Muppet Things You Need to See

Greetings, sports fans! ...Oh, sorry, wrong blog!

Greetings Muppet fans! Today on The Muppet Mindset, we link you to some of the greatest Muppet things on the web. Things that every Muppet fan needs to see. Things that are hysterically funny and beautifully timeless. Things that came out within the past year.

What? you may ask. Muppet things that have come out within the past year can match the funny, timeless charm of the olden days?

Why, yes, yes they can. We're here to prove it!

YouTube
Did you know that the Muppets have YouTube accounts? If you didn't... shame on you! Gonzo, Beaker, The Swedish Chef, Fozzie, Sam Eagle, Statler and Waldorf, and Rizzo each have their own YouTube accounts--with video!

Besides hosting hilarious videos on their sites, the Muppets each have hysterical user profiles accompanying them. For instance, on Gonzo's page: "Interests and Hobbies: Performance art, extreme sports, extreme weather, extreme etcetera, bog-snorkeling, poultry and plumbing." I don't care who you are... that right there is funny.

But yes, of course the highlights of the Muppet YouTube infiltration are the videos. Many fans have gushed that these videos harken back to the old days of Muppet history--some even comparing it to Jim Henson's first show Sam and Friends. These videos are one of the first showing signs that the Muppets are back in full, hilarious force. Don't believe me? See for yourself:

• "Ode to Joy"
• "Classical Chicken"
• "Habanera"
• "Stars and Stripes FOREVER"
• "Rolling with the Skateboarding Dog"
• "Skateboarding Dog Gets Served"
• "Blech"
• "Mmph"
• "Meh" 
• "Hrmph"
  
  

Did you also know that at this past weekend's D23 Expo, Muppet Chairlady Lylle Breier announced that even more hysterical Muppet YouTube videos would be gracing our internets sometime in 2010? That's right! They will! The list of announced videos so far include, "Stand By Me" performed by Carl the Big Mean Bunny, "Popcorn" with The Swedish Chef, "American Woman" with Sam Eagle, "Carol of the Bells" with The Swedish Chef, Animal, and Beaker, "Bohemian Rhapsody" performed by The Electric Mayhem, "Pumpkin Carving" with The Swedish Chef, "Dust in the Wind" performed by Beaker, "Carve-o-Matic" with Bunsen and Beaker, and "Ghost Hunt" with Bunsen and Beaker.

If that ain't enough to excite any Muppet fan, I don't know what is!

Muppets.com
Have you been to Muppets.com lately? Have you seen all of the hysterical videos? Have you desperately wanted to play a game of Elevator Bingo with Pepe? If you answered yes to all of these videos, you're a good Muppet fan!

If you answered no... allow me to GASP... and then link you to what you've been missing. The official website of those irreverent puppets that we all love so much (no, not Lamb Chop) is chock full of great, Muppety goodness. The website features "rooms" for Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Pepe, and Animal, and in each room there are loads of great videos to watch. See for yourself: www.muppets.com.

But if you're feeling particularly lazy today, allow me to link you to my ten favorite videos on the site.

   10.) "Pepe @ the Drive Thru" - I can't understand jou! Speak English, hokay!
     9.) "Working Out With Bobo" - Bobo and Beauregard work out
     8.) "Topo Sticky" - Pepe's new friend
     7.) "Gonzo's Safety Tips" - Kermit gets a lesson in riding the elevator with Gonzo
     6.) "Up with Pepe" - Rizzo and the Rats work on the elevator
     5.) "Miss Piggy's Acting Class" - Miss Piggy teaches the power of acting
     4.) "Wocka Wocka This Way" - Fozzie tests out a joke on Pepe
     3.) "We Need to Talk" - Miss Piggy confronts Kermit
     2.) "Battle Hymn of the Elevator" - Glory, glory, hallelujah!
     1.) "Elevator Bingo" - The funnest elevator game in town, hokay

I assume you're now on the floor laughing your head off, so I don't expect you to be reading anymore. But, in case you are... At D23 it was announced that the Muppets would host TV Chef Cat Cora on Muppets.com for a new segment called "Cooking With Cat Cora" set to debut sometime this fall. Be on the lookout for it!

SesameStreet.org
For years people have been asking how to get to Sesame Street. Look at this, I give you precise directions with one website link! This is Sesame Street's semi-new official website featuring themed days hosted by various Muppets (e.g.,"The Number Three Day" hosted by The Count), games for preschoolers, and pages for the most popular Muppets on the Street (Abby Cadabby, Bert, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Elmo, Ernie, Grover, Oscar, Rosita, Telly, and Zoe).

But what does this website have for those of us older than four years old? One word: Videos. Yes, the official Sesame Street website is also the best when it comes to video clips of songs and sketches from the happiest street in the world. With over 1008 videos, the site boasts the largest collection of Sesame Street videos anywhere but Sesame Workshop's own archive.

With this many videos available, it's possible to literally spend hours searching the site and enjoying classic and recent Sesame Street. I'll let you discover all the magic and fun of 40 years of Sesame Street compiled in one place for yourself.

Muppet Fan Sites

Once you've gone through and watched all of these wonderful videos showcasing the Muppets in all their glory, where can you go to chat with other obsessed fans about said glory? What if you want news on all things Muppets? Well, lucky for you, I have more links!

• Muppet Central Forum - My go-to spot for Muppet discussion. Family-friendly atmosphere, fan-fiction, and games.
• Tough Pigs - My go-to spot for hilariously snarky takes on Muppet happenings. The gang over at Tough Pigs may not always be child-friendly, but they're dang funny (expletive would not be deleted at Tough Pigs). Tough Pigs on Twitter and Facebook.
  
• The MuppetCast - Hosted by the one and only Steve Swanson. Steve has a weekly, hour to two hour long podcast about all things happening in the Jim Henson world. His guest interviews are incredible! (And I do voices for the show sometimes. What more do you need?) The MuppetCast on Twitter and Facebook.
  
• The Muppet Newsflash - The only spot to go when you want Muppet news. Run by the fantastic Greg James, most of the news on The Muppet Mindset comes straight from here! The Muppet Newsflash on Twitter and Facebook.
  
• Muppet Wiki - If you have a question about the Muppets, Muppet Wiki is where you need to go. The largest collection of Muppet information on the entire internet. It's an amazing place full of more information than I'll ever remember. Muppet Wiki on Twitter.

I hope you've enjoyed this in-depth look at NEW Muppet things online! And the best part is? There's always more to come! Check back at The Muppet Mindset often for any updates we have on Muppet news, appearances, and more! (End shameless plug.)