What I'm Thankful For, 2013

Ryan Dosier - Every time Thanksgiving rolls around, I start to reminisce about what I'm thankful for. Practically every time I think about that, it makes sense to post about it here because a lot of what I'm thankful for involves singing and dancing puppets. Silly, no? Anyway... below is a list of things I'm thankful for this year.

Muppets Most Wanted - The forthcoming Muppet movie only has one real trailer and it already looks like an amazing, exciting blast. I'm so thrilled to be a part of this fandom at yet another exciting juncture. It feels like just yesterday we were freaking out about The Muppets... I'm thankful that Disney has enough faith in the Muppets to make another movie. I'm thankful that James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller stayed on to direct and write. I'm thankful that the movie will have Tina Fey, Ty Burrell, and Ricky Gervais--three insanely awesome people. I'm thankful that the entire hugely talented and amazing Muppet team is exploding onto the big screen again in March.

Sesame Street - The always consistently awesome Sesame Street continued that in their 44th season. The new segment "Cookie's Crumby Pictures" really showcased the full ferocity of Sesame's parody abilities in fantastic ways. "The Hungry Games: Catching Fur" parody will surely go down as a Sesame classic. I also loved the special street story honoring Jerry Nelson, some new "Elmo: The Musical" segments, two new Guy Smiley sketches, and plenty of other things. Plus, a major, major shoutout to the amazing Ryan Dillon, who has saved Elmo and made the transition to a new performer not only easy, but simply amazing. And kudos to our spectacular friend Matt Vogel who has done the same with Count von Count.

The Muppet Performers - There aren't enough words for these outstanding people who perform our favorite characters. This year I got to visit them in their element--on the set of Muppets Most Wanted. I'm thankful for Peter Linz, my indescribably amazing friend who has truly made my year in many ways, but the biggest of all was inviting me onto the set. I'm thankful for Bill Barretta and his family who have shown me nothing but pure friendship and kindness for three years straight. I'm thankful for Matt Vogel who is hilarious, generous, and brilliant--I've listened to the latest album from his band The Mighty Weaklings more times than I can count. I'm thankful for Dave Goelz for doing an interview with me this year that is truly one of the things I'm proudest of. I'm thankful for David Rudman for not congratulating me on graduating (long story) and for eating a cookie. I'm thankful for Eric Jacobson inviting me to lunch (long story) and for calling me a stalker. I'm thankful for Steve Whitmire being a joy and a friend every time I see him... and for helping Kermit the Frog say my name.

Whoopi Goldberg and Ricky Gervais - Both of these huge names interacted with me on Twitter this year, and I think that's just amazing.

Jim Henson: The Biography - This new book covering every inch of Jim Henson's life was a true Muppet miracle. What Brian Jay Jones brought to the Muppet fandom with this book can never be adequately expressed. He explored and explained and expressed Jim's life so purely and so simply (and yet so not simply at all) in 500 pages of wonderful, wonderful storytelling. The biography is never boring, always informative, and always interesting. I'm so thankful that this book exists. If you haven't read it, you're severely missing out.

Muppet fans - Every year I'm more and more thankful for this wonderfully weird group of people who support the Muppets and support our efforts here at The Muppet Mindset. It's a joy interacting with people who are so knowledgable, passionate, and fun. Specifically I have to thank Mitchell Stein, Jamie Carroll, Chris Stulz, Ryan Roe, Dave Hulteen, Arianne Gallagher, Kyle Mahoney, Joel Swanson, Julia Gaskill, Michael Wermuth, all of my Muppet friends on Tumblr, Abigail Maughan, Michael Baldasare, and Shane Keating. Plus, The British Correspondent. Oh, and Joe Hennes, I guess. And the great, glorious, grandiose Jarrod Fairclough.

Everybody Else - I'm thankful for John Tartaglia, who is one of the most purely talented people I know, and because he did an awesome interview with us. I'm thankful my friend Joe Bailey, who has given me so many tips I'll always treasure. I'm also beyond thankful for some folks at Disney who include Debbie McClellan, Raymond Persi, Kevin Frawley, Darrell Borquez, John Bernstein, Jessica Bardwil, and Tracy Gilbert. Plus Brian Jay Jones, Cristina Barretta, Gene Barretta, Nathan Danforth, Bonnie Erickson, David Rosenberg, Dave LaMattina, Matt Wilkie, and Rachel Herrick, for reasons they're well aware of. Also everyone at The Jim Henson Company, who keep Jim Henson's legacy alive and well.

Well now this is starting to sound like a "The Author Wishes to Thank..." sections of an autobiography, so I should probably wrap it up. So last but not least, I'm thankful for all of you. Anyone who reads this site, anyone who contributes, anyone who likes our stuff on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram... wherever you are, however you've found us, I'm thankful for you.

Wishing everyone a very, very happy Thanksgiving with your family, friends, strangers at Wal-Mart, or wherever you may be!

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

News Update: November 8, 2013

NEWS UPDATE: November 8, 2013

The official website for Muppets Most Wanted launched this week as an offshoot of Muppets.com. There's not much here that die-hard Muppet fans won't already know, but on the site you can watch the teaser trailer for the movie, read bios of the main cast members (Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Walter, Animal, Gonzo, Sam the Eagle, Constantine, Dominic, Jean Pierre Napoleon, and Nadya), see a gallery of stills from the film (that we've been looking at for three months), and download desktop and phone backgrounds. There are some nice new Muppet poser puppet images, but that's about all the new stuff. I'm sure we'll see it updated as we get closer to the release of Muppets Most Wanted on March 21, 2014!

Our good friends at WeLoveFine are hosting yet another Sesame Street themed t-shirt design contest. Anyone can enter the contest up to five times, and there are no limitations as long as Sesame characters are used. The last day to submit is December 3rd. The grand prize winner can choose one of three prizes: $2000, a Wacom Cintiq HD 13 tablet, or a trip to the set of Sesame Street in New York City! Oh, and did I mention that the contest is being judged by Caroll Spinney and David Rudman? This is truly a once in a lifetime chance, so if your'e an artsy Muppet fan, get to work and enter this hugely awesome contest! Complete details can be found on the WeLoveFine site.

Speaking of Sesame Street, our friends and exuberantly lucky people Joe Hennes and Ryan Roe from ToughPigs.com visited the set of Sesame to talk to Matt Vogel, Martin Robinson, and Caroll Spinney about Jerry Nelson. And they video taped it and put it on YouTube because they're awesome. Check out the video below!



As if that weren't enough, Joe and Ryan also got to hang out with Count von Count for another awesome video...



Sesame Street is dominating our News Update this week! Earlier this week Sesame also announced that Jimmy Fallon and the Roots will be tagging along on their famous float in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jimmy and the Roots are sure to only add to the awesomeness of the Sesame Street float by being there--I can't wait to find out what song they perform! The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on November 28th. Check your local listings! And for a reminder of why this is an awesome idea, watch Jimmy Fallon, the Roots, and the Sesame Street gang perform the "Sesame Street Theme" with classroom instruments!

The Muppets will finally have a place at Walt Disney World's EPCOT theme park starting in March as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy topiaries will be unveiled and will headline the annual International Flower and Garden Festival. According to a press release, "Kermit the Frog will find it is easy being green when his artfully-crafted character topiary debuts during the 21st Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV March 5 to May 18, 2014 at Walt Disney World Resort. With flamboyance to spare, a floral Miss Piggy will join Kermit and his blooming banjo in the World Showcase topiary display." For more information visit our friends at StitchKingdom.com!





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

Muppetology 101: Advanced Muppets and Macy's Analysis

Maxwell Jessop - Hello, class. It's me, that "How To" guy, Max Jessop! I'm subbing for Ryan who is taking off for Thanksgiving break... Oh, yeah. Only the teachers get Thanksgiving break this year. Sorry, I don't make the rules. But I do give you the lesson. And I'm going let you off easy this week because we are learning about the history of the Muppets at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The Muppets and Sesame Street cast have been well-versed in parades the likes of the "Stars and Motor Cars" parade at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort and, obviously, Sesame Place theme park's entire line-up of parades. However, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the most-watched parade, broadcast all across the world, has been filled with appearances by Jim Henson's creations.

The first ever appearance of Muppets in the Thanksgiving Day Parade came in 1974 when Sesame Street debuted a float based on 123 Sesame Street and Hooper's Store. Big Bird perched on the roof and the human cast members stood at the front of the float as they all rode through the town. Much like the current float you might see in this year's parade, Cookie Monster and other characters could be seen sticking their heads out of glassless windows. This float lasted five consecutive years, through 1978.

The 1977 parade was significant because Kermit the Frog was immortalized in balloon form. The amphibian was 63 feet tall and 24 feet wide and took about four hours and 5,220 cubic feet of helium to reach its full size that adorned two and a half miles of New York streets. This balloon appeared with a long run and, despite suffering a rip in the stomach in the 1985 parade, lasted until 1991.

The parade featured its biggest and most historical Muppet appearance in 1979, to promote The Muppet Movie, as the Muppets rolled onto the streets in the Electric Mayhem bus. That is, following closely behind Miss Piggy's custom Rolls Royce. The float was psychedelic as always. The Mayhem bus transported most of the main Muppeteers, while the Sesame Street float had to enlist new replacement performers for the parade.

After the 70s, the Muppets discontinued their Electric Mayhem float, leaving room for more Muppet content.  However much did not come to fruition, with the exception of a revamped Sesame Street float and a gargantuan Fraggle Rock float that appeared two years in a row. Thanks to YouTube we have a little video footage of that last one. By the 90s we were left with but a Big Bird balloon and the Sesame Street float.

Thankfully, A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie debuted on NBC in 2002. The 2000s brought Muppet presence back with a new and improved Kermit balloon as well as a Super Grover balloon that fittingly flew through the sky. Just a few years back, in 2008, we were treated to the real Kermit singing "I Believe" on the Central Park float near the end of the parade and an Abby Cadabby balloon to further introduce the character to viewers. Overall, the presence of Muppets in the parades is truly huge and who knows what the parade will bring this year or in the future.

Whew! Okay! I'm done. I can't believe I wrote all that! Well, I told you I'd let you off easy. Like always, there will be no test, exam, quiz, or query on this lesson, but you will be expected to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year for another look at that spectacular Sesame Street float I keep mentioning. Have a great week, Ryan will pick back up... uh... whenever he feels like it, I guess?

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

What I'm Thankful For - 2011

Ryan Dosier - Every year on Thanksgiving Day, I struggle to come up with a post. Sure, I could do the obligatory "Happy Thanksgiving, Muppet Fans" post (Happy Thanksgiving, Muppet fans, by the way), but I always feel like I should give a little more to those I'm so thankful for. So, inevitably, every year I post a "What I'm Thankful For" article. Usually, it just includes Muppet things I'm thankful for... and usually it's hastily written because I'm being drawn by enticing smells at the time of writing. One of these usuallys will occur below, the other might not. I don't really know. I'm still riding the Muppet high of yesterday so I'm a little off my game, I admit.

What I'm Thankful For...

I am thankful for so very much this year, when I think about it. But I think above all I'm 100% excited and thankful for a brand new Muppet movie in theaters. I'm not just thankful that there is a new movie, I'm thankful that there is an excellent  new movie. The Muppets is currently among not only the best reviewed films of 2011, but with 97% fresh ratings at Rotten Tomatoes, it sits among the best reviewed films of the past couple years, at least--which is just nuts. I really just can't explain how thrilled and proud and ecstatic I am for the Muppets and The Muppets. I've said this before and I'll say it again: I had no part in production of this movie, but I feel such a deep, personal connection to it that every time someone says they love it, my heart swells like a proud father. I just keep quoting "Life's a Happy Song" (because, hey, why the heck not?!), but, "Everything is great, everything is grand, I've got the whole wide world in the palm of my hand! Everything is perfect, it's falling into place, I can't seem to wipe this smile off my face!"

Of course, I'm also beyond thankful for everyone involved in making The Muppets and making it a success. From director James Bobin, to producers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman, to the set designers, the choreographer, the make-up people, the costume designers, the puppet builders, all of the cameo stars, Rashida Jones, Chris Cooper, Amy Adams, Nicholas Stoller for co-writing the script, and, of course, Jason Segel, whose passion and drive and idea made this movie a reality. However, the people I'm most thankful for are the Muppeteers, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Bill Barretta, Matt Vogel, David Rudman, and Peter Linz. They say that every movie is the sum of its parts, and having one person out would change it completely. Well, having these seven unbelievably talented men on the project absolutely would have changed the film for the worst. Kermit's soulfulness, Gonzo's insanity, Fozzie's gentle goofiness, Rowlf's hilarity, Floyd's perfect attitude, Scooter's return to prominence, and Walter's beyond perfect entrance into the Muppet family... none of these things would exist in The Muppets if not for the Muppeteers. So, above all, I'm thankful for them, their families, and their characters for everything they've done for the world, and everything they've done for me. I can never show them enough thanks.

I'm also thankful for Sesame Street and Sesame Workshop. Yes, with all of the excitement of The Muppets, the show that has been sweeping the clouds away for 42 years has sort of taken a back seat, unfortunately. But that doesn't mean that Sesame has stopped, by any means. Every day, the Street and the Workshop help kids all over the world, and there is honestly no more important thing they could be doing. These noble people who delight children with Big Bird, Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and everyone are some of my heroes. Their work defines children's lives, and shapes them for the better.

And, of course, I'm thankful for my unbelievably supportive family and friends, who make all of this possible. Without their support and love I couldn't do all of this... for many reasons. Thank you all!

The thing I'm most thankful for, though, is you. Yes, you. You're here, you're reading The Muppet Mindset, and I couldn't be more thankful for that. Yesterday we hit our highest number of visitors ever, with exactly 4,500 in one day. That is absolutely unreal to me... and I honestly wish I could thank each and every one of you personally. Thank you so much for your fandom, your support, your help, your comments, your likes, your retweets, your mentions... it honestly means more than the world. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and again, and again... if it weren't for all of you, there would be no Muppet Mindset. I'm thankful for you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, MUPPET FANS!!

Take the family, and go see THE MUPPETS!!

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

Official Plot Synopsis and New Release Date for the New Muppet Movie!

Hey, howdy, hey, Muppet fans! Remember Tuesday? Ah, yes, Tuesday... such innocence... such verve... such a thesaurus, apparently. On Tuesday, the new Muppet movie was over a year away from our seeing it with a release date of December 25, 2011. Well, here we are, Thursday, and we're now less than a year away with a brand new release date of November 23, 2011! How weird is it to think that in a mere 349 days, you and I will be able to sit in a theater with over-priced popcorn and a six dollar soda--and WE'LL BE WATCHING THE MUPPETS!! The caps locks and italics emphasize my excitement enough, I think... because there's quite a bit of it. So, take a look at Disney's official press release via The Muppets Studio's Facebook page and join me as I jump for joy at the prospect of Kermit, Gonzo, Lew Zealand, Wanda Sykes, Walter, and Uncle Deadly on the big screen in less than a year!

DISNEY TO RELEASE NEW MUPPETS MOVIE THANKSGIVING 2011
BURBANK, Calif. – December 8, 2010 – The Walt Disney Studios announced today that it has moved the release date for its upcoming The Muppets Movie to November 23, 2011.  Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear, Gonzo, Animal and the rest of the gang will reunite in theaters just in time for the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.


"Disney has had incredible success opening films over the Thanksgiving weekend, and thanks to Tangled, we have the top three Thanksgiving openers of all time,” said Chuck Viane, president of global distribution for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. “I have spoken with The Muppets, and we all agreed this comedy is a great fit for the holiday 2011 time frame.”


The Muppets star alongside Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, and Rashida Jones.  The movie will feature cameos by Alan Arkin, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Billy Crystal, Wanda Sykes, and more surprise appearances.  The feature film, currently shooting in Los Angeles, was written by Segel and Nicholas Stoller, and is being directed by James Bobin.


Commenting on the new release date, Miss Piggy noted “it was actually moi’s idea to open the movie then,” stating she wants to give everyone a big reason to give thanks next Thanksgiving. “It doesn’t get any bigger than moi…. And don’t you dare quote that out of context!”

And besides all of that huge excitement, an official synopsis for the film, now probably pretty officially called The Muppets, has been released to our friends over at StichKingdom.com. Check it out below!

"On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino house band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, The Muppets hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011."

Awesome. AWESOME! It's happening, it's real, and... it looks like it's going to be pretty darn awesome. Gonzo as a high-powered plumbing magnate? Awesome.

Only 349 days, Muppet fans!!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

What I'm Thankful For, 2010

Ryan Dosier - Greetings, Muppet fans! You'll remember that last year I declared today the International Day of Muppet Things I'm Thankful For to coincide with American Thanksgiving. Well, I'm not one to break a new annual traditions that early... so I'm here once again with a list of things I'm thankful for this year! (Kept relatively short because I'm literally writing this while food is being made and it smells way too good for me to sit here for too much longer.)

• Sesame Street - Now in its 41st season, the show that has taught me how to laugh, love, and learn still dazzles me every day. I tune in whenever I can to see the fun of Elmo, Telly, and Abby playing "The A-Team" or Super Grover 2.0 blundering while dealing with some new problem or will.i.am and the Muppets gathering to sing "What I Am." I'm so thankful that Sesame Street is still around for the kid inside--and outside--all of us. It is a true treasure that I'm thankful for every day.

• The Muppets - The new Muppet movie written by and starring Jason Segel has been under production for just over a few weeks now--and I couldn't be more thrilled! We've already seen pictures from the set, we've already met new Muppet, Walter, and it's already beyond exciting. I can't wait to see what more there is for us to be blown away by! I'm so ridiculously thankful that this project is actually happening... and that in just over a year's time, we'll be able to go to a theater and actually watch the movie.

• New Friends - I've had the extreme pleasure of making some incredible new friends this year--ones that I'm thankful for constantly. Some friends I've made since last year's post include Jarrod Fairclough, Joe Hennes, Ryan Roe, Anthony Strand, Danny Beckwith, James Silvani, Jesse Blaze Snider, Matt Vogel, Bill Barretta, Emilio Delgado, Fran Brill, Zoe, and plenty of other people I'm probably forgetting... but like I said, this is food-induced amnesia, I swear. I'm thankful for all of you!
• Old Friends - And, of course, every day I'm thankful for all of my friends, not just the new ones. Friends like Lisa "The Intern" Alexander, Matthew Drapper, Louis Henry Mitchell, James Gannon, Steve Swanson, Dave Hulteen, Jr., Beth Kondrick, Ed Castle, Shane Keating, Michael Wermuth, Jr., and many, many others remind me every day why I started this blog--and I'm beyond thankful to them for that!
• You - I think I said this last year... but above all, I'm thankful for you, Muppet fans. You're why The Muppet Mindset is even remotely a success, you're why I keep it going every day, and you're the reason I'm most thankful. So thank you for everything you do without even knowing you do it!

And now... if you'll excuse me, I think there's a turkey calling my name.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

What I'm Thankful For

What I’m Thankful For

Every Thanksgiving my family sits around the massive dining room table and stuffs ourselves full of turkey, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and my famous homemade mashed potatoes (only famous around said dining room table). After the meal, when we’re all almost too full to speak, we go around the table and discuss what we’re each thankful for. Every year I say the same thing, “Family, friends, and laughter.”

Every year I always want to say something a little bit different: “Family, friends, laughter, The Muppets, and Sesame Street.” I don’t say this to avoid strange looks from my grandmother who doesn’t know the difference between Gonzo and Grover and to avoid pestering from my cousins after the feast.

This year I’m also thankful for The Muppet Mindset. Now I can say that I’m thankful for these things without the awkward glances. Well… without most of the awkward glances.

I’m thankful for The Muppets…
I’m thankful for The Muppets’ new Bohemian Rhapsody video on YouTube (over 3,000,000 views—and rising!) has truly given me and all Muppet fans something to be thankful for. We can be thankful that we all witnessed what I believe will be the first real sign of the Muppets’ return to popularity. The video has already become a viral sensation and appeals to people of all walks. If this video is any sign of what the Muppets will be doing from now on… we’re in for a revolution.

I’m thankful for Kermit the Real. Earlier this year, Kermit the Frog was being performed by someone other than Steve Whitmire and the performance and the character really suffered. (Dating Lady Gaga? My goodness, how the frog had fallen!) Thankfully, Steve and Kermit both returned at the end of September and have stuck around ever since. Don’t leave us again, okay Steve?

I’m thankful for Disney Park’s “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” promotion for 2010. The Muppets have headlined all of the promotions from commercials to talk-show appearances to websites to magazine ads—and I couldn’t be happier. I feel that this really shows that Disney has welcomed The Muppets into the family and sees them vitally important characters. If they can entrust them with all of the promotional material for their Parks (their biggest money maker), methinks they can entrust them with anything.

I’m thankful for Sesame Street…
I’m thankful for 40 Years of making the world sunnier. Sesame Street’s 40th Anniversary festivities have been some of the greatest moments of 2009 for me, and they continue to delight. From the “40 Years of Sunny Days” DVD to the “Sesame Street: A Celebration – 40 Years of Life on the Street” book, Sesame Street puts a smile on my face daily as of late. I couldn’t be more thankful.

I’m thankful for SesameStreet.org. It has provided us laughter, songs, and sketches for free online for all to access. Hours and hours of content (most never before released on video or DVD) is available to everyone. Also, they’ve given fans the opportunity to vote for The Greatest Sesame Street Clip of All-Time (which ended up being “I Love Trash”). What more could you need to be thankful for?

I’m thankful for my good friend Louis Henry Mitchell. Louis has been an amazing friend to me since our first interview and continues to be a great person who has done so much for me already. I’m thankful to have a friend in Louis and I’m also thankful that he loves Sesame Street so much and knows it so well. He is responsible for the amazing Google logos, the stunning 40th Anniversary cast photo, the cover of the November 9-15 issue of TV Guide, and so much more. Thank you, Louis!

I’m thankful for Muppet fans…
Without all of you, I wouldn’t be writing this right now. Without all of you I would have no reason for The Muppet Mindset. If it weren’t for my desire to bring a daily dose of Muppets to the Muppet fans of the world, there would be no Muppet Mindset. This blog has opened up so many opportunities for me—things I never thought would happen to me. I’ve interviewed and communicated frequently with Muppet writer Jim Lewis (whom I’m also extremely thankful for), interviewed Muppet comic book writers and artists, communicated with Muppeteers and Muppet higher-ups… it’s a dream come true and I can only think to thank all of you for it. So I’m thankful for you, Muppet fans, for helping my dream become a reality.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! And, if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, happy first-annual International Day of Muppet Things I’m Thankful For. Watch “Bohemian Rhapsody” in celebration!

P.S. I'm thankful for friends and family too...












The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier.

News Update: November 25

NEWS UPDATE: November 25, 2009
Today's News Update is all about The Muppets (go figure). In case you were somehow indisposed yesterday and unable to get to a computer and missed the undeniable return of the Muppets to the spotlight, be sure to watch The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody in glorious HD on YouTube now! You too can be one of the nearly 1,000,000 viewers of the incredible video.

Did you enjoy the songs from A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa? Do you wish you could be Santa Claus just like Gonzo and Fozzie? Well then Amazon.com and iTunes are where you need to frolic! Both are offering the soundtrack for Letters to Santa at the incredibly low prices of $2.71 and $2.99 respectively. The audio tracks are all clear and wonderful, so I highly recommend checking this out!

Do you have a Twitter? Do you like The Muppets? Then you had better be following MuppetsStudio official page on Twitter! (Hey, they're following me, I had to plug it!) Be sure to check out their official YouTube channel to see all of the Muppet viral videos in HD!

Be sure to remember to check out the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tomorrow (Thursday, November 26) on NBC. There are tons of Muppet sightings to watch out for. Sesame Street will be there in full force with the 123 Sesame Street float and the Sesame Street gang performing a medley of "What Makes Music" and "Sing," along with an Abby Cadabby balloon.

Also at the parade, Kermit will be singing his hit from last year's parade, "I Believe," with Disney Channel "star" Tiffany Thornton. After the parade, Disney Channel will debut a music video of the duet (Dec. 4th) and release the single on iTunes for purchasing (Dec. 8th). The Muppet Newsflash has all the info (and pictures)!

Remember the unruly rant Sesame Street took against FOX News? Well, then you surely remember all of the unnecessary media backlash (covered brilliantly by ToughPigs), right? Well, lucky for us, Sesame Street finally stood up for themselves on FOX News' "The O'Reilly Factor" with Bill O'Reilly. Sherrie Westin, who does something at Sesame Street, appeared on the show with a new Grouch anchor, Spill O'Reilly, to debunk the rumors and the backlash. I'm proud of Sesame Street for standing up for their parodies the only way they know how--with more parodies!












The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier.