It's Official: Disney completes Muppet acquisition

[Phillip Chapman]

The deal is done. Disney now owns the Muppets and Bear characters.

http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2004/042804.shtml

In related news, Comcast is officially dropping its takeover bid for The Walt Disney Company.

[Beth C]

*sniffs*

Tis a sad, sad day....

~Beth C

[jediX]

sigh

[Fozzie Bear]

I had an email from a JHC rep. that I was talking to about a location in a Muppet film, and she said it was completed also.

This could be a good thing or bad thing; however, I'm sure that over the next 5 to 7 years we'll be inundated with great Muppet stuff, but after that it'll decline.

Heck, Disney doesn't even know what to do with Mickey anymore except use him as a corporate symbol.

I'm disenchanted by Disney, but if they do the Muppets really good, I'll learn to respect them again. With Eisner out of the top seat, things at Disney may turn around for the better.

[Whatever]

sigh.

[Fozzie Bear]

Let's look at a few thigns about this article now:

Other initiatives actively under consideration include live action releases, theatrical productions, computer-generated three-dimensional animation projects and attractions and parades at Disney's theme parks.

Most of this looks great to me, but computer-generated three-dimensional animation projects scares the caca outta me!! What does THIS mean?? That they'll partner with JHC to create 3D CGI films like Finding Nemo with Pixar, or that they're going to go CGI with The Muppets?!

Chris Curtin, former synergy head for the company and special assistant to Michael Eisner, has been named Vice President and General Manager of the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House business and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the unit that will operate as part of Disney Consumer Products.

So, Mikey Eisner makes the announcement (I thought he was stepped-down by vote of the board), and puts his weenie assistant in charge of The Muppets under Disney Consumer Products, not even in a production title?? Uh-oh...it's going downhill for me now folks!

said Lisa Henson, co-chair and co-CEO of The Jim Henson Company. "Michael Eisner's passion for continuing my father's legacy has been demonstrated by the high quality projects being discussed."

Discussing and doing are two different things, Lisa. I have NO faith in Eisner. If his short-comings and failures in the past aren't representative of his lack of ability to keep something fresh and creative, then too many people are blind.

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the division of The Walt Disney Company that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home dicor and books to interactive games, food and beverages, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through the work of the division's various lines of business: Disney Toys, Disney Softlines, Disney Hardlines, Disney Publishing, Buena Vista Games and Baby Einstein. The Disney Store also falls under DCP and carries mostly exclusive, non-licensed merchandise.

Keep in mind, gang, that The Dizzy Company plans to put The Muppets under this category of their company. So, at least we'll get merchandise--quality is a different story. Finally, The Muppets go into the Disney Consumer Products subsidiary, and notice that nothing there mentions Tv, Movie, or Stage productions...just merchandise.

I feel totally uncomfortable about all of this now.

Three years, tops, we'll see some decent Muppet stuff before they go into a decline and end up like the early 1990's all over again.

[McFraggle]

Originally Posted by Fozzie Bear

Keep in mind, gang, that The Dizzy Company plans to put The Muppets under this category of their company. So, at least we'll get merchandise--quality is a different story. Finally, The Muppets go into the Disney Consumer Products subsidiary, and notice that nothing there mentions Tv, Movie, or Stage productions...just merchandise.

I feel totally uncomfortable about all of this now.

Three years, tops, we'll see some decent Muppet stuff before they go into a decline and end up like the early 1990's all over again.

I am pretty sure that Winnie the Pooh and characters like that are also under Consumer Products. It doesn't mean that we won't get films or anything like that because Disney has more synergy with other divisions in the Company than most do.

[Bean Bunny]

Other Disney proteries tha fall under Consumer Products are Mickey & Friends, Winnie The Poohs, Disney Princesses, Kim Possble. W.I.T.C.H.S, Power Rangers and now the Muppets and Bear. There more proteries but I just listed some of them.

[bobhopesite]

I can't wait to see what Disney has planed for the muppets.

[McFraggle]

I am anxious too, I hope the Muppet Show re-runs are put on one of the cable networks and also I hope they put the Muppet Babies on the Disney Channel.

[Manda:-D]

Originally Posted by bobhopesite

I can't wait to see what Disney has planed for the muppets.

Straight-to-video movie releases? Crappy merchandise? Cheesy adaptations of classic stories, the likes of which we've seen HUNDREDS OF TIMES BEFORE? (....Wait, that last part sounds kinda like Wizard of Oz...) I'm w/you, Kev, I'm DEFINITELY disenchanted by Disney. But, I guess all we can really do now is hope for the best.

[Bean Bunny]

Originally Posted by Manda:-D

Straight-to-video movie releases? Crappy merchandise? Cheesy adaptations of classic stories, the likes of which we've seen HUNDREDS OF TIMES BEFORE? (....Wait, that last part sounds kinda like Wizard of Oz...) I'm w/you, Kev, I'm DEFINITELY disenchanted by Disney. But, I guess all we can really do now is hope for the best.

Not all Disney merchandise is crappy. Every Company from Warner Brothers to even Henson has had some crappy merchandise Disney is no different. It better than no merchandise at all.

Here hoping that Muppet Show air on Disney or ABC Family soon.

[AndyWan Kenobi]

Well, now we'll see what's gonna happen. Kind of exciting, actually.

[a_Mickey_Muppet]

Originally Posted by Bean Bunny

Not all Disney merchandise is crappy. Every Company from Warner Brothers to even Henson has had some crappy merchandise Disney is no different. It better than no merchandise at all.

Here hoping that Muppet Show air on Disney or ABC Family soon.

WOW!!! this is GREAT news! Yeah!!! ur right Bean Bunny....EVERY company has SOME crappy stuff! Like DreamWorks....lastnight in wal mart I seenthy have the Shreck junk out for the 2nd movie and they have a Rip off Shreck that acts like the Tickle me Elmo....So yep EVERY compnay does! I just think EVERY BODY here just like to pick and poke at the little things Disney does! witch is NOT fare! Disney isnt the ONLY ones makin 2's look @ Universal with ALL the Land before Time movies...there like what now, 99of them so far?

Sooo...heres hoppin for the MUppet Show on Disney Cahannel or ABC Family, a NEW Muppet show for ABC's TGIF and Muppet Babies on PlayHouse Disney

[beaker]

Jim Henson's Muppets
1955-2004

Disney's Muppets
2004-2004

At least we have Muppet Family Chritsmas, a time when Muppet Show muppets, Sesame and Fraggle Rock were all under one roof...literally.