Major Muppet Movie news

[Bean Bunny]

Today TV Guide.com has posted an update on the Muppet Christmas Movie for NBC this Dec.:

MUPPET MANIA!: NBC has lined up an all-star cast for A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the first-ever made-for-television Muppet film. Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Cusack and David Arquette will join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang in the pic, which airs in December and finds America's favorite frog fighting to save the Muppet Theater from a Scroogish bank owner. Look for cameos by Sir Michael Caine, William H. Macy, Snoop Dogg, Carson Daly, Kelly Ripa, Jon Stewart and Rachel Hunter.

[EmmyMik]

A Scroogish fellow and Michael Caine? I think I've seen this one before...

:D

[Bean Bunny]

Yeah, The Muppet Christmas Carol! LOL!:D I wonder what Carson going do, "Hey Carson here, welcome to TR....umm." "Wait a second this isn't TRL!" insert falling chickens on Carson's head.

[MuppetQuilter]

William H Macy and Joan Cusak? Cool!

[beaker]

>>>Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang in the pic, which airs in December and finds America's favorite frog fighting to save the Muppet Theater from a Scroogish bank owner<<<

HOLY COW! This film takes place in actual Muppet canon/continuity??? I seriously had the impression it was to be some montage of 'xmas film satires'(ie: like not another teen movie or naked gun) strung together as a film, or some kind of MCC like thing. hmmm!

So I guess JP Grosse is out of the theatre-landlord scene!

Im just curious as to *who* muppet wise might be in this as far as surprises? Uncle Matt? JHH characters?(like in MFS?) hmmmm

[Ryan]

SNOOP DOG????? :eek:
Has JHC gone INSANE?!!!

That's pretty scary..... ;)

[EmmyMik]

If the Muppet Theater is involved, I have two words:

Scoo-ter!

(ok, so it's one word, but that sounded a lot cooler in my head!)

[Luke]

Well i guess Michael Caine is making the Scroogish cameo then .......... but i'm not impressed with the others. Whoopi Goldberg, Carson Daly, Rachel Hunter and Snoop Dog are all cheap bookings who'll go to the opening of an envelope. I guess the budget is very low but the plot sounds promising, so i hope they've put the money into the muppet side of things because i'm getting Hollywood Hogan feelings ! ;-)

[murgatoad]

Originally posted by Bean Bunny
Today TV Guide.com has posted an update on the Muppet Christmas Movie for NBC this Dec.:

MUPPET MANIA!: NBC has lined up an all-star cast for A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the first-ever made-for-television Muppet film. Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Cusack and David Arquette will join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang in the pic, which airs in December and finds America's favorite frog fighting to save the Muppet Theater from a Scroogish bank owner. Look for cameos by Sir Michael Caine, William H. Macy, Snoop Dogg, Carson Daly, Kelly Ripa, Jon Stewart and Rachel Hunter.

Hmmm...not a bad idea. I'd rather the plot be about the Muppets themselves than about the Muppets playing other characters. And a Muppet Xmas movie might do well. A Muppet series, however....no. Those days are over. And so it goes...

[beaker]

<<<Hmmm...not a bad idea. I'd rather the plot be about the Muppets themselves than about the Muppets playing other characters.<<<

I agree, I never liked the Muppets playing other characters, even Bobo being called Rentro? please.

And a Muppet Xmas movie might do well. A Muppet series, however....no. Those days are over. And so it goes...<<<

Oh man...just imagine what the right zany ideas could bring forth? I have ideas myself for on the street live segments, but thats just me. I would hate to see a return to vaudeville broadway stuff. That would just be a nail in the coffin.

and of course scooter has to have a sizeable role in this special!
course he cant say his uncle owns the theatre anymore!

[murgatoad]

Originally posted by beaker
<<<Hmmm...not a bad idea. I'd rather the plot be about the Muppets themselves than about the Muppets playing other characters.<<<

I agree, I never liked the Muppets playing other characters, even Bobo being called Rentro? please.

And a Muppet Xmas movie might do well. A Muppet series, however....no. Those days are over. And so it goes...<<<

Oh man...just imagine what the right zany ideas could bring forth? I have ideas myself for on the street live segments, but thats just me. I would hate to see a return to vaudeville broadway stuff. That would just be a nail in the coffin.

and of course scooter has to have a sizeable role in this special!
course he cant say his uncle owns the theatre anymore!

Just to be asking...what if they brought back Scooter, but the voice was different? I mean, the Kermit voice isn't quite Jim's, and Rowlf, forget it, and Statler and Waldorf in the "Denny's" commercial don't sound right at all (at least to me)...would it faze you if Scooter came back with a different voice?

[beaker]

>>>but i'm not impressed with the others. Whoopi Goldberg, Carson Daly, Rachel Hunter and Snoop Dog are all cheap bookings who'll go to the opening of an envelope.<<<

Im not impressed at all. this might have worked in the mid 90 MT era, but now? just makes it look kind of 'well, they were all we could get'. Heck, if they wanna go in this direction, they could prolly afford to get Sly Stallone now that he is officially straight to video(see: http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Movies&action=page&type_id=&cat_id=270338&obj_id=35496 )

Then again I can think of plenty of c/d/f rate celebs I would just cringe if they got(gilbert godfried, fran dreisher, rip taylor)

[beaker]

>>>Just to be asking...what if they brought back Scooter, but the voice was different? I mean, the Kermit voice isn't quite Jim's, and Rowlf, forget it, and Statler and Waldorf in the "Denny's" commercial don't sound right at all (at least to me)...would it faze you if Scooter came back with a different voice?<<<

Yes I am a blind lifelong fan of the Muppets, but I am also able to notice when criticism is needed. Statler and Waldorf...man, doesnt sound like them at all in the Dennys, but it was great seeing them. Rowlf and stat/wal sounded more like themselves at Muppetfest...but weezer and denny's...hmmm, not sure.
On the contrary tho, Kermit and Piggy to me sound 100% right, dead on, and great chemistry as ever. Weve heard a new teeth(kennedy) and new rowlf. a new scooter? Hey, Scooter needs to be broguht back, no matter how he sounds!

[Luke]

I think they are doing a pretty good job with the voices - certainly whatever was in Muppets Racemania was more than enough to satisfy any casual muppet fan - it's only really the hardcores who would notice most of the time.

[beaker]

>>>I think they are doing a pretty good job with the voices - certainly whatever was in Muppets Racemania was more than enough to satisfy any casual muppet fan - it's only really the hardcores who would notice most of the time<<<

hey, i personally think steve and eric respectively got kermit and piggy down to a science!

[Traveling Matt]

I personally don't think Steve's Kermit voice is deep enough (even after 10+ years), but man, he certainly has the spirit of the frog in his performances.

I remember that it seemed so weird in MCC (Steve's first real performance) to see the new Kermit, and I thought he was way off. But after watching the hurricane episode of SS (the one from the A&E Bio last year), I've realized that he is much more calm and relaxed, and his Kermit is actually quite good - regardless of the voice. Especially seeing him do Kermit behind the scenes on the A&E Bio w/ Al Roker.

- Billy :cool:

[Struble]

Oh no, Carson Daly. pleasebeacameoandnotafeaturedrole,pleasebeacameoan dnotafeaturedrole,pleasebeacameoandnotafeaturedrol e,pleasebeacameoandnotafeaturedrole,pleasebeacameo andnotafeaturedrole,pleasebeacameoandnotafeaturedr ole,pleasebeacameoandnotafeaturedrole,pleasebeacam eoandnotafeaturedrole,pleasebeacameoandnotafeature drole,pleasebeacameoandnotafeaturedrole.

And I just caught the Statler and Waldorf commercial today. The voices are |way| off. But I guess I'd rather have the voices be off and get used to a new voice than have the characters disapear entirely.

Sh. watched the Statler and Waldorf commercial over and over thanks to his roommates Tivo. :)

[Agentflash]

I hope Kevin Clash will recast Janice and Scooter.

[doctort13]

I hope that this get's released on DVD.

I too think that Steve has grown into Kermit's character, and agree his voice is higher than Jim's.
We must give the other puppeteers a chance to "grow into" their characters. Remember that Jim, Frank, and Richard had LOTS of time to develop their characters over the years. Without a regular series for them to work on it will take some time. If MT wasn't canceled and given a chance to grow I feel that the puppeteers would be that much further into their characters.

I'm sticking with them.:)

[Luke]

I hope that this is gonna come to the UK sometime before 2004 but i doubt it. Any news anyone ?

[radionate]

Why oh why oh why oh why is Carson Daly in this. I'd rather watch paint peel.

[Luke]

Yeah it is weird about Carson and some of the others because this was originally supposed to showcase NBC stars, yet not much of that going on from what i can see.

I was expecting Kelsey Grammar, David Hyde Pierce - maybe even Anne Robinson !

[radionate]

America cancelled the Weakest Link Luke. One of my favorite shows too. I've not laughed out loud at the TV like that in a long long time.

[Bean Bunny]

Carson Daily is a part of NBC's late night programming, Last Call with Carson Daily.

[Luke]

Says a lot for NBC nowdays - Carson Daily and cancelling 'The Link'. So now WWTBAM and Link are cancelled - i might as well just chuck all my reality quiz show treatments in the bin right now ! Sheesh !

Weakest Link has just started a new series here but the popularity is not that great !

[beaker]

>>>and his Kermit is actually quite good - regardless of the voice. Especially seeing him do Kermit behind the scenes on the A&E Bio w/ Al Roker<<<

did you say al roker? *cory, who currently has his custom, made al roker weatherman figure strapped into the muppet labs experiment table*

yeah, MCC i agree...ok, but look at steve's frog a decade later!
and yes, statler and waldorf are basically all new voices, but better to have the characters in then nothing!

as far as NBC stars...well NBC isnt exactly the most cultured of networks(can you say 'gap and pottery barn?') so perhaps a endless parade of snooty metropolitain sitcom stars from Frasier and Wil and Grace and Friends would be a bit bunk.

[radionate]

Originally posted by Luke
Says a lot for NBC nowdays - Carson Daily and cancelling 'The Link'. So now WWTBAM and Link are cancelled - i might as well just chuck all my reality quiz show treatments in the bin right now ! Sheesh !

Weakest Link has just started a new series here but the popularity is not that great ! I think the weakest link was one of the most original and entertaining shows to hit US airwaves since Buffy! Sigh. I only hope the Game Show Network will pick up reruns or British episodes!

[beaker]

>>>I think the weakest link was one of the most original and entertaining shows to hit US airwaves since Buffy!<<<

heck, and we never had a chance to see the Muppets on there...as some of us had hoped for! heh

[Luke]

If you go over to the TP forum, someone posted the actual press release which gave more info about the plot and who would be playing who. Aparently Goldberg is in it, the Scroogish character is being played by a woman. not Caine.

[Luke]

Here we are, posted by Kynan at Toughpigs :-

***

“A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie,” pays homage to all Christmas movies (with a dash of “Moulin Rouge,” Cirque de Soleil” and “Fear Factor”) as Kermit struggles, on Christmas eve, to save the Muppet Theater from the stylish, yet Scroogish, bank owner Rachel Bitterman (Cusack) who plans to demolish it and open a trendy nightclub in its place. Arquette stars as Daniel, the rookie angel, fresh out of accounting, who is trying to earn his wings by helping Kermit, and Goldberg stars as Daniel’s “Boss.”

Kirk Thatcher directs from a screenplay by Tom Martin (“The Simpsons,” “Just Shoot Me”) and Jim Lewis (“Muppets Tonight”). Juliet Blake and Brian Henson are executive producers of the presentation from The Jim Henson Company.

***

[Bean Bunny]

Where does Carson fit in? Just kidding!:D

[radionate]

Originally posted by Bean Bunny
Where does Carson fit in? Just kidding!:D Hopefully he'll get creamed during the Fear Factory bit. Gimme a break! Fear Factory. I'm not impressed even further now. I'd be happy if he gets it though.

[beaker]

Im glad Kirk is involved...and that Joan Cusack is playing the owner(loved her in 'Toys') But Goldberg? Geez, I took away most of MFS remaining coolness for that Hollywood roids' Hogan cameo in MFS.

[Luke]

See, i said i had a Hollywood Hogan feeling about this project !

[beaker]

>>>See, i said i had a Hollywood Hogan feeling about this project !<<<

well luke, i think its safe to say youve become one of the trusted voices of reason on MC over the years! lets just hope it doesnt get as mired down from a wrassler's cameo as mfs did to me.

[Luke]

Hee Hee - actually i didn't think Hogans cameo was THAT bad, i mean it wasn't good, but it was slightly relevant as it led to the rat run bit, which was a classic scene for me.

Goldberg is just another cheap book though there for the teenage lads, it's not like he is actually wrestling nowdays.

[Jeffrey Gray]

Goldberg (the wrestler) isn't going to be in this. However, WHOOPI Goldberg is. Read the first post in this thread...it lists Joan Cusack, David Arquette, and Whoopi Goldberg as the major human characters.

[beaker]

>>>Hee Hee - actually i didn't think Hogans cameo was THAT bad, i mean it wasn't good, but it was slightly relevant as it led to the rat run bit, which was a classic scene for me.

Goldberg is just another cheap book though there for the teenage lads, it's not like he is actually wrestling nowdays<<<

Well I feel bad to diss on wrestlign, as me and Jackie and others in the past used to discuss it. But man has it gone downhill in a big way in the last year.

Yeah, the rat run in gag was classic..but the way Hogan used himself. A hogan cameo alone wouldnt have been that big a deal to me. But when he stops the film almost like BErt and Ernie did in Elmo in Grouchland, and addresses the viewers about the nWo? sheeesh

And Goldberg? he was just some flash in the pan in 1998.
would anyone even remember him?

[Luke]

LOL ok - so no Goldberg. This is a PRESS summary though, i'm sure there are gonna be plenty of people thinking Goldberg the wrestler when they havent named 'Whoppi Goldberg' in the actual release.


I agree about the NWO thing - it really dates the film him (Hogan) doing that. Big mistake !

[beaker]

>>>LOL ok - so no Goldberg. This is a PRESS summary though, i'm sure there are gonna be plenty of people thinking Goldberg the wrestler when they havent named 'Whoppi Goldberg' in the actual release.<<<

oh man...i think whoever posted that press release on TP forgot to include first names! (like which cusack or goldberg is it?) I knew whoopi was in it though.


I agree about the NWO thing - it really dates the film him (Hogan) doing that. Big mistake !<<<

youre telling me! MTM, my fave of all of em, is only dated by the clothes the humans wear and the words 'boffo socko'^_^

[Struble]

Originally posted by Luke
Here we are, posted by Kynan at Toughpigs :-

***

Kermit struggles, on Christmas eve, to save the Muppet Theater from the stylish, yet Scroogish, bank owner Rachel Bitterman (Cusack) who plans to demolish it and open a trendy nightclub in its place.
Woo. Evil Joan Cusak!

Sh.

[Bean Bunny]

Maybe they should have booked Britney Spears and Mike Myers.

[Zack the Dog]

This Movie sounds better then i thought, i just hope that Rowlf the dog gets MORE speeking time then Carson Daily!



Zack)Rowlf the, who has always wanted MTV to turn in to Muppet TV, Dog.

[radionate]

Originally posted by Bean Bunny
Maybe they should have booked Britney Spears. Please tell me that is meant to be a joke!

[Luke]

Oh sure, Britney and Mike would have been so much worser than Whoopi and Rachel Hunter ?

There's not one person they've got that is A-list !

[radionate]

Mike Myers is cool. And I think he'd still be considered A list. And give Whoopi more credit. She's become quite the powerful woman in Hollywood, and I respect her tremendously. A hit broadway show (Millie), a hit TV show (Hollywood Squares, although it is loosing its shine now), and some fantastic movie roles (and some not so fantastic), I think she is a good choice.

But please, Britney? The muppets have better lip syncing then she does!

[Luke]

Yeah i agree Mike Myers, he is A list but they haven't got him. Whoppi is another like Rosie i don't really like - these type of women are annoying to me, although i do respect the work she's done though what place she has in a Xmas Muppet Movie i just don't know.

As for Britney, well she can be goofy, and is a big name, would get lots of press - i don't see why not. She is Henson's first female choice for a guest on any new Muppet Show.

[radionate]

Luke,

I get the impression that all women without three inch waists, blonde hair, and jiggling juggies get on your nerves.

(I'm half kidding half serious, but there is some seriousness in there)

[Luke]

Originally posted by radionate
I get the impression that all women without three inch waists, blonde hair, and jiggling juggies get on your nerves.


LOL - i know what you mean. To nip this theory in the bud though i do like Roseanne, Ellen Degeneres, and a few other non jiggling types.

You are certainly half right though - i know its sad and pathetic but those type of woman do catch my eye although my signigicant other is short and indian. I am but a typical demographic with unpredicatable tendencies ! :D

[radionate]

And I bet your favorite show on Comedy Central was the Man Show right?

May the lord bless and grant your girlfriend strength!!!!!!! LOL!

She'll need it!

[Luke]

I have absolutely no idea what Comedy Central or the Man Show is, but my girl certainly has strength ... she's knocked me about enough. She has this tendency to get things her own way or bash you with a saucepan !

[radionate]

Comedy Central is a US cable network that carries South Park, and a testosterone driven show called "The Man Show". It's hosted by Jimmy Kimmel (of Win Ben Steins Money fame, and soon to host an ABC late night talk show) and Adam Corrola (of MTV's "Love Line" fame). They both are ugly, out of shape, unattractive uber heterosexual men, who sit around and drink beer and scratch themselves. They also have The Juggies. Girls in tight skimpy clothes that jump around on trampolines at the end of the show, and hang all over the guys the rest of the time.

It's right up your alley! :rolleyes: ;)

[Luke]

Originally posted by radionate
They both are ugly, out of shape, unattractive uber heterosexual men, who sit around and drink beer and sratch themselves. They also have The Juggies. Girls in tight skimpy clothes that jump around on trampolines at the end of the show, and hang all over the guys the rest of the time.

Gee - what a compliment ! LOL ! It sounds like an interesting format actually (note what i said about trampolines in the other thread). Sounds like the kind of shows i used to work on. I don't sit around drinking bear and i'm in shape, but i wouldn't say no to the Juggies though in TV they always end up being wannanbee presenters on the way up, and when you've seen one you've seen em all.

[scott]

I heart the man show. But I guess that could be due to my hormones. Anyways, Scott is most excited about the Jon Stewart cameo. He is one of my favorite comedians and I watch the Daily Show whenever I can.

[beaker]

>>>I heart the man show. But I guess that could be due to my hormones. Anyways, Scott is most excited about the Jon Stewart cameo. He is one of my favorite comedians and I watch the Daily Show whenever I can<<<

yeah, Jimmy Kimmel is too much on the man show. Hey, no love for craig kilborn? I would love to see Pepe or another muppet appear on one of the super late type talk shows like conan or late late show.

[grail]

oooo...Conan and Kermit...with Weezer as musical guest...that'd be groovy

[beaker]

>>>oooo...Conan and Kermit...with Weezer as musical guest...that'd be groovy<<<

oh yeah! I could definately see the Muppets on Conan! Maybe Pepe can give that dog sock puppet a beating, hehe.
actually, the Sesame Martians were on Conan O'Brien(sort of)
Hey, if frogboy or anybody else who can screengrab, I would sure love a screengrab from the elmopalooza dvd where it shows the martians on conan!

[manoftheSTREET]

Snoop Dogg? SNOOP DOGG? That gangsta-rapping foulmouthed pot-smoking misogynist thug in a MUPPET MOVIE? Lord Almighty, what's going on here?

They won't allow the Red Hot Chili Peppers on "Sesame Street", but they'll allow a greasy thug like Snoop Dogg in a Muppet movie? So what if he has kids...have you heard some of this guy's lyrics?

Shame, really...I'll watch anyway, though. You know why? You can't look away from a train wreck! (And I can't believe I'm saying that about a Muppet endeavor)

Sincerely,

John "manoftheSTREET" Kilduff

[Stulz]

Originally posted by Luke
As for Britney, well she can be goofy, and is a big name, would get lots of press - i don't see why not. She is Henson's first female choice for a guest on any new Muppet Show.

Where did you get this info?? Are you for real? I just saw "Goldmember" and she really funny .. not to mention HOT AS ****!!

I know most peopel HATE HER WITH ALL THE LOVE OF GOD, most of them women who are threatend.. but come on... She would be great with The Muppets..
I hope they do use guest stars on the new show.. it really brings the characters to life more .. don't cha think?

[frogboy4]

The Slate of Stars
This is about what I had imagined although I thought Kelsey Grammar would be in it. I don't Know what Luke was thinking about with the whole Goldberg thing. Most of us yanks automatically think of Whoopi when the name Goldberg is mentioned and she has worked with the Muppets before. I don't find her annoying but she is a bit dull and over-exposed these days. As for the other stars - I don't find them cheap Joan Cusac is cool and William H Macy is too. And what is this tripping over Snoop Dog? The Muppet Show starred Alice Cooper and Miss Piggy has sung a duet with Ozzie Ozbourne. Adding such a dynamic is nothing nes. I could do without Carson Daly - MTV tool of the bland and uninteresting.

Scooter's Voice
Dude, they've replaced all the voices. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Rowlf, Swedish Chef, Fozzie, Statler, Waldorf, Beaker, Sweetums and others have already been adequately replaced. Clash as Scooter? I'd have to hear it to agree with that, however I do hope they replace Janice and Scooter though!

The Plot
Has Henson Co. been reading the forum? Great idea!

[Luke]

Originally posted by frogboy4
The Slate of Stars
I don't Know what Luke was thinking about with the whole Goldberg thing. Most of us yanks automatically think of Whoopi when the name Goldberg is mentioned and she has worked with the Muppets before.

Simple Jamie - we don't allow Whoopi Goldberg on TV here aside for science fiction purposes. I don't think she's ever even dared come into the country for promotion. However we are all mad wrestling fans and if we go by the Hulk Hogan cameo - Goldberg isn't that far fetched !

[frogboy4]

Ah. It's just weird because I am quite savvy when it comes to pop culture but haven't heard of this Goldberg dude. But I could have easily missed it, as I have never really understood the sport and appeal of wrestling. To each their own I say.:D

I just think Whoopi was the logical conclusion to reach here as she has worked with the Muppets twice that I can think of.

[Jeffrey Gray]

Originally posted by frogboy4
Clash as Scooter? I'd have to hear it to agree with that, however I do hope they replace Janice and Scooter though!

I dunno if Clash could do a good Scooter, but IMO, he would probably be able to do a great Janice. Notice how Clifford and Janice sound very similar...

[frogboy4]

That's a thought! Somebody bring back Janice pleeeeeeeze