Throwback Thursday: The Muppets Take Manhattan comic book adaptation!

Believe it or not, on July 13th The Muppets Take Manhattan turned 30 years old! To help promote the film Marvel produced "Marvel Super Special #32" a 68 page comic adaptation of the film.

It was later released as a 3-issue mini series that ran from November 1984 - December 1985.

This comic was great way to relieve the events of the film while waiting for the home video release, which at that time was around 6 months or more for just the initial  rental market. 

The adaptation was based off the original script and featured scenes and dialogue not included in the final film. 

Here are a few pages from the first issue:

Thanks to blogger Dean Yeagle, you can read the entire first issue right here on his flickr page, classic ads and all!

EXCLUSIVE: 2015 Hallmark Preview (part 3)

Not satisfied with the upcoming Hallmark items previewed in parts 1 and 2?
Well, welcome to part 3!

Among the more "inspirational" offerings Hallmark has in store are these plaques featuring quotes from The Muppet Movie,

silhouettes that play off uplifting sayings,

a great turn of phrase Kermit clock,

and an Animal shaped cupcake that plays his version of "The Birthday Song."

And that's not all! Stay tuned to see more great stuff coming to a Hallmark Store near you in 2015!

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie coming to Blu-ray!

"It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" is coming Blu-ray + DIGITAL HD + UltraViolet on October 7!

Special Features include:

Digital Copy of It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
   (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)

Includes UltraViolet (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)

Deleted Scenes

Outtakes

Presumably these are the same deleted scenes and outtakes that were included on the DVD. Don't get your hopes up thinking you'll  finally get to see the lost scene with Snoop Dog or any other footage that wasn't included before, but you can pre-oder your copy here.

Thanks to Shane over at Tough Pigs for the heads up!

EXCLUSIVE: 2015 Hallmark Preview (part 2)

Continuing with our exclusive sneak peak at Hallmark's upcoming Muppet gift line. 

In addition to the mugs, picture frames and prints as shown in Part 1, the initial line up will also include...

CUBEEZ, a new Hallmark line of character themed stack able containers, that will include
Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo and Animal,

and "itty bitty"  plush Kermit, Piggy, Animal and Fozzie.

Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew will join the CUBEEZ line later in the year.

EXCLUSIVE: 2015 Hallmark Preview (part 1)

Have you gone into a Hallmark store recently, saw all the Disney and Star Wars stuff and wondered why there weren't similar Muppet items?

Well have no fear, we were lucky enough to get an exclusive sneak peak at Hallmark's upcoming Muppet gift line and it's a doozy!  Beginning in January, Hallmark stores will have a myriad of gift items available.

The initial offerings include this Kermit picture frame with "The lovers, the dreamers, & me" inscribed in the matte.

An 11x14 print featuring more Rainbow Connection lyrics.

And two coffee mugs featuring Miss Piggy and Animal.

More Muppet "Be More Tea" Videos!

The Muppets have two new videos for Lipton's Be more Tea campaign.

In the first Miss Piggy, Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzie, Rowlf, and Animal enjoy a "tea"riffic 
alfresco dinner.

The second is interactive, in that you can add your own pictures and messages to Kermit's "Be More Tea" tune. 

Thanks our friend at ToughPigs for finding the videos. 

2014 Hallmark Muppet Ornament: Gonzo - Now Available!

As we first reported in April, the Muppet that would be featured as this year's Hallmark Muppet ornament is Gonzo. 

Well our favorite blue daredevil went on sale July 12, as part of Hallmark's first wave of 2014 ornaments. Click here to find a Hallmark store near you and to listen to Dave Goelz's newly recorded exclusive audio - made just for the ornament. 

Throwback Thursday: Invisible Spray Fozzie!

It's hard to believe, but July 14th marked the 15th anniversary of Muppets From Space. 

With Comic Con revving up in San Diego, for today's Throwback Thursday we'll look at Palisades' "Invisible Spray Fozzie" action figure.

The figure was a Comic Con exclusive in 2002 and marked many firsts, and not just for the Palisades action figure line. Even though it was based on the series 2 Fozzie mold, it was actually released before that series, making this the first Fozzie in the line. 

"Invisible Spray Fozzie" was also not just the first Palisades figure specially based on a Muppet movie, but also the first widely released non-happy meal toy from Muppets From Space that wasn't a book, puzzle, or magic slate. 

The figure came in this specialty designed box and included a Rubber Duckie (officially not Ernie's, unofficially absolutely Ernie's ) and an invisible magnetic hat. 

How to Pay For Muppet Stuff - Part 4 - Piggy Loves Kermit Checks!

Bradford exchange wasn't satisfied with just two different Muppet check designs. 
So they have a whole set of Miss Piggy Loves Kermie Personal Checks as well. 

There are four designs with matching address labels and a leather check book case. 

"Buckle" Up Animal!

When it comes to keeping your pants up in style, UK fans have a couple of  Animal options!

The first features Animal heads on the band...

while this one from 2012, is a bit more subdued. Having just one Animal head on the buckle and his name on the band. 

Retailer Spotlight: Khol's

It's been a while since our last retailer spotlight. So it's high time to bring it back by looking at the offerings at discount retailer Kohl's. 

While at Wizard World we met a woman wearing a Muppet watch, when I asked where she got it, she said Kohl's (obviously).  I treaded off to my local store soon after and low and behold I found one.

As with many of the merchandise at Kohl's, t looks like this was older stock that didn't sell. If using branding from The Muppets, not to be confused with The Muppets didn't give it away,  the 2012 copyright on the bottom should. 

The watch comes in a metal case, with recent stock photos adorning it. The price tag says $19.99, but they were having a sale and it came to just $13 when it was rung up!

The other item at Kohl's is this t-shirt:

Notice anything odd about it? Take a closer look at the date. "The Muppets Since 1954" 1954??? What Muppets are from 1954? Sam & Friend's, the first Muppet series started in 1955. This shirt is like trying to sell a losing SuperBowl team shirt in Africa. 

UPDATE: Our good friend Ryan Dosier of The Muppet Mindset corrected us on our facebook page:

It's now officially OK to buy this shirt!

CVS Sesame Bandages!

In the non-food category, CVS/Pharmacy has two sets of Sesame Street bandages.

One set of bandages contains 20 strips of various sizes with illustrations of some favorite Sesame characters.

While the other set contains 60 circular spot bandages using the actual puppets, but just their faces.

If you find yourself with a cut or scrap this summer, head over to CVS to cover it up with Sesame fun!

Happy Birthday Michael Frith!

We missed a recent birthday we wanted to rectify. On June 8th, Micheal Frith, the former Executive Vice President and Creative Director for Jim Henson Productions, turned 73.

His contributions to Muppet projects have been extensive and varied including designing the world and inhabitants of Fraggle Rock!

Happy Birthday Dave Goelz!

You may know Dave Goelz as the performer under such Muppets as Gonzo the Great, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Boober and Zoot. 

But did you know he started his career an industrial designer, then became a puppet builder and occasional performer with the Henson Company?

Here he is building Wisss from Saturday Night Live's "Land of Gorch" sketches.

Earth's Best Sesame Street food!

Continuing with Sesame food, Earth's Best has a series of Sesame Street food items in your grocers freezer.

Cookie Monster organic waffles:

Grover Mini Cheese Ravioli: 

and  Elmo Mac 'n Cheese (with Carrots & Broccoli):

100% Sesame Juices!

We rarely talk about Sesame products, as there are just so many out there, but this week we'll going to take a look at Sesame characters that have been licensed to other brands. 

First up, juice maker Apple and Eve has a teamed up with Sesame Workshop for a set of 100% juice featuring Big Bird, Grover and Elmo. 

Another 2015 "Muppets Most Wanted" Calendar!

Remember how we said "2015 will see a new Muppet calendar based on Muppets Most Wanted!" and that "this is the first calender in many years that doesn't feature over used stock photography!" If you need a refresher click here.

Well, for all those fans that complain about the UK "getting all the good stuff" this one's for you! 

The 2015 Danilo "Muppets Most Wanted"  features all the over used stock photography a Muppet fan could ask for. Other then the small photos from Muppets Most Wanted this calendar could have been released anytime in the past few years.  

The image choices with the featured Muppet are questionable at best. Fozzie, Piggy, Rowlf, Animal, Gonzo and Pepe's (barely) pages feature images of them from the movie. Bunsen and Beaker's contains them from a group shot and an deleted scene with 80's Robot. 

While the Swedish Chef's page features him in a group shot and Napoleon's car?, Sam Eagle shows himself from the promo poster and Gonzo & Fozzie? (what no shot Napoleon? More on that later), Statler and Waldorf's page also features their photo and Miss Piggy? from the promo poster, and Janice and Floyd's page has Janice's shot from the promo poster while Floyd's shot may actually be from the movie!

Lastly we come to Kermit's page which features a shot of him and Miss Piggy but the other shot is of Constantine from in the Spanish Muppet Show opening, who, along with Walter and the human costars are suspiciously absent from the calendar. 

I think the lack of the humans may have to do with licensing rights, but not including Walter and Constatine who are in the movie much more then the Swedish Chef, Pepe, Janice, Floyd, or Statler and Waldorf as popular with long time fans they may be.  

Those factors along with the way the logo is arranged on the front of the calendar lead me to believe that this is less a Muppets Most Wanted calendar, and more a "Muppets: Most Wanted" calendar. Made for casual Muppet fans filled with popular characters but not necessarily for fans of the movie.

If stock photos are your thing, you can get this calendar from the UK's Calendar Club.

Thanks to Rob at the Tough Pigs forum for the heads up!