Puppet Up!

Puppet Up! – Uncensored is a live show produced by The Jim Henson Company combining puppetry and improvisational comedy. The show is advertised for "adults only" and as "uncensored." However one rare and "exclusive" set of shows "for children" were held in Edinburgh in 2006.

The sketches in the live show are not pre-planned, and the shows contain all true improv. The puppeteers in the Henson improv troupe trained with Groundlings performer Patrick Bristow for nine months to perfect their improv skills prior to their first show. Just like the Groundlings, the Henson improv sketches are performed based on audience suggestions.

History

Brian Henson, producer of the show, recalled the genesis of the show in a 2006 interview stating, "we began doing puppet improv workshops to hone our comedy skills and realized that we were having so much fun that audiences might enjoy watching too."^{[citation needed]} In the fall of 2005 a show was performed in the sound stage of the Jim Henson Studios for friends and invited industry guests. The two shows were so successful that the group was invited to the 2006 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, where it made its public debut. Jim Henson's Puppet Improv was performed at two shows featuring the talent of Brian Henson, Bill Barretta, Julianne Buescher, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Drew Massey, Paul Rugg, Allan Trautman and Victor Yerrid.

In June 2006, Jim Henson’s Puppet Improv began performing under a new name, Puppet Up! - Uncensored The troupe performed four shows over three nights at the world famous Improv in Hollywood.

In August 2006 Puppet Up! - Uncensored traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 30 shows. Two versions of the show were performed: the regular "adult only" version and, for the first time, a family-friendly "for kids" show.

Puppet Up! - Uncensored performed two shows at Caesars Palace in November 2006. These shows were filmed as part of HBO and AEG Live's The Comedy Festival. TBS produced an hour-long television special from these shows that aired five days later on TBS. TBS also ordered 30 web-exclusive episodes of "Puppet Up! - Uncensored" for their "Laugh Lab" video service on TBS.com. The web series debuted on TBS.com on March 7, 2007.

In 2010, the show was brought to New York under the title Stuffed and Unstrung. It is scheduled to run till the end of May.

Puppets

Early on the improv show featured many puppets recycled from past Henson Company projects. As the show grew, new and original puppets were created that joined the show. In 2006, new "Puppet Up! - Uncensored" puppets were designed by Julianne Buescher and Drew Massey. The puppets were built by Julianne Buescher, Drew Massey, Patrick Johnson, and Sean Johnson with help and guidance from veteran Muppet designer/builder Jane Gootnik.

Featured Puppets

The following puppets are shown in "Puppet Up" with most of them being recycled from other productions:

• Arlene the Aardvark/Dullard the Aardvark from Jim Henson's Animal Show
• Bernice the Warthog/Warren the Warthog from Jim Henson's Animal Show
• Bongo the Monkey from Late Night Buffet with Augie and Del
• Bunnie the Bear from Jim Henson's Animal Show
• Captain from CityKids - His puppet was used for an unnamed superhero character.
• Cornelius the Crab from Jim Henson's Animal Show
• DJ 1 the Panda from Animal Jam
• DJ 2 the Koala from Animal Jam - His puppet was used for an unnamed koala character.
• DJ 3 the Leopard from Animal Jam
• A Background Dog from Dog City - This puppet was previously used as Pavlov the Pug from Jim Henson's Animal Show and was often used as Piddles the Pug who was often performed by Julianne Buescher.
• Dooley the Armadillo from Jim Henson's Animal Show
• Dread from CityKids
• The Flowers from The Muppet Show
• Frankie Frank and the Footers from CityKids
• Gabe the Squirrel from Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola
• Galahad the Grasshopper Mouse from Jim Henson's Animal Show
• The Goat from Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola
• Guffrey the Vulture from Jim Henson's Animal Show
• Hopper the Rabbit from Muppets Tonight - His design was used for the three Bad Bunnies.
• Jackie the Orangutan/Lawrence the Orangutan from Jim Henson's Animal Show - His puppet was recycled as Professor Ape and was performed by Allan Trautman who was assisted by another Muppet Performer.
• Joey the Monkey from Late Night Buffet with Augie and Del
• Koozbanians from CityKids - Their puppets were often used for the Horny Aliens.
• Lester Possum from Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony - His puppet was later used for an unnamed possum character.
• Libido from CityKids
• Lieutenant from CityKids
• Morton the Beaver from Jim Henson's Animal Show/Jacques the Beaver from Bear in the Big Blue House
• Pancake the Cow from Animal Jam
• Penelope the Yellow-Footed Tortoise from Jim Henson's Animal Show/Jeremiah Tortoise from Bear in the Big Blue House - This puppet was used for an unnamed turtle character.
• Pokey from Muppets Tonight
• Raisin from The Christmas Toy and Secret Life of Toys
• Spank the Monkey from Late Night Buffet with Augie and Del
• Waffle the Cow-Monkey from Animal Jam - His puppet was often used as an unnamed monkey character.
• Whatnots - Various Whatnots were featured in this show. A boy Whatnot was previously used in The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss and Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony. A man Whatnot was previously used in The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss and used in various roles in this live show like a deadpan lesbian named Nancy. One female Whatnot was previously used in The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss and a green female Whatnot alongside a blue female Whatnot and a red-haired Whatnot were previously used in The Muppet Show.
• Yorick the Salmon from Jim Henson's Animal Show - His puppet is used for an unnamed fish character.

Exclusive Puppets

The following were original puppets for "Puppet Up":

• Al the Alien - He is often performed by Brian Henson who considered Al his personal favorite. He was designed by Julianne Buescher and built by Patrick Johnson under the guidance of Jane Gootnik.
• Boy (this puppet was later used as Bangladesh in Sisimpur)
• Cartwheeling Cheerleader
• Cavemen
• Claude Bigfoot - He was designed by Julianne Buescher and built by Julianne Buescher and Drew Massey.
• A red version of Cornelius the Crab from Jim Henson's Animal Show - He was designed by Eric Englehart and built by Sean Johnson.
• Dr. Scientist - He was designed and built by Drew Massey and often performed by Paul Rugg who considered Dr. Scientist his personal favorite.
• Duck Boy - He was designed and built by Julianne Buescher and often performed by Victor Yerrid.
• Ferret
• Frenchy - He was often performed by Paul Rugg in a French accent and considers him his personal favorite.
• Germs - Germs 1 and 4 were designed and built by Drew Massey while Germs 2 and 3 are designed and built by Julianne Buescher.
• Herman Monster - He was designed by Julianne Buescher and built by Sean Johnson under the guidance of Jane Gootnik. His fur was the same as the fur of Sprocket the Dog from Fraggle Rock.
• Leopard Girl
• Mr. Guy - He was designed by Drew Massey and performed by Brian Henson. Mr. Guy's puppet was often used as a newscaster performed by Drew Massey and under names like Dick Hardschmedley or Hank Schmuckley.
• Nerd Boy
• Nerd Girl
• Old Man #1 - This old man was called Harvey in the television special.
• Old Man #2
• Old Woman
• Pretty Girl - She was designed, built, and often performed by Julianne Buescher.
• Punk Guy
• Punu the Tiki God - He is one of the largest puppets in the entire cast. In the television special, he was performed by Drew Massey.
• Weasel
• Yodita - He was built and designed by Julianne Buescher.

Puppet Up! Improv Troupe

Alongside Patrick Bristow as the host, among the performers of Puppet Up! are:

• Grant Baciocco (2008-present)
• Bill Barretta (2005-present)
• Julianne Buescher (2005-present)
• Kevin Carlson (2005-2006)
• Leslie Carrara-Rudolph (2005-present)
• Brian Clark (2008-present)
• Marcus Clarke (2006)
• Alice Dinnean (2005)
• Peggy Etra (2005-present)
• Brian Henson (2005-present)
• Patrick Johnson (2007-present)
• Sean Johnson (2005-present)
• Donna Kimball (2007-present)
• Karen Maruyama (2007)
• Drew Massey (2005-present)
• Ted Michaels (2006-present)
• Alison Mork (2007-present)
• Michael Oosterom (2006-present)
• Carla Rudy (2007-present)
• Paul Rugg (2005-present)
• Colleen Smith (2007-present)
• Allan Trautman (2005-present)
• Victor Yerrid (2005-present)

Television series

The show was adapted for television by TBS Superstation on November 13, 2007 and February 13, 2008. It was the first project under the Henson Alternative banner. Despite its name, the show is censored because the seven dirty words are said on the show.

Cast

• Patrick Bristow - Host

Muppet Performers

• Julianne Buescher - Hot Dog, Leopard Girl, Mouse, Piddles the Pug, Sylvia, Weasel
• Tyler Bunch - Fish, Hot Dog, Monkey, Turtle
• Brian Henson - Al the Alien, Billy the Goat, Goat, Hot Dog, Mr. Guy, Old Man, Warthog
• Drew Massey - Dick Hardschmedley, Henry the Beaver, Hot Dog, Punu the Tiki God, Squirrel
• Ted Michaels - Berg the Armadillo, Ferret, Hot Dog, Jeffrey the Ferret, Squirrel
• Paul Rugg - Frenchy, Harry the Koala, Harvey, Hot Dog, Koala, Richard the Caveman, Superhero
• Allan Trautman - Brain Ernest the Crab, Hot Dog, Possum, Professor Ape, Studio Executive Crab
• Victor Yerrid - Armadillo, Dillon, Georgie, Hot Dog, Lennard the Aardvark, Nerd Boy, Warthog

Web Series

TBS later adapted "Puppet Up" as a web series with different sketches performed on shows during different locations.

Trivia

• Patrick Bristow, Julianne Buescher, and Kevin Carlson first performed together on the TV series Riders in the Sky in 1990 (which featured many Groundlings performers and many of the same cast/production members from Pee-wee's Playhouse)

Credits

• Producers: Brian Henson and Lisa Henson
• Host and Director: Patrick Bristow
• Musical accompaniment: Willie Etra
• Performers: Grant Baciocco, Bill Barretta, Julianne Buescher, Tyler Bunch, Kevin Carlson, Leslie Carrara, Marcus Clarke, Alice Dinnean, Peggy Etra, Brian Henson, Sean Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Donna Kimball, Drew Massey, Ted Michaels, Alison Mork, Michael Oosteroom, Carla Rudy, Paul Rugg, Colleen Smith, Allan Trautman, Victor Yerrid

External links

• Official Puppet Up! Website
• Puppet Up! news blog
• Puppet Up! at the Internet Movie Database - 2006 television special
• Puppet Up! at Muppet Wiki
• Puppet Up! at Henson Alternative Wiki
• Puppet Up! (TV special) at Henson Alternative Wiki
• Henson Company press site