Muppet Fan Podcasts with ToughPigs.com

Introducing TOUGHPIGS AT 20, a brand new podcast miniseries celebrating the 20th anniversary of the premiere Muppet fan site ToughPigs.com.  In this series, we'll be hosting interviews with all the writers and artists who helped make ToughPigs what it is today. Episode #1 features an extended interview with ToughPigs founder Danny Horn. We're covering the website's humble beginnings as Muppet...

For the past 10 weeks you've listened to Jarrod and Joe surprise each other with guests, performing interviews with literally zero preparation.  It's been chaotic, insightful, terrifying and extremely fun. This week our hosts are together again to wrap up the first season and give you some of the inside goss.  How do we schedule these things?  How do we deal with timezones?  Wh...

This week Joe surprises Jarrod with Bill and Gene Barretta, aka The Barretta Brothers!  Bill is of course known as one of the core Muppet performers for the past 25 years with characters like Pepe, Rowlf and the Swedish Chef, and his brother Gene is an illustrator who has worked for Sesame Street, as well as doing the storyboards for Muppets From Space. Last year the brothers began a YouTube...

This week Jarrod surprises Joe with the personification of delight herself, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph! Leslie has worked on a myriad of Muppet/Henson projects over the years, like Muppets Tonight , Wubbulous World of Doctor Suess , and Animal Jam , and has played Abby Cadabby on Sesame Street since 2006! Aside from that, Leslie has worked on shows like The Simpsons and Nature Cat, and (when she can)...

This week Joe surprises Jarrod with some guy named Eric Jacobson.  If, like Jarrod, you'd never heard of him, he plays small time characters like Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, Bert, Grover and recently took over Oscar the Grouch from the late Caroll Spinney. Eric has been one of the core Muppet performers for almost 20 years, and has worked on every Muppet production in that tim...

On 'To Introduce Our Guest Star' this week we welcome writer and director Nick Stoller!  Alongside Jason Segel, Nick wrote the 2011 movie 'The Muppets', as well as it's sequel 'Muppets Most Wanted' with director James Bobin. Nick has had a huge career in comedy, directing 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall', 'Get Him To The Greek' and the 'Neighbors' films, as well as writing more family friendly stu...

This week on 'To Introduce Our Guest Star', Joe surprises Jarrod with longtime Muppet performer and star of Broadway's Avenue Q, Jen Barnhart!  Jen has had a huge career on shows like It's A Big Big World, The Book of Pooh and, of course, Sesame Street, where she took over the role of Zoe after Fran Brill's retirement, as well as playing new human Charli's mom! Listen as we discuss Snuffy's m...

On 'To Introduce Our Guest Star' this week Jarrod surprises Joe with the one and only Dave Goelz!  Known for his many decades playing characters like Gonzo and Bunsen Honeydew, Dave has worked on every major Muppet production (even a couple of days on Sesame Street) and continues to this day. Listen as we discuss the perks of anonymity, the best Gonzo costumes, dinner with Peter Sellers, the...

On 'To Introduce Our Guest Star' this week Joe surprises Jarrod with writer and director Kirk Thatcher!  For over 30 years Kirk has worked on some of the world's favorite Muppet stuff, like Muppet Treasure Island , Dinosaurs , Bohemian Rhapsody and the live Hollywood Bowl and O2 shows. Listen as we discuss a fan funded Muppet movie, what Walter might do with a cake, Kirk's approach to directi...

On this week’s episode of To Introduce Our Guest Star, Jarrod surprises Joe with Grammy and Academy Award winner Paul Williams! Among many things in his career, Paul famously wrote the songs from The Muppet Movie with Kenny Ascher, and returned to write the songs for Muppet Christmas Carol and Letters To Santa . Listen as we discuss the meaning behind Can You Picture That, the definiton of an ‘I A...

On this week's episode Joe surprises Jarrod with Muppet performer Stacey Gordon, who has been playing Julia on Sesame Street since Season 47.  Julia's debut made headlines around the world as she was the first Muppet with autism, something Stacey is very familiar with. Listen as we discuss Julia's impact on the community, the audition process getting on the show, and a lot more talk of Chip &...

We're excited to a launch a brand new podcast, 'To Introduce Our Guest Star' for ToughPigs.com! Over the coming weeks, Jarrod and Joe will take it in turns to surprise each other with guests from the world of The Muppets, Sesame Street and The Jim Henson Company. In our first episode we're joined by Emilio Delgado, famous for his role as Luis on Sesame Street for over 40 years.  We discuss th...

It's our wrap-up episode! We're talking about the presentation pilot that preceded this show, and summarizing our feelings on the series as a whole. With both of your hosts, Joe and Ryan! PLUS: Muppets and sex! Why did they recast Fozzie's girlfriend? Is it funny that Piggy doesn't recognize Gonzo? The agony of cancellation! And long-lost Muppet TV pilots that never got off the ground! Hosted by J...

We're talking about Episode 16, "Because... Love," in which Kermit & Miss Piggy both ponder reuniting. With TWO special guests: Tough Pigs' own Dave Hulteen and Matt Wilkie, who witnessed the taping of this episode! PLUS: Are we Team Kermit or Team Piggy? How the heck does Kermit flip a coin?! What should the Muppets have for lunch? The greatness of Bobby Benson's babies! How the heck does Ker...

We're talking about Episode 15, "Generally Inhospitable," in which Miss Piggy breaks her ankle and the Muppets become kidnappers. With special guest Jarrod Fairclough from MuppetMindset.com ! PLUS: Is Miss Piggy more polite than Beyonce? The difference between funny & disturbing Muppet injuries! What's up with Deadly's teeth? Are Sweetums & Robin friends? Is Pache a bad character, or a wel...

We're talking about Episode 14, "Little Green Lie," in which Kermit tells Robin a falsehood and Gonzo tries to balance romance and friendship. With very special guest Brian Jay Jones, author of Jim Henson: The Biography ! PLUS: The genius of Big Mean Carl! Is laser tag fun? Bobo gets fitted for a suit! How tacky is the ironic pillow fight? And should the Swedish Chef be subtitled? Hosted by Ryan R...

We're talking about Episode 13, "Got Silk," in which Miss Piggy tries to make new friends and Uncle Deadly just wants to be appreciated. With EXTREMELY special guest Matt Vogel, Muppet performer and one of the stars of this series! PLUS: Technical challenges! Matt Vogel is the guy who throws things! Miss Piggy's appendix! And Uncle Deadly as Alicia Silverstone! Hosted by Joe Hennes Guest Matt Voge...

We're talking about Episode 12, "A Tail of Two Pigges," in which Miss Piggy has a wardrobe malfunction and Gonzo looks for a new place to live. With very special guest Erik Adams, managing editor of The AV Club! PLUS: How long ago did Zootopia come out? Gratuitous pop culture references! Pig puppets with faces that move! And we love it when Muppets eat things! Hosted by Ryan Roe Guest Erik Adams E...

We're not talking about an episode of The Muppets this week. We're checking in with each other (and you!) to see how we're liking our series rewatch before we take a brief hiatus. We'll be back soon with the rest of the season! Hosted by Joe Hennes and Ryan Roe Edited by Joe Hennes Theme Music by Staci Rosen Logo by Joe Hennes

We're talking about Episode 11, "Swine Song," in which Up Late gets retooled and Kermit & Denise break up. With EXTREMELY special guest Julianne Buescher ! She's a Muppet performer who worked on this show! She plays Denise in this episode!  PLUS: The origins of Denise! Yolanda's podcast! The chaos of creative changes! Being a puppeteer is hard! And why aren't there more female Muppets? Yo...

We're talking about Episode 10, "Single All the Way," in which Kermit struggles to make the big Christmas show happen and Yolanda cheats at Secret Santa. With special guest Matthew Soberman of ToughPigs.com! PLUS: Fozzie in an existential crisis! Eric Jacobson talks to himself! Getting rewarded for the wrong reasons! The Muppets' odd Christmas album! Why aren't there Muppet elves in this episode?...

We're talking about Episode 9, "Going, Going, Gonzo," in which Gonzo rediscovers his daredevil side, Piggy endorses bottled water, and Scooter almost gets his ear pierced. With special guest Julia Gaskill of ToughPigs.com! PLUS: Piggy Water vs. Trump Steaks! Joseph Gordon-Levitt's numerous Muppet credits! Why is Gonzo nervous about doing a stunt? Scooter's fight-or-flight instinct kicks in! And to...

We're talking about Episode 8, "Too Hot to Handler," in which Scooter has a thing for Chelsea Handler and Kermit has a problem with Fozzie's girlfriend. With special guest Louie Pearlman, co-host of the podcasts Kick the Jukebox and XOXO Riverdale ! PLUS: Why doesn't Up Late feel more like a real talk show? Does Scooter have lips? How the heck does Rizzo do a spit take? Is cheating at trivia an un...

We're talking about Episode 7, "Pig's in a Blackout," in which Kermit goes to a spa to relax and Scooter almost destroys the show. With special guest Alaina Breeden! PLUS: Is Bobo the ideal work husband? Does it make sense for Sam to have a crush on Janice? Should Rowlf have been Piggy's sidekick? Do all moms like Pentatonix? And why doesn't Jason Bateman know the names of his favorite Muppets? Ho...

We're talking about Episode 6, "The Ex-Factor," in which Kermit has to buy Denise a birthday present and the band takes Kristen Chenoweth to the desert. With special guest Scott Hanson, co-founder of Muppet Wiki ! PLUS: Is Denise interesting? How articulate should Animal be? How old is Floyd? Lots of product placement! Ryan sends Pepe an e-mail! And the comedic value of the "whoopsie bin!" ALSO: R...