Once Upon An Egg Timer

Once Upon An Egg Timer

September 14, 1985 TV Episode Jim Henson's Muppet Babies

Studio
Marvel Productions, Ltd.
Animation studio
Tôei Animation
Distributor
Jim Henson Television

Synopsis

While playing a rough game with Gonzo, Rowlf loses his voice. To help him get it back the kids tell stories.

Characters

Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rowlf, Scooter, Skeeter, Animal, Nanny

Credits

Directing

Supervising Directors
Terrence Lennon, Ray Lee

Producing

Producer
Bob Richardson
Executive Producers
Margaret Loesch, Lee Gunther
Associate Producers
Adam Bleibtreu, John Gibbs

Writing

Writer
Jeffrey Scott
Story Editor
Hank Saroyan
Developed For Television By
Jeffrey Scott
Script Coordinator
Carol Remo

Voices

Voice
Frank Welker (Kermit, Beaker), Greg Berg (Fozzie, Scooter), Katie Leigh (Rowlf), Howie Mandel (Animal, Skeeter, Bunsen), Laurie O'Brien (Miss Piggy), Russi Taylor (Gonzo, Robin), Barbara Billingsley (Nanny)

Editing

Supervising Editor
Steve Brown
Video Tape Editors
Frank Mazzaro, Pam Marshall

Music Department

Supervising Music Editor
Richard Allen S.M.E
Original Score Composed And Conducted By
Robert J. Walsh
Special Musical Material
Alan O'Day, Janis Liebhart, Scott Brownlee
Music Coordinator
Don McGinnis
Music Recorded By
Terry Jennings

Casting

Voice Director
Hank Saroyan

Production Management

Production Manager
Barbara Donatelli
Production Supervisor
Jim Graziano
Post Production Associate
Andrew Golov

Crew

Created For Television By
Jim Henson
Creative Consultant
Michael K. Frith
Muppet Babies Design Consultant
Jim Mahon
Assistant To Bob Richardson
Maia Maltese
Assistant To Hank Saroyan
Kathy Selbert
Film Research
Barbara Beck
Research
Larry Swerdlove
Technical Consultant
John Burton Jr
Additional Footage
Rocketman, Union Pacific Railroad
Executive In Charge Of Series
Hank Saroyan
Crew
MCMLXXXVI

Companies and other credits

  • Produced In Association With: Toei Animation Co
  • Produced In Association With: Ltd
  • Additional Footage: Em Gee Film Library
  • © Henson Associates
  • Inc

Production notes

Jim Henson's Muppets were animated for the first time in this highly creative, action-packed show. Kermit and friends were now babies, growing up together in a nursery under the watchful, yet kindly eye of Nanny. True to a child's perspective, only Nanny's pink hemline and green-and-white striped socks were ever shown on the screen.

When Nanny shut the nursery doors behind her, the miniature Muppets' imaginations would soar. Clothes hampers became caves, chairs would be spaceships and the babies became heroes of their very own detailed fantasies. Though they technically never left the nursery, the show was anything but claustrophobic.

These stories frequently mimicked fairy tales or movies, often using real film footage with the Muppet characters superimposed. Particularly famous examples include Indiana Kermit running away from the giant boulder of Raiders of the Lost Ark, or Kermit Skywalker and Princess Piggy fighting the evil Animal Vader.

The only new addition to the original cast was Skeeter, Scooter's spunky sister, who gave the show another female character. Later in the series, baby Statler and Waldorf, Janice, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem Muppet Band all joined the show.

Though Jim Henson oversaw the production, neither he nor Frank Oz provided the voices. Instead, cartoon legend Frank Welker, Howie Mandel (Bobby's World) and Dave Coulier (of Full House) did the vocal honors. Barbara Billingsly, known to television audiences as June Cleaver on the 1950's classic Leave It To Beaver, provided the soothing voice of Nanny.

The Muppet Babies went through several title and length changes during its eight-year run. Originally a half-hour, the show changed to an hour as Jim Henson's Muppets, Babies and Monsters in 1985, adding live-action segments with Henson's Muppet monsters. The monsters were soon dropped, and the following year the show kept its new length but returned to its original title. In 1987, the show expanded yet another half-hour to fill the gap left by the Garbage Pail Kids, a cartoon that never made it to the air.

A hit with kids and parents alike, the show won consecutive Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program from 1984-1988. As dominant as the show was on awards night, it was just as potent in the ratings, proving that quality and popularity indeed can coexist.
Song: Show Us The Real You.

Pictures