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.

Fozzie's Barely Funny Fridays Starts Today

The Muppets have been putting out a lot of great videos recently . . . and they keep coming! Every Friday, starting today, expect to see a new video from that fuzzy, furry, funny man - Fozzie Bear! The videos are short, funny, and have Fozzie standing-up. I think that makes him a stand-up comedian?

Stay tuned to The Muppets youtube channel for more Muppet antics, and if you can bare it, tune in on Friday's for more Fozzie's jokes! Kick off your weekend with the Muppets!

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 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.