Troggg was recently an international guest on the web series of popular California-based puppet pig, Sam the Ham. 
Performed by puppeteer Justin Galluccio, Sam the Ham is a pig who is willing to try anything and everything (that people say a pig his size should not be doing, within reason). You can find Sam the Ham all over YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Here’s Sam’s interview with Troggg:
Category: Film And TV Puppetry
Troggg on The Hobble & Snitch Show
Do you remember when we reported that our very own Troggg had a cameo appearance in The Hobble & Snitch Show?
The Hobble & Snitch Show is a puppet web-series wherein two goblins – Hobble & Snitch – try to make their own web-series from their cave deep under your city, with disastrous results.
Here’s the episode featuring Troggg:
StarNow and LinkedIn
Brett Hansen’s StarNow profile lists details on the various puppetry projects he’s been involved in through Larrikin Puppets, and in theatre, film and TV: http://www.starnow.com.au/LarrikinPuppets
The Larrikin Puppets LinkedIn company profile can be found here. You are most welcome to follow and share these profiles on social media.
2015 Adventures of the Puppets
This year, Larrikin Puppets has continued to grow from strength to strength. In its third year of business, the puppets have appeared at several festivals, more child care centres and schools than ever before, two Supanova Pop Culture Expos, regular shows at South Bank Parklands, a series of family variety shows at Morningside’s Studio Theatre & Cafe, a film appearance in artist Richard Bell’s movie “5 for 35” (currently showing at APT8, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane), a cameo in “The Hobble & Snitch Show”, and even a hosting gig on “Juiced TV” – a TV show filmed at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. Troggg even got to meet Agro this year!
We also took the puppets along to perform in Childers, Toowoomba, and at the 5th Kooma Green School – a cultural exchange program held in the remote Indigenous community of Murra Murra in South-West Queensland. And Troggg got to accept a trophy at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne when Larrikin Puppets WON the BizCover NEIS Change Award at the National Small Business Development Conference! 
I managed to arrange Brisbane’s only cinema screening of the award winning documentary film, “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story” at Event Cinemas (hosted by Troggg of course). We raised $300 towards ovarian cancer research and awareness via Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer in memory of my Mum.
On a personal note, I got married this year! To the beautiful Elissa, who has been the most amazing friend anybody could ever wish for.
Here’s to more puppet fun and adventures in 2016!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
From Brett Hansen 🙂
MC Troggg introduces I Am Big Bird (Brisbane’s only screening)
On Monday 14th of September 2015, Larrikin Puppets (via Tugg and Vendetta Films) presented Brisbane’s only screening of award winning documentary “I Am Big Bird – The Caroll Spinney Story” at Event Cinemas, Myer Centre. About 140 people attended, which was a really great turnout!
Other cities in Australia got a general release of this film, but Brisbane missed out for some reason! So Brett Hansen created a petition to get the film into Brisbane cinemas. Eventually, the distribution company Vendetta Films stepped up and decided to help by sending the film to Tugg – an organisation who can get rare and independent films onto the big screen wherever you are in the world. Their partnership in Brisbane is Event Cinemas. So with thanks to Vendetta Films, Tugg and the wonderful Lauren, Tim and the team at Event Cinemas Myer Centre, we had our screening – hosted by Troggg.
The serious side of the event was to do with ovarian cancer. Brett Hansen lost his Mum Helen to ovarian cancer in 2010. His brothers Todd and Dale have done many things over the years to raise money for research and awareness – fun runs, stair climbs, beach volleyball. Brett wanted to run an event where he could use HIS skills, which include hiding behind things and putting his hand inside things. Finally, an opportunity came up where he could present a movie about another guy who likes to hide behind things and put his hand inside things… Or in the case of Big Bird – both at the same time! So the evening was dedicated to the memory of Brett’s Mum.
5% of ticket sales and all money raised from the raffle tickets was donated to the QLD Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research, who are very busy trying to find early detection methods for ovarian cancer. There is no way of knowing or checking if you have it until it’s too late. A big thank you to QCGC Research for getting on board with this special evening.
I Am Big Bird – The Caroll Spinney Story chronicles the life of puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who is in his 80s and still working at Sesame Street today! From a bullied child to working with Jim Henson and performing two of the world’s most loveable and iconic characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
It was a very heartwarming film with a lot of unbelievable events that made the whole room fill with gasps. It was also very funny. All who attended were very thankful to have witnessed such a thought provoking film.
Please enjoy these photos of the event – from the raffle ticket table in the foyer to Troggg’s introduction of the film.
I Am Big Bird: Brisbane’s only Screening!
I Am Big Bird Comes to Brisbane for One Night Only to help with Ovarian Cancer Research and Awareness
Larrikin Puppets presents Brisbane’s only screening of the award winning, “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story”. This heartwarming film chronicles the life of Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who has performed Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969.Where: Event Cinemas Myer Centre – Level 3 Myer Centre, 91 Elizabeth St, Brisbane.
When: 7pm, Monday 14 September 2015.
Tickets: $20. Only online at https://www.tugg.com/events/40270 . There are currently 71 tickets remaining, and less than two weeks to secure those seats!
Funds being raised for ovarian cancer research and awareness through a raffle prize and 5% of ticket sales. The event is held in loving memory of Helen Jean Hansen (Brett’s Mum), who lost her very short battle with ovarian cancer in 2010. Chosen charity: QLD Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research.
MC: Troggg (Brisbane’s own ‘Muppet’). He’s honoured to introduce this film about his heroes Big Bird and Oscar. Troggg’s handler (puppeteer Brett Hansen) is the eldest son of Helen.
For over 4 decades, Caroll’s characters have been cherished by generations of children. At 81 years old, the tenacious and enthusiastic performer has no intention of slowing down. I AM BIG BIRD features incredible footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces Caroll’s journey from bullied child to celebrated performer. This loving portrait peels away the instances that inspired his creation of Big Bird and as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.
When: 7pm, Monday 14 September 2015.
Tickets: $20. Only online at https://www.tugg.com/
Funds being raised for ovarian cancer research and awareness through a raffle prize and 5% of ticket sales. The event is held in loving memory of Helen Jean Hansen (Brett’s Mum), who lost her very short battle with ovarian cancer in 2010. Chosen charity: QLD Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research.
MC: Troggg (Brisbane’s own ‘Muppet’). He’s honoured to introduce this film about his heroes Big Bird and Oscar. Troggg’s handler (puppeteer Brett Hansen) is the eldest son of Helen.
For over 4 decades, Caroll’s characters have been cherished by generations of children. At 81 years old, the tenacious and enthusiastic performer has no intention of slowing down. I AM BIG BIRD features incredible footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces Caroll’s journey from bullied child to celebrated performer. This loving portrait peels away the instances that inspired his creation of Big Bird and as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.
Could Troggg appear on a cooking show like Grover did?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=94&v=gt5eh6dMMww
Here’s Sesame Street’s Grover appearing in the cooking segment of The Wendy Williams Show in the USA.
If our very own Troggg could ever appear on an Australian cooking show, which one would you like to see him on? And what could he assist with cooking?
Should Troggg be like the Swedish Chef from The Muppet Show and host his own cooking show? That might be taking it a bit far.
But we think Troggg would fit in quite well as an assistant to a human chef on a cooking show. Grover did a great job.
Puppets in Australia
Time and time again, people tell me that what we do here at Larrikin Puppets is something that is rarely seen in Australia. Other performers of puppetry at parties and festivals are definitely out there. But our exposure to puppets certainly isn’t as full on as it used to be in mainstream media, particularly on television. Those old enough to remember our vast history of popular puppets in Australia will remember some of these gems from TV:
1. Mr. Squiggle – A marionette puppet performed by Norman Hetherington for several decades! Kids would send ‘squiggles’ into the show (random lines, dots and shapes) for Mr. Squiggle to complete. Using his pencil nose, he’d join all the lines and shapes together to create a new picture. And it was always upside-down because Norman (a cartoonist also) would be looking at it from above. The human hostess of the show would then turn the picture the right way up to reveal what it is. Other puppets on the show were Blackboard, Rocket, Bill the Steam Shovel (all marionettes), and Gus the Snail (a hand puppet). All puppets were performed by Norman Hetherington.
2. Agro – Performed by Jamie Dunn, Agro won several Logie Awards throughout his nearly thirty year career on Australian television. He appeared on Seven’s Super Saturday, The Super Saturday Show, The Super Sunday Show, Boris’ Breakfast Club, Wombat, The Hi Hello Show, and Agro’s Cartoon Connection. All shows featured game segments, comedy skits, competitions and cartoons. Agro’s humour appealed to both kids and adults.
3. Hey Hey It’s Saturday – Ozzie Ostrich was a primetime favourite for many decades, after initially appearing on Saturday morning kids’ TV. Performed by Ernie Carroll, he was part of a much loved comedy duo with Daryl Somers.
4. The Ferals – Probably as close as we got to The Muppet Show here in Australia. The original series mixed humans with puppets. A newer series called Feral TV had the puppets on their own, trying to run their own TV station. Characters included a rat called Rattus (David Collins), a feral cat called Modigliana (Mal Heap), a rabbit called Mixy (Emma DeVries), and a feral dog called Derryn (Terry Ryan).
5. The New Adventures of Blinky Bill – The outer skin of most of these puppet characters were made of a thick yarn, giving them their wooly, furry appearance. Characters included Blinky Bill, Mrs Magpie, Angelina Wallaby, Walter Wombat, Charlie Goanna, Eric Echidna, Sybilla Snake and Kerry Koala. The series was shot outdoors in an Australian bushland setting. Puppeteers were Ross Browning, Janet Ashelford and Alan Highfield.
6. The Book Place – The Bookworm (performed by puppeteer Michael Scheld) appeared in this series set in a library where adult hosts would read stories and sing songs.
7. The Channel Niners – Cyril the snake and DB Platypus were among the puppets featured in this Saturday morning kids’ show filled with game segments, competitions and cartoons. Cyril was performed by puppeteer David Napier.
8. C’mon Kids – One of the two duck puppets on this show was called Winky Dink. The show featured games, comedy segments and educational entertainment.
9. Young Talent Time – A yellow dog puppet (designed and performed by Martin Pirrie) would often sing and dance along to the songs and skits, and appear at the end of the show when Johnny Young and the cast would sing “All My Loving”.
10. Lift Off – From the faceless, genderless character called EC (who hung out with the kids) to the quirky rubbery puppets in the Wakadoo bar/restaurant, Lift Off was certainly a strange and interesting series.
11. Play Along with Ollie – Ollie is an Australian Muppet monster on Nick Jr. segments, performed by Mal Heap.
12. Sammy J and Randy – A purple humanoid puppet named Randy performed by Heath McIvor as part of the comedy duo “Sammy J and Randy”.
13. Giggle and Hoot – A blue owl puppet named Hoot performed by Nicholas Richard, as part of the kids’ TV series “Giggle and Hoot”.
14. Shirl’s Neighbourhood – Puppeteer Ron Mueck (who later went on to work with Jim Henson on Labyrinth and Fraggle Rock) built and performed the puppet characters in this popular afternoon TV show that aired on Channel Nine between 1979 and 1983. Characters included Ol’ Possum, Claude The Crow, Stanley The Snake, Greenfinger the Garden Gnome, Yippee the Bunyip, Bartholomew the Sheep and several monkeys.
Can you think of any other puppet characters you grew up with on TV or otherwise? What are some other newer puppets you’ve seen lately?
Troggg hosts Juiced TV | Larrikin Puppets
Troggg was delighted to be able to host an episode of Juiced TV at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital!
Watch as Troggg and his co-star Shania appear throughout the show. Then Pip Russell interviews Brett Hansen at the end about puppetry, and how some of the different puppets work. It’s an action packed show filled with music and wildlife too, such as performances by Tasman Jude and some interesting facts about the bandicoot.
