Muppet Wiki

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Muppet Wiki
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Muppet Wiki
46,309
pages
Muppetwiki-logo
OldVersionoftheMuppetWikiWebsite

Muppet Wiki's main page in January 2010.

Muppet Wiki is a wiki "for everything related to Jim Henson, Sesame Street, and the Muppets." It is hosted by Fandom (formerly WikiCities/Wikia), which runs on (modified) MediaWiki software. This format allows visitors to add, remove, or otherwise edit and change content that has been curated through a system of checks and balances. Muppet Wiki works as a collaborative effort overseen by a team of dedicated administrators and editors working together as a community toward the creation of in-depth encyclopedic articles.

Founded on December 5, 2005 (under WikiCities), Muppet Wiki's database contains 46,309 encyclopedic articles (which does not include wiki discussions, project pages, or redirects). The logo was designed by Scott Hanson and based on a theme from the March photo in The Miss Piggy Calendar 1980. This was incorporated into a new design based on The Muppet Show logo by Julian Kleibeler in October 2010 (including seasonal flair).

Although the wiki is run in an unofficial capacity, several industry insiders have made substantial contributions, adding to the wiki's credibility (see "Mission" statement below). Their presence has been welcome in a capacity of their choosing: while some individuals have gone on record as identified experts, the anonymity of others is respected and acknowledged by the wiki hosts.

Mission[]

Wondercon-WikiaBooth

Muppet Wiki founders Danny Horn and Scott Hanson show fans how to edit the site at Wondercon 2008.

The goal of Muppet Wiki and its contributors is to build a database of articles related to Jim Henson's career and various character universes. Through the research of published works and various media content, the database is meant to serve as a comprehensive source of reference. An accurate account of works cited is provided when possible (by way of footnotes and adherence to other policies), and particular attention is given to verifiable information. Special care is taken with disputed or erroneous information, and in some cases may result in a settlement in the form of a rumor disclaimer.

Although the name of the site is Muppet Wiki, the encyclopedia extends to areas outside of what may be publicly perceived as "Muppet" content in some cases. For example, Sesame Street, while well known for its inclusion of Jim Henson's Muppets, comprises a number of different contributions such as animation and live-action film unrelated to the Muppets. Because Sesame Street and the Sesame Street Muppets are so closely associated, these areas often blend into one another, and thus, have been included in some cases. (see Muppet Wiki:Coverage)

Similarly, Jim Henson's work outside of the Muppets is also stressed, one example being technology and characters furnished by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Of the works created by companies using material furnished by the Creature Shop, only those works produced by The Jim Henson Company are covered extensively. Other examples of non-Muppet Jim Henson content include The Cube and "Tick-Tock Sick."

Milestones and Acknowledgements[]

Love_for_Muppet_Wiki

Love for Muppet Wiki

Yahoo's 2006 segment on Muppet Wiki.

Jimmywales20070201

Jimmy Wales uses Muppet Wiki statistics and the article on Itzhak Perlman as an example of the potential in subject-focused wikis in a lecture at NYU on February 1, 2007. (listen here)[1]

Sesame-siteswelike

A link to Muppet Wiki from the official Sesame Workshop website.

Muppet-wiki-in-esquire

Quote in Esquire

Sesame japan muppet wiki link

The official Sesame Street Japan staff blog, with a link to Muppet Wiki.

Sesame japan translation

A translation of the Sesame Japan page.

SesameGo-Wiki

Muppet Wiki-uploaded images (bottom) used on Sesame Go service

Wiki-MOMI

The Tough Pigs play a Wiki-based game at the Museum of the Moving Image in 2015.

StreetGang-Wiki

"The Muppet Wiki" in the credits of Street Gang.

  • Muppet Wiki was featured in segment #4 of the August 3, 2006 broadcast of The 9 on Yahoo TV!
  • In the July 2007 print edition of reason magazine, coverage of Muppet Wiki is used as an example of Wikia's growth:

Consider, for instance, the astonishing growth and readership at the Wikia site devoted to Muppets. At a little over one year old, the Muppet Wiki has 13,700 articles. Every single one is about Muppets. Interested in an in-depth look at the use of gorilla suits in the Muppet movies? No problem. Just type in "gorilla suits" and enjoy a well-illustrated article that documents, among other things, the names of actors who have worn an ape outfit for Jim Henson. There is a timeline of all things Muppet-related. An entry on China details Big Bird's reception in the People's Republic. The site is astonishingly comprehensive and, perhaps more impressive, comprehensible to a Muppet novice.[16]

  • Kermit Culture, a collection of academic essays about the Muppets in popular culture, offers Muppet Wiki as an additional resource "for fans and scholars" of The Muppet Show cast. Two essays source articles on Muppet Wiki in their works cited: "The Muppets and Shakespeare" by Hugh H. Davis (Kermit, Prince of Denmark); "The Uniquely Strong but Feminine Miss Piggy" by Maryanne Fisher and Anthony Cox (Bonnie Erickson, Miss Piggy). Additionally, Muppet Wiki administrator and regular editor since January 6, 2006, Andrew Leal, contributed "Muppets and Money."
  • The National Post cited Muppet Wiki as the sole source for their 2009 interactive article "101 Muppets of Sesame Street," indicating that some journalist are using Muppet Wiki as a primary source of information.[17]
  • Muppet Wiki reached 20,000 articles on November 16, 2009.
  • Production designers on The Muppets used Muppet Wiki "thoroughly for research."[19]
  • Character images for Harvey Kneeslapper and Pedro were used in the background of the Downton Abbey parody on Sesame Street (see image). An earlier version featured the same Harvey image, as well as one of Queen Olivia, but with digital alterations. (See image here).
  • Sesame Street director Nadine Zylstra mentioned the website when talking about Sesame Workshop's large audience at a Google Tech Talk in March 2013. (YouTube)
  • Craig Shemin used Muppet Wiki's article of Gilbert Gottfried to list off his Muppet appearances in an appearance on a 2017 episode of Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast!
  • During the Museum of the Moving Image's "Preserving Jim Henson's Legacy" webinar on April 25, 2020 (YouTube), Karen Falk gives thanks to the various companies involved in various Henson-related exhibits, as well as the Muppet fan community and "that Muppet Wiki that we all use every day."
  • On November 8, 2021, the official Sesame Street Facebook and Twitter accounts posted a clip from Episode 0343. Both accounts give acknowledgement to Muppet Wiki for bringing public attention to the episode earlier in the weekend.[20][21]
  • Matt Vogel acknowledges the Muppet Wiki as a useful tool in researching a character's history in Episode #31 of Below the Frame (mentioned at 00:44:01).
  • Craig Shemin's 2022 book Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show gives thanks to "Scott Hanson, Danny Horn, and everyone associated with The Muppet Wiki for starting and maintaining such a helpful resource." The site is additionally listed in the bibliography for Part II of the book. The links page on the official website includes "The Muppet Wiki," with the descriptor: "The Muppet Wiki is a vast fan-generated database of Henson information and was a terrific resource in researching this book."
  • In a 2022 interview on Purple Roads, Ivy Austin acknowledges the Wiki and its listing of the material she's participated in. (YouTube)
  • Craig Shemin and Karen Falk each gave acknowledgements to the Wiki and its usefulness in supporting the legacy of Jim Henson's works at "The Jim Henson Legacy: A 30th Anniversary Celebration" event at the Museum of the Moving Image on May 13, 2023.

Seasonal logos[]

Beginning in October 2010, with a design overhaul of Wikia, Julian Kleibeler started designing various Muppet Wiki logos with seasonal flair. Based on the classic "MUPPET" font developed by Michael Frith, Kleibeler added imitating "WIKI" lettering; all the while incorporating the trademark Kermit eye that Scott Hanson first prominently used on the Wiki's original design, based on the first Miss Piggy Calendar's "private eye" icon, again designed by Frith (and once again used here on Muppet Babies). In the style of Google's commemorative Google Doodles used for special occasions, the blank space to the right of the logo has been used for special holiday images.

Wiki-wordmark-JK

Basic Muppet Wiki logo
October 15, 2010
Wiki-wordmark-JK-(turkey)

Thanksgiving logo
November 25, 2010


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(cookie)

Christmas logo
December 24, 2010


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(elmo)

Valentine's Day logo
February 14, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(robin)

Spring logo
March 21, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(oscar)

Earth Day logo
April 22, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(stinky)

Arbor Day logo
April 29, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(kermit)

Memorial Day logo
May 30, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(frogscouts)

Independence Day logo
July 4, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(piggy)

Summer logo
June 26, 2013


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(doozers)

Labor Day logo
September 5, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(MuppetsNow)-NewFont

Muppets Now takeover logo
July 31 to September 5, 2020
Wiki-wordmark-pumpkin-bats

Halloween logo
October 31, 2010


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(snowman)

Winter logo
December 4, 2010


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(groundhog)

Groundhog Day logo
February 2, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(sherlock)

St. Patrick's Day logo
March 17, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(wocka)

April Fool's Day logo
April 1, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(bunny)

Easter logo
April 24, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(magorg)

Mother's Day logo
May 8, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(pagorg)

Father's Day logo
June 17, 2011


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(juneteenth)

Juneteenth logo
June 19, 2021


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(pridemonth)

Pride Month logo
June 20, 2022


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(pride)

Pride Month logo v2
June 1, 2023


Wiki-wordmark-JK-(gonzo)

New Year's logo
December 30, 2011

See also[]

Sources[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 nowpublic "Jimmy Wales Gives Talk on Free Culture, Transparency, and Search" Michael Meyers, 02/01/07
  2. net@nite Live Amber MacArthur and Leo Laporte, 02/13/07
  3. CNN Money "Wikipedia's next steps" David Kirkpatrick, 02/23/07
  4. education.au "Challenging how knowledge is created" Part 3: What is Wikia, Jimmy Wales, 04/07
  5. Wired "Wikipedia Is Just the Start" Dylan Tweney, 5/29/07
  6. O'Reilly "NFAIS Notes: Buzzwords and Bemusement" Dawn Applegate, 08/14/07
  7. Information World Review "Jimmy Wales on the role of Wikipedia in society" Mark Chillingworth, 12/04/07
  8. iMedia Connection "Why the recession won't kill digital media" Susan Kuchinskas, 03/26/09
  9. Mediamixx 09, June 4, 2009 via TweetsbyDesign Twitter feed: [1] [2] [3] [4]
  10. Google@Youtube "Jimmy Wales at Zeitgeist '07" 08/16/07
  11. Esquire "10 Questions for Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales, 10 Years On" by Foster Kamer, 1/13/11
  12. Boston Globe "The wiki faithful look beyond encyclopedias to activism" Kim-Mai Cutler, 08/09/06
  13. New York Post "Chief Wiki's Ad Play" Sam Gustin, 11/16/06
  14. The Age "A Muppet A to Z" 8/24/08
  15. See talk page for a translation of the mention
  16. reason magazine "Wikipedia and Beyond: Jimmy Wales' sprawling vision" by Katherine Mangu-Ward 07/2007
  17. The National Post "101 Muppets of Sesame Street" by Steve Murray and Rebecca Yanovskaya, 2009
  18. sesame-street.jp "The Sesame Times", recurring
  19. ToughPigs forum, Peter Savieri comment, 12/07/11
  20. Sesame Street Facebook November 8, 2021
  21. Sesame Street Twitter November 8, 2021

External links[]

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