{"product_id":"bill-haders-puppet-class-sketch-puppet","title":"Bill Hader's 'Puppet Class' Sketch Puppet","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis original Muppet, named “Tony,” comes from the personal collection of master puppeteer Bob Flanagan, who worked alongside Jim Henson at the New York Muppet Workshop. Created to exacting Henson Workshop specifications, the puppet was used in a memorable \u003ci\u003eSaturday Night Live\u003c\/i\u003e sketch during Season 38 (2012), serving as Bill Hader’s alter-ego in a skit where an instructor (Seth MacFarlane) attempts to keep a class on track while Hader’s character struggles with PTSD through his performance with Tony.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBob Flanagan was a pioneering puppet builder whose career spanned the “glory days” of modern puppetry. In the 1980s, he worked at the New York Muppet Workshop alongside Jim Henson, contributing to the creation of characters for \u003ci\u003eThe Muppets\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSesame Street\u003c\/i\u003e, sharing in a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design. He also created puppets for \u003ci\u003eFraggle Rock\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Muppets Take Manhattan\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eFollow That Bird\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eTwisted Puppet Theatre\u003c\/i\u003e. Flanagan operated his own company, Den Design Studio, which supplied puppets, costumes, and specialty props for \u003ci\u003eSaturday Night Live\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLast Week Tonight \u003c\/i\u003ewith John Oliver, including Sesame-style puppets for the latter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeyond television, Flanagan worked extensively in theater, designing puppets and props for Broadway productions such as \u003ci\u003eWicked\u003c\/i\u003e (including the Time Dragon and Lion Cub) and off-Broadway shows including \u003ci\u003eBeowulf\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Hairy Ap\u003c\/i\u003ee, and \u003ci\u003eThe Emperor Jones\u003c\/i\u003e—the latter earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Costume Design.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis “Tony” Muppet represents a rare and highly significant piece of contemporary puppetry history, connecting collectors to both Bob Flanagan’s extraordinary career and a standout moment in \u003ci\u003eSaturday Night Live’s\u003c\/i\u003e Season 38. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo see the original SNL skit, click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0xZ52mG1yIo\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ehere.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Joopiter","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47085593821433,"sku":"JP1025591","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/2783\/5385\/files\/JP1025591_01.jpg?v=1784039776","url":"https:\/\/shop.joopiter.com\/products\/bill-haders-puppet-class-sketch-puppet","provider":"Joopiter","version":"1.0","type":"link"}