News Update: May 24th, 2013

NEWS UPDATE: May 24th 2013
As we reported last week, The Muppet Movie is coming to Disney Blu-ray on August 13th. Unsurprisingly, the Muppet Facebook pages have been celebrating the upcoming release, but so has the official Disney fan-blog "Oh My Disney," which has come up with an article called "Reasons Why We're Excited That The Muppet Movie Is Coming to Blu-ray." The reasons are pretty great and very Muppet-fan friendly, so be sure to check it out.

The first official products from The Muppets... Again! have been made available for pre-order on Amazon.com. The products are two books, the first Kermit's Double Trouble is an illustrated storybook about the film, and the second, Muppets: Official World Tour Book, which is described as "Filled with photos and props from the movie, this paper-over-board storybook will be the souvenir tour book from the Muppets' international tour in the film." The second book definitely sounds awesome. Both will be available on February 11th, 2014 and both come with this description of the film:

"The Muppets are off on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe's most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine-the World's Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit-and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two."

In more news about The Muppets... Again! another cameo guest star has been reported in rapper/actor P. Diddy. Our friends at ToughPigs.com broke the story from an Australian news source, which talked to an actress who appeared in the scene with P. Diddy and Pepe the King Prawn. The actress said, "Travelling on a train, she plays the dice game craps with both of them, then dances with Pepe and ends up in a tussle with another girl while vying for the prawn's affections. 'It was funny as we ended up tearing both his hands off in the scene. It was an amazing experience,' she said." So this confirms both Pepe and P. Diddy! I know which one I'm more excited about.

In the biggest news of the week, New York City's Museum of the Moving Image and The Jim Henson Legacy announced this week that they are opening a brand new, permanent Jim Henson Gallery. Opening in "Winter 2014-2015," the gallery will be home to more than 400 puppets, costumes, props, and more from Jim Henson's creations ranging from the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and more. It sounds like a truly amazing gallery--but what is even more amazing is the announcement of the gallery, which featured Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Cheryl Henson, Miss Piggy, Oscar the Grouch, and Gobo Fraggle!

And the best part is, our friends at ToughPigs.com were on hand at the announcement to take video! Watch below for Miss Piggy, Oscar, and Gobo. It's truly fantastic. Eric Jacobson, Caroll Spinney, and John Tartaglia prove again how truly fantastic they are. Enjoy and thanks ToughPigs!







The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Muppet Retro Reviews: Muppet Classic Theater

Kyle Mahoney - Muppet Classic Theater was a straight to VHS feature-length production released in 1994. In a similar vein to the previously released film The Muppet Christmas Carol, the Muppets are retelling classic stories. It takes place in the Muppet Theater where Gonzo and Rizzo once again become the narrators as the rest of the gang act the story on stage.

The six stories told are The Three Little Pigs, The Midas Touch, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, (followed by a brief intermission) then Rumpelstilskin, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and The Elves and the Shoemaker. This production was significant in that it was one of Bill Barretta’s first Muppet productions. This also was the debut of some Muppets Tonight faces: Andy Pig, Randy Pig, and the Elvises.

Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Rizzo, Fozzie, and even Robin the Frog each take the stage, some in several roles, bringing their own flair and classic breaking the fourth wall into these timeless tales. Each story featured one original song by Philip Balsam, Dennis Lee (both of Fraggle Rock fame), Mark Radice, and Michael and Patricia Silversher.

Some of the best moments of the video include Miss Piggy sending the Big Bad Wolf into orbit via fireworks, Gonzo (as a Satyr) taking a nap in King Kermit’s rose bush, and Norman the Ox thwarting another wolf. Other hilarious moments are Piggy finding out Rumplestiltskin's name by looking at the name his mother had sewn into his clothes, Robin revealing that Emperor Fozzie was scammed and is in his underpants, and lastly the Elvis Elves receiving Sequin Jumpsuits as thanks.

One of the writers, Jim Lewis, had this to say about the project:

"My personal favorite among my own projects is Muppet Classic Theater which I co-wrote with Bill Prady. It was done relatively soon after Jim's passing, and it was in many ways a re-gathering of the clan. It was fun. Plus it's just silly, with no great message. I'm fond of it and hope it sees the light of DVD someday."

Although Muppet Classic Theater has only been released on VHS, you can watch it all right HERE with this link to Part 1.

All in all Muppet Classic Theater is an absolute delight. The songs are catchy and the script is fantastic in giving the Muppets their classic humor while also giving respect to the original stories.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Fleet Scribbler

Today's article was written by Mike Baldasare with edits by Ryan Dosier.

FLEET SCRIBBLER

Performed by...

Jerry Nelson

First appearance...

The Muppet Show Episode 204: Rich Little (1977)

Most recent appearance...

(On-Screen) The Muppet Movie (1979)

Muppet Robin Hood #4 Comic Book (2009)

Best known role...

Gossip journalist for "The Daily Scandal"

WHO IS FLEET SCRIBBLER?

Fleet Scribbler is a very aggressive reporter for the so-called "gossip rag" The Daily Scandal. He sometimes proves to be a major annoyance to Kermit when he stops by to report on The Muppet Show. Fleet first appeared in The Muppet Show Episode 204, guest starring Rich Little. In this episode, Fleet was one of the reporters who interviewed Rich Little by the stage door.

Fleet made his only major appearance in Episode 210 guest starring George Burns, where he blackmailed his way around The Muppet Show, hassling Kermit and cavorting with Miss Piggy. Fleet Scribbler was such a dedicated and prepared reporter that he could even speak fluently to The Swedish Chef. This unreasonable reporter gave Kermit a negative headline about snooping flies and also gave Gonzo a possible headline "Gonzo Fiddles While George Burns."

Fleet's final times on The Muppet Show came in Season 3, when Kermit spoke to him on the phone in Episode 304 and in Episode 311 where he was one of the dancers who stole Fozzie's jokes during "At the Dance." Fleet's last on-screen appearance was in The Muppet Movie finale. His most recent appearance in any medium was a cameo in the fourth issue of BOOM! Studio's Muppet Robin Hood comic book.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED FLEET SCRIBBLER?

Fleet Scribbler has not appeared since 1979, and with reasons for why not coming all the way from the top. Head writer Jerry Juhl noted how "abrasive and awful" the character was to write for. Really, the Muppets don't need a character like Fleet Scribbler, but bringing in a goofy, unforgiving reporter type every once in awhile could provide a laugh... but we probably won't be seeing that anytime soon.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Ten Favorite Waiter Grover Segments

Michael Wermuth, Jr. - Today I'm going to write about my top ten favorite "Waiter Grover" segments. Hopefully your favorites will be on the menu -- err, I mean list. 

10.   Outdoor Restaurant 

Mr. Johnson goes to Charlie's outdoor restaurant on a very windy day, where the wind blows the customer's food away. Unfortunately, it doesn't blow the bill away (and apparently he has to pay even though he didn't get to eat his food).

9.   Picture Menu 

An early segment from before Mr. Johnson would be as grumpy as he would be known for.  Mr. Johnson orders a sandwich exactly like the one pictured on the menu, making Grover go back until it is exactly like the one pictured. And when it's finally as it should be, Mr. Johnson's lunch hour is over. Interestingly, he does not get mad that he missed lunch, and doesn't even get a to-go box. He just calmly gets up as if missing lunch wasn't a big deal. 

8.   Singing and Dancing Waiter

 Grover works at a Spanish restaurant, where he is required to sing and dance as he serves the food. However, whenever he sings and dances, he ends up spilling the food. One funny thing is when Mr. Johnson suggests he sit the food down before dancing, Grover sits the food onto the floor as opposed to the table. 

7.   Bawk-bawk Sandwich 

One of the few segments where Grover's restaurant customer is not Mr. Johnson, but the similar-looking Simon Soundman (who at one point implies that they are brothers). Simon asks for a chicken sandwich, but due to the way he talks, he makes the chicken sound instead of saying "Chicken sandwich," leading Grover to bring in different kidns of sandwiches, including an elephant sandwich (which is just a toy elephant), a guitar sandwich, and a telephone sandwich. The fact that the restaurant would actually serve guitar and telephone sandwiches is funny. 

6.   First, Next, and Last

Mr. Johnson orders coffee, soup, and pie, and wants them all in the same order. Grover keeps getting the order mixed up, until Mr. Johnson says he wants everything else before the pie, causing Grover to actually bring everything else on the menu to the table at once. Of course Grover could have just brought all of his customers orders at once and Johnson could have eaten in the order he wanted. 

5.   Waiter Memory

Mr. Johnson orders a cheeseburger and french fries, but instead of writing it down, Grover has his own method for remembering: Make a poem out of his customers orders. With the rhyme "Round and tasty on a bun/pickles, french fries/yum, yum, yum!" Grover brings his customer a grapefruit on bread. It is then time for the waiter's lunch break, and for some reason Grover gets the idea to order a hamburger and fries. 

4.   Spaghetti 

Grover works at an Italian restaurant, where Mr. Johnson orders spaghetti. Unfortunately, Grover only brings out one piece, then two, then one again, before bringing in too much, spilling it on his customer. This segment is really funny, I like the set used for this restaurant, and all that spaghetti looks so tasty. 

3.   CH Sounds

It's Charlie's birthday, and in honor of his birthday, the restaurant only serves items that begin with the "CH" sound. Mr. Johnson ends up ordering a cheeseburger with chocolate ice cream, and this time Grover gets his order right and brought in right away, but before Mr. Johnson can enjoy his meal, the table gets taken away, as table does not begin with "CH." One neat thing about this segment is it's perhaps the only one where the outside of the restaurant is shown. 

2.   Rival Waiter 

Mr. Johnson actually gets a different waiter, Pino, but then Grover shows up and they argue over who is supposed to serve at Mr. Johnson's table. Mr. Johnson actually doesn't care who his waiter is, and they cooperate to bring in food, bringing in nearly everything until Mr. Johnson has them listen to what he wants. Unfortunately, the restaurant happens to be out of what he wants. He probably should have just picked some of the many food items that had been brought to the table. 

1.   Big Burger

One of the all-time classic waiter Grover segments, Mr. Johnson orders a hamburger, and he gets two choices: The little hamburger and the big hamburger. Since the little hamburger is too small, he chooses the big one, refusing to listen to Grover's warning about the big one. And a giant hamburger crashes through the door and onto the table. The giant hamburger makes this one the most hilarious of the waiter Grover segments.

Well, that's my list. Now if you excuse me, I have to go out to eat (hopefully no blue monsters will be serving me).

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com