Review: The Muppets "Hostile Makeover"

The second episode of the muppets, entitled "Hostile Makeover," aired this past week. This time we found the gang setting up Miss Piggy with Josh Groban to try and calm the set down, as code reds are the norm around the stage. Fozzie is invited to Jay Leno's house and steals something of his. And Bobo and the Newsman are selling cookies.

What was nice about this episode is that Piggy was happy! She was having a great time being with Josh Groban, and all the Muppets seemed to appreciate it . . . until she starts changing the show. There are some great jokes, especiall the Electric Mayhem going acoustic. The Up Late with Miss Piggy segment was fantastic and I hope we get to see more of those. It was funny and muppety. We also got to see more of Deadly and Scooter.

The Jay Leno and Fozzie plot line didn't really do much for me. We got some funny moments, but overall it didn't really seem to fit with the rest of the show. It was sort of wedged in there between Piggy and the backstage antics.

Same goes for the cookie selling rivalry between Bobo and the Newsman. I feel like there was potential here, but it didn't really go anywhere. There were some funny moments, but overall it didn't quite work.

I think we had some formatting issues with this episode. If you want to see three interconnected plot lines that work together, watch Phineas and Ferb. They mastered the three-plot story for an 11 minute program. I also found it odd that everyone, including the guests stars, were mean to the Muppets again. Why does everyone hate on them in this new format? I liked seeing Laurence Fishburne interact with Kermit, but not in that way. I get it was meant to motivated Kermit to get the show back to its normal state and get rid of Josh Groban, but it came off way too harsh. Kermit also called Groban a dork. Since when does Kermit call people names?

Here's the thing, we know how this characters behave behind the scenes. It was a regular part of The Muppet Show. Yes, Kermit gets mad once in a while, but he seems to be stuck in a stupor, permanently.

Anywho, besides the above comments, I think its most important that I laughed throughout the episode. I tuned in and will tune in next week as well. Let's hope we're getting closer to a more balanced format and some niceness from the characters.

Happy Birthday, Jim!

Happy Birthday to Jim Henson! 

Celebrate Jim's birthday today by doing something different, something fun, something nice, and something silly. Sing a song, play a game, make a friend, watch the clouds. Imagine. Laugh. Create. Design. Work Together. Celebrate.

Kermit and Miss Piggy No More!

Today we saw the most important announcement of the year - Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy are no longer a couple!

This announcement comes a mere two months before the new series, The Muppets, airs on ABC. Seems like a great way to generate interest in the series and get the Muppets back in the spotlight. Yesterday we got a new video from the Electric Mayhem and Sam Eagle. We do know from the pilot for the series that Kermit and Piggy are dating other people. However, I do wonder how much thought was put into what seems to be a publicity stunt. A sad one at that.

Here is how it happened:

For many Muppet fans, including us, this is quite an announcement. Heartbreaking, even! Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy have been through everything together - getting blown up, motorcycle chases, jail, hard times in Manhattan, a fake wedding in Manhattan (or was it?), sailing for adventure, and living in a house full of Muppets.

It's also odd that earlier today, we got this tweet from Mr. the Frog:

Even when the times got tough, their true love for each other showed. I think one of my favorite moments in their relationship comes from The Great Muppet Caper:

Followed by this beautiful song:

Here's my question for you Disney, would you break up Minnie and Mickey for the sake of a television series?

The Muppets Full Pilot

It's the video we've all been wanting to see. What did Bill Prady show ABC that got the Muppets their newest prime time show? No more waiting, because here it is!

We saw a lot of this footage in the teaser trailer that came out a few months ago. I think the teaser was well edited and really gave us a good flavor for the show. We do see that the language is more "adult." It's still a lot of fun with cameos and hopefully musical bits, especially with the show within a show feature. The idea of family is intact here, as the Muppets have always been this oddball group of performers who care deeply for one another.

Kermit and Piggy's relationship has taken another hit here. They appear to be officially broken up, though I'm a little skeptical about how far that plot device will take us. We do find out that it is not Spamela Hamderson, but instead Denise that Kermit is dating.

We also get another Kermit who's kind of a downer. Ever since The Muppets (2011), we've had this Kermit who doesn't quite seem to be as positive. I really hope this changes.

I'm looking forward to it for sure and can't wait to see what else is in store. Comic Con gave a lot of great information about the show, but it'll be great fun to see what Bill Prady brings to the Muppet gang this time around.

The Muppets Teaser Breakdown

The internet went Muppet today. Yes, it went Muppet all over the place. You can use Muppet that way, go ahead and try it. The new teaser for the much talked about ABC series had a wonderful trailer that is quickly winning people over with it's humor and close look at the unknown personal lives of the Muppets. However, I would like to add this idea of the Muppets' personal lives is not a new one. The backstage sequences of The Muppet Show were basically the personal lives of the characters. This time we get to see them in a contemporary setting dealing with contemporary problems. And it's just as delightful as expected.

Here's a breakdown of the trailer:

 

Opening shot with a bunch of Muppets and Mahna Mahna playing. Muppet fans love group shots! Look! There's Lew Zealand, the Swedish Chef, Floyd, Animal, Behemoth, Gonzo, Sam Eagle, Walter, Big Mean Carl, Sweetums, a penguin, Dr. Teeth, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Spamela Hamderson, Pops, and Kermit!

 Lower case title card. Nice. And it's a statement. It's what every Muppet fan wants to hear!

Kermit is sitting in traffic. He is just like us!

Rowlf and Scooter discuss Rowlf's surgery . . . and the cone of shame. Scooter is sporting some new threads. There's Uncle Deadly and Janice, too!

Fozzie has a girlfriend! It seems there's some hesitation with her family about interspecies dating. What would Emily Bear think? Fozzie's also wearing a different tie!

Floyd thinks handheld cameras and cut-aways to characters talking is a great idea for the show.

Gonzo, not so much. Until we cut back away to a wide shot. A great bit of humor here. There's Rizzo in the background, eating as usual.

Piggy must be shooting a show or a movie because goodness knows she wouldn't choose to wear this in public. Also, she can't remember anyone but Kermit. That blue guy on the left is Gary.

 

Kermit likes Pigs. He says it and we know it. I mean this is the second time we see Spamela Hamderson in the teaser! Look and there's Zoot and Crazy Harry!

We get to see rare and obscure Muppets?! Thank goodness! Here's Angel Marie, Sunshine (or the Thingy Thing), Chip (a muppet parody of Bill Prady, last seen in the Jim Henson Hour and Muppets From Space) some sort of Frackle-ish muppet, and Beautiful Day.

 In no way is that statement ambiguous. The Muppets are back . . . on television. It's always interesting that Disney keeps saying that the Muppets were gone. They've never been gone, just doing different things.

Uncle Deadly, Sweetums, Kermit, and the Newsman. It's great to see so many characters in just this 2 minute and 41 second teaser.

The Swedish Chef, no doubt working on a dish using power tools. Perfect.

Just look at all of those Muppets!!! Squeeeee!

Bunsen and Beaker are back! So is Wayne and Wanda!

Nothing's funnier than Miss Piggy's big moment ruined by something, in this case a pane of glass. It's also nice to hear her say that the Muppets are her family. A family in which she can't remember anyone's name. You know, except the Tooth Guy.

The band is all here!

Including that blue guy. Don't tell Piggy, but his name is Zoot.

Piggy saving face while Gonzo over hears. Also, Gonzo drinks coffee and still enjoys his chili pepper shirt!

Kermit must have let Fozzie type these title cards. Didn't he learn after Harry Belafonte was on the show? 

The Muppets are back Tuesdays, this fall. In case you had trouble reading.

More Spamela Hamderson! Also Janice! Piggy comes in and takes over this scene promptly, knocking Spamela out of the way. Good for her! Kermit mentions that perhaps Piggy has
"made my bacon-wrapped life a hell on earth." Adult indeed.

And what's a Muppet show without everyone's favorite hecklers, Statler and Waldorf! 

Clocking in at 2 minutes and 41 seconds, this teaser is jam-packed with Muppet goodness for new and old fans alike. If this is any indication of what is to come, then bring it on! It'll be fun seeing the Muppets on television again and bringing laughs to a whole new generation. It's time to play the music and it's time to light the lights this fall on ABC.

The Muppet Show is officially back!

It's time to play the music! It's time to light the lights!  It's time to get things started on the new Muppet Show tonight!  ABC has green lit the new Muppet Show for television and we'll be seeing the first season soon!

"The recent pilot presentation, we’re told, received a standing ovation when it screened for ABC executives a couple weeks ago." - Entertainment Weekly

The Muppets are "The Cool Kids"

The Muppets have teamed up with Youtube Space LA for a ton of new videos being released throughout the year! All this week we’ll showcase those videos from the Muppets and Youtube’s top talent! Watch as Mike Tompkins and The Muppets sing Echosmith's "The Cool Kids." We can't wait to see what else The Muppets will do in this unique showcase.

The Muppets go Mockumentary

Following the news that ABC is producing a new Muppet Show, Entertainment weekly has released more details about the revival. EW states that the show will be a mockumentary-style show in the style of The Office and Parks & Rec. It is also described as having the same feel as 30 Rock. Interestingly enough, Tina Fey said she loosely based 30 Rock off the Muppets and The Muppet Show, which brings the whole cycle full circle.

The concept so far is that the Muppets are trying to launch a new show and do what they do best, a variety show. The official statement from ABC is as follows:
ABC’s official new logline reads: “

The Muppets return to prime time with a contemporary, documentary-style show that—for the first time ever—will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, break-ups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires; a more adult Muppet show, for kids of all ages.”

One can only speculate what "adult" issues the Muppets would tackle in their new show. We already know Walter's history from Disney's The Muppets. Kermit's life is pretty well documented, from his early years in Kermit's Swamp Years to how he became the famous frog he is today in The Muppet Movie. We met Fozzie's family in A Muppet Family Christmas. Gonzo had is own movie in Muppets from Space and he is the Prince of Plungers. Piggy, well, we don't know a ton about Miss Piggy besides she is a model, speaks French (somewhat), UN interpreter, perfume expert, etc.

We'll just have to wait and see what ABC has in store but hopefully they will return the Muppets back to their roots as a variety show breaking bounds and appropriate for all ages.

It's Time to Get Things Started with the Muppet Show Revival

The Muppets and Bill Prady (inset)

In case you've been walled up in a basement by pigs with only a spoon to make your escape, you may have missed the amazing news - The Muppets are getting a revival on ABC!

The Hollywood Reporter and other news sources tell us that the new series will be filming a pilot that could go straight to series. The new pilot is being co-written by Bill Prady of The Big Bang Theory and Bob Kushell of Anger Managment and 3rd Rock from the Sun and will be executive produced and directed by Randall Einhorn of Wilfred.

The show be a variety format with old and probably new characters alike. A mention of Fozzie and his girlfriend seems interesting. The pilot episode is said to have the Muppets meeting at ABC studios to discuss the new Muppet Show, but Miss Piggy is holding things up.

I certainly hope the show will be picked up. We had a close call a few years back when a pilot was being shopped around but was ultimately passed on. As Muppet Moments premieres on Disney Junior today, let's hope we get Muppets in more than just interstitial and short clips. Let's also hope that we get a full cast of characters. It seems that past characters, like Robin, Sweetums, and the crew of the Swinetrek, have been pushed aside for the creation of new characters like Walter and Constantine.

Buzzfeed also has an interview full of amazing gifs of Kermit answering 29 questions. He tells all about karaoke, divas, Miss Piggy, and One Direction. Check it out!

Disney Junior premiered Muppet Moments today on Disney Junior. You can check out a few of them on Disney Junior's Youtube page! Muppets and kids talk about counting, silly faces, hugs, and singing. And Rowlf's there!

Now go watch some Muppets!

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's always fun to celebrate Halloween by carving your favorite characters into a the face of a pumpkin. I'm sure the pumpkin enjoys it, too!

“The wind outside nested in each tree, prowled the sidewalks in invisible treads like unseen cats.
Tom Skelton shivered. Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve. Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades. From kitchen windows drifted two pumpkin smells: gourds being cut, pies being baked.”
― Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree

Chip 'n' Dale

Here we find Kermit the Frog, playin' his banjo and singing!

Mr. Frog's Wild Ride

Celebrating Jim Henson

A Bag of Magic

A Tribute to Jim Henson

Time passes . . .

       And so do people.

Some we remember more than others . . .

       Even if you didn’t know them.

One man passed away

       And the world wept . . .together.

One man passed away

       The laughter stopped . . .instantly.

But with all the grief and sorrow

       The world remained brighter . . .perhaps even brighter than before.

This one man touched the world

       With a small green frog.

This one man dreamed.

Mayhem, and madness,

       And chickens that danced.

It may not have made sense,

      But we laughed for some reason.

A frog that hosted a television show

     And a seven foot canary

A purple skull named Yorick

     And creatures beyond our wildest imagination

Populated the world of this man.

He even let us in to his world

     And we took off our shoes and walked right in.

As we entered he gave us each

    A little bag of magic to keep as our own.

He didn’t tell us what to do with it

   That was left up to us.

That magic brightened the day.

It got us through the tough times.

It helped us laugh at life.

It caught beautiful butterflies and dreams.

It made us cry with happiness.

After he left, this man

     Left the door open to his world.

We can go in or out

     Whenever we please.

Some say he passed away.

They are wrong. He is still here.

His dream lives on.

And the magic he left

       helps us get through the day.