I had absolutely no idea that there were as many movies featuring Jim Hensons Muppets as there are. Apparently, counting direct-to-video, telefilms, and major motion pictures, there have been fourteen of them. Fourteen. That doesn’t include television specials. They certainly don’t hold the same sway that they once did — long gone are the days of The Great Muppet Caper or Muppets Take Manhattan. Anyway, that may all be about to change.
Disney has announced the forthcoming The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made that, despite its unusual and cumbersome title, actually has a great deal of promise if you’re a fan of the Muppets. And if you aren’t a fan of the Muppets, well then, there is a dead husk dwelling where your soul should be. The best news about this is that the screenplay was written by Forgetting Sarah Marshall writer (and star) Jason Segel, also of Knocked Up and the writer of the upcoming Get Him To The Greek. Segel’s writing in Forgetting Sarah Marshall was absolutely fantastic, and obviously, with the inclusion of his vampire puppet musical, he’s shown an affinity for puppets. No word on whether the newest Muppet movie will include miniature baby vampires, but one can but hope.
According to SlashFilm, Segel has said that his script “follows the Muppets, who must unite to save the Muppet Theater from an evil oil tycoon. As it turns out, the old theater its on top of some black gold.”
The plot in the Muppet movies don’t matter that much, really. It’s just an excuse to get the band back together and have some fun. So I’m excited. Joyous, even. In fact, let’s close this out with a little “Ode To Joy.”
Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me meeeeeeee
Posted by: BWeaves at September 14, 2009 10:06 AM
SQUEE. I was supposed to go to a Jim Henson exhibit this weekend at a museum in Bucks County, but didn't have the time. My sister went and said they had the girl gelfling's dress, and some muppets and drawings and stuff. Awesome.
THE MUPPETS MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER.
Posted by: Julie at September 14, 2009 10:07 AM
sweet!
Posted by: Fishboy at September 14, 2009 10:07 AM
Really? Segel's writing in FSM was "absolutely fantastic?" Did we see the same film? Because to me, it was another comedy that was ladened with ordinary sex jokes and could've easily been 30 minutes shorter.
That aside, I'm 100% down with the Muppets making a comeback. Nothing could ever touch the original Muppet Movie, but a kid's movie with some heart, solid vaudville humor, and a lack of 3D CGI animation would be a welcomed sight.
Seconding Julie's SQUEE. Didn't Segal actually get to work with Henson Studios on the puppets in FSM? I feel like he did, and he was ridiculously, adorably excited about it.
Who doesn't like The Muppets? Tell me who! Because I'm going to drive one of Animals drum sticks through their eyeball and into the brain. You know I'm right, people who don't like muppets grow up to be Hitler.
Posted by: admin at September 14, 2009 10:29 AM
Wokka-wokka!
Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at September 14, 2009 10:31 AM
So it's the same plot as A Muppet Christmas Carol with dick jokes. Yay?
Posted by: Tracer Bullet at September 14, 2009 10:37 AM
See, I also thought Forgetting Sarah Marshall was incredibly well written. It was funny, sentimental without being cloying, and really sweet. Taht's why I'm psyched for Muppets...I think Segel has the potential to do it justice.
Posted by: Julie at September 14, 2009 10:43 AM
"well then, there is a dead husk dwelling where your soul should be."
The Great Muppet Caper is the only thing I have ever liked Charles Grodin in.
What, no love for Midnight Run?
Posted by: mswas at September 14, 2009 11:35 AM
Julie, what museum is the Jim Henson exhibit at?
Posted by: wooky at September 14, 2009 11:43 AM
lol...really? I found a place that many players are hoo king up with h ot mo dels, seems the club called: __T all mingle Co M___, do you hear this before?
Posted by: Pattylove at September 14, 2009 11:48 AM
Everything about this project makes me very fuzzy in my happy region (or happy in my fuzzy region?). As a young child in the late '80s and early '90s with a fascist dictator controlling my television intake, I was only permitted to watch The Muppet Show and Sesame Street (this was later expanded to include Animaniacs.) And Jason Segel just makes me happy ("I'm cuddly, bitch! Deal with it!")
Posted by: antoinette jeanine at September 14, 2009 11:51 AM
Why shouldn't there be little baby vampire muppets? Haven't we always assumed that The Count has a domestic life?
Posted by: PaddyDog at September 14, 2009 12:08 PM
I've told Mr. Henry before that I would divorce him to marry
Kermit. Kermit is, was and always will be the frog of my heart.
I think Segal is an excellent choice; he seems to have the right
combination of sincere whimsy or whimsical sincerity in his writing.
Whatever it is, bless him for any part he may have in bringing the Muppets
back where they belong.
Yay Muppets!
Posted by: Henry at September 14, 2009 12:18 PM
Julie, there is an awesome Henson exhibit at the Museum of Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. It is ongoing, and they are opening a full Henson wing in 2012. There are several original Muppets from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, as well as Fraggle Rock and Emmet Otter (!). I remember walking in this summer, standing next to the Swedish Chef, and "Rainbow Connection" was on the video screen. I teared up a little, 'cause the Muppets were the only thing that made my childhood tolerable.
Posted by: joeyjeremiah at September 14, 2009 12:24 PM
Dead on, TK. Dead on. Those who don't like Muppets can never be true Americans. Wait, check that. They can never be truly human.
Can't wait.
Posted by: Mr. Yuck at September 14, 2009 12:36 PM
Thank you, TK. I needed a little Beaker today. Now, if you could just post one Muppet video everyday for...uh...ever, I would never, ever complain again (except when I need to).
Fantastic. There is absolutely no such thing as too much muppets, and anyone who says otherwise should unclench their sphincter and stop being so Republican.
I've been away for awhile, so I have no idea if this has been linked previously...but if it has, well, here it is again. This cracks me up more than I'm comfortable admitting almost anywhere else.
I... don't think I have seen that, Lainey. mswas, I feel like I hated Midnight Run, though to be fair, I was probably 17 when I saw it, and had no interest. Also, I may not have seen the whole thing. And I think I remember liking him in The Incredible Shrinking Woman. But I can't be sure. It could be my unmitigated adoration of Lily Tomlin blinding me. I cannot actually remember what I saw him in that made me dislike him so much... it may have been Ishtar.
Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at September 14, 2009 1:38 PM
>The Great Muppet Caper is the only thing I have ever liked Charles Grodin in.
>>What, no love for Midnight Run?
"Are you doing the litmus configuration?"
Posted by: Perl at September 14, 2009 1:38 PM
Midnight Run is outstanding. It might be the second best cross-country road trip movie ever made. (The first is, of course, The Muppet Movie.)
Posted by: DarthCorleone at September 14, 2009 1:40 PM
Wooky: the James Mischner museum in Doylestown :)
Posted by: Julie at September 14, 2009 1:40 PM
I may be a cynical old curmudgeon (Yay, Statler & Waldorf) but the Muppets rawk my world.
I repeat: "The Muppets RAWK MY WORLD!"
Hell, I'm as excited about seeing this as I am about seeing "Zombieland".
Chugga, it's hard to hate the Muppets. If you have Netflix, you can watch some of the movies instantly. So go ahead, I'll wait. Trust me, you'll like them.
Posted by: MelBivDevoe at September 14, 2009 8:15 PM
"Seconding Julie's SQUEE. Didn't Segal actually get to work with Henson Studios on the puppets in FSM? I feel like he did, and he was ridiculously, adorably excited about it. "
Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at September 14, 2009 10:23 AM
He did indeed. They did the puppet work for the Dracula musical. And he was indeed adorably excited about it. He's apparently been a huge Muppet fan since he was a kid, and getting to write a Muppet movie is his dream project.
Posted by: Daniel Hall at September 14, 2009 10:04 PM
I thought I remembered that from the DVD extras somewhere. Thanks, Daniel Hall!
You just made my day! I would kiss you, but I might get trampled by the others! Damn. I'm happy now!
Posted by: Four Eyes at September 15, 2009 11:41 AM
Yay!!
The Muppet Movie was the greatest road story since Mr. K's On the Road. actually, i enjoy the muppet movie quite a bit more, to this day
Posted by: idleprimate at September 16, 2009 12:16 AM
Just adding to the giant pile of warm fuzzies! Hooray! My favorite Muppet movie is, without question, The Muppets Take Manhattan. Gregory Hines! The rats cooking! Joan Rivers! My god, it's genius. And so, so funny. I think I'll watch it. STAT.
Posted by: K at September 20, 2009 5:24 PM
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Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me meeeeeeee