Recently Fraggle Rock producer Lawrence Mirkin gave me a walking tour of Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood, where the show was filmed. Here’s a google map I made from the tour, a snapshot of the area between roughly 1982 and 1986. It includes the former studio site, performer accommodations and hangouts.
Mirkin says Toronto and Fraggle Rock were a perfect fit. “Given the show’s committment to interdependence and a global consciousness, I can’t imagine it being filmed anywhere else.”
If there were a Mount Rushmore of main Muppet performers, it would feature Jerry Nelson’s face. Best known as the Count, Nelson has performed countless roles in his nearly fifty years as a puppeteer on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock. Nelson and Richard Hunt were co-workers and friends for over twenty years.
I had the privilege of sitting down with Nelson in his lovely Cape Cod home for a two-part interview. Here’s part one, in which Nelson talks about working and playing with Hunt on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, the zen of puppetry, and much more! (more…)
Steve Swanson, interviewing me on the Muppetcast the other day, asked about Richard’s character the Mean Genie and what it might show about Richard. At the time I didn’t have an answer for him. (more…)
The Rainbow Connection is the number one best-seller at Quimby’s bookstore this week! Thank you, Chicago!
Photo is stockade 048 by Lina Smith. Used with permission. All other work © Jessica Max Stein. All Rights Reserved.