Episode 42

A determined Rory Monster sets out to find a cupcake for his Birthday party, but may have bitten off more than he can chew!

Episode Breakdown:
Cast:
-Avery Jones: Hare, Zeke, Rock, Hermie, Sherlock Bones, Scooter
-Alex Hubbard: Dachshund, Calliope, Penny, Trixie
-Hannah Tarleton: Audrey 'O Malley
-Hadley Gilpatrick: Happy the Cupcake, Sherlock Bones assist.
-Connor Gilpatrick: Rock

Cold Open: Just goofing off on set can really pay off when the camera is rolling!

Zeke & Rock Intro/Outro: If you thought Zora and Calliope were a weird pairing, wait to you see these guys!

Calliope's Advice of the Day: Originally an outtake from our "Advice" shoot, but funny enough to make it into an episode!

The Young and the Stupid: We do enjoy breaking our own 4th wall, and a hysterical Trixie is comedy gold!

Daily Dose of Cute: The Cupcake: Happy the Cupcake is a character that Hadley Gilpatrick designed herself, and we co-built together as part of a Springer Opera House puppetry workshop. The character appeared in the background of last season's Cinderella, and was so great I could not resist putting him/her in an episode! And who better to pair with a Cupcake but the sickeningly sweet Rory! These two are great together and were paired again at a Season 5 shoot a few weeks later, so you haven't seen the last of The Puppet Improv's cutest characters eva'!

Penny's Confessions: A bit of a call back to an old bit with Penny and Lily as dueling girlscouts!

The Sherlock Bones Show: The Laser Pointer: A different, yet effective, set-up for this segment, reminiscent of Sesame Street sketches which feature characters behind a wall, mainly used to hide puppeteers. The very enthusiastic performance from Alex Hubbard in this bit inspired us to continue in the Sherlock and Dachshund bits with the guys performing gags that real dogs are known to do, like chasing tails, etc. But more on that later!

How to be Hot: More on-set clowning around... see bloopers for further reference.

Joke of the Day: ...idiots...

Inspector, Detective: Private Eye: This bit was shot on Hannah Tarleton's last full shoot day with us before moving out of state unexpectedly. We shot a bulk of the the remaining material for this season that day, and even some stuff for Season 5, ensuring that Audrey will be present in the cast even though she's not readily available to us anymore.

Little Theatre: Sha-Puppy

A nice, solid episode brings us to our half-way point of the season! Hang on for the ride, folks!

Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv

Episode 41

Trixie, Lexi, Audrey, and Zora appear on Survival, a reality show that dares them to spend the night in The Puppet Improv's Studio!

Episode Breakdown:
Cast:
-Avery Jones: Hermie, Zeke, Walter, Survival Announcer, Lexi, Rory, Scooter, Ted, Petunia, Hare
-Alex Hubbard: Penny, Calliope, Trixie, Jen the Hen
-Hannah Tarleton: Audrey 'O Malley
-Connor Gilpatrick: Zora
-Nick Garcia: Walter assist., Penny assist.

Hermie & Penny Intro/Outro: Our first real Hermie/Penny pairing this season, and they've still got it! ...whatever "it" is...

Calliope's Advice of the Day


How to be Hot

Survival: A back-handed parody of every reality show ever produced, until the girls show up! All of the material involving the 4 girls were shot in one take and then stretched over the episode... These 4 ladies are one of my favorite things this season!

Daily Dose of Cute

Penny's Confessions: Our first sketch featuring multiple Alex Hubbard characters... we need to do that more often! Noted.

The Young and the Stupid: Possibly our weakest YATS of the season, and only because we couldn't involve our regular female leads... Also noted.

Hermie's Cute Petname of the Day

Joke of the Day: One of the first times we've seen Ted this season!

Calliope: Gong Noises

Little Theatre: I don't get it either.

A different kind of episode than we're used to, but that's okay! In this medium no two shows are alike, and I enjoy mixing up the formats as much as possible! In the next show we'll establish a new character, so see you then? Great!

Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv

Episode 40

A jealous Penny steals a plant intended for Hermie that was delivered to the stage door, but she soon realizes that this is no ordinary plant!

Episode Breakdown:
-Cast:
Avery Jones: Narrator, Hermie, Hare, Zeke, Plant, Rory, Scooter, Turtle, Lexi
Alex Hubbard: Penny, Trixie, Jen the Hen, Calliope
Hannah Tarleton: Audrey 'O Malley
Hadley Gilpatrick: Squishy
Nick Garcia: Rock, Orange Cat, Bubba
Benjamin Johnston: Zora, Plant assist., Hermie assist., Bob the Rooster, Trixie
Becca Smith: Pink Meep

Calliope & Zora Intro/Outro: This is, by far, one of the strangest pairings of characters we've done to date. Originally, this episode had no Intro/Outro so we could focus on truly ripping off- ahem, spoofing "Little Shop of Horrors". But upon editing the show I discovered this episode was too short, and needed more material, so this wacky duo (who were already part of a Season 5 episode) found a new home.


How to be Hot: I'm starting to believe that these two can't give real advice on anything....

The Plant: In October of this year, I had the privilege of designing, building, and puppeteering Audrey II for Springer Opera House's production of "Little Shop of Horrors". The plant used in this episode was/is my prototype (protoplant?), used to convince myself, and Little Shop's producers, that I was capable of building this monster of a puppet. In fact, even the line drawing of the plant featured in this episode's credits was a piece of concept art used in developing the look for "Little Shop" I've always felt as though The Puppet Improv is, in a sense, my video journal. A lot of important moments, trips, and people have been featured in a way that's very special to me, and, hopefully entertaining to our audience. Even though we shot 95% of this episode before we even began production on "Little Shop", it still stands, in my mind, as a great reminder of the experience.


Calliope's Advice of the Day: We've heard Calliope reference "The Turtle of Wisdom" on several occasions, and we just thought it was some more of her delusional babbling. But, it turns out, that there is an actual turtle... whether he's wise or not is another issue entirely.

Joke of the Day: Yes, we stole Family Guy's joke, too.

Daily Dose of Cute: Okay, kid... we get it, you're cute.

Penny's Confessions: This segment doesn't have anything to do with Penny's story line in this episode, but this too was something used to extend the run-time of the episode

The Young and the Stupid: What's the worse thing Zeke could ever tell Trixie... or Angela... or Paige? This wasn't originally intended to be a YATS story line, but we were one plot short for this season's soap operas, so the idea was re-invented into what you see now.

So kids, what's the moral of this story?
Don't talk to the greenery, and that you don't always have to know how your show is going to end before you start. Where's the fun in that?

Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv

Series Wraps!

         

           Production on The Puppet Improv has officially wrapped. My feelings are mixed; to end the show that has been a MAJOR part of my life for over 3 years now is a big step, but I find myself at a point in my career where I can put all of my efforts behind bigger things. There, I can make a difference in family-friendly entertainment, as well as the enhancing the puppetry world with my own ideas and creativity.


Our original 50+ episodes have been re-edited for television broadcast, removing unneeded filler material, and making all 5 seasons of show uniform, both in content and quality. They are all currently available on our YouTube channel to entertain and inspire us and others in the future.



So many things I'd like to say, but I'll boil it down to just a few points:

I'd like to thank our group secondary and background puppeteers Hannah Tarleton, Lizzie Martin, Nick Garcia, Hadley Gilpatrick, Connor Gilpatrick, Benjamin Johnston, Becca Smith, and Meg Miller (to name a few)...  for their patience with me as a director and performer. Whether you just got to be a cat, goth kid, meep, or monkey in the background, right-hand for Sherlock, or if you had a speaking role you, all added SOO MUCH to the show! From the corny jokes to the random Meep action, the creative energy in the room was magic. I cannot express how exciting it was to be able to work with a group of characters in a scene rather than just 2 or 3 per shot, you were all awesome to work with... even you, Nick!

To my comedic partner-in-crime Alex Hubbard, who brought wild and weird heart to Penny, Dachshund, Trixie, Calliope, and Jen for over 3 years: Thank you for your focus and drive to get the show done! Without you, this show would not exist. Your timing, characters, and puppetry were all phenomenal assets to me and this series. Thank you.













A BIG thanks to Ron Anderson and Springer Opera House for allowing us to shoot in their facilities, and for providing a safe environment for us to create, perform, and laugh for a few hours a month!









  This doesn't mean the end of the characters by any means. The gang will live on as part of 'Hare's Special Show', 'Heath and the Checker Shoe Band', our live improv-based shows, classes and workshops through Springer Opera House, and a new series entitled 'Hey, Hermie!'.

To whomever may be reading this blog, thank YOU for taking the time to get to know our show!

Keep moving forward!

Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv

Episode 39

Episode Break-Down:

Cast:
Avery Jones: Lexi, Hermie, Sherlock Bones, Zeke, Henry, Rory, Scooter
Alex Hubbard: Trixie, Penny, Dachshund, Calliope, Jen the Hen
Hannah Tarleton: Audrey 'O Malley, Sherlock assist.
Connor Gilpatrick: Zora
With; Lizzie Martin, Nick Garcia

Lexi, Trixie, Audrey, Zora Intro/Outro:
After several seasons of working with a limited number of puppeteers and characters per shot and per episode, I cannot begin to tell you how fun it is to work with 4 characters at once, and what a great jumble of personalities! This group of gals will be back!

Penny's Confessions: There's just something wrong with a chick selling her brother's copy of Baby Beluga....

Sherlock and Dachshund: The New Collar: The Sherlock and Dachshund material is becoming some of the most natural bits to film, for some reason these two mutts are finally clicking with us as performers! Looks like Dachshund's finally getting some bling!

How to be Hot: Zeke in a dress, why didn't we do it sooner?

Calliope's Advice of the Day: Wait, what?

Poetry Time with Henry Monster: Poetry Time is a sketch that I've never been too fond of, Henry was developed to be the total opposite of Hermie, very book-ish, always polite, but since Henry's creation (over 3 years ago) Hermie's changed into a deeper, more complex character, who is, in fact, pretty book-ish and polite. At this point, the  only major difference between the two is the nasal quality in Henry's voice So, I have a method to find out if a sketch is really a good sketch: Put Penny in it. If Penny can't make it work, can it... See ya, Henry!

 The Young and the Stupid: I pulled double duty (haha, I said "duty"...) with Lexi and Zeke in this dramatic continuation of our REALLY weird soap opera, which is even funnier when Jen is involved... NOTE TO SELF: Use more of the chicken!

Daily Dose of Cute: HE'S SO FLUFFY I COULD DIE!

Joke of the Day: We steal- ahem... borrow jokes from everyone! This one came from an interview with Norm MacDonald on The Tonight Show... just thought you'd like to know.

Inspector, Detective: Private Eye: Our first proper IDPI sketch of the season!

A show without a real plot, but with some nice character development, fun... and Poetry Time... well, we could do worse!

Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv

Episode 38

Penny tells Hermie that she saw Suzi flirting with Zeke, causing Hermie to change himself to win his girlfriend back!

Episode Break-Down:
-Cast:
Avery Jones: Hermie, Waldo, Rory, Henry, Hare, Zeke, Scooter
Alex Hubbard: Penny, Trixie, Jen
Meg Miller: Suzi
Hannah Tarleton: Audrey 'O Malley
Connor Gilpatrick: Orange Cat
Hadley Gilpatrick: Petunia
Benjamin Johnston: Orange Cat
Lizzie Martin: Petunia


Cold Open: Back to basics: Hermie's being picky, Penny's being tricky... and when when all else fails, put some cats in the background! Hadley Gilpatrick, Lizzie Martin, Benjamin Johnston, and Connor Gilpatrick alternating scenes as the cats silently populate the "theatre" without upstaging the action wonderfully!

Hermie and Suzi Intro/Outro: As with everything else in our series we shoot everything out of sequence, this intro was filmed for Season 3, to fall right after Hermie and Suzi started dating. However, while editing the last season this footage didn't fit with the Hermie/Suzi storyline, so it got cut, but eventually found it's home here... Hermie's still uncomfortable, but for a whole other reason! Plus, we needed to use as much Suzi footage as possible, in order for next season's big surprise... Oops, shouldn't have said that.

How To Be Hot: Waldo W. Weasel makes his first appearance since last season's "Cinderella", but we'll see him again very soon!

Daily Dose of Cute: Poor cute little guy...

Joke of the Day: That Audrey chick is really starting to grow on me!

Poetry Time with Henry Monster: For some reason, Hare is much funnier in everyone else's sketches...

Calliope's Advice of the Day: Wait... what?

The Young and the Stupid: One take, no edits, no re-shoots. Bingo. Plus, it wouldn't surprise me to find out that Zeke wasn't acting in this one...

Penny's Confessions: I'm under the impression that the only reason the "Penny's Confessions" segment exists is to pay off this episode's plotline.

Inspector, Detective: Private Eye: Jen is funnier is everyone else's segment, too... Hmmm...



We're back in our element with a "normal" storyline episode, Penny's just as cruel as ever, we have cats, and Hermie just tried to rap...

We're on a roll,
Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv

Penny's Picks

Okay... I'll admit, I HATE "Best Of" episodes. Even my favorite sitcoms lose my interest whenever someone says "Do you remember that time...?" It seems like a cheap and lazy way to fill an episode... However, to celebrate The Puppet Improv's 2 year-aversary we produced a special episode entitled "Penny's Picks" featuring a few of my favorite sketches from the last 3 seasons. It is NOT part of Season 4, it is a special celebratory show for the cast, crew, and our loyal audience members! If you're the type who can handle "Best Of" shows, enjoy! If you aren't... you are not alone!
Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv

PS: Season 4 premieres THIS SATURDAY!

Episode 37

Episode Break-Down:

-Cast:
Avery Jones: Hare, Scooter, Hermie, Zeke, Henry, Petunia, Rory, Humpty Dumpty, Sherlock Bones
Alex Hubbard: Penny, Trixie, Calliope, Jen, Dacshund
Hannah Tarleton: Audrey 'O Malley, Sherlock assist.
Nick Garcia: Penny assist.
With: Lizzie Martin


- Cold Open: Filmed on location at The Puppet Improv studio... actually, filmed on location at The Springer Opera House in Columbus, GA, Springer has, in many ways, become PI's un-official home, we've shot there a number of times, and even used their backstage space as a set for nearly every episode last season! But back to this show, it's great to see Hare and Penny together again, after 4 seasons of shows, they have become our strongest characters, and the dynamic between them is INCREDIBLE!

-Scooter at Disney World: As I've previously mentioned, we filmed a few short segments with Scooter at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL in early June, what an odd experience it was going through Disney security with a monster in my backpack... Strangely, it's not the weirdest thing I did over summer vacation... Of course, while we were there, we got to enjoy the parks (even receiving a guided tour from some very courteous Cast Members). Scooter even got to ride Space Mountain, in the bin under my feet, of course! While filming the episode closer, Scooter caught the attention of 2 teen-aged girls waiting on the fireworks show, however they thought he was Elmo... poor little guy just can't catch a break.







                       
-Penny's Confessions: This one speaks for itself...
-Hermie's Cute Petname of the Day: Continuing one of my personal favorites from last season... with a twist!
-Joke of the Day: More Hare and Penny... just 'cuz!
-How to be Hot: A new sketch I wish we'd thought of earlier!

-The Young and the Stupid: Same segment, more stupid drama. Alex Hubbard, Hannah Tarleton and I had soooo much fun shooting a season's worth of these sketches, although it turned out to be quite an challenge to keep ourselves from laughing...
-Calliope's Advice of the Day: Another new segment!
-Poetry Time with Henry Monster: A segment I predict we won't be seeing too much of in the coming seasons, this particular sketch was filmed nearly 3 years ago and JUST now made it into an episode... weird.
-The Daily Dose of Cute: He's just sooooo cute!
-Little Theatre: I built the Humpty Dumpty puppet for a theatrical production of Alice in Wonderland, and he'd been sitting in storage ever since, so I thought it was time to put him to good use... and then Penny showed up....
-The Sherlock Bones Show: Sherlock and Dachshund are back full force after nearly a season of absence! There's a LOT of great S&D material in your near future!

And that's this week's show! I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed producing it!

More to come,
Avery Jones, Creative Director, The Puppet Improv

Season 4: What to Expect

        It's been nearly 2 years since our show officially began, and we are preparing to enter our fourth and furriest season yet! When the show officially launched in 2010, it was just a show to make me and my friends laugh, but now we have viewers in Chicago, LA, New York, and even India (I don't know if they get our humor, but it's nice to know we have that kind of reach)! In the last 2 months, our team of 10 puppeteers filmed more than 13 episodes of material, that we'll soon be able to share with you, and we're all very excited about it!
       Season 4 kicks off in a big way with Scooter visiting the "Happiest Place on Earth"... no, really! No camera tricks, or green screen here! We actually shot a few short segments IN Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL! We received some strange looks from park guests, but strange looks don't bother us... any more! In addition to characters getting to play in the "Real World" (Disney's not the only place Scooter visited), the show will be introducing new segments this season such as "How to be Hot" and "Calliope's Advice of the Day", and we'll continue with your favorites such as "The Young and the Stupid", "Inspector, Detective: Private Eye", and "Penny's Confessions". All of your favorite characters will be returning (with each one receiving their own story line)! Plus, a few new friends will be joining the gang this season... but I don't want to spoil ALL the surprises!
      That's all I'm going to say for now, but it's going to be a great season, and I think you'll really enjoy it! ...and if you do, be sure to let us know via YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook, we love to know you're watching!

Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv

Introduction

Welcome to The Puppet Improv's official production blog! Here we will post behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and other information regarding ALL aspects of our show! We're just getting started!

Avery Jones, Creative Director of The Puppet Improv