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.

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.

Muppets in Mini-Mate Form

Diamond Select Toys has finally released images of the Muppets Mini-Mates line of figures. In case you are wondering what a Mini-Mate is, it is a 2-inch figure in a blocky style that has 14 points of articulation. They are small and wonderful! Perfect for decorating your desk with Muppet mayhem!

TV Insider got an exclusive scoop on the figures, so check it out! We already love them and will be adding them to our collection this winter. Let's hope they do well and we'll get a lot more characters! They will retail for $9.99 in two packs.

Kermit the Frog, Robin, Miss Piggy

The Great Gonzo, Camilla, Swedish Chef

Fozzie Bear, Scooter

"Battle Damaged" Chef, Camilla, Stunt Gonzo

So . . .This Happened This Week

So, These Things Happened This Week

Miss Piggy Receives Award

This past week, Miss Piggy accepted a First Award from the Elizabeth A. Sackler center for Feminist Art. She made a short acceptance speech at the Brooklyn Museum, along with Kermit the Frog. The Sackler Center said on its website that it was honoring "performer, actor, writer, and icon Miss Piggy, for more than 40 years of blazing feminist trails with determination and humor." She certainly deserves it! Way to go, Piggy!

When the award was announced at the end of April, Miss Piggy was credited with saying "Moi is thrilled but frankly, not surprised to be receiving this Sackler Center First Award. It is truly wonderful to be celebrated and share this honor with fellow legends, role models and pioneers of female fabulosity."

Teaser for The Good Dinosaur

Disney-Pixar released the teaser trailer for The Good Dinosaur, a production troubled little film. The teaser doesn't really show much, hence teaser, and I'm not sure how excited we are, but it's a fun little trailer that shows us some of the visuals and the main idea behind the film - What if the dinosaurs didn't go extinct?

Tangled to Series

Disney Channel announced that Tangled will be coming to series. The series will include most of the original voice cast and Alan Menken and Glenn Slater returning to do songs. It's pretty darn awesome that the series will be from most of the original folks who made the film. The series will take place between the events of Tangled and Tangled Ever After. 

Hot Toys releases images of Scarlet Witch

Hot Toys continues to produce the best collectible action figures around. Scarlet Witch is no exception. This beautifully sculpted figure captures the likeness perfectly and comes with a ton of accessories. Now we just need to see Quicksilver!

Yoda in Disney Infinity

An article from USA Today has an interview with Jeff Bunker, studio art director at Avalanche/Disney Interactive Studios and the man in charge of the distinct visual look of everything Infinity. Personally, I wish they had gone with more of the classic Yoda look. But we still can't wait to play with him in the toy Box!!!

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 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.

Quelle Difference Ad

Power Discs-Disney Infinity 2.0

Disney Infinity 2.0 continues to impress. At E3, a few power discs for Disney Infinity 2.0 have been revealed and boy are they great! The ones that have been revealed are not Marvel properties at all, but based on more classic Disney properties, including the Muppets and the Main Street Electrical Parade (which looks like a rare disc)!

It's great to see such a mix of Disney properties, from movies to parks. Not only are they reaching new fans, but old fans who have amazing memories of Disney past. So, when do we get a Haunted Mansion sky disc and terrain and The Muppets as playable characters? I can wait. I'm happy the Muppets are still being included!

I'm wondering now - Will the playsets all be Marvel based? And the other Disney properties get to be power discs?

Miss Piggy's U.S.S Swinetrek

Main Street Electrical Parade Float

Darkwing Duck's Ratcatcher Bike

Darkwing Duck's Grappling Gun

Simba's Pride Lands

Simba's Kings Domain

Calhoun's Command

Calhoun's Cybug Swarm

Zeus's Thunderbolt

Maleficent's Spell Cast