Life In The Ted Lane
Ted and his sister Lindsay talk about Ted's adventures, plus entertainment news, Muppet news, and autism news. Copyright Harris Productions and 6630 Productions.
Life In The Ted Lane
Ending Winter: Woodmere Museum, Muppets 3-D in VR and Autism Truth vs. RFK Jr.
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Gloomy weather turns into a bright walk through Woodmere Art Museum and a debate over whether MuppetVision 3D can survive inside a headset without losing its heartbeat. We review a new Muppet Show pilot, unpack autism misinformation, and spotlight real steps that make public safety kinder.
- highlights from Woodmere and Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations
- tips for navigating galleries, hours, crowds, and nearby eats
- MuppetVision 3D on Apple Vision Pro and what VR can’t replace
- Brian Henson’s preservation stance and fan reactions
- new Muppet Show pilot review and hopes for more
- FDA scam cures page removal, RFK Jr.'s autism advisors, and why these matter
- why a cure is less important than acceptance
- better policing through sensory training in Los Angeles
- plans for Calder Gardens and future adventures
Resources:
Woodmere Art Museum
Teaching Resources for Soul, Sound, and Voice: The Art of Jerry Pinkney
Autism Acceptance Walk, March 14
When slowing down can save a life: Training L.A. law enforcement to understand autism
- For more information, visit us at 6630 Productions
- Write us a review on Podchaser or Apple Podcasts
May your life be filled with magic!
Ted: Hello! Welcome to Life in The Ted Lane! I’m your host, Ted Harris. With me is the Little John next to my Robin Hood, Lindsay Harris Friel!
Lindsay: Does this mean you’re a fox, and I’m a bear?
Ted: Yes.
Lindsay: Does that mean I can go hibernate? Bye!
Ted: Lindsay, get back here! This is the podcast where we talk about my adventures, Broadway and Hollywood News, Muppet News, and what it’s like to be autistic.
In this nugget of brilliance, we are going to talk about:
ADVENTURE HEADLINE: Our trip to the Woodmere Art Museum, with art by Jerry Pinkney
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS HEADLINE: You know how sometimes Cap’n Crunch is “Oops! All Berries!” This episode is OOPS! All Muppets!
Disneyland’s “MuppetVision 3D” will be released on the Apple Vision Pro. Here’s why Brian Henson is okay with it
Muppet News: Ted’s review of The Muppet Show
AUTISM NEWS HEADLINE: FDA takes down page warning of crank autism cures as RFK Jr. nominates people who have promoted them
Let’s get started!
PART 1 TED’S ADVENTURE:
We went to the Woodmere Art Museum and we saw a lot of interesting art. First we saw ceramic statues and then we saw children’s book illustrations by a guy named Jeffery Pinkney. Jeffery Pinkney was a children’s book illustrator who lived in Philadelphia in the 1960s and 1970s. He did a lot of art for children’s books that are watercolors and pen and ink, he also did a lot of album covers for classical music artists, he drew commercial illustrations of jazz musicians and Jimi Hendrix. We didn’t get to see everything because there was an education tour that day. We also saw art by children, they used a lot of bold colors and bright colors, reminds me of my own art, we also saw art in the historical section, we crossed into the new building and saw lots of new art, including snowman paintings that are pen and ink and watercolors, and acrylic paintings and a huge painting of a gorilla. We also saw Norman Rockwell type paintings, and we almost saw the nudes but we said no and left the room. Nude paintings. Geez, wash your mind out with soap! There’s children who listen to this podcast!
To recap: The Woodmere has terrific art by Philadelphia artists, and a new building, and you should go see it.
Things That Autistic People and Their Caregivers, Family, and Friends Should Know Before They Go:
Remember to have time for snacks, take time for bathroom breaks, don’t settle for when it’s too crowded, They are closed on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, so Wednesday to Saturday is your best bet. Don’t go when there are school tours. Bring enough money for tickets, lunch, and maybe two sodas.
PART 2 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS HEADLINE:
Disneyland’s “MuppetVision 3D” will be released on the Apple Vision Pro. Here’s why Brian Henson is okay with it , by Jamie Hrak for The Daily Dot
SUMMARY:
Segment: MuppetVision 3D Goes VR — Good Idea or Meh?
- MuppetVision 3D closed at Hollywood Studios in Florida last year after nearly 35 years.
- It was the last project Jim Henson worked on before his death in 1990.
- Disney filmed the attraction.
- It will be released on the Apple Vision Pro and other VR headsets.
Why This Matters
- For many fans, this wasn’t just a ride.
- It was a historical artifact:
- Jim Henson’s final project
- A theatrical experience built for a live audience
- The show included:
- In-theater animatronics
- 3D effects
- Physical gags happening around you
Which raises the question: Can VR recreate a room full of chaos and felt?
Brian Henson’s Take
Brian Henson (Jim Henson’s son, current chairman of The Jim Henson Company) addressed the move.
His attitude:
- “It’s better than it not coming to VR.”
- They did a thorough job capturing it.
- In VR, users can choose their seat in the theater.
He seems pragmatic:
Preservation is better than disappearance.
Fan Reactions (Very Mixed)
Some people are excited.
- Glad it’s being preserved.
- Some say they’d buy a headset for old attractions.
- Happy Disney is honoring Muppet history.
Some people are frustrated.
- Why not rebuild it in California?
- The original theater space still exists.
- VR misses the point because:
- It was designed as a physical, shared experience.
- Animatronics popping out of walls aren’t the same in a headset.
One fan summed it up:
VR doesn’t replace “the tangible Muppet experience.”
Ted and Lindsay think:
- A VR headset like the Apple Vision Pro starts around $3,899.
- That makes this “preservation” accessible to a tiny percentage of fans.
- And:
- MuppetVision relied on audience energy.
- Physical gags in the room.
- The feeling of being in a chaotic shared space.
A headset is immersive, but solitary, and Muppets are communal.
Bigger Context
- Disney owns The Muppets (since 2004).
- They’re revamping Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster with The Electric Mayhem.
- There’s renewed interest in Muppets content.
- Some see VR as:
- A testing ground
- A preservation archive
- Or a consolation prize
Puppetry is about shared imagination. A headset is powerful tech. But it’s not a room full of strangers laughing at Gonzo.
And, speaking of a roomful of strangers laughing at Gonzo:
PART 3 MUPPET NEWS HEADLINE:
Ted’s Review of The New Muppet Show Episode
Here is the story:
The Muppets have just released a pilot for a new Muppet Show, it has Sabrina Carpenter trying to recreate Miss Piggy’s looks, and new and interesting Muppets, also Maya Rudolph has a appearance and he tries to keep it cool, also Seth Rogan directed the show and wrote a lot of the songs, and there is chaos as Kermit tries to keep everything under control.
What Ted thinks:
The Muppets have all the moves they have had all these years, and I think this was very well done, I feel this was a good show and hopefully this will lead to more shows in the future. This is a show that no one will forget, and I’m looking forward to more shows.
I think that this is important because this is good for people of all ages, children will love The Muppets, adults will love the humor and the surrealism, freaky people will love the Muppets, this will lead to a comeback for the Muppets and hopefully more shows.
What should we do? Wait and see, keep following this news story, or take action?
I think we should keep following this news story and see where it leads.
PART 4 AUTISM NEWS HEADLINE:
FDA takes down page warning of crank autism cures as RFK Jr. nominates people who have promoted them, written by Eric Garcia for The Independent
Here is the news story, summarized:
We want to share a quick update about something happening in federal health policy that affects autistic people and families.
* This is information, not an emergency
* You don’t have to solve anything right now
What Happened
* The FDA removed a webpage that warned about fake autism cures (like, for example, goat's milk butter will not cure autism).
* At the same time, new federal autism advisers were appointed.
* Some of those advisers have promoted ideas that scientists have already disproven.
Why People Are Concerned
* The advisory group helps guide government decisions about autism research and services.
* If leadership priorities change, funding and messaging can change too.
* Experts worry this could shift focus:
* away from support and services
* toward searching for “causes” or “cures” that aren’t evidence-based.
Important Grounding Facts
* Autism is not caused by vaccines.
*Vaccines do not cause autism.
* There is no proven cure for autism. People who have autism are not a thing to be cured.
* Rising diagnosis numbers mostly reflect better recognition and understanding.
* Autistic people have always existed.
“Nothing about this news changes who autistic people are or what they deserve.”
Why This Matters for Families
* When official guidance gets unclear, misinformation spreads faster.
* Misinformation can pressure parents into unsafe or expensive treatments.
* Reliable science and autistic voices help protect families from that.
We’ll keep paying attention and sharing updates when they matter.
For now, what matters most is this: autistic people deserve respect, support, and accurate information.
Ted: Why do they think of autistic people as clowns? Why are people so afraid? Why can’t we give autistic people the dignity they deserve?
Autistic people are not weird or odd, and they should be protected, respected, never deglected, and loved. They are not clowns that make us crazy, they are our brothers, our sisters, or sons, our daughters, our cousins, our grandsons, our granddaughters, our nieces and nephews. They are the kid next door; they are all around us. They are God’s children. God created them as individuals. Or, if you are agnostic, the universe ctreated them as individuals.
What should we do? Wait and see, keep following this news story, or take action?
I think we should follow this story and see what happens next and figure out what to do from here.
Ted: Hey Lindsay!
Lindsay: Hey what, Ted?
Ted: Did you hear that RFK Jr. actually met a kid who has autism spectrum disorder?
Lindsay: Uh-oh, what happened?
Ted: The staffer who introduced the kid said, “This is Jimmy, he has excellent pattern recognition.” and RFK Jr. said, “That’s exactly why I’m nervous.”
Ted: RFK Jr. says autism is a burden on society.
Meanwhile, autistic people are out here burdened by sudden loud noises, scratchy clothing tags, and grown men who ignore peer-reviewed studies.
Ted: RFK Jr. talks like autistic people are intimidating.
Sir, they’re just trying to enjoy their special interests and maybe a snack. You’re the one treating oxygen tanks like they’re potions class at Hogwarts.
(apparently RFK Jr. thinks puttting kids who have autism in hyperbaric oxygen chambers will flush the autism out of their system, which is unproven and ridiculous)
OK, enough of that. On to some Good News Topics you may have missed. We promised some good news topics!
WNYTV reports that The Autism Acceptance Walk is coming up in Watertown, NY on Saturday, March 14. It’s indoors at the SUNY CARC Field House, so nobody has to slog through the snow. If you live in the Watertown area and want to participate, follow our link in the show notes.
Ted: Doesn’t RFK Jr. have a house in upstate New York?
Lindsay: I think he might.
Ted: I just hope RFK Jr. isn’t in the area that weekend.
Lindsay: Do you think people would yell at him?
Ted: No. Just because 500 autistic people with a strong sense of justice and excellent pattern recognition might politely ask him follow-up questions, for a very long time.
Lindsay: Oh no….
Ted: He’s going to be surrounded by people who fact-check recreationally.
Lindsay: We should quit picking on that poor man.
Ted: Yeah, he’s not here to try to defend himself.
Lindsay: he does like to go on podcasts, though. Maybe we should have him on as a guest.
Ted: Perish the thought!
More Autism Good News:
In Los Angeles County, sheriff’s deputies are now being trained to recognize autism and sensory overload. During the training, officers wear vision-distorting glasses, deal with loud noises and flashing lights, and try to complete simple tasks while overwhelmed.
The goal is simple but powerful: help them understand what sensory overload actually feels like.
They’re also given tools like communication cards, whiteboards, and noise-reducing headphones to help during real encounters.
Why does this matter? Because autistic behavior under stress can be misunderstood as defiance or suspicious behavior. Training helps officers recognize what’s really happening and respond calmly.
And that can save lives. So this is the kind of news we like to see: understanding replacing assumptions, and preparation replacing panic.
TED: And honestly, if more people practiced staying calm when things get overwhelming… the world would run a lot smoother.
PART 5 THE WRAP-UP:
What are we looking forward to doing in the future? What kind of adventures do we want to have? We’re thinking about going to Calder Gardens to see Alexander Calder’s art.
In the next episode, we hope to have good news for you.
CLOSING SECTION:
TED: Well, that’s our show. If you want to learn more about us:
- You can find my videos on YouTube, search for Harris Puppets,
- you can learn more about us at 6630Productions.com, and
- you can write to us at info@6630productions.com.
Tell your friends if you like this show, and please write us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser.
If you have sound clips you want to share, singing a song, or telling a joke, you can send them to us. You can send it to us at
info@6630productions.com
Just remember to keep them in good taste. If you have art you want to share you can send them to us and we can put the art on our blog.
Thank you for listening. Bye for now! Stay tuned for more LIFE IN THE TED LANE.
SHOW NOTES:
When slowing down can save a life: Training L.A. law enforcement to understand autism - AOL
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