Brand new zine: Queen Elizabeth’s Purse!

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Max

queen-elizabeth-handbag

“Queen Elizabeth’s Purse” is a bright red, 50-page story of my 2014 trip to London – my very first time in Europe – to research Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography. It’s a story about how to do things you didn’t think you could, and enjoy yourself to boot; or, how I learned to love London. The zine provides an inadvertent advance behind-the-scenes look at the biography, taking the reader along on six interviews with Muppet producers, writers and performers, as well as a pair of Hunt’s London pals. 17 photos and drawings. Bonus: Find out what Queen Elizabeth really keeps in that purse!

Updated: Out of print!

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Saturday Night Live – and the Muppets!

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Max

Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson's daughter Christine clowning around on the Saturday Night Live set, 1975.

Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson’s daughter Christine clowning around on the SNL set, 1975.

Did you enjoy last night’s Saturday Night Live 40th anniversary special? Saturday Night Live didn’t quite know what to do with the “Mucking Fuppets” (as John Belushi called them), but
their appearances in SNL’s first year were a great springboard for the Muppets to prove their mettle with a late-night, grown-up audience, thus paving the way for The Muppet Show! Enjoy this clip from 1975 — the sketch is opened by none other than Richard Hunt!

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The Count Writes a Haiku

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Max

Jerry Nelson would have been 80 today. I was lucky to know him.
Here’s my memorial essay, “The Count Writes a Haiku.”

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The Swami of Sesame Street: An Interview with Norman Stiles

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Max

e67c57e1fb1218ea9227f7513c7c24f9Norman Stiles, Sesame Street head writer from 1971 to 1995, told me that Richard Hunt used to call him “Swami” – and after talking with him for a couple of hours, I can see why. Stiles comes off as a classic trickster guru, making you laugh but also making you think. We spoke about Hunt, Sesame’s halcyon days, what makes good writing, and about Stiles’ new project, The Baby and Toddler Parenthood News Network, in many ways a spiritual descendant of Sesame, in the last days of its Indiegogo campaign. Enjoy! Continue reading →

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Muppet Biographers Unite!

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Max

Bn8CNy2CUAAC4-H.jpg-largeThis weekend I attended the Biographers International conference in Boston, where I had the privilege of meeting Brian Jay Jones, author of Jim Henson: The Biography.

The conference, held at UMASS Boston on the picturesque Dorchester Bay, attracted about 200 writers, editors, agents and other people interested in the craft, mechanics and morals involved in telling the story of a life. Quite inspiring!

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Toronto and Fraggle Rock

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Max

FR_19024_WrapPartyInvite_MKF I recently found a lovely Toronto blog that details Fraggle Rock‘s relationship with Toronto, situating the culture of the show within the culture of the city, including a link to my Fraggle geography map. “Given the show’s commitment to interdependence and a global consciousness,” producer Larry Mirkin told me, “I can’t imagine it being filmed anywhere else.” Enjoy!

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