TV Academy, U.S. Postal Service Each Unveil Henson Honors

Sculpture Committee chair Phil Wayne, Hall of Fame sculptor Dick Stiles, Lisa Henson, Co-CEO of the Jim Henson Co. and Television Academy chair Dick Askin unveil the 1200-pound sculpture commemorating Jim Henson's induction into the academy's Hall of Fame.

North Hollywood, CA – Jim Henson, the creator behind television's most memorable puppets including "The Muppets," "The Fraggles" and the residents of Sesame Street, was honored today at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with the unveiling of a Hall of Fame wall sculpture and commemorative "Jim Henson: The Man Behind the Muppets" postal stamp series.

Three-time Emmy winner Henson, who was inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame in 1987, is now immortalized on the academy's Hall of Fame Plaza in a bronze wall sculpture. The piece stands more than seven feet high, spans six feet wide and weighs 1200 pounds.

The Plaza consists of a number representations of inductees—bronze sculptures, bas-reliefs and wall sculptures—such as television icons Johnny Carson and Lucille Ball. The centerpiece of the Plaza is 27-foot, 1,750 pound replica of the Emmy® Award statue, which rests on a triple tiered water fountain.

Television Academy chairman Dick Askin, Hall of Fame sculptor Dick Stiles, Sculpture Committee chair Phil Wayne and Henson's daughter Lisa Henson, Co-CEO of the Jim Henson Company, all took part in today's sculpture dedication ceremony.

Heather Henson, Brian and Lisa Henson, Muppets Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, Anita Bizzotto, and Dick Askin dedicate the "Jim Henson: The Man Behind the Muppets" stamp series.

Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog

Among ceremony guests were the 5th grade class of North Hollywood's Lankershim Elementary School, who began today's program by leading the Goldenson Theater audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Later this morning, academy guests moved from Hall of Fame Plaza into Leonard H. Goldenson Theater where the United States Postal Service (USPS) held the first-day-of-issue ceremony for the "Jim Henson: The Man Behind the Muppets" commemorative stamp series.

Noting that the strong legacy of family fun Jim Henson created still resonates around the globe, Anita Bizzotto, USPS chief marketing officer and executive vice president, dedicated this collector series. Bizzotto said they will remind us of "the man who taught us to not take human flaws so seriously."

Askin joined Bizzotto in dedicating the stamps, along with Henson's children Lisa and Brian (each a Co-CEO of Henson Co.), Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Today's event coincides with Kermit's 50th anniversary.

Ever-engaging Kermit emceed the event, gushing over today's honors. He thanked the postal service "on behalf of sticky, long-tongued people like (himself) for inventing self-adhesive stamps—saves the tongue."

Lisa Henson finds this "fun and irreverent" stamp series fitting for her father's sense of humor, a "perfect reflection of his inspired silliness and creativity." Her brother Brian welcomed the stamps as a "tribute to (Jim's) millions of fans who continue to support his work and believe in his vision.

The "Jim Henson: The Man Behind the Muppets" commemorative stamp collection includes likenesses of: Jim Henson; Kermit the Frog; Sam the Eagle; Statler and Waldorf; Animal; Rowlf the Dog; Fozzie Bear; Miss Piggy; The Swedish Chef; Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker; and the Great Gonzo and Camilla the Chicken. This 11-stamp sheet of 37-cent First-Class stamps is available in North Hollywood, CA, today and nationwide beginning tomorrow.