Henson & Oz

A tribute to one of the great comedy teams of the 20th century
by Ken Cancelosi and Matt Zoller Seitz  posted July 15, 2011
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This video essay, originally posted on Moving Image Source on July 15, 2011, is republished on the occasion of the publication of Jim Henson: The Biography (2013, Ballantine Books) and Museum of the Moving Image's program on October 1, with author Brian Jay Jones, Fran Brill, Dwight Bowers, Bonnie Erickson, Karen Falk, Barbara Miller, and Craig Shemin in person.

Jim Henson and Frank Oz were puppeteers, writers, and filmmakers. They were also partners who boasted some of the finest comedic teamwork of the 20th century. They worked together for 27 years, from 1963 until Henson's untimely death in 1990, and their friendship and professional association spanned several TV shows (including Sesame Street and The Muppet Show) and a series of feature films. The title of this video essay sums up their excellence, and their significance: "Henson & Oz: Never Before, Never Again." — MZS 

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Jim Henson (center) and Frank Oz (right) with the Ernie and Bert Muppets
Photo Gallery: Henson & Oz

RELATED CALENDAR ENTRY

July 16, 2011–March 4, 2012 Jim Henson's Fantastic World

KEYWORDS

video essay  |  television  |  puppetry  |  Jim Henson  |  Frank Oz

THE AUTHORS

Ken Cancelosi is a writer and photographer living in Dallas, Texas. His photographs have hung all over the U.S. in a variety of venues, including The Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colorado, The Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, New York (Photowork 2008) and 500x Gallery in Dallas, Texas. He has collaborated on with Matt Zoller Seitz on a number of film projects, including several series of video essays.

More articles by Ken Cancelosi

Matt Zoller Seitz is a writer and filmmaker whose debut feature, the romantic comedy Home, is available through Netflix and Amazon. His writing on film and television has appeared in The New York Times, New York Press, and The Star Ledger, among other places. He is also the founder of The House Next Door, a movie and TV criticism website.

More articles by Matt Zoller Seitz
Author's Website: The House Next Door