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Rivkin responds to employees after Henson buyout

“Life’s Like a Movie, Write Your Own Ending”

Courtesy of Henson.com
May 7, 2003

The following letter from Henson CEO and president, Charlie Rivkin, was posted on Henson.com in response to the Henson kids repurchasing the Henson Company from EM.TV. The letter is directed towards Henson employees concerning the sale.

I am thrilled to announce that Brian, Cheryl, Heather, John and Lisa Henson have concluded a deal to repurchase the Henson Company! A summary of the transaction and some comments on its significance appear in the attached news release. This announcement is a wonderful and quite extraordinary ending for what has been a tumultuous three-year period.

Over the years, this company’s extraordinary team of performers, producers, writers, and artists has fought an uphill battle against what has seemed at times overwhelming odds. Despite those odds, together we’ve managed to create some absolutely brilliant productions and products, and made a difference in people’s lives. What we’ve produced—in spite of everything, including the turmoil at our parent company, and the challenges facing every independent production company in today’s entertainment environment—has been achieved with integrity, creativity, and a respect for our audience and our history.

I think we can all feel proud of what we have accomplished together. And I think that those of us who have devoted much, or all, of our working lives to this company and its wonderful characters and productions should take pride and comfort in knowing that all of our great work will once again be in Henson hands.

Over the next few weeks, I will be meeting with Brian and Lisa to discuss their vision for the new JHC and how it will be structured. I’ll be in touch with each of you individually once these decisions have been finalized.

Like many of you, I had the privilege of working closely with Jim Henson, and like many of you, I know how pleased Jim would be to hear this wonderful news. As we finally end this long, sometimes painful, but ultimately happy chapter of the Muppet story, I want to thank every one of you for believing in the dream and for all you have done to make this very special company what it has been, what it is, and what it will be.

-Charlie Rivkin, Henson CEO and President