Author Topic: The Muppet Thread (Read 7094 times)

tendoboy1984 · « **on:** August 23, 2012, 11:03:33 PM »

"It's The Muppet Thread, with our very special guest, YOU! Yaaaaaaaaayyyyy!!!"

Jim Henson and his team created something amazing with The Muppets and Sesame Street. He made the art of puppetry relevant again.

Anyone glad that Disney bought back the Muppets? I know Disney has owned the Muppets for years, but the series went dormant for a while. Hopefully the success of the new Muppet Movie will cause a resurgence in their popularity.

It's odd that Sesame Street has been popular for decades, yet the Muppets have only been popular in phases.

I remember owning a game for the NES called "Muppet Carnival Adventure", or something like that. It was ~~amazing~~ terrible, being a licensed game and all, but for some reason I kept playing it.

ThePerm · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2012, 01:02:01 AM »

I was TODAY just thinking how awesome would it be to find some random meth addict, and have him tell one of his crazy paranoid stories, only to have it acted out by muppets.

Do_What · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2012, 01:06:28 PM »

Jerry Nelson died today, so the Muppets just lost Floyd the bassist and Robin.

lolmonade · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2012, 01:13:24 PM »

Just watched The Muppets this year. It's probably one of my favorite movies right now. You could tell the people behind it (Jason Segel, I think?) have a true appreciation for the characters, and I found most of the humor to be delightful (Music sequences, Walter's obsession with the Muppets,them constantly breaking the 4th wall).

Actually went back and watched a lot of the old Muppet show, and while I'd love to see a rebirth of it, I unfortunately think that the theme of the movie (fame having passed by the muppets since their heyday) may be more accurate than i'd like to admit.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2012, 01:21:19 PM »

Quote from: Do_What on August 24, 2012, 01:06:28 PM

Jerry Nelson died today, so the Muppets just lost Floyd the bassist and Robin.

And Sesame Street lost the voice of the Count. Sad day for muppets.

Fatty The Hutt · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2012, 02:02:58 PM »

I am surprised and sad that Disney has yet to springboard off of the popularity of the recent movie to re-launch The Muppet Show. I think it would work.

Sucks about Jerry Nelson. Who now will sing Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear?

ThePerm · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2012, 12:14:55 AM »

The count is my favorite sesame street character

King of Twitch · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2012, 01:45:34 AM »

amusing muppets/lotr crossover pics:

http://io9.com/5860583/finally-the-lord-of-the-rings-muppet-crossover-youve-been-dreaming-of

tendoboy1984 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2012, 02:57:08 PM »

Quote from: TJ Spyke on August 24, 2012, 01:21:19 PM

Quote from: Do_What on August 24, 2012, 01:06:28 PM
Jerry Nelson died today, so the Muppets just lost Floyd the bassist and Robin.

And Sesame Street lost the voice of the Count. Sad day for muppets.

They'll just find a new voice actor / puppeteer.

So how is it that Sesame Street has consistently been popular for over 40 years, yet the Muppets haven't been as popular as they were back in the 1970's and 1980's?

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2012, 03:52:02 PM »

Quote from: tendoboy1984 on August 25, 2012, 02:57:08 PM

So how is it that Sesame Street has consistently been popular for over 40 years, yet the Muppets haven't been as popular as they were back in the 1970's and 1980's?

They appeal to different audiences.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2012, 04:21:54 PM »

Quote from: tendoboy1984 on August 25, 2012, 02:57:08 PM

Quote from: TJ Spyke on August 24, 2012, 01:21:19 PM
Quote from: Do_What on August 24, 2012, 01:06:28 PM
Jerry Nelson died today, so the Muppets just lost Floyd the bassist and Robin.

And Sesame Street lost the voice of the Count. Sad day for muppets.

They'll just find a new voice actor / puppeteer.

So how is it that Sesame Street has consistently been popular for over 40 years, yet the Muppets haven't been as popular as they were back in the 1970's and 1980's?

Someone else was already doing the puppeteer work since February because of his health. And anyone who has ever watched something with voicework knows it's not the same when someone new comes in.

Muppets were aimed at adults (except the show Muppet Babies) while Sesame Street is aimed at kids, so different audiences.

nickmitch · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2012, 10:05:38 PM »

I could see like a monthly hour or two long Muppet Show special where you get different writers, actors, comedians, etc getting a chance to do a variety style show with the muppets. A lot like SNL, but more than just the host changes. Doing it monthly gives time to round up a new people to work on scripts.

Do_What · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2012, 12:39:44 PM »

Well, thing 1 is that variety shows don't exist anymore. That audience is dying off, and the people who would appreciate a parody of that type of show doesn't really exist anymore. Sesame Street is straight kids programming. The formula remains basically the same, they can change pieces as they see fit, but ultimately the framework can stay around for a very long time.
If you go back and watch the first two seasons of the muppet show they were doing things that would never be on TV today outside of a reality/game show type situation. There were straight up ballet acts and broadway dance numbers and tap dancing and the comedy routines were right out of the early sixties. AND they were all done with muppets. It is a very different very mature sensibility they were going for and you don't find that anywhere on TV now.
Now, the muppet movie did quite well and their tv movie offerings have made them money over the years. Those reach a different audience and Disney could continue to crank out small budget Muppet movies for years and years to come. I'm not sure that's what you want though.

Fatty The Hutt · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2012, 01:26:02 PM »

@dowhat: it is precisely the fact that there is nothing else like it on TV now that I think a Muppet Show revival could do OK.
I have watched the first two seasons recently and I am impresssed, all these years removed, just how enetertaining it is. Its funny, charming, goofy, sentimental and the music and dance is often legitimately good.
I don't think a revival would ever be a straight repeat of the sensibilities of the original, but I do think today's TV wasteland is due for a staright up variety show. Preferably one with puppets.

Louieturkey · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2012, 05:54:22 PM »

I'm with you Fatty that I'd like a revival as well. I just don't think it'd have a chance to find an audience with how the tv market is today. If it doesn't do well in the first two weeks, it's pretty much dead in the water. While the Muppets was a semi successful film, it didn't even reach $100 million domestically ($88 million US and $158 million worldwide). I just don't think there is a big enough initial audience to allow the show to gain an audience.

tendoboy1984 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2012, 07:30:10 PM »

Quote from: Louieturkey on August 28, 2012, 05:54:22 PM

I'm with you Fatty that I'd like a revival as well. I just don't think it'd have a chance to find an audience with how the tv market is today. If it doesn't do well in the first two weeks, it's pretty much dead in the water. While the Muppets was a semi successful film, it didn't even reach $100 million domestically ($88 million US and $158 million worldwide). I just don't think there is a big enough initial audience to allow the show to gain an audience.

If kids everywhere still love Sesame Street, which has been going strong for over 40 years, then it's safe to say that the Muppets will have success on TV as well.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2012, 07:34:01 PM »

Not necessarily. As was explained already, they have different audiences and appeal for different reasons. There is no reason to assume a Muppets TV show would be a success just because Sesame Street is.

Fatty The Hutt · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2012, 11:20:19 PM »

Quote from: TJ Spyke on August 28, 2012, 07:34:01 PM

Not necessarily. As was explained already, they have different audiences and appeal for different reasons. There is no reason to assume a Muppets TV show would be a success just because Sesame Street is.

I think there is every reason to believe that because Sesame Street is still popular a new Muppet Show would be too. Those of us old enough to have been a kid when the Muppet Show debuted (ahem) know first hand that the reason we watched in the first place was because Kermit was on it. For us, it was Sesame Street that was on around our bedtime. Heck, even the second episode of the Muppet Show had a "guest appearnce" by Ernie and Bert to help solidify that cross-over audience. When it started, The Muppet Show heavily leveraged the Sesame Street brand to get itself established.
I think it would happen again. The kids watching Sesame Street now don't now the Muppet Show at all. They would watch it because its like Sesame Street, which they do know. Also, their parents would probably get them to watch too (as mine did) because parents like Sesame Street and they also likely remember The Muppet Show with some fondness.

I'm tellin' ya, it would work!

Of couirse, the whole above argument is predicated on the notion that Sesame Street is still really popular. I wonder if that's still true? It was one of the only decent kids shows on in the 70's. Now there's tons. Whole channels are devoted to pre-school programming, 24x7. So, I wonder.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #18 on:** August 28, 2012, 11:33:08 PM »

Sesame Street is consistently in the Top 10 shows for kids in the Nielsen ratings, so it's still really popular. Elmo is especially popular.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #19 on:** August 29, 2012, 12:18:17 AM »

Muppets are the ****.

Do_What · « **Reply #20 on:** August 29, 2012, 02:08:25 PM »

IF the muppetes were going to come back on TV they'd have to completely rethink how they did it. A variety show or an SNL type comedy thing probably wouldn't work. The muppets were a success mostly due to lack of other stuff to watch for the first two years. It wasn't until the third season when popularity actually took off. In this market they don't have that much time to really find their footing.
I think to have any chance to be successful they'd need a bunch of young puppeteers and writers and they'd need Disney to lay off of them for a while and they'd have to come up with a show no one is expecting. Just something out of left field.

Stogi · « **Reply #21 on:** August 30, 2012, 02:52:46 PM »

I want a Muppet Dark Knight.

tendoboy1984 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 30, 2012, 06:01:41 PM »

Quote from: Do_What on August 29, 2012, 02:08:25 PM

IF the muppetes were going to come back on TV they'd have to completely rethink how they did it. A variety show or an SNL type comedy thing probably wouldn't work. The muppets were a success mostly due to lack of other stuff to watch for the first two years. It wasn't until the third season when popularity actually took off. In this market they don't have that much time to really find their footing.
I think to have any chance to be successful they'd need a bunch of young puppeteers and writers and they'd need Disney to lay off of them for a while and they'd have to come up with a show no one is expecting. Just something out of left field.

If parody shows like SNL, MadTV, The Daily Show With John Stewart, The Colbert Report, Robot Chicken, etc. can be successful in recent years, then why wouldn't the Muppets be successful as well?

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Author Topic: The Muppet Thread (Read 7094 times)