News Update: June 19, 2014

JUNE 19, 2014

The biggest news this week is that Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will be appearing on PBS's annual A Capitol Fourth special celebrating the 4th of July. Kermit and Piggy will perform "Rainbow Connection" with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jack Everly. The appearance will be in conjunction with the promotion for Muppets Most Wanted on Blu-ray and DVD August 12th. A Capitol Fourth airs at 8:00pm EST on PBS on July 4th!

The O'Neill Puppetry Conference is one of, if not the most important puppetry conference and gathering of puppeteers. The Henson family, especially Jim and Jane Henson, were and are integral parts of the conference and have been since its inception. In honor of that, and Jim and Jane's influences on puppetry, The O'Neill Puppetry Conference will erect a new building named in honor of Jim and Jane Henson. According to our friends at ToughPigs.com, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut is currently constructing a new building to dedicate to the Hensons, set to be unveiled in 2015.

Last week, we reported that The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper had been added to Netflix instant streaming. We also said that they should add the other Muppet movies to Netflix... and lo and behold, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island were added this week! Now, The Muppets, Muppets From Space, and Muppets Most Wanted are the only remaining Muppet features not on Netflix. Hopefully we'll see those and other Muppet productions will be added soon. But for now, you have no excuse not to watch Muppet movies!

As part of the promotional run for I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story, The LA Times profiled Caroll in a wonderful new article. The article shows, once again, how truly incredible Caroll is, stating that there's no way his final season performing on Sesame Street is coming anytime soon. "If you rest, you rust," Caroll says in the article. The article also sheds more light on Caroll's understudy for Big Bird, Matt Vogel, and has more info on the documentary that Muppet fans are dying to see. Be sure to give the exceptional article a read.

Yesterday Sesame Workshop announced an exciting new development for the future of Sesame Street. For their 45th season, Sesame Street will air both 60-minute and 30-minute versions of the show daily on PBS. The 60-minute show will continue to air in the mornings, with the 30-minute show airing in the afternoon. This allows Sesame Street to be watched by kids at home both in the mornings and afternoons. Below is some info from the official press release:

Furthering a commitment to using the power of media to educate and entertain America’s children, PBS KIDS and SESAME STREET will introduce a bonus half-hour program this fall on-air and on digital platforms. Starting Monday, September 1, the additional half-hour program will air on weekday afternoons on PBS stations, complementing the one-hour series that airs weekday mornings (check local listings). For the first time, selected full episodes of the 30-minute show will also be available for free online at pbskids.org/video, on the PBS KIDS Video App and on the PBS KIDS Roku channel.  By offering this bonus half hour of SESAME STREET in an additional timeslot and through a growing number of digital services, PBS KIDS hopes to reach even more children with one of America’s most beloved and educationally powerful children’s series.

“We’re thrilled to extend our reach on PBS. What better way to celebrate our 45th anniversary season than to touch more children’s lives,” added Terry Fitzpatrick, Chief Content and Distribution Officer at Sesame Workshop. “These days, families expect to be able to connect with their favorite SESAME STREET friends at any time of day. The new afternoon show is a great complement to our continuing efforts to reach more kids with engaging lessons that will help them grow smarter, stronger and kinder.”

The half-hour version of SESAME STREET will help kids learn a variety of skills, including the school readiness skills – such as impulse control and socio-emotional lessons – for which parents are increasingly seeking resources.

Each half-hour episode of SESAME STREET is a shortened version of each one-hour program and will include a “Street Story,” a “Word on the Street” segment, a celebrity vocabulary segment, songs, spoofs, dance breaks and popular segments like “Cookie’s Crumby Pictures” or “Super Grover 2.0.”

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

Rachel Herrick Reviews... Muppet Treasure Island

Rachel Herrick returns to The Muppet Mindset with her fifth Muppet Movie Review! This time she takes a look at Brian Henson's 1996 film Muppet Treasure Island. Enjoy the video below!








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

Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Girl Pirate

Today's post was written by Ed Castle. Special thanks to Chris Stulz for the great artwork.

GIRL PIRATE

Performed by...
Camille Bonara

Only appearance...
Muppet Sing Alongs: Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Best known role...
No-nonsense girl pirate

WHO IS GIRL PIRATE?
The Girl Pirate, simply addressed as such, is a female pirate-type person who makes her only Muppet appearance in the Muppet Treasure Island Muppet Sing-Along home video release. At one point in the video, she admits that Kermit would make a great pirate, though Polly the Lobster doubts she knows anything about being a pirate. When confronted with this claim, she explains it all in true Muppet fashion, through the song "Real Pirate." She makes a second appearance later in the video, during the song "Let The Good Shine Out," kissing Kermit when he sings about giving love and having it come back to you.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED THE GIRL PIRATE?
People keep saying that there aren't that many female Muppet characters. Okay, maybe not that many in the established core besides Miss Piggy, Janice, and Camilla. But there are plenty of them if you dig deep enough--not that you should have to dig enough. It is unfortunate that there aren't more female Muppets... but The Girl Pirate also represents a sense of female empowerment/achievement, that a girl can be anything she wants to be, breaking through the ranks of mostly male-dominated professional pirates.

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

Review: The Great Muppet Caper/Muppet Treasure Island Blu-ray

Ryan Dosier - Tomorrow sees the release of The Great Muppet Caper and Muppet Treasure Island on a dual Blu-ray. The odd pairing doesn't make much sense, but there's no denying that putting two in one will probably sell more copies than individual releases. The release tactic is frustrating for Muppet fans, because we know both of these films deserve individual releases and it makes displaying the Muppet movies in chronological order incredibly difficult. (Or is that just me?)

Moving on, the release itself is really not bad. In fact, it's a joy to have all seven theatrical Muppet films on Blu-ray high definition. And boy, does the Blu-ray format make these two movies look outstanding. The Great Muppet Caper is one of my favorite films ever, so needless to say I've seen it countless times. The Blu-ray transfer is crisp, colorful, and really nice. Even the sound gets a wonderful revamp for this release. Muppet Treasure Island looks better, of course, being that it was released 15 years after Caper. The high definition transfer for Treasure Island is simply stunning. The "Cabin Fever" number leaps right off the screen in gorgeous color.

The bonus features for the release are incredibly sparse. In fact, the only feature for The Great Muppet Caper is two "Frog-E-Oke" tracks. Would it have been too much to ask for new commentary from the Muppets or the Muppet performers? Why not include The Muppets Go to the Movies, the TV special produced to tie into the film? It's incredibly disheartening that Jim Henson's feature directorial debut gets so little in the way of bonus features. Muppet Treasure Island fares slightly better, with one "Frog-E-Oke" track, old Brian Henson commentary, the old "Tale Behind the Tail" feature, and a "Let the Good Shine Out" music video from the Muppet Treasure Island sing-along tape. Why they didn't just include the whole tape, I'll never know.

The release is presented with both films on one Blu-ray disc and two individual DVDs, which is a great deal for the price and very handy for those who want the new release but don't have a Blu-ray player handy. The disc menus are very, very well done--especially Caper--and give the release some legitimacy. In fact, the menus for these films are better than the Blu-ray menus for the recent Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Movie Blu-ray releases.

Overall this release is worth your time for the gorgeous high-definition presentation of both of these wonderful films. If you own them on DVD already, I highly recommend upgrading to the Blu-ray if you have the ability. Plus, it comes with DVD copies so it's a win-win. The sparse bonus features are incredibly frustrating, but Muppet fans are unfortunately used to that by now. This release will be a great addition to any Muppet movie collection and makes a great Christmas gift for the Muppet fan in your life!

The Great Muppet Caper/Muppet Treasure Island Blu-ray
-- 3 out of 5 photographic essays on kneecaps

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

News Update: September 6, 2013

NEWS UPDATE: September 5, 2013

This past weekend the annual Dragoncon was held in Atlanta, Georgia. For the past few years Dragoncon has had an uncanny ability to attract Muppet performers and personalities for panels and appearances. This year was no exception, as Karen Prell, Kathryn Mullen, and Michael Frith all appeared to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Fraggle Rock. Of course, since Karen Prell and Red Fraggle are basically inseparable, Red Fraggle was also there--and so was Mokey Fraggle! This is the first time Kathy Mullen has performed Mokey since Fraggle Rock ended. Check out the video below for a purely delightful appearance!



Last week our good friends Bill Barretta and Gene Barretta (henceforth known as the Barretta Bros.) appeared on the "Preston & Steve Radio Show" in Philadelphia. Luckily, since most of us (myself included) probably aren't within listening range, the entire appearance is online! Take a listen for some Barretta Bros. fun!

As you'll certainly remember, The Great Muppet Caper and Muppet Treasure Island are coming to Disney Blu-ray on December 10th. We've already seen the (lackluster) cover art for the dual release, but now, thanks to our friends at StitchKingdom.com, we have information on the bonus features included! First of all, as expected, both films are restored and remastered for Blu-ray high definition, which is incredibly exciting. The "Classic Bonus Features" included are "The Tale of the Story Beyond the Tail" and "Muppet Treasure Island Audio Commentary." The new bonus features include Frog-E-Oke sing-along, a rediscovered music video of "Let the Good Shine Out," and an exclusive preview of Muppets Most Wanted. Some pretty exciting stuff there, but very little bonus content for The Great Muppet Caper which is insanely disappointing.

Last week our friends at ToughPigs.com found some artwork for some gorgeous potential Muppet figures designed by the talented Jim Valeri. On his website, Valeri says he designed the figures for a client but does not know the status of them or what they might be used for. However, judging by the stylistic designs, these figures certainly look like they would be a great addition to the recently released Disney video game/toy line Disney Infinity. Of course, nothing is confirmed, but they look like Disney Infinity figures to me, so perhaps come spring we'll see Muppet figures! Check them all out below:

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

The Great Muppet Caper and Muppet Treasure Island Coming to Blu-ray!

This news is almost two weeks old, but we're playing catch up and realized we never posted about it on the site. For those of you who haven't heard, get excited, because The Great Muppet Caper and Muppet Treasure Island are being released on Disney Blu-ray on December 10th! This release will mean that every single theatrical Muppet movie will be released in Blu-ray high-definition! That's the good news. The semi-bad news is that the two movies are being released together (a practice that Disney has been doing recently with its animated classics and their not-so-classic sequels), in what is being called the Of Pirates & Pigs 2-Movie Collection. The really bad news is that the cover art is pretty terrible:

While I admire the idea of combining the two movies into one cover, the execution is pretty lame. Plus the usage of flat-head Kermit is never okay. But still, I appreciate that Disney tried. Although, come on, would it have been all that hard to use a photo of Piggy, Fozzie, and Animal that's actually from The Great Muppet Caper? Blah.

Anyway! The current price for the 2-Movie collection is only $24.99, which is a pretty stellar deal for two Muppet classics. It looks like this will be another must-have! Cross your fingers for some bonus features... but don't hold your breath. I'll just be happy to have my favorite movie of all time (The Great Muppet Caper) in high definition. Pre-order now on Amazon!






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

Muppet Retro Reviews: Muppet Treasure Island

Ryan Dosier - This past week I had the pleasure of watching Muppet Treasure Island for the first time in at least a year. Watching it again from the perspective of where the Muppets stand now was incredibly interesting. The use of new characters abounded throughout the film while only about ten classic Muppet characters played semi-significant roles in the movie. It's amazing how far the Muppets have come in terms of incorporating favorites like Rowlf, Scooter, and the Electric Mayhem after projects like these that were clearly transitional. Anyway! Let's talk about the movie, shall we?

I'm sure you've all seen Muppet Treasure Island (and if you haven't, stop reading now and go do it, you sillies!), so you're aware of the plot: Young Jim Hawkins and his friends Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat embark on an epic treasure hunting journey with Captain Abraham Smollett (Kermit the Frog), Squire Trelawney (Fozzie Bear), Dr. Livsay (Dr. Bunsen Honeydew) and his assistant Beaker, and Mister Samuel Arrow (Sam Eagle). Once on board the great ship Hispaniola, they meet the ship's cook Long John Silver, portrayed brilliantly by Tim Curry, and a crew of cut-throats and scoundrels. Eventually they reach Treasure Island and we meet Benjamina Gunn (Miss Piggy) and have a climactic fight before the happy ending.

The greatest success of this movie is the work of Gonzo and Rizzo. Right after their smash success narrating The Muppet Christmas Carol, Gonzo and Rizzo return in great form as cabin boys. Including the duo with Jim Hawkins made the opening scenes (and most of the movie) much more engaging and saved it from being a dull, snooze-fest led by the dull, snooze-inspiring Jim Hawkins. Rizzo steals most of the show here, playing host to tourist rats, screaming in fear, and eating ravenously. However, Gonzo also shines as his wacky self with starfish in his pants and dragging by a rope from the back of the ship.

Another excellent inclusion in this film are the three main Muppet pirates: Polly Lobster (or Bad Polly), Clueless Morgan, and Mad Monty. Portrayed by Kevin Clash, Bill Barretta, and Jerry Nelson respectively, these three Muppets are hysterical and provide a lot of fun and comic relief. Clueless Morgan, especially, rocks the house with stupid comments and dim-witted responses. His line, "What was that song that just happened? You know, 'Cabin fever--hah!'" is one of my favorites.

The human actors in the movie are some of the only low spots. While Tim Curry gives an inspired performance as Long John Silver, anytime he has to share scenes with Kevin Bishop as Jim Hawkins, his character and performance dwindles. Kevin Bishop's Hawkins is perhaps the weakest aspect of the movie. One has to wonder how the film would have turned out if Robin the Frog was cast as Jim Hawkins instead. I Jerry Nelson and Robin would have delivered a much better performance than Kevin Bishop... but a Muppet fan can only dream. The secondary human actors are a mixed bag. Billy Connoly's Billy Bones is fantastic while Jennifer Saunders' Mrs. Blubberidge grates on my last nerve every time I watch.

The true stars of Muppet Treasure Island are the Muppeteers, however. Each one of them does a fantastic job throughout. Steve Whitmire is cool and collected as Kermit and snarky and panicky as Rizzo. Dave Goelz does great work with Gonzo, as always. Bill Barretta steals the show in his first major role with the Muppets (a sign of things to come). Frank Oz gives Sam Eagle his best performance of all time. And then there's Jerry Nelson, who contributes so many voices to so many different characters that it's purely amazing. I lost count during "Cabin Fever," where he performs at least six voices. One also has to mention Jerry's performance as Blind Pew in the beginning of the film. Blind Pew gets the biggest laughs and is a spectacular Nelson character. Jerry even makes an on-screen cameo as Squire Trelawney's elderly assistant, and it's beautiful.

The music in the film is a real highlight as well, with some great seafaring ditties including "Sailing For Adventure" and "Something Better." My favorites, however, are "Cabin Fever" and "Love Led Us Here." "Cabin Fever" is pure Muppet with singing, dancing bananas, clothy-marraca wear, and Bunsen in a curly mustache. "Love Led Us Here" is one of the few true romantic duets between Kermit and Miss Piggy and it's truly breathtaking. It's one of my very favorite love songs and a true highlight of the movie.


So yeah, that's Muppet Treasure Island! A very strange entry in the Muppet canon, but one that is immensely enjoyable if you can forgive poor Kevin Bishop's performance. The Muppets shine from Sam Eagle at his blustery best, to the Electric Mayhem just playin' the gig and not gettin' involved in politics, to Statler and Waldorf saving the frog and the pig. A few characters (namely Fozzie and Piggy) get the shaft either characterization-wise or screentime-wise, but for the most part everyone gets their due and gets to have fun.

And if nothing else, we've always got margaritas at the midnight buffet.

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

Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Mad Monty

Written by Ryan Dosier.

MAD MONTY

Performed by...
Jerry Nelson

First appearance...
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Most recent appearance...
Muppet Treasure Island (Muppet Sing Alongs) (1996)

Best known role...
Violent, volatile green monster pirate; part of Long John Silver's crew; cohort of Polly Lobster and Clueless Morgan


Memorable quote...
"But I ordered shrimp scampi!!"


WHO IS MAD MONTY?
Mad Monty is one of the hapless members of the pirate crew aboard the S.S. Hispaniola in Muppet Treasure Island. Mad Monty is a close conspirator of Long John Silver and part of a nefarious trio with Polly Lobster and Clueless Morgan. With Polly and Clueless, Mad Monty sang about his plans to "Hang 'em high and watch their little feet try to walk in the air, while their faces turn blue" and got thrown in the ship's brig where he lamented the sorry state of the food, asserting that he ordered the shrimp scampi.

Unfortunately, after Muppet Treasure Island, Mad Monty was only seen on screen on one more occasion when he appeared in the Muppet Sing Alongs tape featuring songs from the film. Again, Mad Monty appears with Clueless Morgan and Polly Lobster, joining Kermit on the ship for a rollicking romp of pirate songs.

Although he never appeared on screen again, Mad Monty did appear as a PVC toy with Polly Lobster for promotion of the film. Mad Monty's final appearance in any medium to date was an illustrated cameo in 2010's comic book Muppet Snow White where he again, you guessed it, appeared alongside Polly Lobster and Clueless Morgan.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED MAD MONTY?
This question is difficult to answer, since even Mad Monty's performer Jerry Nelson once said in an interview with ToughPigs that he thought the character didn't work. I think that Monty's goofy voice and mannerisms make him a relatively funny character, and he did work well with Clueless Morgan and Polly Lobster. Unfortunately, they also work just as well as a duo (see: Muppets Tonight), so again, Monty is not really needed. Perhaps someday Monty will return and he'll take off as a character.

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

Weekly Human Wednesday: Long John Silver

Today's Weekly Human Wednesday post was written by Kyle Mahoney. Kyle wishes to apologize for his long absence from writing for the Weekly Human Wednesdays series. He was stuck in a bank vault for three months with only Honey Nut Cheerios to eat. It was rough.

LONG JOHN SILVER

Performed by...
Tim Curry

Appeared in...
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Acquaintances and Shipmates...
Benjamina Gunn (former flame), Jim Hawkins (friend), Polly Lobster (Pet)

Best known role...
Head cook on the Hispaniola, Briefly the Captain of the Hispaniola, former first mate to Bernie Flint, the
One Legged Man.

Memorable quote(s)...
"Talking... parrots?"
"Bright as paint you are lad, bright as paint!"
"You're honest and brave and true. You didn't learn that from me."

WHO IS LONG JOHN SILVER?
Years before the adventures of Jim Hawkins, Captain Bernie Flint buried a treasure and left his crew for dead, but not all of his crew. His first mate was Long John Silver, who survived Flint's attack and vowed to get the treasure back.

Billy Bones also knows of this story, and warns Jim Hawkins, Gonzo, and Rizzo to beware the One-Legged Man, for he brings death. On the great ship Hispaniola the gang meets Long John Silver, who is the cook for the voyage and they befriend him, even after seeing his one leg and meeting his shifty pet, Polly Lobster.

It is learned that Long John Silver was able to persuade Mr. Bimble to hire the questionable crew that lies under the command of Captain Abraham Smollet. During the voyage, Long John and Jim become close friends, almost father and son. Jim eventually reveals to Long John that he was in possession of the map before being forced to give it to Smollet. After Polly Lobster, Clueless Morgan, and Mad Monty were put in the brig, Long John comes to visit to tell them his revised plan for mutiny. Silver then tricks Mr. Samuel Arrow into giving him his keys and abandons him in a lifeboat.

Soon, Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo learn of his plans and Captain Smollet decides to let them go to the island and will leave them all there for a year or so. But Long John, being the sneaky genius he is, brings Jim along with them. On the island Jim is forced by Long John to guide the pirates to the treasure. His crew begins to turn on him when there is no treasure in the chests, but using his power of persuasion, he gets their trust back.

We also learn that in the past, Long John had a romance with Benjamina Gunn, who refers to him as "Loooooooooooooooong John." But their reunion is cut short when he threatens her former fiancé Smollet. He hangs the two lovers above the ocean and heads for where Benjamina has hidden the treasure.

During the final battle, Long John does battle with Smollet and loses quickly. He gives up his sword with honor to Jim and is brought upon the Hispaniola to be brought to trial back in England. He escapes, steals the treasure and almost makes off in a lifeboat until Jim finds him and almost blows his cover. After a heartfelt exchange, Jim tells Long John to leave, and he does. But in the very end Mr. Arrow informs the Captain that Long John took a very unsafe lifeboat, and he is later seen trying to save his treasure in his sinking little boat.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED LONG JOHN SILVER?
Because it would have been a very boring movie otherwise. Long John is a brilliant, filthy villain, but is still able to have a heart and still honors the friendship he made with Jim. Long John needs to be there so that there is adventure, without him then it would have been a simple mission. Long john brings the action and Tim Curry had the perfect cockney accent to make a human character as vibrant as a Muppet.

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