It was announced very recently that The Muppets are finally returning to their home on television and being helmed by Bill Prady (maker of The Big Bang Theory) and Bob Kushell (producer of 3rd Rock From the Sun). Now, for many, the idea of The Big Bang Theory‘s head honcho taking over The Muppets may cause alarm bells but Prady started out in the business working with Jim Henson as a writer on such shows as Fraggle Rock and The Henson Hour.

The show will be returning to focus on the original cast and will have lots of similiarities and differences which I think will become apparent very quickly so let’s just watch the trailer and get into this.

I have probably a little more to say than usual so I’m going to change format slightly for this TMB and get a bit more in-depth.

One of the things that made the original TV series so magical and perfect was it’s format. It satirised the manic energy of a variety/sketch/live show by showing behind the scenes sequences along with the on-screen performances. It allowed for the type of fourth-wall breaking, anarchic sense of humour that caught the zeitgeist along with creating characters that had struggles and desires to put on a good show (and often failed). This ability to both root for characters and also relate to them in short bursts was genius and has rarely ever been equaled. Keep in mind that I still haven’t mentioned at this point that this is puppets we are talking about. It was a perfect format for a TV show -period-, never-mind the puppetry.

This revamp has managed, in my opinion (from 2 minutes of footage that I can judge it on), to hit the nail on the head in trying to modernise this format while keeping the exact same spirit.

The reason why they operated in a theatre to a live audience with sketches and musical numbers is because that’s what was popular at the time. Variety Hours were ubiquitous in the late 70s. Hell, The Brady Bunch had a variety show. And this was the way of things for well over a decade at that point. Now? Well since The Office and Modern Family have been so successful you can’t seem to avoid the mockumentary format on American Television right now. The bonus of parodying this style is also that it allows for many of the same anarchic and fourth-wall breaking moments. Gonzo even makes a joke about how this format allows them to do it. It’s perfect. And it was that very joke that made me think; “ok, these guys get it”.

Even to the point of having Gary Gonzo be the voice of that descent is a very Gonzo thing. He’s had the role of Narrator in previous movies but more so he has been the heart of the crew for some time (strangely taking over from Kermit to some extent). Anyway, I could go into group dynamics at length so I’ll just cut to the chase and say that many of the characters seemed more recognisable to me here than they have in some time.

That’s not to say that there aren’t moments that feel off. Miss Piggy hasn’t felt right since Eric Jacobson took over her character, a lot of that is how they’re writing her though. I worry about the idea of Fozzie dating a human. The other pig. We still haven’t seen the actual show the gang are putting on; apparently Miss Piggy will be hosting a late night chat show a la Jimmy Kimmel. So there is plenty to still be apprehensive about. But this is the first time in over a decade that I’ve felt even mildly excited about seeing their product. And that can only be a good sign.

Had he not unfortunately died in 1990, the wonderful, majestic Jim Henson would be celebrating his 75th birthday today.

Both myself and other members of DOOM have led a slightly fuller life thanks to experiencing some of Jim’s work. While words can’t express how lesser the world is without him in it, let’s celebrate the man’s birthday by remembering some of the great things he contributed.

While reminiscing I came across some interesting videos that you may not have seen before.

Here is a great video of Jim talking about making Muppets. Some great stuff from the legend himself.

Here are some behind-the-scenes videos of Jim and long-time working partner Frank Oz (and some of the other cast and crew) doing tests for The Muppet Movie. The two of them as Kermit and Fozzie have fun together improving and basically just enjoying their job. It’s great to see them crack each-other up.

If you didn’t know already, Google dedicated their logo to Jim today. Here is a video about it.

The Muppets read some letters sent from fans to Kermit after Jim’s death. WARNING: You will most likely cry (lord knows I did).

We miss you Jim. Thanks for everything.

When the teaser trailers for the new Muppet movie started rolling out I gave a less than glowing review of them. While I consider myself a bit of a Muppet afficianado and somewhat of a credible blogger (a possible contradiction in terms) I am not the only Muppet know-it-all on this site. JJ Hawkins of Mars Needs fame would be the Statler to my Waldorf.

He voiced his concern that I was wrong about the quality of what we would get once the movie opens. In fact, he pretty much calls me out on one of his podcasts. Never one to shy away from a good argument, I thought I could have a little chat with him now that the new full length trailer for The Muppets has been released.

Check out the trailer below and then our thoughts/rantings on the matter as we manage to take a movie about puppets very seriously.

Aaron: So… What do you think?

JJ: For one thing, I am glad they have done away with the parody. The Green Lantern preview was amusing, but i felt like it was time to show us something.

I liked the notes the trailer hit. The idea that the Muppets have fallen out of favor and the theater has fallen into disrepair, gives the story a kind of meta-storytelling that the Muppets are well suited for. I could hear your voice in my head bitching about how much Jason Segel and Amy Adams are in the tralier, but need I remind you of the waitress character from Muppets Take Manhattan? She is a human counterpart who is also used as a major character. I think they will be fine. I am maintaining my cautious optimism.

Aaron: Don’t you dare use Jenny against me! That woman was a saint. A terrible waitress but a saint no less.

Yes, the idea of the story being a play on where the Muppets are as a franchise is not a bad one. However, remember that’s only one half of the plot. The other half being this new Muppet character being chaperoned everywhere by Amy “Disney” Adams and Jason “I’m making a stupid face” Segel.

Seriously, JJ, you’re an actor. Are you not saddened by the level of hamming-it-up being presented here?

JJ: It seems on the surface that the level of hamming may be strong, but watch a trailer with St. Jenny and you will see she is doing much of the same. It all depends on the coherence of the script and director.

As for the new character, I am sure he is the representative for the audience. It is a valid storytelling device and may in fact be very important to the new generation. I admit, I still have reservations, I want to love this film with all my heart, but my reservations are not fueled by this trailer.

…except the usage of “We Built This City” ugh. That was a bad call Ripley. A bad call.

Aaron: It’s true. I don’t want to be all doom and gloom about a movie based on some badly put together teasers and one trailer. These are accomplished movie makers. I guess what has me freaking out is the actual lack of Muppet-style comedy I’m seeing. It’s to be expected, it’s a new team at the helm, but to me it’s kind of like seeing the Monty Python cast acting to a Farrelly Brothers’ script. It’s not that it wouldn’t be still funny, it’s just that it wouldn’t feel right. I mean… “fart shoes”? Just hearing Fozzie say the word “fart” is completely out of character.

But if your reservations aren’t with what you’re seeing in the trailers, where do they lay?

JJ: My fears come from something you just said. They are badly assembled trailers. As Hollywood becomes more terrified to take chances entertainment becomes mainstream and the individual voice disappears. The Muppets are, quite frankly, visionary. No one had filmed puppets in the way that Jim Henson and his crew did. In one generation we went from hundreds of years of “Punch and Judy” type shows to puppets that could live in an immersive real environment. Heck, just the first shot in The Muppet Movie has Kermit surrounded by water! There is no traditional place for the Muppeteer to hide. I am afraid that even if the people fueling this film have that vision, the committee machine that puts films out will dim the final product.

As I said earlier, if the tone that the trailers evokes is to work, then the director has to create a world that that hammy acting style works. Much like the old films do. Go to YouTube and check out old clips, everyone talks to the Muppets as if they are children, but it holds up because the whole style works. That is the necessary vison.

When is the last time you saw a truly unique film? Maybe the first Matrix? 300?

Plus, I hope the desire to make a good film doesn’t make them try to hard. That is what killed Green Lantern, they just tried too hard.

I do agree, I would have preferred Fozzie would have said “Whoopie Shoes” but that is what I mean by (possibly) being forced to mute the unique tone and make jokes to the 2 1/2 Men crowd.

Aaron: The positive veneer cracks! See, why couldn’t you just bitch and moan about it with me in the first place like the old geeky fans that we are?! How dare you leave the grumpy hatred to me.

JJ: Because I have hope you cynical bastard. If we are to judge the film by the trailers we have seen, the outcry that I have seen is unwarranted. Let’s face it, what I just said about this film is the same for most films that come out these days. I choose to go into the theater to be entertained. I think the cynics (I am not putting you in this category) forget how to have fun. I want to go to the movies and have a good time watching Muppets. That is all. Now that doesn’t give them free reign to crap out something not worth my time, but to say that this trailer portends to a bad movie is ludicrous. Amy Adams played a similar character in Enchanted, and it worked. Segel loves the Muppets and the puppet scene from Forgetting Sarah Marshal was a highlight. The filmmakers don’t make trailers anymore. I think Scott Pilgrim would have had a better one if they did.

Bitching and moaning puts you in the mind set to hate before you even get to see what you supposedly enjoy. It is a waste of time and energy. You keep being Oscar the Grouch, and I will be Ernie, the eternal optimist.

Aaron: Get out of here before I hit you with my trash can!

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To say that I love The Muppets is the kind of obvious statement like saying I love my parents. The work of Jim Henson is just as influential in my beliefs and the way I live my life as the lessons my mother and father taught me about being a man. The Muppets are so ingrained into my consciousness that I still begrudge my girlfriend for not enjoying the show all that much. You need to have standards, you know?

Since Jim’s death however, the Muppet output has been patchy at best. Some movies have been good, some of been damn near blasphemous. And we won’t even talk about the attempts at bringing them back to TV. It seemed Jim was the only guy who knew what to do with them. Their humour and heart got lost somewhere along the way.

Disney own them now and have been trying to find a way to revamp the Muppets’ popularity. They began releasing short youtube videos with their interpretation of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” getting lots of attention. But you still felt that whoever was writing their escapades for the e-generation (or iGeneration, depending on what you like) are still trying to figure things out. It all felt a little awkward.

So up steps Jason Segel. Acclaimed for his Forgetting Sarah Marshall film which he both wrote and starred in. He is a noted Muppet enthusiast and felt passionate about trying to make a Muppet film. Is he the savior of the franchise? Will he return the Muppets to their former and rightful glory?

A teaser trailer has been released so lets have a look-see.

Okay… I’m just going to finish this whiskey and then we can get into this…

– Huh?

First of all, I get the joke. I just don’t think it’s a funny one. The idea of “cheesy-movie-parody-trailer-psyche-out” is not necessarily a bad one but in this scenario it doesn’t really work because it’s so ham-fisted it doesn’t really accomplish the task at hand. It doesn’t actually look like a bad rom-com because there was little or no effort to establish it other than the voice-over. If you’re going to make the trailer a fake one then at least go all the way and make it well.

Plus, it’s not even the plot of the film. It seems like a telling choice. You could poke fun at yourself or you can be so worried about showing people the actual plot of the film that you make up a different film to poke fun at… Really?

On a different note, while I’m sure a lot of this footage is probably not in the film, I would like to know who the hell drove into this classroom and how they think they’re going to park it like that without getting a ticket.

I sincerely hope this is not something they think is just a quirky prop and won’t even be acknowledged. Cars in classrooms need to be acknowledged.

– Woah, Woah, Woah. Stop. Is Jason Segel In This Movie?

And I think this is my biggest problem with the idea behind the trailer. For my editor’s sake I’m doing my best not to curse like a sailor (or a certain cartoon expert on this site). But the idea that they were so insecure about pitching a Muppet movie to the public that they had to be relegated to it’s background for the movie’s first trailer riles me to a level that I probably shouldn’t admit.

Yes, I may be one of those rabid fans but when the film is called The Muppets and you decide not to lead with Muppets, then I can tell there is a problem with the film already. Sorry Disney, but you just don’t get it.

– A Face You’d Like To Punch Backwards

I like Jason Segel. I enjoy his work and he seems like a very nice guy. But if this trailer is anything to judge his attitude by (and after the Muppet reveal I think it’s safe to say we’re getting actual movie footage clips) then he is over-acting in this film and therefore being pretty disrespectful to the non-human cast surrounding him.

Jim Henson always wanted to convey that The Muppets were real people and that the world never thought twice about a frog talking to them. Every human acted naturally around The Muppets and vice-versa because they were real. Jim wanted us to believe they were real and damn it, I did.

Jason Segel’s face is so cornball and condescending I pretty much want to ram my foot through it. Again, this is not a mark on him personally but professionally. We know he can act better than this so it’s an artistic choice on his behalf. It’s the wrong move and it doesn’t fit with the history of this comedy troop. Sorry Jason, but you just don’t get it.

– Who The F*** Are You?

This is the character the whole movie is going to be based around. He’s new. Again, they couldn’t even base a film around the actual Muppets because they don’t know how to write them. They had to create a new one so they could figure out what to do.

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I suppose you want me to write about my overall feelings towards the trailer and/or movie. You don’t think I’ve made them clear above.

To quote Token Black of South Park. “I don’t know. I don’t wanna know. I’m out.”