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Show Assocated Press News Feature Photo Kennit, foreground, and Miss Piggy (background) stop for a moment to be photographed icith their colleague, Jim Henson, who collects the awards while Kermit bows. and company take the behind-the-scen- es on-sta- l. 4 11 111 I by Jerry Buck Associated Press Writer HOLLYWOOD Kermit complains that when the Emmy was awarded 648-234- STOCKMEN'S MOTOR HOTEL 5 Nevada & CASINO-Elk- o, r U). 11 S For Fun Package and Reservations call toll free Enjoy Stockmens $26 Fun Package (per couple) any night of the week! to The Muppets" for best television variety series, it went to the wrong, if youll pardon the expression, people. "They gave it to the people, he says, turning a slightly darker shade of green. There we were in our cardboard boxes and these guys in tux go up and get the Emmys. We do all the work and they get the awards. KERMIT MAY BE complaining too much The Emmy would probably sink his lily pad. Besides, there are plenty of Kermit dolls, but have you ever seen a Jim Henson doll? Henson is the man who gave life to Kermit 23 years ago, and at the moment he has his right arm inside the big green frog working his mouth. Puppet or not, Kermit appears so alive you find yourself talking to him. An illusion that probably accounts for the success of The Muppets, whose name combines marionette and puppet. show, The syndicated Muppets which also showcases major stars, is seen each week in 115 countries by an estimated 235 million people. Its taped in England in association with ITC Entertainment Inc but all the Muppets million were in Hollywood for an movie telling how they got together. Or at least Kermits version. OTHER MUPPET characters are seen daily on Sesame Street," where Big Bird has been a fixture for 10 years. A new family of characters was created for the early days of NBCs Saturday Night Live. Henson says he has no ready reason for the Muppets appeal. He is a tall, thin man and his long face is partly hidden by a thick brown beard that gives him a Robinson Crusoe look. I think people just relate to the puppet characters," he says. You can laugh with them. Theres no real barrier after you get past the thing of it being all right for an adult to watch a puppet show. It's the same thing as an animated cartoon, which is a representation of a person or an animal. Were the same thing in three dimensions. 1 think that gives it an added warmth. Its the same thing as theater, but were just more of an abstraction. WORKING ON television with pup pets means working within the limita tions of the art. You can only show so much of the puppet before you get to the arm of the puppeteer. The puppet has only about five per cent of the facial expression of a human The limitation creates the challenge, says Henson. "The fun comes from finding the audience into thinking these are real characters." Kermit, the oldest of the Muppets, remains as boyish as ever. His patience is sorely tried by the antics of the others, yet he is witty and charming Miss Piggy is a coquettish blonde with a See Page T19, Column I BEFORE THE PRICE INCREASES 24x24 GARAGE STEEL SIDEWALLS & ROOF. SECTIONAL STEEL OVERHEAD DOOR WALK-IDOOR, ALUMINUM SIDING, WINDOW WITH SCREEN 24x36' 3,495 ERECTED J,lr! GARAGE & WORKSHOP only 2-C- 24x60x10 OTHER SERVICES MACHINE SHOP STORAGE AVAILABLE: COMBINATION 12x9 SLIDE DOOR WALK-IDOOR. TWO 3x6 FT. WINDOWS SPECIAL PRICE HAY COVERS, MS 30x40x10 30x60x12 40x60x12 PLANNING BONDING ESTIMATING . TOTAL ERECTION SIGHT PREPARATION RESIDENTIAL A COMMERCIAL ANY SIZE 300 SQ. FT. TO 30,000 SQ. 4,495 SHOPBUILDING SPECIALS LIMITED TIME ONLY CALL FOR PRICE FT. CANOPYS, IMPLEMENT BUILDERS NOW AVAILABLE AT VERY AFFORDABLE PRICES WE WILL BUILD ANYWHERE PERFORMANCE BUILDERS 7127 South 400 West OUT OF TOWNERS CALL COLLECT 10 255-503- 2 or 255-571- 1 |