News Update: June 21, 2013

NEWS UPDATE: June 21, 2013
This week Disney Mobile released a brand new iPhone application called "My Muppets Show" which features a virtual Muppet Show with unlockable characters and props. Unfortunately, and immensely frustratingly, the app is currently only available in Australia. The Facebook fan page for the app suggests that it will be released wider soon... so cross your fingers, Muppet fans. Thanks to our friend Zac Parker, we have some exclusive screenshots from the app, so check them out below!

As we reported last weekend, the 40th Daytime Emmy Awards were held and Sesame Street won a lot of shiny statues. But a meaningful piece of news came after viewers had time to upload the ceremony to YouTube, including the In Memoriam segment, which featured both Sesame Street director/writer Emily Squires but also Muppeteer Jerry Nelson. Watch the video below for the full segment (which starts at 3:10).



I don't know if we've mentioned it on the site before... but our friend Brian Jay Jones is in the finishing stages of his new, all-encompassing book Jim Henson: The Biography, which will be released on Jim's birthday, September 24th. The book already has a lot of buzz around the internet including a newly released blurb from none other than Frank Oz, who had this to say about the book: "I worked with Jim for over thirty years.  He was one of my closest friends. And yet I found out things about him in Jim Henson that were new to me.  Brian Jay Jones has captured the layers of Jim’s genius and humanity as well as the flaws that made Jim, like all of us, so delightfully imperfect. Jim needed this book to be written. I thank Brian for giving Jim life again. This book has captured the spirit of Jim Henson." You can pre-order the book on Amazon now, and check out the awesome cover art to the right!

Finally, we now have confirmation that The Muppet Movie Original Soundtrack will be re-released in conjunction with the film on Blu-ray on August 13th by Walt Disney Records. Still no cover art or track information (though we can probably guess the latter with some accuracy). However, you can pre-order the soundtrack on Amazon.com and check out the announcement from our friends at StitchKingdom.com for some more information about the re-release.

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

Ramblings of Muppet Nerd Jarrod Fairclough: A Plea To the Muppets

Jarrod Fairclough Presents: Ramblings of a Muppet Nerd – A Plea To The Muppets

Jarrod Fairclough - Hello. This is going to be my last edition of Ramblings. Beginning shortly, I'll be bringing you a new series called "New Pictures," but I'll explain more about that later!

Today I'd like to make a plea on behalf of all the Australian Muppet fans. Muppets, we love you. We love you so much that we dedicate hours of our time to you, writing about you and watching you, and learning everything there is to know. And when I say Muppets, I mean them as a whole, including the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, the Muppeteers, etc.

So I'm constantly saddened about the fact that I miss out on so much stuff! I always hear "I'm going to see (insert name of Muppet or Muppeteer here) do a talk about their career." Panel discussions with these people happen regularly enough that I notice them. Then there was the big Carnegie Hall concert! Montreal got an entire Gala! Unfortunately, due to my location on the other side of the world, I'm unable to attend these events, instead having to live vicariously through shoddy YouTube videos, reviews on this site and ToughPigs, or through hours of conversation with Ryan Dosier on Facebook. I'm sure he has better things to do than have me ask "How was the Jerry Nelson Memorial? Tell me about the Snuffy part again?" (Note from Ryan: I wish I had better things to do, but I don't.)

Now, I admit, Australia hasn't been TOTALLY ignored by the Muppets. We had Puppet Up do extremely well here. We get a visit by Elmo generally every two years or so. Sometimes he's joined by a pal, like Cookie Monster or Abby Cadabby. And just last year, Kermit and Jason Segel came out to promote the new movie for like three days. But they stuck to TV appearances. As does Elmo. Where as it seems in other places, like London or in America, they make appearances live in different venues, where the public can get a chance to interact with their furry friends. I'd like that chance. I haven't been in the presence of a Muppet in almost four years, and that's far too long!

I remember when Elmo and Cookie were here a few months ago, I heard a voice over at a large shopping center, one of the main in the state, say "There will be an appearance by Elmo and Cookie Monster on the third floor in 15 minutes." My goodness, I ran. I hadn't gone there knowing this would happen, but I thought, "What incredible luck!" And there, on the third level, was a stage set up, with Sesame Street stuff around it.  I waited, and then the Sesame theme started up. Then, Elmo and Cookie Monster made their entrance, to the cheers of everyone. But not me. They were the big walk around characters. I was pretty devastated and disappointed. QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH MY HEART, MUPPETS!

I have no doubt what so ever that if you guys were to organize a big Muppet event in Australia, just one or two, you guys would sell out giant halls! Australia loves you, Muppets. And we know you love us. But can you love us a bit more, please? With some Muppets? In performance form?

So that’s my plea. And that's the final edition of Ramblings of a Muppet Nerd. As I said earlier, I'll be beginning a segment called New Pictures, where I look at some obscure or awesome pictures and photos from Muppet Wiki and discuss them. It'll be fun! Until then, dance your cares away!

Love,
Jarrod

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

Elmo and Cookie Go to Australia

Our friends at Sesame Street love sending their monsters all over the world--and we certainly love watching them. This time, Elmo and Cookie Monster are visiting Sydney, Australia (seemingly for no particular reason), and they're making videos on their Facebook pages of the fun they're having! Check out links below:

 Elmo and Cookie Monster's Australian Adventure, 2012

Elmo and Cookie Monster's Australian Adventure continues!

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