The Jim Henson Hour
Air Date	July 9, 1989
Written by	Matthew Jacobs Nicholas Fisk (novel)
Director	Giles Foster
(TRANSCRIPT)

Teenage Matt Banting wants to work with a famous but eccentric creature/special effects man named Chancey Bellow. He gets more than he bargained for when one of the creatures, the giant dragon-like Ultragorgon, takes Matt under his wing. Matt is forced to confront his inner monsters while working out his issues with his father.

Intro and Closing

Jim Henson talks about the Creature Shop, showing one of The Devils as an example of what the Creature Shop can make. He then introduces the Monster Maker.

In the closing, Jim Henson mentions that although the creatures look real, they are not actually alive. He tells how many performers were needed for the Ultragorgon (including Brian Henson operating the head). He also brings out Kermit the Frog who comments that he liked the special.

Notes

• This episode was later re-aired as a stand-alone special without the framing introduction and closing, or The Jim Henson Hour title/logos.

• The monster in the film-within-a-film at the beginning of Monster Maker would later appear as the Predator on Dinosaurs.

• Brian Henson makes a cameo performing the slerks.

Cast

• Harry Dean Stanton as Chancey Bellow
• Kieran O'Brien as Matt Banting
• George Costigan as Father
• Amanda Dickinson as Mother
• Alison Steadman as Perriwinkle
• Grant Bardsley as Ben
• Bill Moody as Reg
• Matthew Scurfield as Vaughn
• Jonathan Coy as Teacher
• Ultragorgon: Brian Henson, David Greenaway, Marcus Clarke, Sue Dacre, Michael Bayliss, Chris Leith, Martin Anthony, Tony Ashton
• With the voice of Michael Gambon (Ultragorgon)

Credits

• Producer: Duncan Kenworthy
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop Creative Supervisor: John Stephenson
• Special Creature Design: David Barrington-Holt, John Blakeley, Verner Gresty, Mike Osborn, Gary Pollard, Nigel Booth, Chris Barton
• Music: Rachel Portman
• Costume Designer: Ann Hollowood
• Production Designers: Simon Holland, John Stephenson
• Produced in association with TVS Films Ltd.

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