Under The Puppet

Saturday Morning Media
  • 4.9 (38)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Since 2017. Under The Puppet is a monthly show that is preserving puppetry through the personal stories of professional puppeteers. Guests include puppeteers from The Muppets, Sesame Street, The Jim Henson Company and more. The show also covers other forms of puppetry such as marionettes, shadow puppetry and Bunraku . Hosted by puppeteer Grant Baciocco (The Jim Henson Company, Mystery Science Theatre 3000).

  1. FEB 1

    Geneviève Flati (AJR's Maybe Man Tour, Fraggle Rock Live, Puppet Up)

    http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -  Geneviève Flati is a puppeteer, producer, and one of the most driven creative individuals I know. Her passion has led to work as Puppet Director, Puppet Captain, and Puppeteer on several nationwide tours, including a role as puppeteer and puppet director for The Maybe Man Arena Tour by pop band AJR. She's performed with the Jim Henson Company's Puppet Up! Uncensored, worked on Earth to Ned, and was the Jim Henson Company's youngest female puppet captain on the Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live Tour. From commercials to web series to live shows, Geneviève has done it all—and I talk to her about it on this episode of Under the Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with Geneviève Flati by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron.  Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Genevieve Flati: Website - https://www.gflati.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gflati/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@genevieveflati2460 Discussed on the show: AJR's Karma Music Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b86Hx3UdZo AJR - https://www.ajrbrothers.com Jim Henson Company - https://www.henson.com Puppet Up! – Uncensored - https://puppetup.com Earth to Ned - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_to_Ned Disneyland - https://disneyland.disney.go.com Maverick Theater - https://www.mavericktheater.com Backstage - https://www.backstage.com Disney Careers - https://jobs.disneycareers.com Chapman University - https://www.chapman.edu Kevin Clash - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2020/10/utp-52/ Alan Trautman - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2017/09/utp-007/ Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

    1h 14m

  2. JAN 1

    Rita Peruggi (The Muppets, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Fraggle Rock)

    http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -  In 1981, Rita Peruggi was hired by The Jim Henson Company as a production assistant on various projects including Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and The Muppets. She then moved on to the role of producer for the company working on many projects such as the Jim Henson Play along Videos, Muppet Vision 3D, Dinosaurs, Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, Earth To Ned and Fraggle Rock Back To The Rock.  Outside of the The Jim Henson Company, Rita has served as Producer on Jack's Big Music Show and Yo Gabba Gabba! and the updated Yo Gabba GabbaLand!.  I talk Rita Peruggi about all of these projects and more on this episode of Under The Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with Rita Peruggi by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron.  Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Rita Peruggi: IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675745/ Wikipedia - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Ritamarie_Peruggi Discussed on the show: Rita Peruggi – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675745/ Jim Henson Company – https://www.henson.com/ Jim Henson Play-Along Videos - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Play-Along_Video Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets – https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_Holiday Muppet Babies Music Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5EUpo1pXq8 Muppet*Vision 3D – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muppet*Vision_3D Dinosaurs (TV series) – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101081/ The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance – https://www.netflix.com/title/80148535 Earth to Ned – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_to_Ned Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock – https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/fraggle-rock-back-to-the-rock/ Jack's Big Music Show – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack%27s_Big_Music_Show Yo Gabba Gabba! – https://www.yogabbagabba.com/ Splash and Bubbles – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_and_Bubbles Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

    1h 2m

  3. 12/01/2025

    Louise Gold (The Muppets, Dark Crystal, Sesame Street)

    http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -  Louise Gold is puppetry royalty. A trained theatre performer, Louise began her puppetry career working on the second season of The Muppet Show, where she played many characters — including the role of Annie Sue, much to Miss Piggy's dismay. In addition to continuing her work with The Muppets, she went on to perform in The Dark Crystal, Sesame Street, and the Sesame Street spin-off The Furchester Hotel, where she played the hotel's proprietor, Funella Furchester. She's also performed on Spitting Image, The Ghost of Faffner Hall, Dodge's Pup School, and many, many more puppetry projects. I talk to Louise Gold about her incredible career on this episode of Under The Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with Louise Gold by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron.  Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Louise Gold: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gold7046 IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0325028/ Muppet Wiki - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Louise_Gold Discussed on the show: The Muppet Show - https://shows.disney.com/the-muppet-show Annie Sue - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Annie_Sue The Dark Crystal - https://www.darkcrystal.com/ Sesame Street - https://www.sesamestreet.org/ The Furchester Hotel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Furchester_Hotel The Ghost of Faffner Hall - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/The_Ghost_of_Faffner_Hall Dodge's Pup School - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33665574/ Spitting Image - https://www.youtube.com/c/SpittingImage Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

    55 min

  4. 11/01/2025

    Stacey Weingarten (The Muppet Show Special, Sesame Street, Rescue Rue)

    http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -  Stacey Weingarten is a puppeteer, puppet wrangler, director, writer, and producer who got her puppet start studying with John Tartaglia and later went on to work on the show Johnny and the Sprites. Since then, she's worked with The Muppets and Sesame Street, where she won an Emmy Award for her work on the show's 50th season.  She also has her own theatrical puppetry projects — Rescue Rue and Runaway Rue — that have played Off-Broadwayand at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.  I talk to Stacey Weingarten about all these projects and more, including her work on the upcoming The Muppet Show special for Disney+, on this episode of Under The Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with Stacey Weingarten by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron.  Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Stacey Weingarten: Website - https://www.saweingarten.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sayetc/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/stacey.weingarten.9 IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3899160/ Discussed on the show: John Tartaglia - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2019/02/utp-25/ Johnny and the Sprites – https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Johnny_and_the_Sprites Sesame Street – https://www.sesameworkshop.org The Muppets – https://muppets.disney.com Rescue Rue & Runaway Rue – https://www.rescuerue.com Fordham University Theatre Program – https://www.fordham.edu/theatre CTY (Center for Talented Youth) – https://cty.jhu.edu The O'Neill Puppetry Conference – https://www.theoneill.org/pup Tim Lagasse – https://www.timlagasse.com Jim Henson Company – https://www.henson.com Puppet Kitchen NYC – https://www.puppetkitchen.com John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tartaglia%27s_ImaginOcean Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

    1h 29m
  5. Marisol Himmel (Moddy Puppets)

    10/01/2025

    Marisol Himmel (Moddy Puppets)

    http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -  Marisol Himmel is an educational puppeteer and ventriloquist and the creator of Moddy Puppets, A puppet company that explores new ways to use puppetry in education.  I talk with Marisol about her puppetry journey, her explorations of different styles of puppetry, her collaborations with other artists and much more on this episode of Under The Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with Marisol Himmel by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron.  Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Marisol Himmel: Website - https://moddypuppets.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/moddypuppets/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ModdyPuppets TIkTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@moddypuppets Discussed on the show: Geoff Rams (ventriloquism coach) - https://www.instagram.com/GeoffRams/ Cynthia Lopez - My Puppet Factory - https://www.instagram.com/MyPuppetFactory/ nunushi - https://www.instagram.com/nunushi.art/ Becca - https://www.instagram.com/Beccasaccount/ Elakha Alliance (otter project) - https://www.instagram.com/ElakhaAlliance San Francisco Bay Area Puppetry Guild - https://sfbapg.org Children's Fairyland - https://fairyland.org Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

    1h 7m
  6. Jeanne Lauren (Return of the Jedi, Eco, You and Simon, Too, Skyana)

    09/01/2025

    Jeanne Lauren (Return of the Jedi, Eco, You and Simon, Too, Skyana)

    http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -  Jeanne Lauren worked in the creature shop that was building some of the most iconic creatures for Return of the Jedi.  She also worked on the film ensuring the creatures looked good on screen and more importantly, that their performers were comfortable while wearing the creature suits.  Her own company, Skyana has been designing puppets, mascots and costumes for Corporate events and television for decades.  I talk to Jeanne Lauren about all these things and more, including her appearance as a biker in the 1986 film Howard the Duck, on this episode of Under The Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with Jeanne Lauren by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron.  Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Jeanne Lauren: IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0491067/ Discussed on the show: Eco, You and Simon, Too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCqhpxFd8AY&t=517s Light & Magic (TV Series) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_%26_Magic_(TV_series) To see the photos discussed visit underthepuppet.com Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

    56 min

  7. 08/01/2025

    Vanessa Valliere (LOOK! LOOK!, The Life And Times of Terry, Mucca Pazza)

    http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -  Vanessa Valliere creates original solo theater shows combining elements of clown and puppetry.  She's performed these shows all over the world and often performs at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.  She's also toured with the Manual Cinema and she recently attended the National Puppetry Conference at the O'Neill for the very first time.  I talk to Vanessa Valliere about all these things and more on this episode of Under The Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with  by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron.  Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Vanessa Valliere: Website - https://www.vanessavalliere.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vanessavalliere YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@nessagoof Discussed on the show: Mucca Pazza - https://www.muccapazza.com Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival - https://chicagopuppetfest.org Manual CInema - https://manualcinema.com National Puppetry Conference - https://www.theoneill.org/pup Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

    1h 10m

  8. 07/01/2025

    Showko Showfukutei 笑福亭 笑子 (Australia's Got Talent, Saccharine)

    http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -  Showko Showfukutei is a Ventriloquist, comedian, actor and one of the few female Rakugo performers in the world.  Born in Japan, Showko traveled the world with stops in Canada, Singapore, London to learn her craft which combines 400 year old Japanese comedy techniques and ventriloquism. I talk to Showko about her live stage shows, working on cruise ships, creating web series, being on Australia's Got Talent and much more on this episode of Under The Puppet. Plus, hear more of my conversation with Showko Showfukutei by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron.  Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this. Connect with Showko Showfukutei: Website - https://showkocomedy.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/showkocomedy/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ShowkoComedy笑福亭笑子 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ShowkoComedy/ Discussed on the show: Puppets Need Therapy Too - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjaNXplABELOBuUeP9WZz7tofsCbcPt7Q Saccharine - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35050712/ Heath McIvor - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2019/11/utp-34/ Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver ©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

    55 min
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4.9
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Since 2017. Under The Puppet is a monthly show that is preserving puppetry through the personal stories of professional puppeteers. Guests include puppeteers from The Muppets, Sesame Street, The Jim Henson Company and more. The show also covers other forms of puppetry such as marionettes, shadow puppetry and Bunraku . Hosted by puppeteer Grant Baciocco (The Jim Henson Company, Mystery Science Theatre 3000).

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