Jim HansonThe sense of humor is raising voices on the heels of his favorite series hitting Disney – but as we saw back then, it’s clear that his puppets weren’t always made just for kids.
Back in the day, Muppets producer Wilkins was working on a TV commercial for coffee (from the late 50s to the early 60s) in which he used early versions of a Java paddle puppet for a food brand. Millennials are just looking for them … and in awe.
Can’t stop laughing at this early Jim Hanson commercial where one guy just kills another for not liking Wilkins coffee pic.twitter.com/ZtfE06p0pR
– Will (2 toothpicks) February 20, 2021
twothickscoops
One person wrote, “Can’t stop laughing at this early Jim Hanson commercial, where one person just kills another for not choosing Wilkins coffee.” Yes, that’s the gist of this throwback spot – it’s basically a Hanson puppet who killed another puppet who refused to drink Wilkins.
Some pranks are harmless, like a puppet kicking a tree, they’re both relaxing – but you’ll see … you’ll see that some sketches become increasingly violent.
Some ads feature stockier puppets being shot with a gun, bent over the head, cut with a razor, electrocuted, boiled alive, blown out of building and hot air balloons … and much more. It’s all well fun – but many show how graphic they look. Someone uploaded a full 14-minute clip of all the Hanson Wilkins ads, and it’s eye-opening.
Hanson also had a tendency to advertise with Clausen’s bread – in which Kermit himself appeared – and they too are very dark … albeit somewhat watery.
Of course, “The Muppets” is also drawn with plenty of adult humor – so, no wonder, indeed, some of Hanson’s stuff with his precious creations pushed into the envelope. Check out the commercials of this early ‘Muppets’ toy, where girls threaten viewers with violence if they don’t buy it.
Now this is how you sell children’s toys
(Ideal Toy Professional, 1966) pic.twitter.com/6CHNAeyWno
– Muppet History (સ્ટHistoryMuppet) February 15, 2021
IstHistoryMuppet
A lot of this stuff aired in the ’50s,’ 60s and ’70s (‘ Muppets’ has been around for a long time) … so something tells us Hanson and co. Back at that time the same scripts could be removed. By the time the ‘S0s were around, the Muppets had been given a major rebranding to become more kid-friendly.
Even so, most episodes of “The Mp Pet Show” are now available to stream – and people are remembering the genius who brought all this to life. Hanson died of pneumonia in 1990.
He was 53 years old.
RIP, a great one.
