The Muppets and Disney Consumer Products

[OverUnderAround]

How will the Muppets reclaim their glory when they are under the Disney branch
known as 'Disney Consumer Products'.

Notice what companies are under Disney Consumer Products:

Disney Toys
Disney Softlines
Disney Hardlines
Disney Home
Disney Publishing
Buena Vista Games
The Baby Einstein Company
The Muppets Holding Company
Disney Shopping, Inc.
DisneyShopping.com
The Disney Store

Looking at that list reminds me of that Sesame Street song; "One of these things is not like the other." The one that is not like the others is The Muppet Holding Company. They don't belong under 'Consumer Products'.

They belong in a different branch of Disney that is active in developing programming.

Disney's Bob Iger has stuck our beloved Muppets under 'Consumer Products', he sees the Muppets as merchandising, so don't expect anything as far as a TV series or movies being developed.

Not as long as the Muppet Holding Company is under the wing of 'Disney Consumer Products.'

I hope I'm wrong, but I think we are seeing a long dry spell of what is to come from the Muppet Holding Company. The best they can do is having Kermit appear in other people's shows. Which has been the pattern now for sometime.

Remember the beautiful days when humans came into the Muppets world? The Muppet world appears to be gone and what we see now is Muppets going into the human's world.

I don't blame those running the Muppet Holding Company; it seems there hands are tied by Disney Consumer Products.

The Muppet Holding Company needs two things:
1- to be run by a different department of Disney, (not Disney Consumer Products.)

2- they need someone who has the knowledge to market TV shows and movies.
Who in showbiz has that knowledge? They need a superb Talent Agent to run the company.
They know how to get and land the jobs.
Such as Jim Henson's former manager and friend, the agent Bernie Brillstein.

Perhaps Bernie should be running the show. I would like to see him given the chance at taking the helm.

Debbie McClellan is a VIP in the business office and Martin Baker is a producer. Mr. Baker's job as a producer is to manage the product that someone else creates.

The Muppets need a super agent running the company that can create and seek out the work.

Just yesterday I read in financial news that; "Last year (Disney), generated nearly $2.5 billion in free cash flow on a gargantuan $31.9 billion in revenue."

And none trickles down to the Muppets development.

Just my opinion.

[Kimp the Shrimp]

It's Been Stated Numerous Times


It's A Shame But What Can You Do

[BoyRaisin2]

To be correct, MHC has been under Disney Consumer Products since the beginning. That wasn't Bob Iger's doing.

In what would turn out to be Eisner's final months, the DCP-run Muppets (led by Chris Curtin), announced a slew of new projects in all areas--movies, TV, etc. But when power shifted from Eisner to Iger, he fired a bunch of people (Curtin included) and every major project was put on hold, as far as we know anyway.

So IMO, the problem is not being under DCP, 'cause under Eisner it really didn't matter for things were in full swing. The problem is that the higher-ups, at the moment, don't seem to know what they want to do with the Muppets and Iger apparently does not see them as a huge priority. Sad really.

[OverUnderAround]

To be correct, MHC has been under Disney Consumer Products since the beginning. That wasn't Bob Iger's doing.

Good point BoyRaisin2, thanks for that correction.

In what would turn out to be Eisner's final months, the DCP-run Muppets (led by Chris Curtin), announced a slew of new projects in all areas--movies, TV, etc. But when power shifted from Eisner to Iger, he fired a bunch of people (Curtin included) and every major project was put on hold, as far as we know anyway.

So IMO, the problem is not being under DCP, 'cause under Eisner it really didn't matter for things were in full swing. The problem is that the higher-ups, at the moment, don't seem to know what they want to do with the Muppets and Iger apparently does not see them as a huge priority. Sad really.At least Chris Curtin tried and we were all so hopeful. Down the line once they release the final 5th season of the Muppet show, since apparently there isn't new stuff for them to bring to market, what will Disney do then with the Muppets? It's a scary thought.

You would think that the Disney executives would be so eager to create a show seeing the crowds at Muppetvision 3-D.

[Philip Kippel]

Things can ALWAYS turn around and change for the better.

I bet that the Muppets will become a priority to Disney's current management team once they complete their other priorities, such as the Pixar acquisition.

As other members have stated at this forum...as long as we refrain from getting pessimistic and as long as we continue to support the Muppets and believe in them, things will eventually get better as time marches on.

[Tim]

I've said it before...

Jim's dead, and the great days are over. Just as Disney Feature Animation can never recreate the true glory days of Walt's time, the Muppets are destined to become a licensing company that just happens to use the characters inthe occasional film or tv product-in order to license more merchandise. Jim's Muppets came from the creative heart. Disney's Muppets are coming from the corporate wallet. The thought is no longer "What wonderous worlds can we create?", rather "How else can we sell these to justify the purchace of the company, shore up the bottom line and please the stockholders?". That's why they are being handeled by the merchandise divison and not entertainment. Eisner said it on Larry King himself: "There are three truly great characters in the world: Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and Kermit the Frog.: How many kids know these characters from anything other than plush you sleep with, or videos you buy?

Don't expect things to change anytime soon. Henson's kids have bungled it for years, and Disney is simply trying to recoup their losses.

[BoyRaisin2]

I bet that the Muppets will become a priority to Disney's current management team once they complete their other priorities, such as the Pixar acquisition.

Well they better get on it 'cause according to Disney's web site, they completed the Pixar acquisition yesterday.

[BoyRaisin2]

Are you joking?

[Muppet Matt]

Hey man, when are we gonna get some real performers for Kermit and Piggy; I can't tell ya how tired I am of Steve's Kermit and this amateur dry Piggy! I can't believe that two huge international icons are being performed this weak! With all Disney's money and "creativity" they can't find some better performers to represent these characters?? Come on guys, lets get something that is a lil more Jim and Frank and not sound like impersonation improv night at the local bar up the road.;)

What do you mean by that? I think that there great!

[OverUnderAround]

I understand what Amicus is saying.
Amicus (and others) wants to see Jim's version of Kermit again.
And others fans are content with Steve's version.

It's an ongoing fan debate.

[Fozzie Bear]

It's a little nerve-wrecking, ain't it?

[OverUnderAround]

Hmm... maybe Muppet Central should have a poll, which characters we believe as fans should be recast.

(Not that anyone at Disney or Henson or Sesame would even pay attention to us.) But still it's a good idea to see what the fans think.

[Muppet Matt]

I understand what Amicus is saying.
Amicus (and others) wants to see Jim's version of Kermit again.
And others fans are content with Steve's version.

It's an ongoing fan debate.
Of course Jim's Kermit was the best, but, how are you going to get Jim's voice back? I think that Steve is doing the best that he can and is doing great!

[JLG]

I miss Henson's Kermit too, of course, but I like Steve's Kermit a lot more than his Ernie. Now Ernie I really miss. (What can I say? I love the guy:p ) Whitmire even said in an interview (wish I remembered where I saw this) that, since he worked side by side with Henson for years while working on Muppet Show-related projects, he got a real feel for the character of Kermit and of Henson's connection to it. Since he was never working on Sesame Street until '93 or so, he never observed Henson performing Ernie, and so, in roughly his words, "never really learned what part of Jim Ernie was coming from." So from what I can see, he's basically come up with his own interpretation, which I disagree with. As someone else once said, he's a little too cheerful. The old Ernie had more of an emotional range.

I don't mind his Kermit, though. It's different, of course, but it's enjoyable in its own way. (I love the way he does "flustered".:) )

[OverUnderAround]

Of course Jim's Kermit was the best, but, how are you going to get Jim's voice back? I think that Steve is doing the best that he can and is doing great!

The recent auditions showed that those selected to try for Kermit were based on Jim's voice.

So some day, whenever there is another Kermit, it will be based on Jim's voice.

[Tim]

It's so important to get her just right and without that voice dead on and the actions not right it's like watching an old Looney Tunes cartoon re-dubbed; it just doesn't fly right.Funny you should say that since I was going to use Bugs Bunny as an example of what's wrong with the "new" characters. There are a LOT of great puppeteers and voice over artits out there, and I'm sure many members on this board can impersonate a Muppet of two (I can do a pretty ok Kermit, myself). But no matter how many people can "do" Bugs Bunny (or Bullwinkle, or Fred Flintstone, etc.) there will NEVER be another Mel Blanc, just as there will never be another Jim Henson, or Jim/Frank combo. Mimicing a voice and matching movements is better than nothing, but there are a thousand little things about each of us humans that make us US, and they can never be duplicated.

Personally, I think Steve's Kermit is good, and gotten so much better than when he first started out. And I'm suprised at how close the Sesame character's are of Frank's (except for Cookie).

But like all things Muppets, this is what we have to live with from here on out.

[Muppet Matt]

Sure you can tell a difference and we all miss Jim and Frank, (I'm sure Steve and Eric miss them too.) But I think that they (especially Eric since he just started with :o:mad::( etc.) will get better the more they perform them. I don't really think that Steve has to get better at all.

[OverUnderAround]

And I'm suprised at how close the Sesame character's are of Frank's (except for Cookie).

I agree. I watched Sesame Street for the first time in ages yesterday and was really put off listening to David Rudman do Cookie Monster. Disappointed to say the least.

Now there's a character that needs to be recast.

[rtgentry]

Well I am sure that not just anyone that sounds like JIM can just get hired and be the new kermit. Steve has the kermit voice and the puppetry expirence that the muppets need.

Steves not going anywhere.
'Get over the "voices';
Just be happy the puppets are still ALIVE and kicking...
You could be stuck watching old reruns on dvd with no hope of any new shows or movies.

[Muppet Matt]

Well I am sure that not just anyone that sounds like JIM can just get hired and be the new kermit. Steve has the kermit voice and the puppetry expirence that the muppets need.

Also Steve said that he couldn't perform Kermit if he hadn't worked with Jim before.

[Philip Kippel]

Reminder: Eric Jacobson has been doing Piggy, Fozzie, etc. even before Disney bought the Muppets.

That said, I think that Steve, Eric, etc. have done good jobs performing their respective characters.

[a_Mickey_Muppet]

Honestly I enjoy watching the old Muppet stuff. At least it's worth watching over and over. There is no more quality to the scripts or the performances. Everything is just slapped together with "trying" to look like what it once was. They could resolve this issue with simply getting better performers for the main characters and hiring better script writers similar to Jerry Juhl's understanding of the character traits. These are the ingredients needed for a successful future of the Muppets.
Grant it Steve is a great performer but not for Kermit. Take a look at his expressions he makes for Kermit, they're too choppy. The voice just sounds like Steve's own voice. This does not work for Kermit, bottom line.
Same for Piggy, she's too exagerated in her voice and mannerisms. And it's not a good exageration. Eric has had over three years to perfect this puppet and he's not there.
Disney has nothing to loose by experimenting with new performers to portray these characters the way they should and deserve to be.
Yes let's keep the magic alive but the right way; not half-*****.


i also happen to love Steve's Kermit and Eric's Piggy (and others too) there BOTH GREAT! if you dont like em dont watch it man! :smirk:

[a_Mickey_Muppet]

Disney buying them or not buying them has nothing to do with it. Disney currently owns them and to look out for the future and well-being of these characters I agree, they should be handled by people who can perform them the way the Muppets should be; Bottom line; Jim's Kermit, Frank's Piggy. I'm sure they'd agree.

Jim IS GONE man hes no longer with us! Frank isn't Muppeteering NO MORE! :smirk:

YOU NEED to look at this dude:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlp5WCZAMLQ

[Daylight]

I think Steve does a great job as Kermit. Just because his performance is different than Jim's doesn't mean that it's bad. We are never going to get someone who is exactly like Jim. Things change and we have to deal with it. Trying to get the main performers replaced is in no way going to help the Muppets.

[LadyVader]

Come on face it theres never going to be another Jim Henson & company in fact just be glad we to see the Muppets at all doesn't any one remember when there was no muppets at all on TV or any place eles we should be happy to at least get to see them again and remember times have changed Jim has passed on and on Disney now holds the Muppets they won't be the same Disney doesn't have Jim's heart there a for profit company look at all the remakes and seaqules to films the didn't need it.