Happy New Year from Muppets Most Wanted!

Welcome to 2014, Muppet fans! Doesn't it feel so much different?! Well it should, because two new videos promoting Muppets Most Wanted have been posted online! They're very short, but they feature some awesome new shots from the movie--including one I may or may not have seen filmed. I can't tell you. I don't think. I don't really know. Anyway... here are the videos!











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

The Muppet Year in Review, 2013

Ryan Dosier - Greetings Muppet fans! Here we are again, New Year's Eve. 2013 is ending and 2014 is heading our way. But before we get there, it's our annual tradition to take a look at the past 12 months and see how they treated the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and more! Let's get started, shall we?

January - 

• Jan. 9, Tina Fey confirmed for The Muppets... Again! - Who else could play a Russian prison guard?!
• Jan. 14 - The Muppets... Again given official release date: March 21, 2014 - Spring with the Muppets! What could be better?
• Jan. 18, The Muppet Mindset interviews John Tartaglia - There are few people better than good ol' Johnny T.
• Jan. 20, Filming officially begins on The Muppets... Again! - Boy, I hope that title doesn't change!
• Jan. 30, The first publicity for The Muppets... Again! surfaces - Ricky Gervais! Bret McKenzie! So much more!

February -

• Feb. 2, Sesame Street parodies Downton Abbey - Yet somehow, the Countess von Backwards did not play the Dowager Countess.
• Feb. 4, Davide Maugeri's fan-made Dinosaurs animated video debuts - It stars the Baby, gotta love it!
• Feb. 22, Big Bird teams up with First Lady Michelle Obama for a Get Healthy initiative - Big Bird is so svelt for an 8 foot 2 inch yellow bird.
• Feb. 24, The Muppets predict the Oscar winners - In a shocking turn, Floyd Pepper's choice of Argo won--Animal was not pleased.

March -

• March 1, Louise Gold and Annie Sue revealed to be returning for The Muppets... Again! - Bringing the golden afro back in style.
• March 7, Awesome on-set photos from The Muppets... Again! escape online - Kermit at the tower of London for a wedding? Somebody tell the pig.
• March 21, The Muppet Madness Tournament begins - Oh boy, I hope Sir Didymus wins!
• March 24, Tom Hiddleston filmed a cameo for The Muppets... Again! - Let's hope he keeps it... Loki. Ahh! Wocka! Wocka!

April -

• April 2, Jane Henson passed away - We miss you, Jane. Thank you so much for everything.
• April 5, Usher announced for a cameo in The Muppets... Again! - He'll Usher in a new age of Muppets. Or something.
• April 11, John Tartaglia begins performing Gobo Fraggle - He really nailed it, eh?
• April 13, The Muppet Mindset interviews Arianne Gallagher, who visited the set of The Muppets... Again! - Did you know that the Muppets... are puppets?!
• April 20, Muppet Bobbleheads announced - Finally, a Dr. Teeth bobblehead for the working man.
• April 27, Frank Langella announced for a cameo in The Muppets... Again! - Was he Frost or Nixon?

May -

• May 3, Danny Trejo and Ray Liotta announced for cameos in The Muppets... Again! - Wait, haven't we seen them in our Muppet movies before?
• May 15, Armando announced as the newest Sesame Street human cast member - Better than Armadillo, right?
• May 17, Ryan Dosier visits the set of The Muppets... Again! - And I still can't talk about it!
• May 24, The Jim Henson Gallery announced for New York City's Museum of the Moving Image - Oscar, Gobo, Miss Piggy, and Mayor Bloomberg make the announcement--which one is not a a Muppet, again?
• May 30, The Muppets... Again! Cameo Rundown begins - So many cameos, so little time!

June -

• June 1, Series 3 of The Muppets Vinylmation revealed - Uncle Deadly? Beauregard? Newsman? What year is this?!
• June 7, Ryan Dillon begins performing Elmo - And he's fantastic.
• June 13, The Muppets rumored for a Broadway run - Broadway! Broad-way, Broad-way!!!
• June 14, The Muppets... Again! renamed Muppets Most Wanted - Well now I'm confused.
• June 16, Sesame Street wins seven Daytime Emmy Awards - Sewen! Sewen awards! Ah! Ah! Ah!
• June 21, The phone application "My Muppets Show" debuts on iPhone - Now you can have your own Pepe!
• June 30, James Carrol's Electric Mayhem print revealed - Rock. On.

July -

• July 20, Disney Channel releases videos from on set of Muppets Most Wanted - Featuring Disney stars I've never heard of.
• July 25, Kermit and Miss Piggy welcome the Royal Baby - And Piggy tries to steal its crown..

August - 

• Aug. 6, The Teaser Trailer for Muppets Most Wanted debuts online - It's coming!!
• Aug. 8, Ryan Dosier reviews Jim Henson: The Biography - You guys, it's, like, so good.
• Aug. 10, Tons of Muppets Most Wanted news comes out of D23 Expo - Ty Burrell's tiny car!
• Aug. 12, The Muppet Movie is released on Blu-ray - It's so blue, ray!
• Aug. 21, Kermit and Steve Martin play "Dueling Banjos" - Strum it, frog.

September - 

• Sept. 5, Red and Mokey Fraggle appear at DragonCon - This is the first time Mokey Fraggle has been performed by Kathryn Mullen since 1990.
• Sept. 17, The Muppet Mindset interviews Dave Goelz - And thus, Ryan Dosier's head exploded.
• Sept. 24, Jim Henson: The Biography is released - The best piece of Muppet merchandise in 2013.
• Sept. 24, The Henson family donates over 20 Muppets to the Smithsonian - Finally, a J.P. Grosse exhibit!
• Sept. 25, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots play with the Sesame Street gang - Pretty sure Questlove and Grover are kindred souls.
• Sept. 26, Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch appear on The Colbert Report - Brought to you by the Letter T for truthiness.

October -

• Oct. 1, Expert Muppet engineer Faz Fazakas passes away - He gave the Muppets amazing life.
• Oct. 10, Brian Jay Jones visits The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Can't beat that!
• Oct. 15, Brian Jay Jones and Frank Oz appear on Today - But... that wasn't today?
• Oct. 17, Lady Gaga & The Muppets Holiday Spectacular announced for Thanksgiving - I'm sure this won't be awkward and terrible!
• Oct. 29, First poster for Muppets Most Wanted revealed - Isn't Photoshop amazing?

November -

• Nov. 1, Sesame Street airs brilliant tribute to Count von Count and Jerry Nelson - One, one amazing episode.
• Nov. 14, Oscar the Grouch meets Grumpy Cat - They both hated it.
• Nov. 16, The Muppet Mindset joins Instagram - And we still don't understand Throwback Thursday.
• Nov. 19, Our sister site, The Mickey Mindset, launches - As Mickey would say: "Oh, boy!"
• Nov. 20, Three distinct trailers for Muppets Most Wanted debut - That's my most wanted day!
• Nov. 22, Sesame Street parodies The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with Cookie Monster - My heart caught fire with joy!
• Nov. 28, Lady Gaga & The Muppets Holiday Spectacular airs on ABC - Thank goodness for Kristen Bell.

December - 

• Dec. 5, The first ever Muppisode debuts with Gordon Ramsay vs. The Swedish Chef - It put me in the food mood!
• Dec. 10, The Great Muppet Caper and Muppet Treasure Island released on Blu-ray - The two most similar Muppet movies, for sure.
• Dec. 18, Cookie Monster appears on Michael Buble's Christmas special - Surprise, he ate cookies.
• Dec. 26, Caroll Spinney turns 80 years old - He doesn't look a day over amazing.

Well there you have it, Muppet fans: 2013! We're so glad we got to spend this year spreading Muppet joy and happiness with you. And now with 2014 on the way, we're going to get Muppets Most Wanted, Season 45 of Sesame Street, the fifth anniversary of The Muppet Mindset, and so much more. I know I can't wait! Happy New Year, Muppet fans! See you in 2014!

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

Happy 2013, Muppet Fans!

Let us bid farewell to 2012. A years of highs and lows for Muppet fandom. As we move into 2013, we prepare for even more Muppet stuff with a new Muppet movie going into production, a new Sesame Street movie being prepared, and a Fraggle Rock movie being written. The Muppet Movie is scheduled for Blu-ray release, a new Vinylmation series is being planned, and much more is surely on the way in 2013. We at The Muppet Mindset look forward to sharing all of this excitement with you through the year.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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

The Muppet Year in Review, 2012

Ryan Dosier - Greetings Muppet fans! Here we are again, New Year's Eve. This year, 2012 is ending (obviously) and 2013 is heading our way. But before we get there, it's our annual tradition to take a look at the past 12 months and see how they treated the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and more! Let's get started, shall we?

January -

• The Muppets wins Critics' Choice Award for Best Original Song, Jan. 13 - And thus the awards season for the Muppets begins. Clear some shelf space, Kermit!
• The Muppet Mindset Interviews Peter Linz and Walter, Jan. 20 - Walter and Ryan Dosier bond over just about everything, and Peter disappears while Walter is on the phone. Weird.
• Muppet Show writer Joseph Bailey releases book Memoirs of a Muppet Writer, Jan. 23 - Who would've thought a writer would write a great book? (Answer: everyone.)
• "Man or Muppet" Nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Song, Jan. 24 - Walter, unsurprisingly, passes out.

February -

• The Academy Awards Bar Original Song Performances at the Ceremony, Feb. 7 - It was a hard-fought battle and we still didn't get Muppets singing at the ceremony... but hey, we tried!
• Miss Piggy Hosts BAFTA Red Carpet Ceremony, Feb. 13 - BAFTA? I barely know ta! (Wow, that was terrible.)
• Disney Confirms Kermit and Miss Piggy Will Present at Oscars Ceremony, Feb. 18 - A frog and a pig at the Oscars? They'll fit right in!
• "Man Or Muppet" WINS the Muppets Their First Oscar, Feb. 26 - No one let Animal near it!
• Scooter Speaks at the TED Conference, Feb. 29 - He goes down in history as the greatest Ted of all time!
• The Muppet Mindset Interviews Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, February - To quote... "It was so magic!"

March -

• Disney Taps James Bobin, Nicholas Stoller to Write Another Muppet Movie, March 1 - That didn't take long at all!
• Jason Segel Steps Away from the Muppets, March 5 - And I still say he's incredibly noble for doing so.
• The Muppets Released on Blu-ray/DVD, March 20 - How many times have YOU watched it?
• The Muppets Receive a Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, March 20 - Now they can be walked all over all the time!
• Copper Pot Pictures Announces I Am Big Bird, Documentary About Caroll Spinney, March 29 - Even Oscar can't be grouchy about this!
• The Muppets Appear Everywhere  Promoting The Muppets on Blu-ray, March - Kermit visits Colbert, Electric Mayhem jams with Jimmy Kimmel, and a whole lot more.
• Disney Launches The Muppets Midship Detective Agency game for Disney Cruise Line, March - Who did it?! And why did they do it?! And... what did they do?

April -

• Kermit the Frog Wins 2012 Muppet Madness Tournament, April 3 - We like him, we really like him!
• Being Elmo Released on DVD, April 3 - The first (of hopefully many) Muppeteer documentary.
• Ape Entertainment Announce New Sesame Street Comic Book, April 5 - And they still haven't been released!
• The Muppets Named Family Ambassadors to New York City, April 13 - Mayor Bloomberg sure does love those furry fellas!
• Nicholas Stoller Reveals Details About Next Muppet Movie, April 14 - He's very good at revealing details like that.
• Jim Henson's Musical World Rocks Carnegie Hall, April 14 - Bringing Muppet, Sesame, and Fraggle characters together for the first time in years... and making Muppet fans everywhere pass out.
• More News About Next Muppet Movie Revealed, April 19 - Walter will return, Jason Segel definitely won't, and we all get really excited.
• Kermit and Miss Piggy Officially Announce Next Muppet Movie at CinemaCon, April 25 - Kermit tries to be the Lone Ranger, but Piggy won't leave him 'lone.

May -

• The Muppets and Sesame Street Win Webby Awards, May 1 - What a tangled Webby they weave!
• The Jim Henson Company Asks Artists to Design Fraggle Rock Anniversary Logo, May 21 - Draw your cares away, worries for another day!
• Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Appear on The Bachelorette, May 21 - Muppet fans got mad, I tried to defend the Muppets.
• Rango Writers Tapped to Write Fraggle Rock Movie, May 30 - Does that mean we can get Johnny Depp for the Fraggle movie?
• The Muppet Mindset Interviews Martin P. Robinson, May - He's the best monster/worm/Snuffleupagus a guy could interview!
• Ryan Dosier's Favorite Things About Fraggle Rock, May-June - One of my favorite article series this year.

June -

• Kermit and Pepe Visit London Promoting The Muppets Blu-ray, June 14 - Remember when Pepe puked on the London Eye?
• Sesame Street Wins 7 Daytime Emmy Awards, June 19 - The awards never stop for that show, do they? It's the best. Makes sense.
• FOX Announces Plans for Sesame Street Feature Film, June 19 - Maybe this time we'll Follow That Bird to Adventures in Grouchland?
• Disney Talks About Bringing The Muppet Show Back to TV, June 22 - Because apparently bringing it to DVD is too difficult.

July -

• Ryan Dosier Meets John Tartaglia, July 9 - And yea, verily, he was the best.
  
• Cookie Monster's "Share it Maybe" Video Goes Viral, July 10 - And Carly Rae Jepsen didn't sue! Huzzah! 
• The Muppet Mindset's 1000th Post, July 11 - Weekly Muppet Wednesdays focuses on Miss Piggy... because she wouldn't let us focus anywhere else.
• Super Grover 2.0 Has Fun at ComicCon, July 14 - Also some guy named Eric Jacobson was there.
• I Am Big Bird Begins its Kickstarter Campain, July 17 - Oh, I sure hope they make all the money they need!
• Elmo, Grover, and Abby Cadabby Go to the Olympics, July 24 - Sadly, Grover never got to try the luge.
• The Muppets Just For Laughs Gala Rocks Montreal, July 28 - Poor Sam Eagle had to go to Canada.

August -

• James Carroll Releases Amazing "Muppet Theater" Print, Aug. 22 - It's so pretty, I want to cry!
• Muppeteer Jerry Nelson passes away at age 78, Aug. 23 - Not a day goes by that I'm not thankful for Jerry Nelson... and every day I miss him profoundly.
• Muppet Fans Remember Jerry Nelson (Parts 1, 2, and 3), August

September -

• Miss Piggy Joins Twitter, Sept. 5 - Things got awkward when Kermit followed her but didn't retweet anything.
• Disney Announces Muppet Vinylmation Series 3 for 2013, Sept. 11 - Animal, Newsman, Mahna Mahna, Snowth, and Uncle Deadly are all confirmed.
• Ben Folds Five, Fraggle Five Reunite in New Music Video, Sept. 17 - "Do It Anyway"? Okay!
• Open Letter to Disney About The Muppet Show on DVD, Sept. 24 - I still haven't found a stamp so that I can mail this thing...
• Elmo: The Musical - A Review of the Revue, Sept. 29 - The best new Sesame Street segment since... the one before it!

October -

• Mitt Romney Mentions Big Bird in Presidential Debate, Oct. 4 - Why can't we all just agree that Big Bird would be the best president ever?
• Big Bird Appears on SNL, Oct. 6 - In what was the classiest move of anyone in the presidential campaign, Big Bird makes light of the whole situation and says nothing bad about anyone.
• Muppets and CeeLo Green Perform Live in Las Vegas, Oct. 11 - Miss Piggy promised to CeeLo, "I won't 'Forget You.'"
• "All I Need is Love" Track Featuring CeeLo Green and the Muppets Released, Oct. 25 - Or, "How 'Mahna Mahna' Got Stuck in My Head for the Rest of the Year."
• Tribute to Jerry Nelson at Museum of Moving Image in NYC, Oct. 27 - It was beautiful, it was perfect, it was such an honor to be there.

November - 

• Next Muppet Movie Will Begin Filming in January, James Bobin will direct again, Christoph Waltz rumored for main role, Nov. 1 - And only one of these things was wrong!
• Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal Book Released, Nov. 5 - More rare pictures than you can shake a stick at! (So please stop shaking a stick at my pictures!)
• The Muppet Christmas Carol Released on Blu-ray, Nov. 6 - Merry Christmas to all, and to all higher-quality picture and sound!
• Sesame Street Old School, Vol. 3 Released on DVD, Nov. 6 - The best release of the year? Quite possibly.
• A Special Sesame Street Christmas Released on DVD, Nov. 6 - The most bizarre release of the year? Undoubtedly.
• Bret McKenzie Returning to Write Songs for Next Muppet Movie, Tentative Release of 12/20/2013 Given, Nov. 9 - Life IS a Happy Song!
• The Swedish Chef Cameos on Nerdist Video "Gersberms," Nov. 13 - The weirdest video of the year? By far.
• Kevin Clash Resigns from Sesame Street, Nov. 20 - Sigh.
• The Muppets: One Year Later, Nov. 23 - Guess what? The movie still holds up!
• "All I Need is Love" Music Video Released, Nov. 26 - It doesn't get much better than this.
• Ryan Dosier Meets Caroll Spinney, Nov. 28 - That was the night I hugged Oscar the Grouch... and my life was complete.
• The Muppets Appear All Over Promoting "All I Need is Love" Music Video, November - The Voice and Good Morning America could barely contain all of them!

December - 

• Neil Patrick Harris and Henson Puppets Star in Neil's Puppet Dreams, December - It's raunchy, it's sarcastic, and it's awesome.
• Disney Announces The Muppet Movie is Coming to Blu-ray in 2013, Dec. 5 - "Movin' right along to better picture and sound quality..."
• Kermit the Frog Appears on NBC's 30 Rock, Dec. 6 - He lived every second like it was Shark Week.
• The Muppets Soundtrack Nominated for Grammy Award, Dec. 6 - More awards?!
• Ty Burrell Confirmed for the Next Muppet Movie, Dec. 7 - Phil Dunphy will meet the Muppets!
• Sesame Street Tackles Divorce in Online Resource Kit, Dec. 15 - Of course it's handled extremely well.
• The Muppets Appear on WWE's Tribute to the Troops, Dec. 19 - And so kids, that's how Sam Eagle saluted Jon Cena for no apparent reason.
• Ricky Gervais Confirmed for the Next Muppet Movie, Dec. 19 - The most divisive news amongst Muppet fans all year? Perhaps

And that's the year! Thanks for following us all year long, Muppet fans. We appreciate you more than you could ever know! See you in 2013!





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

The Muppet Year in Review, 2011

Ryan Dosier - It's happened again... another year has come to an end. He were are the end of another one--a year so different from previous that it's crazy. This year we were treated to a brand new theatrical Muppet movie, The Muppets, for the first time in a dozen years. The Muppets have never been more all over the place than they were this year, and even we had trouble keeping up with it all. Here's our attempt to highlight all of the major Muppet-related events of 2011 in one simple swoop!

January -

• The Muppets Shut Down Hollywood Boulevard, Jan. 13 - Our first glimpse of the incredible effort being put into The Muppets came when we saw over 100 Muppets and 200 dancers take over Hollywood Boulevard for a massive number for not one, but two nights. Even then, we still didn't really know how big it would be.
• Uncle Deadly is Confirmed for The Muppets, Jan. 20 - And he simultaneously returns us to 1976 and makes us realize that James Bobin is fantastic.
• The Muppet Mindset Interviews Kevin Clash and Elmo, Jan. 25 - Still our only interview with a Muppet... and probably the best interview we've done. Thank you, Kevin!
• Cameos for The Muppets Pile Up all month long. We attempt a Great Muppet Cameo Rundown but it changes and changes almost weekly... so it doesn't exactly work. Except now it's finished and we know everything already.

February -

• Toy Story Short Confirmed to Play in Front of The Muppets, Feb. 3 - That short turned out to be "Small Fry" and it did indeed play in front of The Muppets. Muppets and Pixar... a dream come true.
• Cee Lo Green, Gwyneth Paltrow Sing "Forget You" with Henson Company Puppets, Feb. 13 - Not Muppets, alright? What's the difference... erm... do you have a lawyer? This could get complicated. Maybe this is where a paralegal certification would come in handy.

March -

• Jason Segel and Amy Adams Visit CinemaCon to Talk About The Muppets, March 29 - They showed clips and talked about the movie and gave a million interviews afterwards... and, everywhere, Muppet fans grumbled about not being there.

April -

• New York Times Writes Article About The Muppets, April 9 - Some of the facts aren't right... it didn't say much we didn't already know... but it had some great quotes and got us more excited. Job well done.
• Muppet Vinylmation Series 2 Released, April 15 - Somewhere, a Muppet fan flipped out over being able to own a Waldo C. Graphic toy.

May - 

• Kermit the Frog Turns 56, May 9 - Funny, he doesn't look a day over 47.
• Kermit Interviews at Pirates of the Caribbean Premiere, May 10 - How is this the first time Kermit has talked to Johnny Depp? Also... when can we sign Geoffrey Rush on for the next Muppet movie?
• Teaser Poster for The Muppets Revealed, May 14 - They were closer than we thought... and I assume they still are. They might even be closer now.
• First Trailer for The Muppets Plays Before Pirates, May 20 - Muppet fans everywhere debate whether or not to go see a fourth Pirates movie just for three minutes of Muppet glory... and most of them do.
• "Green With Envy" Parody Trailer Released Online, May 23 - This was probably the biggest day of 2011, for me. It set the stage for everything that was yet to come. It still blows me away.
• "The Fuzzy Pack" Parody Trailer Released Online, May 26 - Two parody trailers in as many days almost made our heads explode. It's that the main scene featured here was cut from the movie... but it built the hype for the movie so well it almost didn't need to be in it.

June -

• "Being Green" Parody Trailer Released Online, June 16 - The third parody trailer for The Muppets was the best one yet and put Kermit and the gang in action hero roles... sort of. I still sort of wish the movie was in Swedish (but not really).
• First Full-Length Trailer for The Muppets Released Online, June 18 - Another week where two trailers came in two days--we were really spoiled this year, Muppet fans. This first trailer gave us some insight to the actual feel of the movie, and not a parody therein. Plus, we meet 80's Robot and Miss Poogy.

July -

• Sesame Street Spoofs DVD Released, July 5 - "Miami Mice" never looked so good! Plus, we can all Smell Like a Monster anytime we want. 
• The Muppets International Posters Revealed Online, July 11 - Floyd Pepper is snubbed on the poster... a trend which will unfortunately continue. Thankfully, Zoot was in the forefront for the first time ever.
• Threadless Hosts a Muppet T-Shirt Design Contest, month long - Somehow, Jamie Carroll's spectacular "Muppetational Mosaic" design got second... I still demand a recount!
• Sam Eagle Parodies Captain America, July 22 - And he did it both patriotically and normally.
• Official Poster and Theater Standee for The Muppets Revealed Online, July 27 - Never before had more Muppets been held up by less people. (Thanks, Photoshop!)

August -

• The Muppet Mindset Interviews Jerry Nelson, Aug. 5 - Technically this began in 2010... but it came to a wonderful close in 2011 with Part 4 of our interview series with the legend that is Jerry Nelson.
• 100 Days Until The Muppets Countdown Begins, Aug. 14 - Lucas Ervin brought us 100 different clips from The Muppet Show in his countdown to The Muppets. Yes, "Mahna Mahna" was included.
• D23 Expo Showcases The Muppets, Jim Henson, Aug. 19-20 - Jim Henson became a Disney Legend, Kermit and Rowlf sang "Rainbow Connection," and two clips from the movie were shown. Plus, Ryan met Steve Whitmire and Eric Jacobson... win.
• The Muppets: The Green Album Released, Aug. 22 - Who knew that "Our World" from Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas was just begging to be covered by My Morning Jacket?
• The Muppets and OK Go Make a Music Video for "The Muppet Show Theme Song," Aug. 22 - Honestly? This single music video was better than anything between 2005 and 2007.
• Animal and OK Go Perform on The Tonight Show, Aug. 31 - Animal was more realistic than Jay Leno!

September -

• The Muppet Mindset Interviews Matt Vogel (Again), Sept. 2 - It's nice to know that Matt isn't tired of us (yet).
• "The Pig With the Froggy Tattoo" Parody Trailer Released Online, Sept. 15 - It was a lot more than just a pig with body art! So many shots and screencaps, our breakdown of the trailer took two parts!
• Commercials for The Muppets Begin on TV, Sept. 18/year long - The very first television promotion aired during the Emmys broadcast, and continued with spots during Glee, Modern Family, Community, and everything else.
• The Internet Celebrates Jim Henson's 75th Birthday, Sept. 24 - For the first time, The Muppet Mindset hits over 3,000 visitors in one day. Thank you, Jim... for everything.
• Sesame Street Season 42 Begins on PBS, Sept. 26 - 42 and still counting! Spider-Monster, "G," a Bert and Ernie street story... a great season was had by all.
• Kermit the Frog Promotes Pistachios on TV, month long - In the first real commercial promoting The Muppets, Kermit shills (and shells) for the nuts he's nuts for!

October -

• Miss Piggy Guests on So Random!, Oct. 2 - It pained me to watch the Disney kids... but Miss Piggy was a saving grace--at always. (And this time she didn't pay me to say it.) (At least not all of it.)
• The Muppet Fan-A-Thon Begins, Oct. 3 - In their effort to reach a bazillion "likes" on Facebook, the Muppets begin begging everyone and tempting them with promises they may not keep.
• The Muppets Tell You to Shut Up in AMC Theaters, Oct. 10 - In one of the many, many videos in the Muppets-advertising-things category, Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Pepe, Animal, Swedish Chef, and Big Mean Carl take over an AMC Theater and talk to a banana, text, microwave, and drum.
• Second Full Length Trailer for The Muppets Released Online, Oct. 13 - We get our first glimpse of The Muppet Barbershop Quartet... including Link Hogthrob. Many wonder if it really is 2011 or if 1979 was happening all over again.
• Rowlf the Dog Gets Interviewed by Yamaha, Oct. 14 - And I quote, "It's a howling good time. Don't bother barking at this one, just read it!"
• Miss Piggy Gets a Photo Spread in InStyle Magazine, Oct. 20 - She's never looked better! (She did pay me to say that one.)
• Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and Rowlf Drive with Alamo, Oct. 24 - Rowlf's tongue becomes a star in its own right--and that's nothing to spit at!
• The Final Parody Trailer for The Muppets Released Online, Oct. 27 - "Breaking Prawn," "Fuss in Boots," "Abnormal Activity," and a Muppet version of Happy Feet become more desirable than the things they're parodying.
• The Muppets Take Over WWE Raw, Oct. 31 - Wrestling fans and Muppet fans take a moment to bond... and then someone threw a chair and it all went south.
• The Muppets Take Over Wired Magazine, November Issue - Janice gets tangled in ear buds, Sam Eagle eats spaghetti, and Jason Segel dresses like Beaker... what more do you need?
• Being Elmo Documentary Takes Over Theaters, year long - The great team at Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey put the film in numerous theaters all around the United States. Unfortunately, Elmo couldn't be at every screening. 
• WeLoveFine T-Shirts Hosts Muppet Design Contest, month long - More t-shirts, more Muppets, more money being spent!

November -

• Kermit the Frog Graces the Cover of Entertainment Weekly, Nov. 4 - The only amphibian on the cover in 2011!
• The Cast of The Muppets Gives Interviews, Nov. 7 - Walter begs Disney for The Muppet Show Seasons 4 and 5 on DVD, name-drops Palisades Toys, and solidifies himself as a favorite of Muppet fans everywhere.
• The Electric Mayhem Gets Interviewed, Nov. 7 - In what was possibly the best-written Muppet interview of the year, Dr. Teeth and the band make their triumphant return. Just brilliant.
• Kermit, Piggy, Walter, Jason Segel, James Bobin, and Nicholas Stoller Hangout with Google +, Nov. 8 - It was cute... it was jumpy... it was Google +, which is pretty pointless. But still fun!
• Ryan Dosier Sees The Muppets Cast and Crew Screening, Nov. 10 - Ryan meets Peter Linz (the nicest guy ever), James Bobin (also painfully nice), and sees the freaking movie. He walks on air for six days afterwards.
• The Muppet Mindset Reviews The Muppets, Nov. 11 - Spoiler: It was great.
• Ryan Dosier Goes to the World Premiere, After Party of The Muppets, and Dancing With the Stars, Nov. 12 - Jason Segel says he reads The Muppet Mindset, Amy Adams is gorgeous, the Muppeteers and Muppet Wives are the greatest people on earth, and Ryan nearly passes out 40 times.
• Disney Twenty-Three Magazine Spotlights The Muppets, Nov. 15 - And you thought magazines were a dying medium...
• The Muppets Perform on Dancing With the Stars, Nov. 15 - Walter's first TV appearance has him singing, dancing, and whistling up a storm. That little guy can do it all!
• Jason Segel Hosts Saturday Night Live, The Muppets Crash It, Nov. 19 - I have to assume that the Muppets are still upset that they didn't get to host... but Jason did do a nice job.
• The Muppets Original Soundtrack Released, Nov. 21 - I still can't (and don't want to) get "Life's a Happy Song" out of my head!
• The Muppets is Released in U.S. Theaters, Nov. 23 - Everything was great, everything was grand.
• The Muppets, Jason Segel, Amy Adams Appear Everywhere, month long - There were barely enough talk shows to contain them all!
• Disney Store Begins Selling Pepe, Walter Plush Dolls, year long - I've never been happier to own a doll of a shrimp and a guy in a blue suit.

December -

• Walter Geeks Out on CNN, Dec. 7 - Walter mentions The Muppet Mindset in his interview... and becomes my best friend for life. 
• The Muppets Gets Nominated for Four Critics Choice Awards, Dec. 14 - They haven't won them yet... but they'll probably get at least one.
• USA Today Names The Muppets the #1 People of 2011, Dec. 22 - I agree completely! Even though most of them aren't actually "people." (Although I guess they are below the waist.)
• Muppets Poised to Take Over Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship, Dec. 22 - A brand new interactive Muppet game available only on the cruise! Start saving now, kids.
• Kermit, Robin, and Jimmy Fallon Sing "When the River Meets the Sea," Dec. 23 - Jimmy Fallon: A Muppet's best friend.

And... that's a year! Good grief, what a year it's been for the Muppets! They've taken over everything and seem to have found their way back into pop culture... I sincerely hope they'll secure that position and hold it through 2012 and beyond.

It's also been an incredible year for me, personally (as frequent readers will know). I've got no words for it... other than unreal. It's all thanks to you, the fans of The Muppet Mindset, who keep me going day after day that everything that happened to me was possible. So thank you for that, happy new year, and I hope you've enjoyed this look back at 2011, the Year of the Muppet!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com