Review: Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular

Ryan Dosier - Last night on ABC, the Muppets co-starred in a new television special with Lady Gaga, erroneously billed as Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular, since there was very little holiday-related and less than half of the special featured Muppets. This 90 minute special left me completely baffled and more than a little ambivalent towards what I just watched. Overall, it was a big heap of brightly colored, pop-flavored confusion with some truly solid Muppet bits thrown in haphazardly.

I was truly pleased with almost every bit featuring a Muppet in the show. 90% of the sketches and jokes landed and the special gave a chance for some characters recently shoved to the side to shine bright. Bobo, Rizzo, Gonzo, Pepe, Swedish Chef, Dr. Honeydew, Big Mean Carl, and the Electric Mayhem (including Lips) all had wonderfully fun and funny moments--a lot more than any of them had in recent productions. Bobo's dancing scene with Kristen Bell might have been the most genuine and funny moment in the special.

The Muppet moments before every commercial break were another welcome addition. They all felt very natural and they were all a lot of fun. It was especially wonderful to see the team of Gonzo and Rizzo reunited, that alone gave these bits a sense of purpose. Adding in The Leprechaun Brothers (Beaker, Swedish Chef, and Animal)? Stroke of genius. Throwing in the Electric Mayhem was just icing on the cake. The band has really gelled with their new performers, and for once Zoot got two of the best jokes in the special. His line about cleaning his spit valve had me in stitches.

The sketch (sort of sketch, I guess) in Lady Gaga's dressing room was very funny and I don't understand why the whole special wasn't similar to this--Muppets and Gaga trying to put on a show. Kristen Bell's puppet idea was hilarious. Bunsen's Bubble Wrap Dress tested out on Beaker was pitch perfect. And it's always nice to hear from Lew. Later on, I really dug Kermit's duet with Lady Gaga and Miss Piggy's solo number. In Piggy's number it was especially nice to see her not diva-out on the backup singers and instead just let them do their thing... behind her. It was very refreshing and Eric Jacobson was in top form. Oh, and Statler and Waldorf kept the funny when there was none to be found.

But everything else in this special was severely confusing. None of it was bad, necessarily, but I just did not understand what Lady Gaga was trying to get across here. What part of this was a Holiday Spectacular? Who was the target audience for this when it aired at 9:30pm? Why not include the Muppets in every single part of the special that you can? Why bring in huge talents like Elton John and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and not let the Muppets participate? I know this was first and foremost a Lady Gaga special, but when you invite the Muppets and you put their name in the title you'd think they'd get used more.

I think mostly I'm just perturbed and confused by the marketing of this special. We were led to believe that the Muppets played an equal part in this amalgam of confusion, when that was just not at all true. There are two ways that I think my feelings on this special could have improved: one, remove "the Muppets" from the title and just call them special guest stars--which they basically were already; two, throw random dancing or backup singing Muppets in the background of every Lady Gaga solo. That alone would have solved so many of the issues in this special. Look how much better Gaga's duet with Kermit was than any of her other performances. Look how much better the "Applause" finale was just because Muppets were aimlessly dancing.

From the very opening of the special, it had an extremely thrown together feel. Poor Kristen Bell was the highlight of the special but she was tossed in there with no purpose. Kudos to her for running with it and making the most of her confusing screen time. There was no through-line to this at all. Was it a concert? A Muppet show? Why were the Muppets there? Why were the Muppets auditioning other Muppets for a sketch we never see? Why, why, why? I have to stop asking because I'm just confusing myself even more.

All in all, this special was harmless enough. It didn't make the Muppets do things they wouldn't normally do. In fact, it played to their strengths and their characters extremely well (veteran writer Jim Lewis is probably to thank for that). The Muppets and the Muppet performers were excellent. The Leprechaun Brothers should've had their own special. The Muppet bloopers at the end were dynamite, of course. Auditioning Muppets were very funny... None of it was inherently bad, the Muppet parts were good, Gaga is a talented performer (actor... not so much), but the special was just extremely... meh?

In closing, I think this fact speaks volumes about the special: #MuppetsThanksgiving was trending on Twitter last night and nothing about Lady Gaga was. Doesn't that just say it all?

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

News Update: November 22, 2013

NEWS UPDATE: November 22, 2013

The Muppets have been tapped to participate in 1D Day, a live 7-hour streaming broadcast celebrating boy band sensation One Direction, one of the most popular acts in the world today. The Muppets will join the likes of Celine Dion, Robbie Williams, Simon Cowell, and Piers Morgan. No word yet on what exactly the Muppets will be doing or when they'll appear, but luckily the whole thing will be posted online after the 7-hour stream for viewing. I know that's when I'll watch (aka jump right to the Muppets and turn it off very quickly after that)! The UK's Daily Mirror has more info.

As you all surely know, the latest trailer for Muppets Most Wanted was released this week. To celebrate, the Muppets themselves posted articles all across the internet. On Yahoo! Movies, Kermit discussed his "Most Wanted Trailer Cameos." On Yahoo Shine (whatever that is), Miss Piggy discussed her "Most Wanted Relationship Advice" and on Yahoo OMG!, she shared her "Most Wanted Advice for Celebrities from a Screen Legend." For Yahoo TV, Fozzie Bear shared his "TV Shows He's Most Wanted to Guest Star On." On Yahoo Music, Animal posted videos of his "Most Wanted Drum Solos." For the Oh My Disney! blog, Gonzo waxed on his "Most Wanted Disney Poultry" and Walter talked about his "Most Wanted Moments from the Muppets Most Wanted Trailer."

As if a new trailer for Muppets Most Wanted wasn't enough this week, ABC has also released the first promo commercial for Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular. It looks pretty great if you ask me. Watch the promo below and tune into the special on Thanksgiving night, November 28th, at 9:30pm Eastern time/8:30pm central time.



A fun little hidden tidbit in the new trailer for Muppets Most Wanted was hidden on Dominic's (Ricky Gervais) business card. See the image at right? Type in the web address and call the number--you won't be disappointed! Head over to Badguy Talent Management's website for a chance to win a trip to the world premiere of Muppets Most Wanted in Los Angeles! This is a huge opportunity, so don't miss out!

On February 7th, Disney and DK Publishing will release The Muppets Character Encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia is written by friend of the blog and awesome Muppet writer Craig Shemin. The cover art is at right, and it's fairly lame, but we also have a very, very early layout preview of two interior pages thanks to our friends at Muppet Stuff. The interior pages cover Afghan Hound, Andy and Randy Pig, Angel Marie, and Angus McGonagle. Based on those five names alone, I'm already sold. Check the pics below!

Our friend Matt Hoyle, the man behind the awesome book of comedy portraits, Comic Genius and the amazing video featuring Kermit and Steve Martin playing "Dueling Banjos," is hosting an exciting auction for charity. Framed celebrity autographed prints from Comic Genius are now available to the public via online auction until December 2, 2013. People can bid on their favorite celebrity's portrait for a rare opportunity to own a limited edition print and help an amazing cause--including an autographed photo of Steve Martin and Kermit. Check out all of the auction items here: http://gavelandgrand.com/auctions/comicgenius

Lastly, this week we also got to see a brand new entry in the new Sesame Street segment "Cookie's Crumby Pictures." In this installment, Cookie Monster and friends brilliantly parody The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in "The Hungry Games: Catching Fur." If you've seen the film already or read the book, then you'll realize how wonderfully spot-on this parody is. Kudos, Sesame!









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

The British Correspondent Defends Lady Gaga

Mupporandum: 25.10.13.

Hello. It is I, the British Correspondent.

I am writing from underneath a table at a rehearsal for the YouTube music awards. I have set up camp under here with a week’s rations and a camouflage suit (which looks like the black and white tiled flooring) just in case I get spotted. I am here, for once, not following a Muppeteer or stalking a Muppet, but rather preparing to observe another of my favourite creations (no, not kneecaps).

GAGA. The GAGA. Or Lady Gaga. (aka. Mother Monster--So named because of Big Mamma, perhaps?)

Whilst here, I felt like I should make the most of my time and pop together a quick list of reasons why it will be a good thing for the Muppets to be appearing this Thanksgiving in Lady Gaga’s Christmas slot (so to speak).

1. The Muppets are ARTPOP. What is ARTPOP? One widely accepted view of ARTPOP (or so I gather from GagaStigmata is that it is an engagement with the audience that transforms ‘just pop’ into ‘art’ through the audience reaction. i.e. The Muppets are ‘just’ foam and fur, ‘just’ for kids, ‘just’ nostalgic, ‘just’ characters, ‘just’ comic, only ‘just’ still alive and ‘just’ pop. BUT NO!!! The Muppets are living, breathing, interacting and integral parts of modern pop culture. Why? Because the audience engages with them and raises them from ‘pop’ to ‘art’ (life!). The Muppets are ARTPOP.

2. The Muppets live for Applause. What gets them onto the stage every night no matter how badly it may go wrong the night before? Why does Gonzo try a new ‘artpop’ stunt each night? (The applause) Why does Fozzie rework his material? (The applause-plause) Why does Camilla play that piano with her chicken friends? (A.P.P.L.A.U.S.E.) Gaga LIVES for the way that you cheer her on. Much like Tinkerbell, without someone clapping for her Lady Gaga would not exist (she would return to Stefani Germanotta) and neither would the Muppets (they would return to foam).

3. Gaga is inspired by The Muppets. She used precious word space in her first letter to the V Collective in V Magazine to state that Kermit is her whimsy (in the same way that Madonna is her inspiration, and Cindy Crawford, her sexuality).

4. Gaga comes from a family of chefs and has Italian roots. She cooked Turkey and Waffles last year in her Thanksgiving special. There is certain to be a cooking segment in this years’ episode and I know just the person to accompany her (Angelo). Shared food is an expression of family, an expression of connection, no WONDER the Muppets keep that Swedish guy around despite his lack of English qualifications. (And yes, ToughPigs got to that Angelo joke before I did, but it bears repeating.)

5. Gaga got early admission into TISCH at NYU where she studied art and performance. Similarly, The Muppets took the time to prepare at a performing arts school before taking Manhattan.

6. Miss Germanotta (as opposed to Gaga herself) has an encyclopedic knowledge of musical history, pop history and fashion history. And where better do these three things collide than Elton John wearing feathers and playing piano while crocodiles sing around his feet? She can reference a dozen artists in each frame of her music videos... she will have certainly done her research before inviting The Muppets on board for her latest artistic adventure.

7. The Muppets face their critics and harness their energy. (That was terrible!) Lady Gaga, too, is constantly criticized by the press. (That was AWFUL!) She’s too famous, she’s too fat, she’s too thin, she’s too much like Madonna, she’s not selling enough records, she’s over. (Well, it wasn’t bad.) She transforms this critical energy and turns it back into art time and time again (That was great!) she writes songs like Papa-paparazzi and Do What U Want With My Body based on this critical energy! (I loved it! Whooo! WHOOO!)

8. Her fans are known as Little (Muppet) Monsters. (And now I can’t get that theme tune out of my head...)

9. Much like Captain Smollet of Muppet Treasure Island, Lady Gaga embraces all creatures of different nationalities and cultures (although she rarely encounters Pig Tribes or ends up tied to a stake).

10. One of her new songs is called S.W.I.N.E.

11. Lady Gaga does bright and explosive, but she also does toned down and peaceful. From throwing an oversized cream pie at a speeding vehicle to singing poignantly in the dessert, I can imagine that Gaga’s latest show will replicate The Muppets own ability to switch gears from fun, fast and fabulous to heart-warming and classic.

12. Also, Lady Gaga once wore a dress made of Kermit’s which (I believe) at least helped in the ushering in of the newest age of Muppets being cool again, she also appeared with him at an event and she had the Jim Henson Company design a giant, tentacled monster which she battled in her original World Wide Tour.

Basically, what I am saying is, Lady Gaga and The Muppets a Thanskgiving Extravaganza will be a real meeting of the minds and I am incredibly excited to see what POPART/ARTPOP moments will be created. It is sure to be huge (with some toned down bits) and I will be sure to over analyse every moment to add to my own Muppart article series (which reminds me... I’m pretty sure I have added nothing to that series since The Pig with the Froggy Tattoo... I have GOT to stop stalking people and start writing things down...)

Ohhp! Got to go. Mark Zuckerberg just showed up!

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

The Muppets Go Gaga This Thanksgiving

Hugely exciting news announced this week for the Muppets. It was officially announced yesterday that The Muppets and Lady Gaga will star in a big-budget primetime TV special Lady Gaga & The Muppets' Holiday Spectacular! The special will air on ABC on Thanksgiving night, November 28th at 9:30pm-11:00pm ET. As with many Muppet productions, this new holiday special will feature special guest appearances from Sir Elton John, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kristen Bell, and RuPaul. According to sources, performance highlights include a duet between Lady Gaga and Kermit the Frog, a dazzling rendition of Gaga’s hit “Applause” with special Muppet guests, and performance duets with Sir Elton John, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and RuPaul, as well as a special sketch featuring Kristen Bell, Lady Gaga, and the Muppets. As if that weren't enough, The Swedish Chef, Beaker, and Animal will perform special Muppet renditions of the holiday classics “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells.” And as if all of that info weren't enough--during the special, we'll get a special sneak peek at Muppets Most Wanted, which, according to D23.com, will feature a cameo from Lady Gaga as well!

I don't know about you, Muppet fans, but this sounds like one of the most exciting, star-studded, and fun Muppet TV specials in a long, long time. I for one cannot wait!

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