Cinema Shock

“Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life, enjoy it.”
Over the course of this series, we've come to not only love Jim Henson's work even more than we already did, but we've come to love and appreciate the person that Jim Henson was. In a cynical world, Henson was a beacon of hope and optimism and he spent his entire career — his entire life — trying to share that optimism with the world at large.
While he was disappointed with the reception of his labor of love LABYRINTH, Henson didn't walk away from the project defeated. Instead, he made the decision to channel his energy into new projects, fueled by his unwavering optimism. Jim Henson, in the last years of his too-short life, did everything he could to make the world a better place through his art.
In this, the final episode Jim Henson: Heart Felt, we want to discuss Jim's legacy beyond LABYRINTH. From Fraggle Rock to The StoryTeller to MuppetVision 3D and beyond, Jim worked tirelessly with every moment he had on this earth to bring joy to everyone he came in contact with, whether it was in-person or through a television or movie screen. 
As we say goodbye to Jim Henson and recount his final years — and his final days — we can't help but feel a little bit sad. But we also feel a sense of gratitude that we got to exist on the same planet as Henson and that we'll be able to experience the magic he brought to us until the end of time. Thank you, our listeners, for going on this journey with us. We promise we'll be back to talking about weird cult movies very soon.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Courtland Ashley | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

"Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one.”
After the release of THE DARK CRYSTAL — and its critical and commercial failure — Jim Henson and his collaborator on that project, illustrator Brian Froud, went back to the drawing board for their next ambitious fantasy project.
Utilizing the lessons that they’d learned on that film, they looked to craft another story with the same amount of imagination, but with more humor, more heart, more music and… more humans.
The resulting film, LABYRINTH, was not much more well-received at the time of its release, but like its predecessor, it’s gone on to become a beloved film, one that’s now considered a classic and one of the creative pinnacles of Henson’s career.
In this episode, we tell down the full story of how LABYRINTH was made, from its original concept, to the dozens of script drafts that it went through during its development, to the casting of David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly (and the actors who almost got the parts instead), and all of the innovative puppetry and creature creation that brought it to life.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

This episode was originally released in May 2022.
In this Cinema Shock Rewind episode, we're revisiting our episode on Frank Oz's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Oz got his start as Jim Henson's closest collaborator, working with Jim during the Muppets' early years, and serving as a key piece of the Muppets' creative framework through the years of The Muppet Show and the subsequent feature films. In fact, Oz made his solo directorial debut on THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHANTTAN, which led to him being courted for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS not long after.
In this episode, we'll tell you the full story of how LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS was made, now with the added context of Oz's participation in the world of The Muppets.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

"Hey, I tell you what is. Big city, hmm? Live, work, huh? But not city only. Only peoples. Peoples is peoples. No is buildings. Is tomatoes, huh? Is peoples, is dancing, is music, is potatoes. So, peoples is peoples. Okay?"
With his dream project THE DARK CRYSTAL taking so much of his time and energy, Jim Henson was content to slim down his role on the next Muppet project and allow his right hand man Frank Oz to take the helm in his first solo directing feature.
THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN would be the last Muppet film that Henson would be involved with before his untimely passing a few years later, but the film's legacy would have a lasting impact on his company, especially in the form of the Muppet Babies, who'd get their own Saturday morning cartoon, inspired by a sequence from the film.
And let's not forget the media circus that surrounded the wedding of the century!
In this episode, we give all the details on how the film came to be, from its concept, multiple script changes, release and beyond!
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
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Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

"Another world, another time, in the age of wonder. A thousand years ago, this land was green and good - until the Crystal cracked."
After the completion of THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, Jim Henson focused on a project that had been in the works for years — its earliest seeds were planted well before even The Muppet Show had begun production — an ambitious fantasy film made in collaboration with renowned illustrator Brian Froud.
That film, THE DARK CRYSTAL, would be Jim's most ambitious project to date. It's a film that pushed the limits of what puppetry was capable of, essentially creating an entirely new artform that would change the landscape of movie special effects for years to come.
But it was also a great artistic and financial risk for Henson. When it was released, audiences didn't quite know what to think of it, but the film has become to be considered a bonafide classic in the decades since. In this episode, we'll detail the years long process to bring THE DARK CRYSTAL to the screen.
D&D LIVE FOR CHARITY, Hosted by Mr. Todd A. DavisComedians, Drag Performers, and Pro Wrestlers play Dungeons & Dragons in front of a LIVE audience to benefit The Julie Valentine Center!🎟Purchase Tickets🎟
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
 

"There'll be mystery and catastrophe!But it's all in fun, you paid the money - wait and see!Hey! A movie! Starring everybody! And me!"
After the success of THE MUPPET MOVIE, Jim Henson had hoped to get funding for a fantasy film that had become a sort of dream project of his. But that film — which would not feature the beloved and recognizable Muppets — would be a sizeable risk, so his producer convinced him to strike while the iron was hot and make a sequel to THE MUPPET MOVIE before embarking on his ambitious fantasy project.This time around, Jim Henson himself would be in the director's chair, creating a new adventure for the Muppet gang that would be a send-up of classic Hollywood films.
In this episode of Jim Henson: Heart Felt, we'll detail the full story of how THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER was made, from its early script woes, through its envelope-pushing puppetry innovations, and its eventual release and reception, where it was met with high expecations.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

“Life's like a movie. Write your own ending. Keep believing. Keep pretending.”
With The Muppet Show, Jim Henson had reached the goal that he’d set for himself many years before: He’d managed to get his beloved Muppets their own weekly television series.
Not only that, but it was an enormous success, quickly becoming one of the most watched television shows in the entire world. The Muppets were as big as they’d ever been. The next step seemed logical:
The Muppets were going to Hollywood.
Getting them there wouldn’t be as straight-forward as you might think. After all, what Jim was proposing to do — bringing the Muppets out of their highly-controlled sutdio environment and into the real world — was unprecedented, and there was a question as to whether it’d work at all.
In the latest episode of Jim Henson: Heart Felt, we’re telling the complete story of just how Henson pulled it off, and how he created one of the most beloved films of the 1970s, one that still resonated with audiences nearly half a century later.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

Happy TWIN PEAKS Day everyone! 
To celebrate the day that FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper first entered the town of Twin Peaks, we wanted to offer our listeners a Free Preview of the first members-only episode of our Twin Peaks watch-along podcast FIRE SHOCK WITH ME!
We did a deep dive into the creation of the TWIN PEAKS pilot episode as part of our series David Lynch: Absurd Encounters a while back (you can listen to that episode here). On that episode, we teased a bonus series where we'd watch and discuss Twin Peaks in its entirety, and FIRE SHOCK WITH ME is the follow-through on that promise!
The entire first season of FIRE SHOCK WITH ME is available exclusively to members of CinemaShock+ with our looks at TWIN PEAKS: Season 2 and TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN coming later this year.
For now, enjoy the entire first episode of FIRE SHOCK WITH ME for free for a limited time, and head to cinemashock.net/plus to become a member of CinemaShock+ so that you can enjoy the rest of this series, as well as a host of other members-only benefits, including extended episodes, video content, and merch discounts!

By the mid-1970s, Jim Henson and the Muppets were as big as they'd ever been. They'd helped turn Sesame Street into a household name and continued to be a hot commodity on the variety show circuit.
But Jim had yet to do the one thing he'd been trying to accomplish since the early 1960s: Create a prime time television show starring the Muppets, and one that wasn't solely aimed at a preschool audience.
He made several attempts along the way, filming several pilots with varying degrees of sucess, and even had a stint alongside the Not Ready For Prime Time Players on the first season of Saturday Night Live, but it would take a while before he was able to convince anyone to give The Muppets a shot at their own show.
That all changed in 1976, with a little help from Julie Andrews (yep, that Julie Andrews) and a British Lord. With the debut of The Muppet Show, Jim and his gang of puppeteers would become one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons on the planet.
This is the story of how they got there.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | lolodrummer | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

“As children, we all live in a world of imagination, of fantasy, and for some of us that world of make-believe continues into adulthood.”
Despite spending years fighting against the notion that puppets were nothing more than “children’s entertainment,” Jim Henson found his greatest success thus far working on a television show aimed at toddlers: the groundbreaking educational series SESAME STREET.
But before he got there, Jim went on a years long detour into the world of experimental filmmaking, work that would ultimatley influence many of the inserts that he’d film for SESAME STREET.
In this episode, we’ll discuss Henson’s work on short films such as TIME PIECE and experimental television programs like YOUTH ‘68 and THE CUBE — not to mention his brief flirtation with opening a psychedlic nightclub and his time spent onstage in Las Vegas — before taking a deep dive into his involvement with SESAME STREET, a program that would change television, and the Muppets, forever.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | lolodrummer | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net