# What Is It About The Muppets? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138 "2001-01-21T17:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/41 "2001-01-22T23:23:51Z")
Thats **Odyssey** ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/42 "2001-01-23T01:18:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Vestal Blue \* > **In addition to all the other attributes, I think it’s that the muppeteers are trained differently in how they move them. The closest I’ve seen to muppets in motion are those made by Kevin Klash. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t he also work with Henson at one point?** Kevin Clash is still a Muppeteer. In fact, he is the performer behind (or under:D)a couple of characters mentioned here already – Sesame Street’s ever-present red monster Elmo, and the ultra-hip Clifford. Kevin has served and maybe still serves as puppeteer trainer and puppet coordinator for many Henson productions. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/43 "2001-01-23T03:37:49Z")
I remember my amazement when I found out that Kevin Clash does Elmo _and_ Clifford. My goodness, that’s a radical change! IMHO, _The Dark Crystal_ is probably _the_ most underrated Jim Henson production ever. That movie is _awesome._ I suppose it freaks people out because it’s so dark and un-Muppet, but _man!_ I had real trouble trying to figure out whether or not the Gelflings were humans or Muppets. ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/44 "2001-01-23T05:05:48Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Persephone_\*\* > IMHO, The Dark Crystal is probably the most underrated Jim Henson production ever. That movie is awesome. I suppose it freaks people out because it’s so dark and un-Muppet, but man! I had real trouble trying to figure out whether or not the Gelflings were humans or Muppets. \*\* Agreed that it’s underrated. I’ve read that Jim himself was quite disappointed with public reaction to it, but it’s developed a little bit of a cult following, sort of – nothing along the lines of _Rocky Horror Picture Show_, but at least there was enough interest to release this film on DVD. I recently bought a DVD player and _The Dark Crystal_ as well. The extras are kinda neat – additional scenes at the Skeksis funeral, and some scenes with the languages originally performed. IIRC, Jim’s original vision was to have each of the groups speak in their own language and have the film subtitled. They decided that would further alienate audiences, though. _Labyrinth_ is in large part the result of _TDC_’s failure. It’s got some of the same sort of fantastic elements, but introduces human characters in order to bridge the gap between the world of the film and the world of the audience. ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/45 "2001-01-23T23:37:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PRNYouth \* > [@](#): > > _Labyrinth_ is in large part the result of _TDC_’s failure. It’s got some of the same sort of fantastic elements, but introduces human characters in order to bridge the gap between the world of the film and the world of the audience. \*\* And a fantastic job it did, too! David Bowie was perfect for the part. And thanks for the info on Kevin Klash; I didn’t realize he was _that_ involved with Henson, but in retrospect, I’m not surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138/46 "2001-01-23T23:51:01Z")
Wow. I’m a huge fan of _Labyrinth,_ too. But I think it’s because David Bowie looks just amazing with all that hair. 😃 The plot is a little weak, and the girl is kinda lame, but otherwise, it’s a neat show! The troll spraying for fairies is damn funny! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-muppets/51138.md?page=2)