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New Collectibles • 9/29 - A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa DVD • Robert Tonner Dolls: Miss Piggy Classic, My Fair Piggy and Miss Piggy Takes Manhattan • 6/3 - Muppet Show Comic Issue #3 Gonzo's Story • 6/2 - Elmo & Abby's Birthday Fun DVD • 5/27 - Muppet Robin Hood Issue #1 • 5/19 - Kermit Culture Book: Critical Perspectives on Jim Henson’s Muppets • 5/19 - Sesame Street Silly Songs CD • 5/4 - Sid the Science Kid CD - Volume 1 • 4/29 - Muppet Show Comic Issue #2 Fozzie's Story • 4/21 - Elmo and the Bookaneers DVD • 4/7 - Sesame Street Being Green DVD |
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The Muppet Show season 1 slated for August 9 release Here is everything you want to know about the long-awaited Muppet Show season 1 debut on DVD By
Greg James Last November word reached us that The Muppet Show was coming to DVD in complete season sets, and in March we were able to get a hold of some of the early information on the upcoming project. Now, the details of the first season box set’s features and release are here.
The four-disc collection will hold all 24 season one episodes along with a great collection of bonus features and other goodies that Muppet fans will love. The video is reportedly transferred from their original British (PAL) tapes. Aside from getting a beautiful transfer and mastering of the video like never seen before, the episodes are unedited and will contain the UK skits. It has been reported that Disney worked to secure the needed character and music rights needed to keep the episodes intact. Aside from the 24-episodes, Disney’s Home Entertainment has stated that the set will hold the following bonus features; "Muppet Morsels"; the original Muppet pitch reel; original pilot; a Jim Henson retrospective; a season one promo gag reel; the world premiere interstitials; and much more!
Another great addition to the set is the rare and hilarious short film that was originally sent to CBS executives to help sell the idea of "The Muppet Show". In a true Muppet fashion, Leo the announcer desperately tried to pitch the idea without being quite so subtle. This is the same pitch tape that was shown at Muppetfest in 2001. It not only is extremely entertaining but a nice historic piece that fans are ecstatic to see included.
The sets will also included other goodies for fans including the season one promo gag reel, the world premiere interstitials, sneak peeks and much more. Since this product is arriving the same day as “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz” DVD, Disney is hoping to promote fans to pick up both items. There will not only be a trailer for “The Muppet’s Wizard of Oz” on the Muppet Show season one DVD, but it has been reported that consumers who buy both will be able to get a discount though a mail-in rebate.
For more information on the season one episodes check out our first season Muppet Show guide, that includes detailed descriptions, cast lists, photos and more.
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One
of the newly created features, “Muppet Morsels”, will
expose all kinds of information about the show, the characters,
the guests, the skits, and more (even the die-hard Muppet Show fans
will learn something). The “Muppet Morsels” feature
allows viewers to view optional “pop-up” trivia on each
episode. The trivia was created and worked on by Michael Dixon (webmaster
of 
If
you continue to look at the list of features fans will notice the
item of “original pilot”. As many Muppet fans will tell
you, there were two pilot episodes produced for The Muppet Show
(“The Muppets Valentine Show” and “The Muppet
Show: Sex and Violence”). Members of the DVD production team
have said that they hope to include both pilots on the set, but
depending on the disc space available they may only be able to fit
one (exactly which one is unclear right now). If both pilots don’t
make the cut for the season one set, the unreleased pilot may be
included on the season 2 set. Fans will have to wait for Disney
to release more information to know for sure if both pilots made
the cut – but at least one pilot episode will be included
(and maybe more).
Another
feature created for the DVD set is a brand new retrospective. In
the “Jim Henson Retrospective” viewers can hear from
friends and co-workers as they take a look back at the man who started
it all. This is a loving feature that showcases the legacy, the
magic, and the creations of Muppet-creator Jim Henson. Many Henson
performers, co-workers, family members, friends, and fans were interviewed
on camera for such a feature; including Craig Shemin, Jerry Juhl,
Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Carroll Spinney, Michael Frith and many
more. 
At
the moment Disney is working on features for similar sets for the
other four seasons of The Muppet Show, and they hope to release
all five seasons on equally impressive sets. But like all things,
the success of season one will determine the amount of investment
Disney gives to produce other season sets. Information on the release
schedule, and set details is not available at this time.
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