Moviefone Editorial

Tag: muppets

  • Restored Full Version of ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ Arriving

    1992's 'The Muppet Christmas Carol.'
    1992’s ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol.’

    Christmas is a time for gifts and also for watching ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’, which originally hit theaters in 1992 and starred Michael Caine as Ebeneezer Scrooge, alongside a smattering of other human actors and most of the key roles played by Kermit and the gang.

    It has long since become an annual holiday favorite for many people, as much a part of Christmas tradition as turkey, trees and traumatic shopping experiences.

    But for almost as many years, Muppet fans have been wondering when they might see missing song ‘When Love is Gone’ re-integrated back into the movie itself after so much time spent as a poor-quality deleted scene on home entertainment releases and as an extra on the Disney+ version.

    It’s always seemed a surprising decision, since the song is a key emotional moment from Scrooge’s past and his heartbreaking decision to eschew true love Belle (Meredith Braun) for his pursuit of financial gain. The melody of the Paul Williams-penned song plays into Miles Goodman’s score and the final song ‘When Love is Found’ directly references it.

    There is good news, then, for those that have loved the take on Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic tale of ghosts and redemption. As revealed during a 30-year retrospective panel for the movie at this year’s D23 Expo, the full movie will finally be available to watch for the first time.

    Director Brian Henson told the D23 panel audience the story of how then-Disney boss Jeff Katzenberg demanded that the song be edited out of the movie after a test screening where he noticed that kids were getting restless through the mournful (yet also quite lovely) ballad.

    Henson negotiated a deal: the song would be removed for the theatrical release but restored for home entertainment. Yet when the time rolled around for that, a proper negative couldn’t be found.

    Despite a years-long search, nothing was turned up, at least until just recently, when a print containing the song was discovered, meaning that the full version could be made ready in 4K format for Disney+.

    It’ll premiere on the streaming service on December 11th, though we’re still waiting to lean if it’ll become the main version of the movie or become part of the extras.

    24669

    In related Muppets news, there was also an announcement about a new recording of a classic track from band The Electric Mayhem. With the group preparing to hit Disney+ next year with ‘The Muppets Mayhem’, they’ve released an updated version of “Can You Picture That?”, originally performed in 1979’s ‘The Muppet Movie’.

    The new series follows The Electric Mayhem on their journey to record their first ever studio album. The old-school band is helped along the way by Lily Singh’s Nora, a young music executive with her finger on the pulse of the current music scene. Also starring in the series are Tajh Mowry, Saara Chaudry, and Anders Holm.

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘The Muppet Movie’ on its 40th Anniversary

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘The Muppet Movie’ on its 40th Anniversary

    Associated Film Distribution

    “The Muppet Movie” defined many a childhood, showing Muppet lovers the world over how Kermit and the gang first came together and signed their standard “rich and famous” contract. Four decades later, the music, humor and heartwarming origin story still resonate as strongly as ever. So celebrate this Muppet milestone by learning more about the making of this cinematic spinoff.

    1. The movie was filmed during a break in the middle of Season 3 of “The Muppet Show.”

    2. Jim Henson saw the feature film budget as an opportunity to push the limits of Muppet technology. “The Muppet Movie” became the first film to feature 100% of a hand puppet’s body onscreen while acting.

    Associated Film Distribution

    3. Henson revealed that the shot featuring Kermit riding a bicycle was among the most difficult technical challenges in the entire film.

    4. The opening scene with Kermit playing guitar in the swamp was another major challenge. It took five days to film, with Henson forced to spend much of the time inside a 50-gallon tank underwater.

    Associated Film Distribution

    5. While Frank Oz performs many of the Muppet roles in the film (including Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal and Sam Eagle), he also has a cameo as the biker who fights Fozzie in El Sleezo Café.

    6. For the scene where Animal becomes a giant after eating Bunson’s Insta-Grow pills, Henson insisted on actually constructing a 60-foot-tall version of the Animal puppet.

    7. The musical number “I Hope Somethin’ Better Comes Along” is a rarity for the franchise, as Rowlf and Kermit don’t usually have duets together because Henson usually performed both characters. That scene is one of the few where Henson turned over the Kermit role to another performer during his life.

    Associated Film Distribution

    8. Orson Welles‘ character Lew Lord is a tribute to producer Sir Lew Grade, who was instrumental in helping “The Muppet Show” find funding.

    9. “The Muppet Movie” also features an early, uncredited performance from Tim Burton. Burton is one of 137 puppeteers contributing to the final shot in the movie.

    Associated Film Distribution

    10. John Landis also chipped in for that shot, performing the puppeteer work for Grover so Oz could play Miss Piggy.

    11. There are currently seven feature-length sequels to “The Muppet Movie,” with the most recent being 2014’s “Muppets Most Wanted.”

    “The Muppet Movie” is playing in theaters nationwide on July 25 and 30 for its 40th anniversary. Tickets are on sale now!

  • The 15 Greatest Movie Musicals of the Last 20 Years

    The 15 Greatest Movie Musicals of the Last 20 Years

  • This Muppets Version of the ‘Star Is Born’ Trailer Is the Best Thing About 2018

    This Muppets Version of the ‘Star Is Born’ Trailer Is the Best Thing About 2018

    A Star Is Born
    Warner Bros.

    Set aside the debate over whether Bert and Ernie are a gay couple for a moment; this is the Muppets thing you need to pay attention right now and possibly for the rest of time.

    A Twitter user named Kevin T. Porter posted a mash-up trailer of the upcoming “A Star Is Born,” which replaces Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

    Porter, a writer and comedian, cheekily tweeted, “Wow ANOTHER remake?”

    The video is a near shot-for-shot version of the “Star Is Born” trailer using footage from various Muppet movies. And it’s perfect.

    It’s hard to pick the best part of the trailer. Fozzie Bear taking Dave Chappelle’s role? That clip of Miss Piggy flailing as Lady Gaga belts out “Watch as I dive in”? That the title is now “A Star Is Boar”?

  • Hear the New Voice of Kermit the Frog Make His Muppets Debut

    kermit, new kermit, matt vogel, muppet, muppetsAfter longtime Kermit the Frog performer Steve Whitmire was relieved of his duties last year, replacement Kermit voicer Matt Vogel had some large felt shoes to fill. This week, Vogel’s version of Kermit made his Muppets debut.

    The iconic character finally surfaced again in a “Muppet Thought of the Week” video, which was posted to YouTube on Monday. In the short clip, Vogel-as-Kermit muses about life and dreams.

    “Dreams are how we figure out where we want to go; life is how we get there,” the Muppet says.

    Of course, the clip wouldn’t really be a Muppets production without some humor thrown in, as the character then fumbles his exit.

    The new voice may be a bit jarring for those who are intimately familiar with Whitmire’s version of the lovable frog, which has been around for nearly 30 years. Whitmire took over voice duties from Muppets mastermind Jim Henson himself, after Henson’s death in 1990. But the performer was fired by Muppet parent company Disney last October, with the studio alleging that Whitmire was behaving unprofessionally; Whitmire, meanwhile, claims he was concerned that Disney was altering the character too much from Henson’s original vision, and was let go for voicing his opinions.

    As some YouTube commenters have pointed out, Vogel’s interpretation of everyone’s favorite frog sounds more like Henson’s Kermit voice than Whitmire’s did. The new voice may take some getting used to, but it seems like Vogel is doing his best to keep the lighthearted spirit of Kermit intact.

    Keep your eyes on the Muppets’ social media accounts for more appearances from the new performer.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]

  • Disney Is Bringing Back ‘Muppet Babies’ in 2018

    muppet babies, reboot, revival, disney, disney junior, muppetsEighties favorite “Muppet Babies” is set for a comeback, courtesy of Disney.

    The animated series — which chronicled the adventures of toddler-sized Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Animal, and the rest of the Muppets gang — is getting a CGI makeover, and will premiere on Disney Junior sometime in 2018. Production is currently underway.

    “Muppet Babies” originally aired from 1984 through 1991, and frequently inserted the titular tots into scenes from live-action TV shows and movies as part of elaborate fantasy sequences. This time around, producers are promising more of the same.

    “We are proud, and a little bit giddy, to begin production on our new version of the much-loved ‘Muppet Babies,’” said Nancy Kanter, executive vice president of original programming and general manager for Disney Junior Worldwide, in a statement. “Parents will delight in seeing their favorite Muppets in the mixed animation style they remember from the original series, and kids will be introduced to this warm and zany world made just right for the Disney Junior audience.”

    According to Oh My Disney, each episode of the show will be broken up into two 11-minute stories, and the Babies “will be doing anything from building a time machine to flying through outer space.” The series will encourage “creative and critical thinking.”

    “We hope to engage and delight the nostalgic fans while also entertaining new kids, parents and diverse audiences through heart and humor as only the Muppets can deliver,” said Debbie McClellan, vice president of The Muppets Studio, in a statement.

    Sign us up. We’ll be anxiously awaiting a firm premiere date.

    [via: The Muppets, Oh My Disney]

    Photo credit: Disney Junior

  • The ‘Fifty Shades of Muppets’ Parody Is Pretty Gonzo

    Fozzie would be appalled.

    People can’t resist making “Fifty Shades of Grey” parody videos, and they are usually better than the movie itself. But the Muppets? So wrong. And yet so right. A YouTuber called Darth Blender created a 2-minute “Fifty Shades of Muppets” video, using clips from Muppets movies that eerily fit the dialogue and themes of “Fifty Shades.” The parody has slowly gone viral in the past week, earning thousands of views, and several comments noting, “That should have been titled ‘Fifty Shades of GREEN’! ” Fair point.

    Watch the parody:
    Our childhoods! It’s not like we didn’t know Kermit and Miss Piggy were a thing, but … we kind of liked the innocent version in our heads. Some viewers expressed disgust with the video, others disappointment that it wasn’t dirtier (that might be Animal commenting over and over), and still others have requested a full movie version.

    Sadly, Sam the Eagle was right about us. We are all weirdos.
    Meanwhile, the real “Fifty Shades” sequel, “Fifty Shades Darker,” is due in theaters February 10, 2017.

    Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

  • ‘Sesame Street’ Introduces First Autistic Muppet

    Sesame Street
    “Sesame Street” is continuing its tradition of addressing important issues on the show, this time by introducing the first autistic muppet, Julia.

    Her arrival is part of “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children,” an initiative to teach children about autism and prevent autistic children from being harassed in school.

    “Children with autism are five times more likely to get bullied,” senior vice president of U.S. social impact, Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, told People. “And with one in 68 children having autism, that’s a lot of bullying. Our goal is to bring forth what all children share in common, not their differences.”

    Julia will pal around with Grover, Abby, and Elmo. Sesame Street hasn’t set a date for when she’ll appear on the show, but she’s already made her debut in the online storybook “We’re Amazing, 1, 2, 3!”

    “We are trying to spread the story about the theory behind this whole thing – love and acceptance,” says Dr. Betancourt. “Everyone is touched by autism, and by creating Julia, Sesame is bringing children together.”

    Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

    %Slideshow-184897%

  • Quiz: Which Muppet Are You?


    Hi ho, everyone! Ever wonder which Muppet is your spirit animal? Take this quiz to find out which beloved creature you’re the most like.

  • ‘The Muppet Show’ Could Be Headed Back to TV

    ABC is quietly working on a “Muppet Show” revival, with help from “The Big Bang Theory” co-creator Bill Prady.

    According to “The Hollywood Reporter,” Prady and Bob Kushell (“Anger Management,” “3rd Rock From the Sun”) are writing a script for a pilot presentation that could be shown off as early as the television upfronts in May. The show will reportedly start filming next weekend.

    The concept for the show sounds like it will hit some viewers right in the nostalgia #feels, while also being cool and meta enough to keep pace with the 21st century viewer. “Sources say the concept for the presentation includes the regular cast of characters created by Jim Henson – Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and Animal, among others – gathering at ABC Studios for a meeting about the new ‘Muppet Show.’ However, the show won’t move forward unless Miss Piggy signs on, and her current relationship with frequent love Kermit is on the rocks, preventing the show from getting off the ground.” Love is strange!

    Yes, we checked the date and everything! This is no April Fools’ prank, believe it or not. Hey, it can’t be any stranger than “Fuller House,” right?

    [Via The Hollywood Reporter]

    %Slideshow-184897%