Muppet Babies

[Drtooth]

I'd ask, does any one remember Muppet Babies, but that'd be like asking if anyone remembered to breathe! I'm sure that most Muppet fans found this show quite good. I, for one, loved the show as a kid, and just as much now. Today, I walked into a discount store and found generic baby products (shampoo, powder, oils) with Muppet Babies on them. Is that what it's come to? Promoting Generic merchandise? Oh, well. Had they had bubble bath, I'd probably buy it. They came in regular plastic bottles with a label with the characters on it. How cool would it have been if they had bottles shaped like the characters? Really? I wish they did. I'd buy 'em all! But any way, Muppet Babies was one of the only good baby version of cartoon characters show. We wound up with ones that were DEFINETLY not as good as the original. Like a pup named Scooby Doo and Gadget boy (I'm a big Inspector Gadget fan, and even I thought that show was corny!) What about you?

[Fozzie Bear]

Hiya! :)

The Muppet Movie:
Robin: Uncle Kermit, is this how the Muppets REALLY got started?
Kermit: Well, it's sort of approximately how it happened.

There were no Muppet Babies, and they were all JUST meeting for the first time in the story line.

My problem with the Muppet Babies was that Miss Piggy in TGMC said to Kermit, "...just 'imagine' it--think of Kermie, think of Piggy..."

It was all in her IMAGINATION!! Now, if they had made the cartoons of Muppet Babies be extensions of her imaginations, cool; but, the Muppet Babies throw the entire continuity of the Muppets' history into helter-skelter.

Then, in the Muppet Family Christmas special, they pulled out some 'film footage' of the Muppet Babies, which then supposedly gives SOME credibility to the existence of the cartoons as reality.

UNLESS...in some story line somewhere, they can show me Muppet Babies, going into Muppet Kids, getting so seperated and busy in life they forget about each other and then meet up coincidentally on Kermit's trek to Hollywood...let's see what Kermit's Swamp Years offers up.

FOZ

[Drtooth]

Originally posted by FOZZI3B3AR

There were no Muppet Babies, and they were all JUST meeting for the first time in the story line.


FOZ
Well, first of all, all great TV shows have plots that are, shall I say, sketchY! By that of course, thousands of inconsistancies pop up all over. Like the Simpsons. They have several different theories of marage. Married in a casino, married in the emergency room, and a normal weding. Not to mention the fact that cartoon characters as kids don't follow a basic plot. Flintstone Kids doesn't follow Flintstones or the meeting of the Viva Rock Vegas movie (say what you will, the dino muppets kicked ankle!!!) But what ever. I just sit back and enjoy!

[Warrick]

Originally posted by Drtooth
Had they had bubble bath, I'd probably buy it. They came in regular plastic bottles with a label with the characters on it. How cool would it have been if they had bottles shaped like the characters? Really? I wish they did. I'd buy 'em all!

Hey,
They did bring out Muppet Babies Bubble Bath thingies in the shape of the Muppets !

They also brough out lots of PVC figures, Plush toys, Books, Videos, Ceramic Ornaments, Chrsitmas Decorations and lots more !

Now they just bring out the little stuff thjat they can.

see ya

[Beauregard]

I've never seen the Muppet Babies shows, but I have seen pictures of them. They look awful. Why didn't they have Muppet Babies as Puppets????? Also It does make it inconsistant but then again what does Treasure Island and Christmas Caral do to the muppets proper history. Unless, The Muppet movie comes first, then they make a film of themselves called, The Great Muppet Caper, then on Muppets Take Manhattan they only pretended to get married really Kirmet got Cold Feet Changed his name to Abraham Smolett, learned how to sail, Meet Piggy again in Treasure Island, Married went back in time met a mean man named Scrooge, came back to now and were married in Muppets From Space. It doesn't say they wern't. Does it?

Bye,
Beauregard

[Fozzie Bear]

Christmas Carol and Treasure Island treated the Muppets as societal individuals, as the "actors" if you will. In otherwords, we look at that not as Steve performing a puppet performing the role, but rather Kermit as Capt Smollet.

Like me, for example, I try to get people to understand that "I" am an individual *seperate from* my puppet Muley, and that he should be treated as an individual also, so that when people call me "Muley" I correct them and say, "You can call me Muleboi if you want to, but I'm not Muley, HE'S Muley." For the most part, people abide by that.

MCC and MTI don't necessarily fit into the scheme of things as far as the Muppet's Continuity (to me), they're just movies the characters opted to make. I think the same with Great M Caper also; and TMTM could have happened AFTER all the other stuff and they decided to go back to college, but I'm still not sure if I want to accept that. Muppets From Space, as bad as someone might get mad at me for saying so, fits into the scheme of the Muppets' history since they were all (finally and thank God) playing themselves again. I just missed the original musical numbers.

But this is ONLY "MY" take on things, and not necessarily the forced opinion on others...just my own opinion.

Later on!
FOZ

[Beauregard]

How come the muppet movie is real but not any of the others except for Muppets From Space which wasn't any good. As far as I am concerned. You can hardly say that Tim Curry used to be a manager of a hotel, (Home Alone) and then became a Pirate. (Treasure Island)

Never Mind me,
Beauregard

[Fozzie Bear]

Originally posted by Beauregard
Never Mind me, Beauregard

OKAY!!

JUST KIDDIN!

Well, I think TMM would be based on their lives, and TMTM could be after they all go back to school; they were playing themselves playing as different characters in TGMC, and obviously weren't being Kermit and Piggy in TMCCarol or MTI. I just see no place for Muppet Babies.

But it's only my opinion.

LATER!
FOZ

[Drtooth]

Originally posted by *Warrick*



They did bring out Muppet Babies Bubble Bath thingies in the shape of the Muppets !

They also brough out lots of PVC figures, Plush toys, Books, Videos, Ceramic Ornaments, Chrsitmas Decorations and lots more !

Now they just bring out the little stuff thjat they can.

Yeah! I know they had a boat load of stuff back in the day. Unfortunately, all of that stuff is in my parents house, in a box, in the basement, under junk from Lord knows where. I can only get to my Muppet Babie videos, and my Baby Fozzie doll. I got some Muppet Babies comics recently (my local comic dealer had s few), but that's not what I mean. ANd to see them on of all things, generic Baby powder...isn't it disheartening how we treat such a good, valuable kid's show while Barney and the Teletubbies still stink up the air waves?

[Fozzie Bear]

OOPS!! I have a confession to make. Although I don't find any place in Muppetology for Muppet Babies, I'm going to have to admit that I have a few Muppet Babies toys, from McDonalds and a few dolls...the only other Baby Fozzie I have, though, is a squeaky toy!! no BIG doll, like my Baby Kermit.

Oh well.
There you have it.
FOZ

[Drtooth]

Originally posted by FOZZI3B3AR
...the only other Baby Fozzie I have, though, is a squeaky toy!! no BIG doll, like my Baby Kermit.
FOZ
Well, I have a Baby Fozzie DOll, and to tell you the truth, Foz, man, I'd give it to you, except for two things:
First of all, I'd never let go of it, seeing as how Fozzie was (and still is) my favorite Muppet (Baby or otherwise). Secondly, it is quite old, kinda grubby, and I don't think you'd want it anyway. But the though counts. FOzzie rocks!

[DrGoshposh]

I can really see both sides of the Muppet Babies issue. Wasn't it Bernie Brillstein's idea to develop the show to give the Muppets a regular television presence in the mid-eighties (when the company's focus had drifted to the Creature/Fantasy projects)?

The downside is that, since the Muppets had so few visible projects in the late eighties, most people my age (and in the years surrounding) were kids during that time, and think that the Muppet Babies are the Muppets. It seems like they have forgotten that the puppets are really what the Muppets always were.

While I like the idea of keeping the characters visible, and their personalities recognizable, I think the cartoon series should have been a part of a larger plan, and they should have been balanced with the puppet Muppets in the minds of the audience. I think the Henson focus just went elsewhere, and once the show was rolling, and had success, they didn't think about what damage that this series may have been doing to the franchise.

Those are my thoughts anyway.

Scott

[Fozzie Bear]

Originally posted by Drtooth
FOzzie rocks!

Naw, man, that's YOU WHO ROCKS!!

ROCK ON, my bear bretheren!!

WOCKA WOCKA! FOZ

[Joggy]

To completely change the subject as we on MC so often do...

Is there ANYBODY on this earth who can do a decent Baby Gonzo impersonation?!

Mine only sounds like Baby Animal...

[Drtooth]

Joggy, there's worse! My Fozzie is alrgiht I guess, but when I do a Bert laugh, it sounds like TV's Peter Griffin (and when I do his laugh I sound like Bert) Sheesh! I guess I could try an adult Gonzo.

[Warrick]

Well i just found a Boober voice !!

I can sign "The Friendship Song" real good now !

See ya

[muppet_fan_1]

ok, I can see your point. All of your points. But lets think about this. Can't we just let it be? The muppets aren't about logic and perfections. They'r eabout lettin loose and takin it easy and havin a good laugh. Lets not try and complicate things.
Then agian, that is just my opinion....:cool:

[frogboy4]

My contempt for the Muppet Babies program has been noted many times. I feel it unnecessarily hurt the integrity of the Muppet characters.

Now Luney Toons is copying the format! Eeek!

[Fozzie Bear]

Disney, Looney Tunes, and Hannah Barbera all jumped on the Babies bandwagon and it irritated me.

I wouldn't be caught doing any baby versions of Muley and the gang...unless I thought it was profitable (hey! I'm American after all!!) LOL!

FOZ

[Drtooth]

Originally posted by FOZZI3B3AR
Disney, Looney Tunes, and Hannah Barbera all jumped on the Babies bandwagon and it irritated me.


FOZ
I agree with you Foz! The Muppet Babies were good. Even if you don't think so, at least good compaired to that Pup named Scooby Doo (one of the world's most rubbery animated cartoons), Gadget Boy (Just give Inspector Gadget a new series and none of this "Baby" stuff), and Dsiney BAbies (which, thank the Lord, never made it to air). True, they Muppet Babies started a rather stupid trend, but it was a good show for kids, and I wish they were still running. I mean, today's shows are all poisoning kid's minds with Buy Buy Buy mentality. At least MB were wholesome, and didn't have people go to animal fights for profit. (What kind of message does that send kids? Pokemon is the equivilent of Rooster Fighting!)

[frogboy4]

I loved the animation on Pup Named Scooby Doo. Alltogether a much better show than Muppet Babies in my opinion, but I still don't look at it as a very good one. The "rubbery" quality of Pup what a throwback to classic Tex Avery style animation (from the Looney Tunes) and I felt it was fresh and different than the other shows out around the same time. That kind of animation was brought back into style by Roger Rabbit and was utilized by the show. If they could only have attached it to a better project.

The quality of animation was really top-notch compared to the other Saturday morning cartoon shows of the time (and the original Doo itself). Muppet Babies, on the other hand, suffered from the worst quality of animation. There was little consistency to the characters' looks and it was 6 frames per second at the very most. Eeeek! I do see how a very young kid who was raised on the show could feel a sentimental attachment to it and it was one of the few shows with original songs, so I guess it had that going for it. It was just clearly a low budget show for toddlers and never rose above that status.

[Drtooth]

You got a point there, froggy! I just didn't like this one thing about the Pup Scooby show. It was very odd. The villains were, like cheese monsters, and giant hot dogs. the animation, i don't have a problem with (This kind of bouncy, jumpy stuff is my favorite) but it's weird, 'cause the original Scooby had slow moving animation. I can't get that outta my head!

[frogboy4]

Pup was very much a departure from the original Doo and I kind of liked that. The original has a late 60s/early 70s style, Pup has a late 50s early 60s tone which makes sense because they were younger in pup, but there were many modern influences that didn't make sense. I wish they'd at least bring back the Avery-style animation. It's what makes cartoon shorts zip! I always say that with companies that produce crummy 6-frame animation - that they might as well glue the characters on popsicle sticks and move them around. BTW - did anyone see that episode of Spongebob when they had a "live action" part in which they did that very thing! I cracked up and many friends called me saying that they must have taken my suggestion. LOL! Spongebob rocks!

[Drtooth]

A fellow Sponger, eh? I'd never suspect to find another fan of Spongebob in a Muppet site. But since we all like the Muppets, we all have impecable tastes! Dyahhh hah hah hah hah!!!

[frogboy4]

There are some more spongers around MC.

[Drtooth]

Yeah, but getting back to the subject at hand, I'd rather have my (proverbial) Kid(s) watch Muppet Babies, rather than that annoying Purple Dinosaur, or those Power Mighty Ranger whatevers!

[frogboy4]

I'd agree, but if I had kids (and I would never have any because I can't even keep plants) I wouldn't want them watching any of that. They's be raised on quality animation and programming. I'd probably throw in a tape of Fraggle Rock, The Muppet Show or classic Warner Brothers cartoons.

[matleo]

that may be what you'd liek to fo Jamie but in this day and age, it's a lot hrder to prtect kids form what the watch. Unless of course you minimalize how much tv they watch as well which woud be what you'd haveto do. My sister does a great job with my niece she only lets Grace (said niece) watch two hours of TV a day (that includes videos). Of course, Grace is only two but still tubetime is limited and monitered and not really used as a babysitter. My sister may do some work (she works from home) while grace watches between the Lions or whatever but they still end up watchign it together.

As for my thouhts on the younger two-dimensional Muppets....Hate 'em! I agree with whoever said they did a lot of damage to the franchise , a lot of damage!!! turned Gonzo into simply 'a weirdo' and nothing more. turned Fozzie back into a bad comic and nothing more. I mean they mde the charters two dimensional in more tways than one. oK it's cartoon show aimed at 6 year olds so it doesn't need to be complex but you're taking one of the most complex families of characters and trning them into cardboard cut-outs. Did the same thing when they did Fraggle rock. it's whay Fraggles didn't do as well was because people had a REAL referce to go on and knoew Fraggles cold be better. Just plain terrble. Liked a loty of the muppet Baby music though! And actually the addition of Bean was good. he somehow worked well on that show. Bean Bunny: Muppet baby or Cosby kid? You decide.
--Matt

[frogboy4]

I think you got my post all wrong. In the very unlikely event that I ever have children I wouldn’t dictate what they watch 24/7. That is impossible and was never expressed in my post. That idea belongs entirely to someone else, believe me. ;)

I would, however, expose and guide them to these alternatives. Once a kid goes off to school they are bound to pick up Barney and Power Rangers propaganda. It is inevitable. If done right, one can guide a child to appreciate quality over hype. I certainly didn't mean there would be some fascist regiment of only Fraggles and Looney Tunes. I just bet that if I were to have a kid, they'd likely favor the Muppet gang because they would be a familiar presence.

[Drtooth]

Well, actually, I don't think I want my kid(s) watching TV, anyway. Get some fresh air (or what counts as it these days) instead! But if I had a gun to my head and had a choise between the three I mentioned, Muppet Babies all the way. That's a pretty rediculous senerio, granted. But that's the only way I can come out.