My Two Cents: When The Walt Disney Company Owned Jim Henson Productions

[miketeevee01]

Hello Out There From Disney Land,

For my next series of Posts, my next series of Discussions will be called My Two Cents, where yours truly discusses events, in honor of both my 40th Birthday on December 9 AND the New Year 2025, a 365-Day Project where I discuss, as the title implies, My Two Cents of Disney Events, as well as Historical Events, along with occasional more Personal Events from my 40-year History.

As part of that, I'll be discussing how such events impacted yours truly as a person, how they affected me, and how they shaped me and made me grow.

For my first edition of "My Two Cents," I'd like to discuss When The Walt Disney Company Owned Jim Henson Productions; to start off with, in August 1989, Jim Henson decided to sell off his old Muppet characters to The Walt Disney Company (as would eventually happen in February 2004, more info on THAT later), BUT unfortunately, due to Jim's untimely death on May 16, 1990, 9 months later, the initial Disney-Muppet merger fell through.

HOWEVER, the following year, according to the New York Times, on December 18, 1991, via the Associated Press, just 1 week before Christmas, The Walt Disney Company made a narrower deal to purchase The Jim Henson Company (then officially Jim Henson Productions) outright for $150 million.

Not unlike when Bob and Harvey Weinstein initially ran Miramax under Disney ownership, Brian Henson, then age 30, likewise retained his role as Chairman and CEO of Jim Henson Productions under Disney Ownership.

By July 1992, Disney's purchase of Jim Henson Productions was finalized, and on December 11, 1992, Walt Disney Pictures co-released with Jim Henson Productions "The Muppet Christmas Carol" in theaters; soon afterwards, my own personal love affair with The Muppets began.

By 1993, I was purchasing left and right all things Muppets and "Fraggle Rock" and all things Jim Henson on VHS Tape under Disney ownership; unfortunately for me, shortly after the theatrical release of "Muppet Treasure Island," Disney sold Henson to German company EM.TV--a BIG mistake IMO.

After EM.TV went bankrupt, Jim's grown children--Brian included--bought back The Jim Henson Company in 2003, a full year before The Walt Disney Company bought back The Muppets (but not the full Henson Company) from Disney--a SECOND BIG mistake IMO--the year before Mike Eisner was ousted and replaced by Bob Iger, the current CEO, initially for 15 years before he was initially succeeded by Bob Chapek before Bob C's OWN ouster and later Bob Iger came BACK to Disney but is set to leave once again--for good--in 2026.

But it was the '90s, when Disney owned The Jim Henson Company--not just The Muppets, but "Fraggle Rock," "Dog City," "The Storyteller" and everything else The Jim Henson Company ever made up to that time--that IMO The Jim Henson Company peaked second only to when Jim himself was still alive and with us.

I frankly loved that era and believe that, second only to Walt himself, Mike Eisner did a wonderful job in running The Walt Disney Company because he KNEW how to run a company, having previously and successfully ran Paramount before running the ship at Disney after Walt's son-in-law, Ron Miller, was Ousted by the Company.

In any case, until next Discussion, that's My Two Cents, and remember, if you want somebody to be your friend, you've got to be a friend to them. Bye Bye, Everybody!!

 

[DodgerGirl]

In my eyes Disney should've kept ownership with the Jim Henson Company even when Jim Henson was no longer alive because I think when Jim Henson was ill one of his wishes was that Disney had to buy his company to help keep his memory alive. And that's why Disney had dreams of doing something with The Muppets and that's why in Disney's Hollywood Studios they had Muppetvision3D and based on that attraction alone Disney wanted to have more Muppets themed shows and a Muppets Land aimed at younger children 5-7 at Disney's Hollywood Studios but that dream never came true and I think it hurt Disney a lot. But I have to say the biggest upset that Disney had with The Jim Henson Company was losing the movie The Muppets Take Manhattan to TriStar Pictures and they should've gotten The Muppets Take Manhattan because after all Disney owned The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper but why not The Muppets Take Manhattan and you can see why the other movie Muppets From Space failed along with Muppet Treasure Island. But the other mistake that Disney did with The Muppets was create the sequel to The Muppets titled Muppets Most Wanted and The Muppets movie was never ever meant to have a sequel in the first place. But if you look at The Muppets now Disney has made huge money on TV shows Christmas specials and movies on NBC and ABC and now with Rocking Rollercoaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios being themed later this year to a Muppets themed ride based on the successful Muppets Mayhem series on Disney+ who knows what else could be in store for Disney with The Muppets?

 

[maltdizzy]

By July 1992, Disney's purchase of Jim Henson Productions was finalized,

I confused, because this never happened. The Jim Henson company entered into production and distribution deals with Disney and Buena Vista Home Video but they did not sell to Disney. That deal eventually expired and Columbia/Tristar took over as the distributor for Jim Henson Productions.

The Jim Henson company was family owned until they sold it to EM.TV,

 

[Nayan]

I confused, because this never happened. The Jim Henson company entered into production and distribution deals with Disney and Buena Vista Home Video but they did not sell to Disney. That deal eventually expired and Columbia/Tristar took over as the distributor for Jim Henson Productions.

The Jim Henson company was family owned until they sold it to EM.TV,

The timeline is wrong, but in 2004 Disney did buy the Muppets, along with Bear in the Big Blue House.

Interesting note: Although this deal was in the beginning stages in 1989, during the early 80s when Disney was in management trouble, the Jim Henson Company actually toyed with the idea of buying Disney.

 

[miketeevee01]

I confused, because this never happened. The Jim Henson company entered into production and distribution deals with Disney and Buena Vista Home Video but they did not sell to Disney. That deal eventually expired and Columbia/Tristar took over as the distributor for Jim Henson Productions.

The Jim Henson company was family owned until they sold it to EM.TV,

Excuse me, but I swear the NYT (New York Times) DID say that Disney DID purchase Jim Henson Productions for $150 million. Please, DO NOT toy with my memory. I remember very well thank you very much when Disney owned Jim Henson Productions in the '90s and Disney released a number of Henson titles on VHS thank you very much.

 

[miketeevee01]

After EM.TV purchased Henson, Columbia/Tristar DID distribute Henson titles on VHS and DVD, however.

 

[DodgerGirl]

I do remember Jim Henson created a show called Jim Henson's Secret Life Of Toys that was his final show he created before he passed in 1990 and you could tell that Disney Channel was trying to show all the Jim Henson shows as a way to honor Jim Henson's legacy. I also learned that The Jim Henson Company later launched a company called Henson Alternatives and the very first show that they created and produced was a game show called Late Night Liars for the Game Show Network and I never knew that The Jim Henson Company was into game shows. I also learned that they did commercials in the 70's for LaChoy and created their mascot Delbert The Dragon who appeared in the LaChoy commercials

 

[maltdizzy]

Excuse me, but I swear the NYT (New York Times) DID say that Disney DID purchase Jim Henson Productions for $150 million. Please, DO NOT toy with my memory. I remember very well thank you very much when Disney owned Jim Henson Productions in the '90s and Disney released a number of Henson titles on VHS thank you very much.

Disney offered, but the Henson family was not interested in selling (which was the one reason the original deal to buy the Muppets fell through). Disney did release a number of Henson productions, but that was all through distribution deals. This deal ended shortly after Muppet Treasure Island was released. The company's deal with Columbia/Tristar started in 1998, two years before the Henson family sold to EM.TV.

 

[miketeevee01]

And

Disney offered, but the Henson family was not interested in selling (which was the one reason the original deal to buy the Muppets fell through). Disney did release a number of Henson productions, but that was all through distribution deals. This deal ended shortly after Muppet Treasure Island was released. The company's deal with Columbia/Tristar started in 1998, two years before the Henson family sold to EM.TV.

Sure, and I'm Bill Cosby. Seriously, my friend, NO MORE trying to toy with my memory. NO MORE.

My apologies for sounding too harsh in advance here, BUT I KNOW what I read and remember what I remember thank you. Disney DID purchase Jim Henson Productions for $150 million in 1991, just before Christmas, according to The New York Times article published on December 18, 1991, just before Christmas.

It's unfortunate, however, that after "Muppet Treasure Island," Disney sold Henson to EM.TV; not unlike when Bob and Harvey Weinstein initially ran Miramax under Disney ownership, Brian Henson (who just turned 62 on November 30), retained his role as Chairman/CEO of Jim Henson Productions--a role he still has today--with Brian and his 3 sisters having bought back the company in 2003, after EM.TV went bankrupt, a full year before Disney bought back The Muppets.

 

[miketeevee01]

In fact, it was under Disney's ownership of Jim Henson Productions that Disney licensed to Sony Wonder episodes of the Saturday-Morning cartoon "Dog City," 2 episodes of which I have on VHS: "The Big Squeak" and "Boss Bruiser."

 

[maltdizzy]

And

Sure, and I'm Bill Cosby. Seriously, my friend, NO MORE trying to toy with my memory. NO MORE.

My apologies for sounding too harsh in advance here, BUT I KNOW what I read and remember what I remember thank you. Disney DID purchase Jim Henson Productions for $150 million in 1991, just before Christmas, according to The New York Times article published on December 18, 1991, just before Christmas.

It's unfortunate, however, that after "Muppet Treasure Island," Disney sold Henson to EM.TV; not unlike when Bob and Harvey Weinstein initially ran Miramax under Disney ownership, Brian Henson (who just turned 62 on November 30), retained his role as Chairman/CEO of Jim Henson Productions--a role he still has today--with Brian and his 3 sisters having bought back the company in 2003, after EM.TV went bankrupt, a full year before Disney bought back The Muppets.

there are no articles about Disney in the Dec. 18, 19991 edition of the NYT. We can research every edition online. I hate to cite Wikipedia, but it's pretty comprehensive on the companies history.

 

[miketeevee01]

Excuse me,

there are no articles about Disney in the Dec. 18, 19991 edition of the NYT. We can research every edition online. I hate to cite Wikipedia, but it's pretty comprehensive on the companies history.

Excuse me, but Wikipedia is WAY off base. Here's where I source when Disney bought Jim Henson Productions. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/19/...al-on-home-videos.html?searchResultPosition=8 The deal was first made on December 18, 1991 but was announced 24 hours later, my friend.

 

[miketeevee01]

Still though, it was a full year after Jim Henson died when Disney, after the initial Muppet merger fell apart, made a narrower deal per the link above to purchase Jim Henson Productions for $150 million.

 

[miketeevee01]

With Wikipedia, ANYONE can edit the info--AS can I.

 

[maltdizzy]

Still though, it was a full year after Jim Henson died when Disney, after the initial Muppet merger fell apart, made a narrower deal per the link above to purchase Jim Henson Productions for $150 million.

From your link...

"One year after the bitter breakdown of a proposed merger they had billed as "made in family entertainment heaven," the Walt Disney Company and Jim Henson Productions said today that they had struck a narrower deal for Disney to distribute 30 years worth of Henson's Muppet programming on home video.

The companies said the deal gave Disney distribution rights to the entire Henson library, including hundreds of hours of movies and television shows with Kermit, Miss Piggy and the other Muppets -- but not the "Sesame Street" characters -- for the next five to six years. Disney also agreed to finance the production of new home video shows from Henson Productions."

I'm not sure why I went this far down the rabbit hole. It's a minor detail that doesn't really affect the editorial nature of your post. Whoever owned them at the time doesn’t negate the quality of output.

 

[focusondisney]

NM.

 

[miketeevee01]

Per D23.com

“Jim decided to entrust the Muppets to The Walt Disney Company in 1989, although the acquisition was not actually completed until 2004. There were parallels between the two companies’ creative geniuses: Walt and Jim were small-town boys who took something considered simple and limited in appeal—animation and puppetry—and elevated them to art forms that charmed fans of all ages.”

https://d23.com/walt-disney-legend/jim-henson/

That's what D23 was saying about--The Muppets per the D23 link. The New York Times linked article via The Associated Press was saying that Disney had purchased Jim Henson Productions for $150 million in 1991, just before Christmas that year. They may have worded it differently back then by saying "distribution," but that's like saying Disney distributed "Home Improvement." The Studio still owned the show, just like they owned Jim Henson Productions at the time, just like they owned Miramax.