How a Jim Henson Christmas Special Helped Point Pixar Toward Toy Story (Ep. 79)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Places & Travel, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 25 December 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It’s a Christmas Day edition of I Want That Too, and Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey wrap up the year with a festive mix of Disney merch news, pop culture crossovers, and a deep dive into Jim Henson’s long love affair with holiday specials. Along the way, the conversation connects some surprising dots between a largely forgotten Henson TV special and the early creative struggles that eventually led Pixar to Toy Story. NEWS • The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta closes out its Festive Features exhibit showcasing rare Jim Henson holiday puppets • Disney’s Hollywood Studios opens early to handle crowds eager to see Taylor Swift Eras Tour costumes • A new Disney Store Princess shirt sparks Swiftie speculation thanks to its lyric-inspired design • Disney Store holiday merchandise drops to 50 percent off before Christmas, shifting end-of-year shopping strategies FEATURE • Why Jim Henson repeatedly turned to holiday specials as creative and financial anchors • How A Christmas Toy reunited the Fraggle Rock team after the series ended • The long-running fan theory connecting A Christmas Toy, Pixar’s Tin Toy, and Toy Story • How Pixar’s abandoned holiday special pitch ultimately became a theatrical classic HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com, from the same trusted team behind DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market. If a Disney or Universal trip is anywhere on your wish list, UnlockedMagic offers great ticket deals handled by experts who know Disney travel inside and out. Visit UnlockedMagic.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's a reason we re-watch Home Alone every year.
0:03.0	Merry Christmas, you filthy animal.
0:05.0	It's because the best stories stay with you.
0:08.0	And Disney Plus is where you'll find your next great story.
0:12.0	Whether it's Fantastic Four First Steps.
0:15.0	We will protect you.
0:16.0	High-power drama, All's Fair.
0:18.0	Tell us your story.
0:19.0	Or brand new Percy Jackson. That was just the beginning.
0:22.4	A lifetime of great stories awaits on Disney Plus. Now streaming 18 plus subscription required.
0:29.0	Teas and Cs apply. Welcome back to I want that to the podcast where Disney merch meets Disney
0:34.5	history. I'm entertainment writer Jim Hill and as always I'm joined by the lovely
0:39.6	Lauren Hersey and we are in T-minus country for the holidays, right? I mean, well, this podcast goes
0:47.1	live on Christmas. So Merry Christmas. Were you a good boy this year or were you on the naughty list?
0:53.9	I think I may have made the top five on the naughty list.
0:58.2	I am anticipating coal futures.
1:02.6	You know, I mean, it's just a thing, you know, just the notion of, you know, I could,
1:06.7	I could corner the coal market this year.
1:09.1	I'm just saying.
1:10.1	But I think, I mean, whether you've been naughty or nice,
1:13.3	it sounds like you were telling me that you're going to have some presence to Jim
1:17.4	from Jim under the tree that you're excited about.
	...

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