The crowd, a couple hundred strong, definitely showed its love for Jerry with thunderous applause and laughter at the guest speakers and the many video clips. Muppet fan blog ToughPigs.com has a write-up of the different speakers and gifts. All I can do is add in a few pictures to tell the story.
Jerry Nelson on the big screen
Craig Shemin, President of the Jim Henson Legacy and host of the event. Shemin co-wrote the Jim Henson's Musical World show at Carnegie Hall back in April and has written and emceed a number of live Muppet projects in recent years.
Sesame Street and Broadway performer Stephanie D'Abruzzo
Jerry Nelson, performing as himself, with Kermit and Fozzie
Long-time Sesame Street/Henson performer Fran Brill (Zoe and Prarie Dawn)
Mr. Snuffleupagus, originally performed by Jerry Nelson, sending a video message to the crowd (performed by Marty Robinson)
Sesame Street/Muppet performer Matt Vogel, who has taken over some of the more well-known Jerry Nelson characters and is also the understudy for Carroll Spinney.
Floyd Pepper clips
Long-time Muppet/Henson Performer Dave Goelz (Gonzo, Boober and Matt Fraggle among many others) introducing Fraggle Rock clips
Muppet Performer Bill Barretta
Robin the Frog
A very emotional Louise Gold who flew in from London for the private and public Jerry Nelson events
Original Muppet Show puppet designer Bonnie Erickson
Long-time Muppet/Sesame Street/Henson performer Steve Whitmire (Kermit the Frog, Ernie, Wembley Fraggle, Rizzo the Rat) signing autographs for fans after the event.
The Jerry Nelson puppet
There were a few other special guests in attendance.
I also got to talk briefly with, and grab an autograph from Matt Vogel at the very end. Also a nice guy.
Steve Whitmire, pictured, was not a speaker at the event, but was present, and did stay and sign autographs and talk and take pictures with fans in the theater until they had to kick him out to get ready for the next movie. He struck me as a very nice guy, often remembering people whom he had met at other events (not necessarily knowing names, but remembering faces and events). I didn't get his autograph; I was next in one of the parts of the line when they made him leave.
One funny moment during the event was when Dave Goelz, introducing Fraggle Rock clips, had a bit of a Freudian slip and said that fans loved "Gonzo" (Goelz's most famous character) instead of Nelson's Fraggle character "Gobo". He got a bit of good natured ribbing from Bill Barretta over it. After the show, I was standing with Dave Goelz, he was signing my program, and Bill Barretta came over and said something to the effect of "don't sign it as 'Gobo'". It's good to know that these Muppet people are funny.
Update:, some videos posted on Muppet Central
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