Could The Muppets Have Called Universal Home? (Ep. 38)

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into the fascinating history of The Muppets and their surprising connection to Universal Studios. Plus, they cover the latest Universal news and updates. Highlights include: The Muppets & Universal: How The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal were distributed by Universal, raising the question—did Universal almost have the theme park rights to the Muppets? Jim Henson’s Battle for Prime Time: How Henson pitched The Muppet Show to major networks before finding unexpected success overseas. Saturday Night Live’s Muppet Experiment: The surprising (and disastrous) attempt to integrate Muppets into early SNL sketches. FanFest at Universal Hollywood: Jim prepares for his upcoming trip to the new fan event, featuring Back to the Future and One Piece meet & greets. Halloween Horror Nights 2024: Universal announces event dates for both Hollywood and Orlando—will M3GAN return for another creepy flash mob? Lou Wasserman Statue Returns: The legendary Universal executive’s statue is back—Jim shares why Wasserman was a key figure in shaping Universal Studios. This episode blends theme park history, pop culture deep dives, and the latest Universal Studios news. If you're a fan of The Muppets, Universal Studios, or theme park what-ifs, this one’s for you! Support Our Sponsor: Be Our Guest Vacations Planning your next Universal vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress. Book Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices