EV2-6.jpeg|Molly Monster.
LMM Intro EV2-7.jpeg|Boo Monster.
LMM Intro EV2-10.jpeg|Tug and a penguin.
==Puppet Cast==
*Richard Hunt as Tug Monster, Scooter, and Janice
*David Rudman as Boo Monster
*Camille Bonora as Molly Monster
:With
*Pam Arciero, James J. Kroupa (Nicky Napoleon), Cheryl Blaylock, Martin P. Robinson, Michael Earl Davis, Noel MacNeal, Mike Quinn (uncredited)Instagram comment by @mikequinnstudios
:And
*Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog and Dr. Teeth
*Kathryn Mullen
*Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Animal and Miss Piggy
*Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper
*Dave Goelz as Gonzo
==Voice Cast==
*Frank Welker as Kermit, Chicken Crossing the Road, and others
*Hal Rayle as Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Animal
*Greg Berg as Fozzie Bear and Dr. Julius Strangepork
*Bob Bergen as Link Hogthrob and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
*Richard Hunt as Beaker
==Crew==
* Producers: Bob Richardson, Hank Saroyan
* Creative Producer and Conceptual Designer: Michael K. Frith
* Executive Producers: Margaret Loesch, Lee Gunther, Diana Birkenfield
* Associate Producers: Adam Bleibtrau, John Gibbs, Ritamarie Peruggi
* Writers: David Babcock, Sarah Durkee, Chris Grabenstein, Bradley Kesden, Steve Morgenstern, Kathryn Mullen, Julia Murray
* Animation Writing Consultants: Chuck Lorre, Barry O'Brien, Jack Mendelsohn, Bob Smith
* Story Editors: Rick Merwin, Hank Saroyan
* Performance Director: Richard Hunt
* Director: Terry Maskell
* Creative Consultant: Andrew Wilk
* Voice Director: Hank Saroyan
* Supervising animation directors: Terrence Lennon, Ray Lee
* Production Design: Victor DiNapoli
* Muppets by: Edward G. Christie, Larry Jameson, Joanne Green, Will Morrison, Jan Rosenthal, Rollin Krewson, Robert Flanagan
* Set Dressing: Richard Termine, Karl Soderstrom
* Score Composer/Conductor: Robert J. Walsh
* Songs: Michael Carney, Michael Carroll, Joe Carroll, Christopher Cerf, Sarah Durkee, Kevin Joy
* Music Coordinators: Don McGinnis, Joe Carroll
* Music Consultant: Christopher Cerf
==Concepts==
File:imagination illustrated (1).JPG|thumb|300px|Michael Frith's concept for "Big Brother" (Tug)
File:Molly Monster concept MKF.jpg|Michael Frith's concept for "Girl Monster" (Molly)
File:Kid Brother concept MKF.jpg|Michael Frith's concept for "Kid Brother" (Boo)
File:12020055_10100382208618174_6115113615480228184_n.jpg|Michael Frith's concept for "Sherman Monster" (Boo)
File:11223694_10100382208638134_2935809064149357180_n.jpg|Concept art by Michael Frith
File:11987041_10100382208678054_3832491009472902514_n.jpg|Concept art by Michael Frith
File:12019773_10100382208703004_1062490661754612536_n.jpg|Concept art by Michael Frith
File:Michael Frith Baby Monster.jpg|Concept art by Michael Frith
File:frith sketch of set.jpg|Concept art by Michael Frith
==Merchandise==
Henson archivist Karen Falk spoke about the series' licensing campaign: 
According to the Henson newsletter, Toy Fair 1986 would have seen the launch of plush by Hasbro, board games and puzzles by Milton Bradley, puzzles by Playskool, costumes by Ben Cooper, stickers by Diamond Toy, balloons by Balloon Concepts, boys and girls sportwear by Allison Mfg., greeting cards by Hallmark, belts by Lee Belts, pajamas by PCA Apparel, and party supplies and gift wrap by Beach Producers. However, the show was not on the air long enough for this to occur. A Playskool puzzle drawn by Guy Gilchrist was produced in very limited quantities.Jim Henson's Red Book
==Unaired Episodes==
*Incomplete Muppet footage exists from the unaired episodes "Foo-Foo Phooey," "Gunko," and "Gonzo's Talent Hunt." Original songs include "Pooch on the Loose," "Gunko" and "Together."
* The episode "Foo-Foo Phooey" featured a "Frog Scouts" segment. A cartoon model sheet for Gonzo shows him wearing a scoutmaster uniform (and crash helmet).
*In CBS' 1985 Saturday morning preview special (All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular), Pee-wee Herman and Rowdy Roddy Piper introduced a scene with Piggy, Kermit and Gonzo from an unaired episode, and a different take of Gonzo's segment from the premiere episode.
* Steve Morgenstern wrote the episodes "Gunko," "Foo-Foo Phooey" and "Gonzo's Talent Hunt," while Sarah Durkee wrote the episode "Feels Like Rain." This included the song "No Chance of Rain."
* A CBS promo features some clips from unaired episodes, including Tug balking at Molly's suggestion of wearing a tie (with Doris and Clyde in the background).
* Known songs from the unaired episodes include "In the Wash Reggae,"BMI Work #722391 "Hallelujah Tug is Gonna Live,"BMI Work #518503 "Penguin Ritual,"BMI Work #1163040 "We're Gonna Miss You,"BMI Work #1618561 "Welcome Home," BMI Work #1625122 and an all-animal performance of the "William Tell Overture."BMI Work #20061
lmm-foofoo2.jpg|Tug, punk Foo Foo and a Moose (Foo-Foo Phooey)
lmm-foofoo1.jpg|Scooter overwhelmed by chickens, penguins, and a moose (Foo-Foo Phooey)
lmm-talent1.jpg|The Singing Salad (Gonzo's Talent Hunt)
lmm-gunko3.jpg|Tug and Gunko (Gunko)
lmm-gunko2.jpg|Rat and Gunko (Gunko)
lmm-gunko1.jpg|Tug and Walrus Deliveryman (Gunko)
lmm-talentshow2.jpg|Singing gargoyles (Gonzo's Talent Hunt)
lmm-talentshow3.jpg|Gonzo in Paris (Gonzo's Talent Hunt)
lmm-talentshow4.jpg|Carrot and Wilhemina (Gonzo's Talent Hunt)
lmm-talentshow5.jpg|Tug and Molly and Boo (Gonzo's Talent Hunt)
lmm-talentshow6.jpg|Gonzo, Wilhemina, Carrot (Gonzo's Talent Hunt)
LMM-PromoTie.jpg|Clip used in series promo
==Notes==
*The three monster kids are seen briefly in the special The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, broadcast in January 1986. The special was shot before the decision was made to take Monsters off the air, so the show promoted the Muppets' latest production -- even though the series had been cancelled four months earlier.
*One set of closing credits was used for the Muppets, Babies, and Monsters package. Each hour began with a different, short clip from the upcoming Muppet Babies or Little Muppet Monsters episode before the main title.
* Posters for Pigs in Space, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppet Movie and other Muppet productions appear on the basement walls.
* An early concept for the show was titled "Muppet Monster Television", which was to have featured adult monsters and have Floyd Pepper and Janice serve as guest hosts.Cartoon Research article on the series
==Gallery==
LMM_logo_hi-res_(MD)2.png|Little Muppet Monsters logo.
File:Muppets_babies_monsters_logo.jpg
LMM Intro EV2-24.jpeg
MUP MAGAZINE Molly Rat.jpg|Molly and a rat: Little Muppet Monsters.
Little Muppet Monsters DC Comics ad Dec1985.png|Excerpt from a full-page CBS promo ad for their Saturday programming
File:Lmm ad.jpg|Black and white excerpt from a full-page CBS promo ad for their Saturday programming
==See also==
* Little Muppet Monsters style guides
==Sources==
==External Links==
*Jim Henson's Red Book entry on series
*Cartoon Research - Lost Saturday Mornings: “Little Muppet Monsters” (1985)
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Category:Muppet TV Shows
Category:Animated TV Shows
Category:Broadcasting