These aren’t the Muppets you were looking for – but these puppets sure are a fun alternative!

My generation grew up watching Neil Patrick Harris as Doogie Howser and Jim Henson’s Muppets on television.  Things are a little different now with Harris’s breakout role being the womanizer Barney Stinson on the CBS comedy “How I Met Your Mother” and the Jim Henson Company has a division called “Henson Alternative” that provides puppet productions for “adult” entertainment. This transition has led  us now to Neil Patrick Harris and Henson Alternative teaming up with the Nerdist youtube channel to create a new edgy puppet show that you definitely shouldn’t watch with your kids – but which is a hilarious time out for us grownups.

NEIL’s PUPPET DREAMS takes you into the mind of Neil Patrick Harris when he falls asleep.  In the show, his “dreams” all take place in a puppet world, animated by the Jim Henson Company, and involve raunchy humor, sex jokes, and slapstick antics.  New episodes are posted on Tuesdays by the Nerdist Channel that can be viewed via youtube:

In 2004, the Jim Henson Company sold the rights to the Muppets to the Walt Disney Company, who now own all Muppet-related trademarks including the word “Muppet.”  Henson has been working to continue its puppetry and animation history by developing new brands to entertain both children and adults.  For younger audiences they have reinvigorated Fraggle Rock and created new shows such as Dinosaur Train, Sid the Science Kid, Pajaminals, Unstable Fables, and TheDoozers.  They’ve also expanded with “Henson Alternative” to utilize puppetry to provide mature comedy content to audiences who grew up watching Sesame Street.  They have produced Puppet Up! – Uncensored a live improv show which has also been featured on a television special and web-series on TBS.com.  During the 2012 elections, Henson Alternative was the puppet master behind the third-party presidential candidacy of Marvin E. Quasniki ( which I wrote about in an earlier post ) the Turquoise farmer from Tonopah, Nevada.

Now, Henson Alternatives has teamed up with Neil Patrick Harris, who displays his Harold & Kumar side in this production, and The Nerdist (which features all things involving geeky entertainment through their website Nerdist.com, a premium YouTube channel (youtube.com/nerdist), the Nerdist News daily e-newsletters, 1.7 million Twitter fans and a podcast network which is also produced as a TV show on BBC America) for this wacky carnival side show of a web-series called NEIL’S PUPPET DREAMS.  Check out this episode which features Neil falling asleep at a diner and how the puppets take over the joint in his dreams:

If you enjoy old-school Eddie Murphy standup and Three Stooges comedy skits than you’ll probably get a chuckle from this new puppet-based web show.  I just wouldn’t watch it with the kids around!

Daddy Vader … Part Deux

Last Father’s Day, I reviewed cartoonist Jeffrey Brown’s fun and entertaining book “Darth Vader & Son” that portrays Darth Vader as a doting daddy to his son Luke Skywalker.  I’m a big fan of Gary Larson’s “FAR SIDE” comics and Brown’s work reminds me of those sketches but set in the Star Wars universe with a touch of inspiration from Norman Rockwell added to the mix. CLICK HERE to read my previous post on DARTH VADER & SON. 

The success of “Darth Vader & Son” has led to a sequel … “Darth Vader’s Little Princess” that will be out in time for Father’s Day 2013.  This book takes a comedic look at being the dad of a daughter through cartoons featuring the Dark Lord of the Sith interacting with Star Wars’ Princess Leia.

Brown’s publisher, Chronicle Books, describes “Darth Vader’s Little Princess” as:

irresistibly funny follow-up to the breakout bestseller Darth Vader and Son, Vader—Sith Lord and leader of the Galactic Empire—now faces the trials, joys, and mood swings of raising his daughter Leia as she grows from a sweet little girl into a rebellious teenager. Smart and funny illustrations by artist Jeffrey Brown give classic Star Wars moments a twist by bringing these iconic family relations together under one roof. From tea parties to teaching Leia how to fly a TIE fighter, regulating the time she spends talking with friends via R2-D2's hologram, and making sure Leia doesn't leave the house wearing only the a skirted metal bikini, Vader's parenting skills are put hilariously to the test.

“Darth Vader’s Little Princess” will be out May 1, 2013 but you can purchase advance orders now at a discounted price through Amazon.com before the books hit retailers’ shelves.  I give “Darth Vader & Son” an enthusiastic thumbs up and am really looking forward to this sequel…hint hint this would be a great father’s day present for the Geek Daddy!

If you are still gift wrapping these last few days before Christmas, Chronicle Books has provided some amusing gift tags that will be sure to thrill the Star Wars fans in your life.  Click on the image below or click here to download.

Book Review: MOUSE GUARD

Dave Peterson was courteous to recently sit down with me for an interview about his highly successful comic book series, MOUSE GUARD, which has won two Eisner Awards for the categories of "Best Publication for Kids" & "Best Graphic Album".  MOUSE GUARD  is somewhat like "The Secret of NIHM" and "The Rescuers" movies that I enjoyed as a child, but as a print format set in medieval times where intelligent mice with the characteristics of humans struggle to survive against the challenges of predators and harsh conditions.  They really are fun books to read and enjoy with your kids! Dave Peterson who is both the writer and illustrator provides us with great art work along with stories that are written so they are interesting to entertain both young audiences and their parents so that you can enjoy these adventures together with your children.

You don't need to be a comic book fan to enjoy these books and they are easy to spot at your local book or comic store because they stand out on the shelves with a unique design.  Archaia Studios Press publishes the books in a unique square 8 x 8 format versus the standard 6 1/2 x 10 comic book format.  If you are looking to promote an interest in art and share some adventurous good times with your kids, I highly encourage you to check out the MOUSE GUARD comics or graphic novels.

For more information about MOUSE GUARD, visit www.mouseguard.net or follow Dave Peterson on twitter @mouseguard