‘STREET’ BRAWL!
‘Sesame’ firm drops kid gloves over‘ filthy’ puppet flick
The R-rated puppet movie that has left the relationship between the makers of “Sesame Street” and The Jim Henson Co. hanging by a string was born out of one raunchy concept: “When Kermit and Miss Piggy go home at night and there are no kids around, it’s filthy.”
That’s the explanation by STX Entertainment Chairman Adam Fogelson in court papers, who explained he came up with the dirty idea for “The Happytime Murders” in collaboration with its director, Brian Henson.
A new lawsuit filed by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that produces “Sesame Street,” against STX revealed that the upcoming film has caused tension between the kids’ show and the Jim Henson Co., which created the beloved Muppets characters like Big Bird, Elmo and Cookie Monster.
Brian Henson, 54, is the eldest son of late puppeteer Jim Henson and chairman of the children’s entertainment company his parents founded in 1958.
Fogelson said in papers filed in Manhattan Federal Court that the film would reveal a little known “truth” about the puppets.
“Even though the Henson Co. puppets are adults who interact in an appropriate manner with children during the day, at night ... well, they lead very adult private lives,” Fogelson said.
A trailer for the film starring Melissa McCarthy was released on May 18 in 5,100 theaters nationwide, depicting Muppet-like characters doing drugs, shooting guns — and in one memorable scene, having sex.
Sesame Workshop sued, saying the slogan in the trailer, “No Sesame. All Street,” confused fans and irreparably damaged its wholesome brand.
But in new papers filed over Memorial Day weekend, Fogelson and STX argue that the controversy stems from the Henson Co. doing damage control due to “Sesame Street” executives’ reaction to the trailer.
STX says Henson execs were aware of the slogan before its release and were closely involved in the editing for the trailer.
“For example, there were ongoing and detailed discussions between STX and Henson Co. with respect to various aspects of the trailer, including how to depict in the trailer a scene in which a male puppet appears to ejaculate for an extended period of time. This effect was achieved with the use of Silly String,” Fogelson said.
STX says that it will have to spend at least $1.5 million if it is ordered to withdraw all promotional materials for the movie.
A hearing on Wednesday is expected to focus on whether the “No Sesame. All Street” tagline represents an effort by the movie to associate with “Sesame Street,” rather than a statement distancing itself from the show.