Art is not free. Costs money to hire puppeteers for Crow, Tom Servo and Gypsy. Then there is the other stage staff and writers. Camera people, audio, and visual people. I can see it would cost a lot.
But it is so strange how the show started out on public access, and hit it big on Comedy Central with so many low-budget effects and sets being part of the charm. I mean Gypsy was made out a baby car seat!
I suppose the cast isn’t going to work for peanuts though, and movie rights are going to be a pain to pay for.
Don’t forget rights to run these old films.
Just doing a basic 3 camera talking head and making it look good isn’t exactly cheap. I spent enough time in TV production land.
Just me doing my stock clips has some costs such as camera, support equipment, hiring of talent when appropriate among other things.