The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Latest Episodes:

How The Muppet Movie Set the Stage for Universal’s Muppet Deal (Ep. 39) Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey continue their deep dive into The Muppets’ surprising relationship with Universal Studios, exploring how Jim Henson’s creations almost found a home with the studio long before Disney. Plus, they cover the latest Universal news and updates. Highlights include:

The Muppets & Universal: How The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal were distributed by Universal, and why the studio took a risk on Jim Henson’s boldest project.
Jim Henson’s Hollywood Struggles: The challenges Henson faced in getting The Dark Crystal financed and how Universal nearly lost faith in the project.
Volcano Bay’s First-Ever Nighttime Event: What to expect from Universal’s new after-hours water park experience.
Epic Universe Updates: A first look at Universal’s life-size animatronic dragons appearing at Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk.
Harry Potter’s New Wands at Epic Universe: The latest sneak peek at the exclusive wand collection coming to the Ministry of Magic.

This episode blends theme park history, Muppet nostalgia, and the latest Universal Studios news. If you're a fan of The Muppets, Universal Studios, or Hollywood what-ifs, this one’s for you!

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How Disney Printed Its Own Money and Why It Disappeared (Ep. 36) Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take a trip down memory lane to discuss Disney’s long-lost currency, exciting new merch releases, and how Disney fans keep the magic alive through collectibles.

The History of Disney Dollars – How Disney once printed its own money, why it disappeared, and whether it could make a comeback.
Pin Trading’s 25th Anniversary – The latest must-have pins, why the math isn’t adding up, and how pin trading has become a Disney subculture.
Monsters, Inc. Crocs & Merch Madness – The fuzzy Sulley shoes making waves and whether they belong in the parks or just at home.
Pinocchio Turns 85 – A look at the anniversary merch celebrating one of Disney’s most iconic animated films.
LA Strong T-Shirt for Wildfire Relief – Disney’s new charity merch and how you can support a great cause.

Whether you’re a longtime Disney collector or just love the nostalgia of old-school Disney perks, this episode has something for every fan. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

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How to Train Your Dragon’s Live-Action Leap and The Race for Best Animated Feature (Ep. 294) Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dive into the biggest stories in animation, including:

The live-action How to Train Your Dragon – Drew shares behind-the-scenes details from his visit to the Universal lot, where he sat in the editing bay with director Dean DeBlois.
The Academy Awards race heats up! With the Oscars just two weeks away, The Wild Robot and Flow battle for Best Animated Feature.
Box office updates: Ne Zha 2 smashes records in China, surpassing Frozen 2’s worldwide gross in just 18 days.
The return of Feathers McGraw! Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl wins big at the BAFTAs, and Drew uncovers how Aardman revived the iconic villain.
Disney blinks! Elio moves its release date after the first How to Train Your Dragon trailer drops.

Tune in for exclusive industry insights, awards buzz, and deep dives into animation’s biggest stories!

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Is D23 the New Magic Kingdom Club… and Is It Worth It? (Ep. 519) Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill break down Hollywood Studios’ unannounced Villaintines Day event, Disney’s history of lost resort projects, and Universal’s wild new food lineup for Epic Universe.

Villaintines Day at Hollywood Studios – How Disney surprised guests with an unannounced villains-themed event, complete with rare character greetings and themed giveaways.
Cypress Point Lodge: The Disney Resort That Never Was – The story behind Disney’s planned moderate resort and why it never happened.
Monorail Expansion Plans – Disney once had a serious plan to extend the monorail to Disney Springs—what happened?
Epic Universe Food Preview – Universal’s upcoming theme park reveals its menu, featuring everything from blood orange chicken sandwiches to a one-pound meatball.
Star Wars Updates at Disneyland – A new projection show and character greeting suggest Disney is relaxing Galaxy’s Edge’s original timeline.

Join Len and Jim as they explore Disney’s secret events, abandoned projects, and the latest theme park surprises.

SHOW NOTES

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Ryan Gosling in Star Wars? The Future of Lucasfilm, Galactic Starcruiser, and Andor Season 2 (Ep. 103) Feb 15, 2025

Show notes

In this February 2025 episode of Looking at Lucasfilm, Jim Hill and Brian Gaughan cover the latest developments in the Star Wars universe and beyond:

Is Ryan Gosling joining the galaxy far, far away? A deep dive into Shawn Levy’s upcoming Star Wars movie and what it means for the franchise.
The surprising transformation of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser—how Disney Imagineering is repurposing the former hotel space.
Updates on Andor Season 2, why fans were left disappointed during the Super Bowl, and what to expect leading up to its April 2025 premiere.
The evolution of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, including Luke Skywalker's new role in Batuu and the upcoming nighttime projection show, Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga.
How the upcoming Rey film is shaping up, plus insights into Lucasfilm’s leadership shake-up with Derek Hoffman taking the reins.
Harrison Ford’s candid thoughts on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and the realities of Hollywood box office expectations.

From behind-the-scenes insights to theme park updates, this episode dives deep into what’s next for Lucasfilm. Join Jim and Brian for a lively discussion packed with news, history, and speculation.

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Could The Muppets Have Called Universal Home? (Ep. 38) Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into the fascinating history of The Muppets and their surprising connection to Universal Studios. Plus, they cover the latest Universal news and updates. Highlights include:

The Muppets & Universal: How The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal were distributed by Universal, raising the question—did Universal almost have the theme park rights to the Muppets?
Jim Henson’s Battle for Prime Time: How Henson pitched The Muppet Show to major networks before finding unexpected success overseas.
Saturday Night Live’s Muppet Experiment: The surprising (and disastrous) attempt to integrate Muppets into early SNL sketches.
FanFest at Universal Hollywood: Jim prepares for his upcoming trip to the new fan event, featuring Back to the Future and One Piece meet & greets.
Halloween Horror Nights 2024: Universal announces event dates for both Hollywood and Orlando—will M3GAN return for another creepy flash mob?
Lou Wasserman Statue Returns: The legendary Universal executive’s statue is back—Jim shares why Wasserman was a key figure in shaping Universal Studios.

This episode blends theme park history, pop culture deep dives, and the latest Universal Studios news. If you're a fan of The Muppets, Universal Studios, or theme park what-ifs, this one’s for you!

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Could The Muppets Have Called Universal Home? (Ep. 38) Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

The Muppets & Universal: How The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal were distributed by Universal, raising the question—did Universal almost have the theme park rights to the Muppets?
Jim Henson’s Battle for Prime Time: How Henson pitched The Muppet Show to major networks before finding unexpected success overseas.
Saturday Night Live’s Muppet Experiment: The surprising (and disastrous) attempt to integrate Muppets into early SNL sketches.
FanFest at Universal Hollywood: Jim prepares for his upcoming trip to the new fan event, featuring Back to the Future and One Piece meet & greets.
Halloween Horror Nights 2024: Universal announces event dates for both Hollywood and Orlando—will M3GAN return for another creepy flash mob?
Lou Wasserman Statue Returns: The legendary Universal executive’s statue is back—Jim shares why Wasserman was a key figure in shaping Universal Studios.

This episode blends theme park history, pop culture deep dives, and the latest Universal Studios news. If you're a fan of The Muppets, Universal Studios, or theme park what-ifs, this one’s for you!

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The Disney Wedding That Almost Happened: When Mickey and Minnie Nearly Tied the Knot (Ep. 35) Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

In this Valentine’s Day episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into all things Disney love, from dream weddings to magical merch and one of the strangest Disney proposals ever.

New Cinderella 75th Anniversary Merch – Cakeworthy’s latest collection celebrates the Disney classic with stunning apparel and accessories.
Disney Weddings and Vow Renewals – What does it cost to say “I do” in front of Cinderella Castle? We break down the price tags, perks, and hidden surprises of Disney Fairytale Weddings.
The Time Mickey and Minnie Almost Got Married – How Michael Eisner nearly made it official, and why Disney ultimately scrapped the idea.
The Real Mickey & Minnie Love Story – The voices behind Mickey and Minnie actually did fall in love and get married. Jim shares the heartwarming story of Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor.

Whether you’re planning a Disney wedding, reminiscing about the magic of Cinderella, or just love Disney history, this episode has something for every fan. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

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The Wild Robot Sweeps the Annies and The Lost Coyote vs. Acme Movie (Ep. 293) Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down one of the biggest nights in animation as The Wild Robot dominates the Annie Awards, winning eight major categories. They also dive into the frustrating fate of Coyote vs. Acme, the Warner Bros. live-action/animated film that was shelved despite glowing reviews. Plus, they discuss Dog Man’s unexpected second-week box office drop and the shifting landscape of animated features.

Also in this episode:

Why The Wild Robot’s Annie Award sweep could signal Oscar momentum.
How Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to scrap Coyote vs. Acme has angered fans and filmmakers.
What Dog Man’s box office drop-off means for the future of mid-budget animated films.
Where to stream Flow, the Oscar-nominated indie animated film making waves worldwide.

Tune in for expert insights, industry updates, and deep dives into the world of animation!

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How Disney Tried (and Failed) to Sell a Ticket Book for Fort Wilderness (Ep. 518) Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill dive into the history of Fort Wilderness and River Country, including the expansion that almost happened and how Disney’s first water park became a fan favorite before shutting down. Plus, Jim continues the story of Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge and why it never made it off the ground.

River Country’s Rise and Fall: How Disney’s first water park became wildly popular—and why it ultimately closed for good.
Fort Wilderness Expansion Plans: Disney once planned a whole Western-themed town for guests to explore—so what happened?
Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge: Jim uncovers more about the shelved resort project and what Disney originally planned for Bay Lake.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass Updates: Disney’s premium skip-the-line pass is selling out even on slow days—so is another price increase coming?
Epic Universe Previews Begin: What we know about Universal’s upcoming soft openings and when guests might get their first look.

Join Len and Jim for a deep dive into Disney history, surprising theme park changes, and what could be next for Fort Wilderness and Bay Lake.

SHOW NOTES

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