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| ⚫ | '''''Puppet Up!''''', also known as ''Puppet Up! |
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| ⚫ | '''''Puppet Up! - Uncensored''''', also known simply as ''Puppet Up!'' and originally titled ''Jim Henson's Puppet Improv'', was started "to demonstrate what happens when the perilous and provocative forms of traditional comedic improvisation are mixed with the art of puppetry."<ref>[http://www.puppetup.com PuppetUp.com]</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The sketches in the live show are not pre-planned, and the shows contain all true improv. The puppeteers in the Henson improv troupe trained with Groundlings performer [[Patrick Bristow]] for nine months to perfect their improv skills prior to their first show. Just like the Groundlings, the Henson Improv sketches are performed based on audience suggestions. |
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| ⚫ | The sketches in the live show are not pre-planned, and the shows contain all true improv. The puppeteers in the Henson improv troupe trained with Groundlings performer [[Patrick Bristow]] for nine months to perfect their improv skills prior to their first show; and monthly performer training classes continue to this day. Just like the Groundlings, the Henson Improv sketches are performed based on audience suggestions. |
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| ⚫ | [[Brian Henson]], producer of the show, recalled the genesis of the show in a 2006 interview stating, "we began doing puppet improv workshops to hone our comedy skills and realized that we were having so much fun that audiences might enjoy watching too." In the fall of 2005 a show was performed in the sound stage of [[Charlie Chaplin Studios|the Jim Henson Studios]] for friends and invited industry guests. The two shows were so successful that the group was invited to [[Colorado|Aspen]] for the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. |
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| + | The show is strongly advertised for "adults only" and as "uncensored." First introduced in 2006, ''Puppet Up!'' was the Henson Company's first project under the [[Henson Alternative]] banner, a brand of productions with more mature themes and content than those traditionally associated with Henson Company. |
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| ⚫ | The U.S. Comedy Arts Festival (March 8-12, 2006) was the show's first public debut. The Jim Henson Puppet Improv performed two shows featuring the talent of [[Brian Henson]], [[Bill Barretta]], [[Julianne Buescher]], [[Leslie Carrara-Rudolph]], [[Drew Massey]], [[Paul Rugg]], [[Allan Trautman]] and [[Victor Yerrid]]. |
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| + | {{quote|In terms of The Jim Henson Company, my dad first started with adult-minded comedies very early on. He also worked in an era where most of the airwaves were highly censored. But he was always a very naughty, irreverent performer and this basically captures that same level of naughtiness and irreverence, but in a contemporary setting. Having said all of that, I think it's very important that everybody always knows that this is for adults only. This is our opportunity to let our hair down and get crazy every now and then, even though generally we are very safe with the material we do.}} |
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| + | ::- Brian Henson <ref name="TBS.com">"[http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,106836,00.html Puppet Up! Uncensored - Interview with Brian Henson]", TBS.com. 2007</ref> |
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| + | The troupe performs monthly shows at the Avalon Hollywood. |
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| ⚫ | [[Brian Henson]], producer of the show, recalled the genesis of the show in a 2006 interview stating, "we began doing puppet improv workshops to hone our comedy skills and realized that we were having so much fun that audiences might enjoy watching too."<ref>Press Release: [http://www.henson.com/press_releases/2006-10-31.pdf TBS Gets Ready to PUPPET UP!]</ref> In the fall of 2005 a show was performed in the sound stage of [[Charlie Chaplin Studios|the Jim Henson Studios]] for friends and invited industry guests. The two shows were so successful that the group was invited to [[Colorado|Aspen]] for the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. |
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| ⚫ | The U.S. Comedy Arts Festival (March 8-12, 2006) was the show's first public debut. The Jim Henson Puppet Improv performed two shows featuring the talent of [[Brian Henson]], [[Bill Barretta]], [[Julianne Buescher]], [[Leslie Carrara-Rudolph]], [[Drew Massey]], [[Paul Rugg]], [[Allan Trautman]] and [[Victor Yerrid]]. |
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| ⚫ | ''Puppet Up!'' performed two shows in Las Vegas, [[Nevada]] in November 2006. These shows were filmed as part of [[HBO]] and AEG LIVEs "The Comedy Festival", taking place at Caesar's Palace. [[TBS]] produced an hour-long [[Puppet Up! - Uncensored (TV special)|''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'' television special]] from these shows, that aired five days later on TBS. TBS also ordered 30 web-exclusive episodes of [[Puppet Up! - Uncensored (web series)|''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'']] for their "Laugh Lab" video server on TBS.com. The web series debuted on TBS.com on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. |
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| − | ==Puppets== |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | [[Image:Puppet improv.jpg|thumb|300px|Clockwise from top, Paul Rugg, Allan Trautman, Drew Massey, and Victor Yerrid with characters from ''Puppet Improv''.]] |
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| − | [[Image:Mortimer.jpg|thumb|300px|Mortimer, interning at the Henson Company.]] |
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| ⚫ | Early on the improv show featured many puppets |
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| − | The puppet cast includes: |
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| ⚫ | ''Puppet Up!'' performed two shows in Las Vegas, [[Nevada]] in November 2006. These shows were filmed as part of [[HBO]] and AEG LIVEs "The Comedy Festival", taking place at Caesar's Palace. [[TBS]] produced an hour-long [[Puppet Up! - Uncensored (TV special)|''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'' television special]] from these shows, that aired five days later on TBS. TBS also ordered 30 web-exclusive episodes of [[Puppet Up! - Uncensored (web series)|''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'']] for their "Laugh Lab" video server on TBS.com consisting of clips from the troupe's various live performances and shows. The web series debuted on TBS.com on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. |
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| − | * "Al the Alien" was designed by Buescher and built by Patrick Johnson for Puppet Up! with the guidance of Gootnick. He is a favorite of Henson, who performs him as an arm wielding manic visitor from space at the edge of losing all control. |
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| − | * "Claude Bigfoot" -- Designed by Buescher, and built by Buescher and Massey for the show with the help and guidance of Gootnick. Claude has been performed by much of the cast and is often a dark, foreboding bar fly with a sensitive streak. |
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| − | * "Crabs" -- Two identical crab puppets (one red and one green) are used in ''Puppet Up!'' The red crab was designed by Eric Englehardt and built by Sean Johnson for ''Puppet Up!'' The green crab was built by Eric Englehardt for ''[[The Animal Show]]'' [[Episode 302: Crab & Snail|episode 302]] as Cornelius the Crab. |
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| − | * "Creepy Old Man" was designed by Massey and is a favorite among most of the cast. He was performed by Henson in the TBS/Vegas special as one of the eye witnesses to George Michael doing something distasteful in a bathroom stall. |
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| − | * "Dr. Scientist" -- Designed and built by Massey, Dr. Scientist is a favorite of Paul Rugg, performed as a particularly mad scientist. |
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| − | * "Duck Boy" -- Designed and built by Buescher, often performed by Victor Yerrid as a manic and charmingly insane optimist who wins the day with blunt observations about his counterparts (often in the game "Job Interview"). He was originally built as a joke (after a quickly-constructed duck puppet was rejected from the new cast), but found a home among the other misfits. |
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| − | * "Germs" -- Of this contagious quartet, Germs 1 and 4 were designed and built by Drew Massey and Germs 2 and 3 by Julianne Buescher. |
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| − | * "Girleen" is a wild red-headed Whatnot, recycled and redressed by Buescher. She now wears a deep blue woolen suit and pearls, and has become a favorite of Massey. |
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| − | * "Gopher Tortoise" was recycled and redressed by Buescher and is a very popular standard character with all the performers. He appears as anything from a stumbling grandpa to an unruffled intellectual. He is a favorite of Ted Michaels. |
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| − | * "Grandma / the Queen" was designed and built by Buescher. She is performed by many of the cast, but found a very receptive audience in Edinburgh when she was portrayed by Buescher as the Queen of England. One particular skit found the Queen struggling to give birth, saying "We will do anything to not have Charles as King!" |
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| − | * "Harvey" is an old man puppet, often performed by Rugg. He is paired with another man (often Brian Henson) for the "Eye Witnesses" sketches, where the two retell some kind of unbelievable event. In ''Puppet Up - Uncensored'', this unbelievable event is George Michael using the handicapped stall in a Central Park bathroom. Although similar in design to the previously created Whatnot Muppets, the character was designed by Massey and created especially for ''Puppet Up!'' The puppet was also used as "Steve" in a Henson.com podcast; see below. |
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| − | * "Herman Monster" is a monster character designed by Buescher, and built by Sean Johnson with the guidance of Gootnick. Herman is made from the same fur as [[Sprocket]] from ''[[Fraggle Rock]]''. <ref>[http://swazzle.com/blogs/2006/06/meet-herman_115135948964940420.html Swazzle.com]</ref> |
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| − | * "Horny Aliens" are extraterrestrial characters recycled from a previous show. They are featured in such skits as "Pretty Girl and the Aliens" and "Aliens in America". They appear on merchandise with the slogan "Hot Alien Love". |
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| − | * "The Hot Dogs" -- previously used as [[Frankie Frank and the Footers]] on ''[[CityKids]]''. They appear in a sketch that features the whole cast showing the hot dogs acting out a group event -- such as performing surgery or playing a drinking games. Merchandise with the hot dogs was released with the caption "Bite Me!"; they also adorned the 2006 Henson Company Holiday Greeting card. |
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| − | * "Leopard Girl" was designed and built by Buescher and is becoming a favorite of hers in the Song Improv games developed for the Australian show run, as she sings sultry soul and rock opera ballads. |
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| − | * "Mortimer" is often used in sketches where an audience member get to puppeteer in scenes with the improv puppeteers -- the puppet is given to the untrained audience member. |
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| − | * "Mr. Guy" is a humanoid live-hand puppet designed by Massey. Many ''Puppet Up!'' shows are opened by Mr. Guy and his dog Piddles. Mr. Guy welcomes the crowd to the show and explains the show, or rather shows, that the audience is about to see -- the puppet show on the monitors and the chaos happening below. He tells the viewers to ignore any heads or extra arms that might show up in frame (as everything is live and unrehearsed), while simultaneously trying to keep Piddles from mingling with the puppeteers below. He is often performed by Henson. He has also been used as a newscaster and other characters, depending on the sketch. |
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| − | * "Nancy" is a character often performed by Buescher in the ''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'' show. The puppet, a refurbished male Whatnot, is often used in the role of the put-upon deadpan lesbian named Nancy. She is paired with her fiery red-haired partner (performed by Massey) in sketches where the couple are asked to work out issues or share some shocking news with each other based on audience suggestions. Like many of the puppets used in ''Puppet Up!'', the puppet has occasionally been used by other puppeteers for different roles -- giving the character a different name, personality, and other characteristics. As such, the puppet is often used as a male in these cases. In a 2006 sketch performed at the the Improv in Hollywood, and filmed as part of the Puppet Up! web show, Nancy confessed her dream of banging George Clooney to her partner. |
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| − | * "Nerd Boy" was designed and built by Buescher. He has been a fumbling professor, a haughty British student, and a Jerry Lewis parody. He's often used by Victor Yerrid, most notably in the TBS/Vegas special in the Improv Opera game as "Georgie", singing about Sylvia's great big melons. |
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| − | * "Nerd Girl" was designed and built by Buescher and often appears as the calm but disgusted center of the storm, as well as the fumbling shy date who never seems to say the right thing. |
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| − | * "Odie" is a blue Whatnot with dark, curly hair, recycled and redressed by Buescher. Odie often appears as a "mystical vegan" character in improv dating scenes. |
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| − | * "Piddles" is a dog character performed by Buescher. Working off of a design by Buescher for a diaper-clad Pug, Gootnick found a ''[[Dog City]]'' extra in storage and mended and re-dressed it for the role. The puppet had also previously been used as Pavlov the Pug Dog in ''The Animal Show''. Many ''Puppet Up!'' shows are opened by Mr. Guy and Piddles. Mr. Guy often confuses Piddles' gender, occasionally saying "good girl" -- only to quickly correct himself to say "boy". Piddles was featured on several pieces of ''Puppet Up!'' merchandise with the caption "Hug Me or I'll Poop!" Piddles' dog tag reads "Piddles, 555-7667" (or 555-POOP). Jim Formanek (of the Jim Henson Company) named the pooch after seeing Buescher's first character drawing. |
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| − | * "PTA Mom" was designed and built by Buescher. She is a favorite of Kevin Carlson, and often appears as the wide-eyed, put-upon den mother trying to smile through the insanity around her. |
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| − | * "Professor Ape" is a glasses wearing ap. He is most often used by performer Allan Trautman. The puppet was redressed by Buescher from a recycled puppet previously seen as Jackie and Lawrence the Orangutan on ''The Animal Show''. |
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| − | * "Punk Guy" -- Designed and built by Drew Massey, and a favorite character of Massey. |
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| − | * "Punu the Tiki God" was designed and built Massey and is performed most frequently in the Improvised opera games. |
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| − | * "Spiff Mouse" was recycled and redressed by Buescher into a lab rat, and often appears as the spastic assistant of Dr. Scientist. |
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| − | * "Sylvia" is a sexy teal Whatnot with long black hair, recycled and redressed by Buescher. She is most often performed by Buescher in Improvised Opera games, the most notable being the TBS/Vegas special where Sylvia sang about enjoying her new implants, but wished for another pair upon her back... while Nerd Boy (Victor Yerrid) mumbled with his face in her chest for the finale. |
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| − | * "Trixie" was designed, built, and is performed by Buescher and appears primarily in a game called "Pretty Girl and the Aliens." Her name was Chance, but since the Edinburgh performance of ''Puppet Up!'', she has adopted the name Trixie. |
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| − | * "Yodita" was designed and built by Buescher. Yodita is a sweet and twisted little girl monster used mainly in the Edinburgh shows in 2006. |
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| + | In spring 2007, the troupe took the show to [[Australia]], performing at the Big Laugh Comedy Festival in Sydney and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Melbourne. The performances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival were recorded and presented as ''[[Puppet Up! - Uncensored: Live in Melbourne, Australia]]'', a 76-minute film exclusively licensed by the Jim Henson Company to the [[Center for Puppetry Arts]]. The film debuted at the Center in April 2009. |
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| − | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px heights=200px> |
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| − | File:Althealien.jpg|Al the Alien |
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| − | File:Crab.jpg|Crab |
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| − | File:Puppetup-creepyoldman.jpg|Creepy Old Man |
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| − | File:What Whatnot1.JPG|Harvey |
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| − | Image:Herman.jpg|Herman Monster |
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| − | File:HornyAliens.JPG|Horny Aliens |
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| − | File:Hotdogs.jpg|The Hot Dogs |
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| − | File:Puppetup-cat.jpg|Leopard Girl |
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| − | File:MrGuy.JPG|Mr. Guy, performed by Paul Rugg |
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| − | File:What Whatnot2.JPG|Nancy |
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| − | File:Puppetup-nerdboy.jpg|Nerd Boy |
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| − | File:Orangutan.jpg|Professor Ape |
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| − | Image:Punu-tiki-god.jpg|Punu the Tiki God |
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| − | Image:Puppetup-newtits.jpg|Sylvia |
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| − | Image:Trixi.JPG|Trixie |
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| + | Starting in August 2007, ''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'' began performing monthly shows at the Avalon in Hollywood. |
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| − | ==Recycled puppets== |
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| − | Although many of the puppets used in ''Puppet Up!'' were newly created for the show, some existing puppets from past productions were recycled for the project (especially the earlier shows). The recycled puppets came from a variety of previous Jim Henson Company projects including ''The Animal Show'', ''[[The Secret Life of Toys]]'', ''City Kids'', ''Dog City'', and ''[[Animal Jam]]''. Although the puppet was pre-existing, the character (the personality, voice, performer, role and name) did not stay attached -- they were essentially a new character, usually created on the spot. |
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| + | The show grew and inspired into the stage show ''[[Stuffed and Unstrung]]'', which plans to open in [[New York City]] in March 2010. |
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| − | *'''Aardvark:''' [[Arlene the Aardvark|Arlene]]/[[Dullard the Aardvark|Dullard]] |
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| − | *'''Armadillo:''' [[Annette]]/[[Dooley the Armadillo|Dooley]]/[[Joe the Armadillo|Joe]] |
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| − | *'''Beaver:''' [[Morton the Beaver|Morton]]/[[Jacques the Beaver|Jacques]] |
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| − | *'''Boy (Humanoid):''' [[Billy (From the Balcony)|Billy]] |
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| − | *'''Fish:''' [[Yorick the Salmon]] |
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| − | *'''[[The Hotdogs]]:''' [[Frankie Frank and the Footers]] |
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| − | *'''Girl (Humanoid):''' [[Raisin]] |
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| − | *'''Goat:''' [[Goat (Telling Stories with Tomie DePaola)|Goat]] |
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| − | *'''Koala:''' [[DJ 2]] |
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| − | *'''Monkey:''' [[Waffle the Cow-Monkey|Waffle]] |
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| − | *'''Mouse:''' [[Gallahad the Grasshopper Mouse]] |
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| − | *'''[[Professor Ape]]:''' [[Jackie the Orangutan|Jackie]]/[[Lawrence the Orangutan]] |
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| − | *'''Possum:''' [[Lester Possum|Lester]] |
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| − | *'''[[Piddles]]:''' [[Pavlov the Pug Dog]] |
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| − | *'''Rabbit:''' [[Hopper]] |
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| − | *'''Squirrel:''' [[Gabe]] |
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| − | *'''Turtle:''' [[Jeremiah Tortoise|Jeremiah]]/[[Penelope the Yellow-Footed Tortoise|Penelope]] |
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| − | *'''Warthog:''' [[Bernice the Warthog]] |
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| − | *'''Zebra:''' [[Edi the Zebra]] |
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| + | <gallery> |
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| − | ==April Fool's Day Twitter== |
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| + | Image:Improv.jpg|Jim Henson's Puppet Improv |
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| − | On April 1, 2009, Mortimer was the subject of a series of comical TwitPics sent from the Jim Henson Company's Twitter account. The premise was that Mortimer, a cast member in the ''Puppet Up!'' show, works in the Henson Company offices in between shots. Tweets included: |
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| + | Image:Logo.puppetup.png|Puppet Up! |
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| + | Image:PuppetUpLogo1.jpg|Jim Henson's Puppet Up - Uncensored |
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| + | Image:PuppetUpLogo2008.jpg|Puppet Up! - Uncensored |
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| + | ==Format== |
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| − | *In between shoots, our performers lead normal lives and some even work at our company. Meet Mortimer: http://twitpic.com/2ont4 |
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| + | [[File:Mr. Guy and Piddles.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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| − | *We never said Mortimer was our best employee: http://twitpic.com/2op1b |
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| − | *Another reason why Mortimer is likely to be overlooked for a promotion this year: http://twitpic.com/2oqnz |
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| + | Each show typically features between 8 - 12 performers, along with host and director Patrick Bristow. Shows are often introduced by [[Mr. Guy]] and his dog [[Piddles]], two original characters created for ''Puppet Up!'', however occasionally this introduction is done by the show host. During the introduction it is explained that ''Puppet Up!'' is really two shows in one - a live improv puppet show seen on the screens behind the stage and the live chaos of the puppeteers beneath the puppets. The audience is told that since it is a live puppet show, they should forgive and ignore any stray heads or arms that may sneek into the frame during the improv. It is also explained that although the puppeteers are looking at monitors, it is so they can frame the puppets for the camera, not so they can get jokes from writers backstage. |
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| − | *Altho a flawed employee, he's also a very popular one. Mortimer catching up with the ladies at the office. http://twitpic.com/2p1xh |
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| − | *Mortimer has a weak bladder, precise timing and loves to mess with the interns. Not now, Morty. http://twitpic.com/2p3jh |
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| − | *Mortimer claims Celia is his assistant, which she totally isn't. She's just patient. http://twitpic.com/2p534 |
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| − | *Just checked to see why Mortimer's phone is forwarded to voicemail and wasn't surprised to find this: http://twitpic.com/2p5m0 |
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| − | *Been a long day for Mortimer and the interns. Happy April 1st from everyone at The Jim Henson Company. http://twitpic.com/2p69g |
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| + | The show is made up of various improv games and skits. The style of the games are varied - some featured all the performers, while others featured fewer. As each game is introduced the host calls upon the performers involved to "puppet up", to which the audience shouts out "Puppet Up!" The number and type of games played varied from show to show. However, some games have become more common over time, while others have faded from use. New games have been created throughout the run of the show. Some games, such as "Repeats", are based on traditional improv games, while others were uniquely created for the show and utilize the unique puppets or puppetry techniques. |
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| − | ==Henson.com podcast== |
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| − | The puppet used for "Harvey" appeared as Steve, a "facilities engineer" (aka janitor) at the Jim Henson Company's [[Charlie Chaplin Studios|studio lot]]. Steve was performed by [[Michael Oosterom]]. |
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| + | While all games are designed to test the performer's improvisational skill, some also test other skills, such as singing or doing impressions. ''Puppet Up!'' features a number of musical games, which often feature the show's music director [[Willie Etra]] playing live backing music. |
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| − | Steve appeared alongside [[Grant Baciocco]] in a 2008 [[Halloween]] video-cast for the [[The Jim Henson Company Podcast|Henson.com Podcast]]. He tells stories of the "hauntings" on the lot (and also makes fun of Grant's spikey hair). Steve knows the lot inside and out gives a detailed account of the property's spooky history. |
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| + | Most games require suggestions or topics from the audience. The host will call upon to the audience for suggestions that a game requires. Director Patrick Bristow is very diligent about not accepting suggestions that the troupe has used before. The host also controls the ending of each skit, calling "black out", which ends most games. |
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| − | The podcast concludes with Steve under a white sheet dressed as a [[ghosts|ghost]] and making howling noises. When Grant asks him to knock it off, the ghost says "Steve? We haven't had anyone named Steve here since 1969. But he passed on." (This does not make sense; [[Steve Whitmire]] would have surely worked at the studios.) |
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| + | <gallery> |
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| − | ==Sketches== |
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| + | Image:Puppet up 1b.jpg |
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| − | *Eye Witnesses |
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| + | Image:Puppet up 2b.jpg |
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| − | *Foreign Victim/ Lecture |
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| + | Image:Puppet up 3b.jpg |
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| − | *Customer Service Help Line |
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| + | Image:Puppet up 4b.jpg |
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| − | *Aliens in America |
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| + | </gallery> |
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| − | *The Grinder |
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| − | *Couple's Therapy |
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| − | *What are the Hot dogs Doing? |
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| − | *50’s Manners Movie |
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| − | *Job Performance Review |
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| − | *Cable Show |
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| − | *Unusual Board Game |
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| − | *Expert Talker |
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| − | *Home Shopping Network |
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| − | *Repeats |
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| − | *Parent Techer Confrence |
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| − | *Film Scene |
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| − | *Spot Scene |
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| − | *Car Pool |
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| − | *Game Show |
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| − | == |
+ | ==Puppets== |
| + | [[File:Puppet Up Puppets.jpg|thumb|300px|The puppets of ''Puppet Up!'']] |
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| − | * Patrick Bristow, Julianne Buescher, and Kevin Carlson first performed together on the TV Series ''Riders In The Sky'' in [[1990]] which also featured many Groundlings performers and many of the same cast/production members from ''[[Pee-Wee's Playhouse]]''. |
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| ⚫ | Early on the improv show featured many puppets recycled from past Henson Company projects. As the show grew, new and original puppets joined the show. In 2006 many new ''Puppet Up!'' puppets were introduced to the show's cast. The original puppets were designed by [[Julianne Buescher]] and [[Drew Massey]]; and were built by Buescher, Massey, [[Patrick Johnson]], and [[Sean Johnson]] with help and guidance from veteran Muppet designer/builder [[Jane Gootnick]]. New puppets continue to join the show's stock, as new characters, performers, and improv games are added to the show's repertoire. |
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==Credits== |
==Credits== |
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'''Producers''' |
'''Producers''' |
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:[[Brian Henson]] and [[Lisa Henson]] |
:[[Brian Henson]] and [[Lisa Henson]] |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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| − | *[[List of Puppet Up! Shows|List of ''Puppet Up!'' |
+ | *[[List of Puppet Up! Shows|List of ''Puppet Up!'' shows]] |
| − | *[[Puppet Up! |
+ | *[[:Category:Puppet Up! Performers|''Puppet Up!'' performers]] |
| − | *[[Puppet Up! |
+ | *[[:Category:Puppet Up! Merchandise|''Puppet Up!'' merchandise]] |
| − | *[[ |
+ | *[[Puppet Up! guest appearances|''Puppet Up!'' guest appearances]] |
| + | *''[[Stuffed and Unstrung]]'' |
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| − | *[[:Category:Puppet Up! Merchandise|''Puppet Up!'' Merchandise]] |
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| + | |||
| + | ;Productions |
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| + | *[[List of Puppet Up! Shows|''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'' live stage show]] |
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| + | *[[Puppet Up! - Uncensored (television special)|''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'' television special on TBS]] |
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| + | *[[Puppet Up! - Uncensored (web series)|''Puppet Up! - Uncensored'' webseries on TBS.com]] |
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| + | *[[Puppet Up! - Uncensored: Live in Melbourne, Australia|''Puppet Up! - Uncensored: Live in Melbourne, Australia'' film at the Center for Puppetry Arts]] |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.puppetup.com/ PuppetUp.com - Official Site] |
* [http://www.puppetup.com/ PuppetUp.com - Official Site] |
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| − | *[http://www.twitter/puppetup/ |
+ | * [http://www.twitter.com/puppetup/ @PuppetUp on Twitter] |
| − | *[http://www.tbs.com/shows/puppetup/ ''Puppet Up - Uncensored!'' on TBS.com] |
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| − | * [http://www.stv.tv/out/showArticle.jsp?source=opencms&articleId=/out/edimburg_festival/comedy/patrickbristow_interview Interview with Patrick Bristow] |
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[[Category:Puppet Up!]] |
[[Category:Puppet Up!]] |
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[[Category:Henson Company Stage Shows]] |
[[Category:Henson Company Stage Shows]] |
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Revision as of 06:09, 24 February 2010
Puppet Up! - Uncensored, also known simply as Puppet Up! and originally titled Jim Henson's Puppet Improv, was started "to demonstrate what happens when the perilous and provocative forms of traditional comedic improvisation are mixed with the art of puppetry."[1]
The sketches in the live show are not pre-planned, and the shows contain all true improv. The puppeteers in the Henson improv troupe trained with Groundlings performer Patrick Bristow for nine months to perfect their improv skills prior to their first show; and monthly performer training classes continue to this day. Just like the Groundlings, the Henson Improv sketches are performed based on audience suggestions.
The show is strongly advertised for "adults only" and as "uncensored." First introduced in 2006, Puppet Up! was the Henson Company's first project under the Henson Alternative banner, a brand of productions with more mature themes and content than those traditionally associated with Henson Company.
- - Brian Henson [2]
The troupe performs monthly shows at the Avalon Hollywood.
History
Brian Henson, producer of the show, recalled the genesis of the show in a 2006 interview stating, "we began doing puppet improv workshops to hone our comedy skills and realized that we were having so much fun that audiences might enjoy watching too."[3] In the fall of 2005 a show was performed in the sound stage of the Jim Henson Studios for friends and invited industry guests. The two shows were so successful that the group was invited to Aspen for the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.
The U.S. Comedy Arts Festival (March 8-12, 2006) was the show's first public debut. The Jim Henson Puppet Improv performed two shows featuring the talent of Brian Henson, Bill Barretta, Julianne Buescher, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Drew Massey, Paul Rugg, Allan Trautman and Victor Yerrid.
In June 2006, Jim Henson’s Puppet Improv began performing under a new name, Puppet Up!. The troupe performed four shows over three nights at the world famous Improv in Hollywood.
In August 2006, Puppet Up! traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 30 shows. Two versions of the show were performed - the regular "adult only" version and, for the first (and only) time, a family-friendly "for kids" show.
Puppet Up! performed two shows in Las Vegas, Nevada in November 2006. These shows were filmed as part of HBO and AEG LIVEs "The Comedy Festival", taking place at Caesar's Palace. TBS produced an hour-long Puppet Up! - Uncensored television special from these shows, that aired five days later on TBS. TBS also ordered 30 web-exclusive episodes of Puppet Up! - Uncensored for their "Laugh Lab" video server on TBS.com consisting of clips from the troupe's various live performances and shows. The web series debuted on TBS.com on Wednesday, March 7, 2007.
In spring 2007, the troupe took the show to Australia, performing at the Big Laugh Comedy Festival in Sydney and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Melbourne. The performances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival were recorded and presented as Puppet Up! - Uncensored: Live in Melbourne, Australia, a 76-minute film exclusively licensed by the Jim Henson Company to the Center for Puppetry Arts. The film debuted at the Center in April 2009.
Starting in August 2007, Puppet Up! - Uncensored began performing monthly shows at the Avalon in Hollywood.
The show grew and inspired into the stage show Stuffed and Unstrung, which plans to open in New York City in March 2010.
Jim Henson's Puppet Improv
Puppet Up!
Jim Henson's Puppet Up - Uncensored
Puppet Up! - Uncensored
Format
Each show typically features between 8 - 12 performers, along with host and director Patrick Bristow. Shows are often introduced by Mr. Guy and his dog Piddles, two original characters created for Puppet Up!, however occasionally this introduction is done by the show host. During the introduction it is explained that Puppet Up! is really two shows in one - a live improv puppet show seen on the screens behind the stage and the live chaos of the puppeteers beneath the puppets. The audience is told that since it is a live puppet show, they should forgive and ignore any stray heads or arms that may sneek into the frame during the improv. It is also explained that although the puppeteers are looking at monitors, it is so they can frame the puppets for the camera, not so they can get jokes from writers backstage.
The show is made up of various improv games and skits. The style of the games are varied - some featured all the performers, while others featured fewer. As each game is introduced the host calls upon the performers involved to "puppet up", to which the audience shouts out "Puppet Up!" The number and type of games played varied from show to show. However, some games have become more common over time, while others have faded from use. New games have been created throughout the run of the show. Some games, such as "Repeats", are based on traditional improv games, while others were uniquely created for the show and utilize the unique puppets or puppetry techniques.
While all games are designed to test the performer's improvisational skill, some also test other skills, such as singing or doing impressions. Puppet Up! features a number of musical games, which often feature the show's music director Willie Etra playing live backing music.
Most games require suggestions or topics from the audience. The host will call upon to the audience for suggestions that a game requires. Director Patrick Bristow is very diligent about not accepting suggestions that the troupe has used before. The host also controls the ending of each skit, calling "black out", which ends most games.
Puppets
The puppets of Puppet Up!
Early on the improv show featured many puppets recycled from past Henson Company projects. As the show grew, new and original puppets joined the show. In 2006 many new Puppet Up! puppets were introduced to the show's cast. The original puppets were designed by Julianne Buescher and Drew Massey; and were built by Buescher, Massey, Patrick Johnson, and Sean Johnson with help and guidance from veteran Muppet designer/builder Jane Gootnick. New puppets continue to join the show's stock, as new characters, performers, and improv games are added to the show's repertoire.
Credits
Clockwise from top, Allan Trautman, Brian Henson, Paul Rugg, Victor Yerrid, Drew Massey and Julianne Buescher with characters from Puppet Up!.
Producers
Host and Director
- Patrick Bristow
Musical accompaniment
- Willie Etra
Performers:
- Grant Baciocco, Bill Barretta, Julianne Buescher, Tyler Bunch, Kevin Carlson, Leslie Carrara, Brian Clark, Marcus Clarke, Alice Dinnean-Vernon, Peggy Etra, Brian Henson, Sean Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Donna Kimball, Karen Maruyama, Drew Massey, Ted Michaels, Alison Mork, Michael Oosterom, Colleen Smith, Carla Rudy, Paul Rugg, Allan Trautman, Victor Yerrid
Sources
- ↑ PuppetUp.com
- ↑ "Puppet Up! Uncensored - Interview with Brian Henson", TBS.com. 2007
- ↑ Press Release: TBS Gets Ready to PUPPET UP!
See also
- List of Puppet Up! shows
- Puppet Up! performers
- Puppet Up! merchandise
- Puppet Up! guest appearances
- Stuffed and Unstrung
- Productions
- Puppet Up! - Uncensored live stage show
- Puppet Up! - Uncensored television special on TBS
- Puppet Up! - Uncensored webseries on TBS.com
- Puppet Up! - Uncensored: Live in Melbourne, Australia film at the Center for Puppetry Arts