Rachel and Leeman have a rather informal talk about Muppets and their theological implications. They are deeper than you might initially suspect.
Topics Discusses and/or Spoiled
Muppets, Muppet Babies, Star Wars, Farscape, Eureeka’s Castle, Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas, Sesame Street, and many other googly eyed works.
Leeman’s mawkish blog post on Muppets
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Hi, you two! I’m listening to your Muppets episode now and am really enjoying it.
My wife and I both loved the Muppets as kids, although I got disenchanted when “The Muppets Take Manhattan” was new to cable television back in the late 80s. It struck me as far inferior to “The Great Muppet Caper” (still my favorite Muppet film of all times, though I haven’t seen it in years – “Did you say, a pig?” ). Our Muppet love was renewed, though, when we took our kids to see the most recent film in theaters. They both loved it, and we did, too. We spent a lot of time re-watching “The Muppet Show” on DVD as a result. Jim Henson and all the rest really created something special. (Thanks for alerting me to the pop-up commentary – I either didn’t know or had forgotten that was there. Time to rewatch!)
One of my favorite Muppet childhood memories is watching “The Muppet Movie” on Christmas Eve with my grandmother several years (it seems), while the rest of the family was off to late-night Christmas Eve services. (Fear not, I’d been to worship earlier, usually as part of the kids’ pageant service.) Being the son of a Presbyterian minister, I always got a kick out of Fozzie’s comment to Kermit as they come across the Electric Mayhem: “They don’t look Presbyterian to me!” (Alas, how true!)
I didn’t think “Muppets Tonight” was as terrible as you seem to. I liked Clarence and would enjoy seeing him come back in a future Muppet movie; and, if nothing else, the show gave us Kermit’s fantastic cover of “Water Flowing Underground.” (I agree with you about Pepe, though!)
I think you are right to point to the physicality of the Muppets as an essential part of their appeal, which makes perfect sense to those who have the Incarnation at the heart of their faith: “We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life…” (1 John 1.1).
I write for the blog portion of The Sci-Fi Christian, but learned about your show via our “rival” (wink, nod) Strangers & Aliens. Looking forward to listening to more from you!
PS. Are you fans of “The Muppets Wizard of Oz”? Post-Jim Henson, but a lot of fun and, I find, generally (and unfairly) underrated, especially if you’re also an Ozophile! It even makes Pepe enjoyable!
PPS. Hooray for Farscape! 🙂
Hey there! It’s great to connect up with more folks. When Rachel and I were first brainstorming this podcast, we actually visited your website to see what the current milieu of Christian Geek Podcasts was so thanks for paving the way. I never saw the Wizard of Oz but I seem to recall responding to the concept with a bit of a nose-wrinkle. Seems I may have been overly hasty. I hope you enjoy our episodes as we’re having a great time working on this!
The original Muppet Movie is one of my all time favorite movies and I sometimes sing “Rainbow Connection” to myself when I am unhappy or stuck in traffic.
I think part of the appeal is how sincere everything about the Muppets is, as there is nothing arch, sarcastic or fake – if you follow my meaning. That is so rare and when done well, such a delight.
Also Mel Brooks!