This week, your favorite former puppeteers blast off to the Tau Ceti system to talk about the true breakout star of Project Hail Mary—the lovable, five-legged alien engineer known simply as Rocky.

In an age when Hollywood can render just about anything with a mouse click, the filmmakers made a delightfully old-school decision: they put a puppet on set. Working with creature effects legend Neil Scanlan's team, a squad of puppeteers led by James Ortiz brought Rocky to life through a combination of practical puppetry, animatronics, and visual effects, giving Ryan Gosling a real scene partner instead of a tennis ball on a stick. The result is an alien who somehow has no face... and yet delivers one of the most emotionally expressive performances of the year.

We'll dive into the remarkable engineering behind Rocky's performance, from the multiple puppet builds created for different scenes to the team of puppeteers—affectionately nicknamed the "Rocketeers"—who coordinated every tilt, tap, and triumphant "Amaze!" We'll also explore how Ortiz's on-set performance was so integral to the character that he ultimately became Rocky's translated voice as well.

It's a celebration of practical effects, collaborative performance, and a timely reminder that sometimes the most believable character in a blockbuster isn't the one made entirely of pixels—it's the one brought to life by a handful of incredibly talented people hiding just outside the frame.

Because if there's one thing we've learned after years of hands in puppets, it's this: friendship is easier to believe... when your alien is actually in the room. 🚀

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Original Music Composed by Taetro. @Taetro https://www.taetro.com/

This week, your favorite former puppeteers trade foam and fleece for wood, steel, and centuries of tradition as they journey into the spectacular world of Opera dei Pupi—Sicily's legendary marionette theater where every performance is packed with clashing swords, heroic knights, treacherous villains, and enough melodrama to make Miss Piggy seem subtle.

Long before superheroes dominated the box office, Sicilian audiences flocked to see the adventures of Charlemagne's paladins, inspired by medieval epics like The Song of Roland and tales of Orlando. These weren't dainty nursery puppets—they were beautifully carved warriors weighing up to 35 pounds, capable of spectacular sword fights that left audiences cheering night after night.

We'll explore how Opera dei Pupi evolved from 19th-century street entertainment into one of the world's most celebrated puppet traditions, the ingenious mechanics that allow these armored marionettes to duel with surprising grace, and why Sicilian puppeteers are equal parts actor, engineer, historian, and blacksmith.

It's history, heroics, and handcrafted artistry—a reminder that while puppets may come in every shape and size, they've always had the power to tell epic stories.

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Original Music Composed by Taetro. @Taetro https://www.taetro.com/

This week, your favorite former puppeteers revisit The Muppet Show episode featuring comedy legend Gilda Radner, where the biggest scene-stealer isn't Kermit, Miss Piggy, or even Gonzo—it's a bottle of Muppet Labs Super Adhesive.

What starts as another "perfectly safe" demonstration from Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker quickly spirals into one of the show's funniest running gags, as the adhesive proves remarkably good at one thing: sticking absolutely everything to absolutely everything else. Before long, Muppets, props, and unsuspecting bystanders are becoming one giant felt-and-foam sculpture, while Gilda gamely throws herself into the escalating chaos with the commitment of someone who clearly understood the assignment.

We'll break down why this episode is such a masterclass in visual comedy, how the Muppets turn a simple gag into twenty-five minutes of comic gold, and why Gilda Radner's fearless, playful energy made her a perfect fit for the Muppet Theater.

It's slapstick, super glue, and spectacular puppetry—the kind of episode that reminds us the best Muppet jokes don't just land... they stick.

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Join the discussion on our discord! https://discord.gg/JDtWJrhPF6

Follow us on twitter @PMoNPodcast and on Instagram and Threads @puppetmastersofnone

Find out more about the puppet masters on our website: https://puppetmastersofnone.wixsite.com/puppetmastersofnone

Original Music Composed by Taetro. @Taetro https://www.taetro.com/