"The Jim Henson Hour"

 -created by jim henson

1989-1992

Did you ever have some creation by one of your favorites creators that you missed seeing/hearing for years or decades, so that eventually the anticipation of it became towering in your mind as some sort of lost gem of a genius?

That was this show for me. Jim's return to TV after the success of The Muppet Show. When i finally saw it...WOW, just...

Awful. A trainwreck.

Don't let the semi-long-looking run fool you. It was cancelled in its first year - and deservedly so.

On the surface, it sounds wonderful. Jim starts and ends each show, talking to the audience. Some of the Muppets are back, plus guest stars, plus the Storyteller fairy tale collection, plus other shorts from the henson workshop...but none of it ever gels beyond "forced". Apparently jim had fights with the studio, and was never given the freedom to make it what he wanted. There are similarities to its predecessor - backstage at Muppet Studios, kermit oversees a variety show. But most of the characters are new, and none of them pop. It's basically kermit and gonzo with a little link and a lot of who-the-hell-are-you?

Perhaps the absence of frank oz was the show's death blow. He makes cameos as fozzy and piggy, but...was he off being yoda? His absence is heart-rending.

There are bright moments...piggy's duet with dudley moore, and the short film "Living with Dinosaurs", which captures the awkwardness and cruelty of childhood with heart and humor...

But overall, watch this only if you're a devoted fan who is comfortable with disappointment.