puppets

Pick of the Day: Puppet Up! (in LA) 7/14-7/16 & 7/21-7/23

July 11, 2023

henson alternative, henson studios, los angeles comedy, puppet up, puppets

Puppet Up! is finally back. The Henson Alternative is assembling once again to bring you some of the best puppetry getting into the sort of chaos and mischief that isn’t really for kids. Pretty much every year, lucky LA folks will have a chance to not only step foot on the legendary Henson Recording Studios lot, specifically on the Charlie Chaplin Soundstage, immersed in Hollywood history, but also get to see many of the very best puppeteers/comedy folks (including Colleen Smith, Donna Kimball, Drew Massey, Geneviève Flati, Grant Baciocco, Raymond Carr, Ted Michaels, and music from Dan Ring) cut loose and go blue.

This 2023 edition of Puppet Up! will run from on the weekends for the next two weeks on Jul. 14th-16th & Jul. 21st-23rd with early and late shows on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at $75 and you best go get them here right now.

Pick of the Day: Bob Baker Day (in LA) 4/30

April 10, 2023

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bob baker theater, family friendly, free show, los angeles, los angeles comedy, puppets

If you’re in LA, you can clearly see we’re to our regularly scheduled programming of sunshine. So, with that in mind, you ought to look forward to one of the few family friendly things that we shout out here at TCB, the legendary Bob Baker Theater‘s Bob Baker Day, done annually at the gorgeous LA State Historic Park.

Every year, it’s an outdoor carnival filled with games, music, and, of course, puppets/marionettes. There’s always a very special line-up of very special guests and you’ll be thrilled to know that is still very much free to attend. Bob Baker Day runs from 10AM-5PM and is slated for Sun. Apr. 30th at, again, LA State Historic Park (located right next to Chinatown, just North of DTLA).

Get more details and updates at bobbakerday.com.

Drennon Davis’ Inside Voices Shows What Happens When Quarantining with Puppets

February 26, 2021

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cory loykasek, drennon davis, puppets

Whatever your situation in quarantine has been, it undoubtedly has been a challenge. The isolation we have all felt for nearly a year has drove up us the wall or is currently driving us up the wall. Even if you’re with a long time partner, odds are that you’ve never spent this much time with them and had your relationship with them tested like this ever before.

Now, imagine if you’re just looking to puppets in all this time to find comfort and community like comedian/musician extraordinaire Drennon Davis. At this point, it might be more than just a nice escape from reality as you can clear see in Drennon’s new series Inside Voices.

Please enjoy its very first episode here.

Bob Baker Day Is Going Virtual for 2021, But Will Explore Los Angeles With Its Marionettes

February 18, 2021

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bob baker day, bob baker marionette theater, metro arts, puppets

One of LA’s best treasures, The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, takes one day, Bob Baker Day, out of the year to really pull out all the stops and highlight why they are such the aforementioned local jewel.

Of course, they still can’t do their normal all day festival that would take place in person that is effectively like an entire carnival for the theater featuring puppet shows, live music, workshops, etc. Instead, while the pandemic has most of us stuck at home, they’re doing something different, but equally charming and also cleverly innovative.

The Bob Baker Marionette Theater will be putting on, in collaboration with Metro Arts, a virtual tour of Los Angeles starting at LA’s famed Union Station. This Bob Baker Day virtual LA tour will show off the city as well as feature plenty of the marionettes and puppets that the theater is famed for. Get a sneak peek of what’s in store with this featurette here.

Look for this exclusive Bob Baker Day to start on Sat. Feb. 27th and then be available to virtually watch/engage/play with for 7 days.

Robert Smigel Is EP’ing An Election Themed Puppet Special “Let’s Be Real” for Fox

September 15, 2020

News

2020 election, biden, election special, let's be real, puppets, robert smigel, trump

Robert Smigel, the mind (and hand) behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the legendary insult comic dog hand puppet, is going back to puppets for a special satirical election special over at Fox. Smigel is attached as EP for Let’s Be Real, which will seemingly feature Trump and Biden puppets as to slyly suggest their nature as puppets.

As far as we know, there won’t be any Triumph the Insult Comic Dog like there was in 2016 when Smigel used his hand and a copious amount of miniature cigars to follow the campaign trail for Clinton and Trump as well as the DNC and RNC for Triump’s Election Watch Special on Hulu. Thus far, with this teaser, Let’s Be Real seems to be a little reminiscent of No, You Shut Up! on Fusion that featured an all puppet panel that Paul F. Tompkins, in real human form, had to attempt to wrangle as they argued on either side of the political divide a few years ago.

Having all puppets is undoubtedly a safer route than going to an idiotic Trump rally where Trump encourages attendees to enjoy the event without any sort of face covering, but that probably limits the amount of man on the street bits that Smigel has done so expertly over decades with Triumph.

The general election is not too far away, whether you like that or not, and the premiere of this special is also not too far away either. Let’s Be Real will premiere on network television on Fox on Oct. 1st at 9PM ET/PT.

Pick of the Day: Puppet Up! (in LA) 7/14-7/16 & 7/21-7/23

Pick of the Day: Bob Baker Day (in LA) 4/30

Drennon Davis’ Inside Voices Shows What Happens When Quarantining with Puppets

Bob Baker Day Is Going Virtual for 2021, But Will Explore Los Angeles With Its Marionettes

Robert Smigel Is EP’ing An Election Themed Puppet Special “Let’s Be Real” for Fox

Disney+ Will Have a Talk Show Hosted by a Blue Alien Puppet “Earth to Ned” from Jim Henson Co.

Win Tickets to See Jonah Ray, Kate Berlant, Nina Conti at Next Week’s Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen

Melissa McCarthy to Star in Human and Puppets Murder Mystery Comedy “The Happytime Murders”

Fusion Put “No, You Shut Up! Election Special Report #2″ on YouTube

Season 3 of “No, You Shut Up with Paul F. Tompkins” Is Under Way at Fusion

There Are Plenty of No, You Shut Up with Paul F. Tompkins Clips on YouTube Now

Paul F. Tompkins Having More Fun Debating with Puppets on No, You Shut Up

Fusion Having ‘No, You Shut Up! with Paul F. Tompkins’ Cover State of The Union Address

So, Paul F. Tompkins Will Be Hosting a Political Panel Discussion Show with Puppets Premiering Tonight on Fusion

Tonight, We Find Out What This Puppet/Paul F. Tompkins Panel Show is All About on Fusion