D23 (Tries to) Highlight The Muppets!

The latest issue of D23, Disney's fan club newsletter, was sent to fans this week and contains a few surprises for Muppet fans.

The focus seems to be introducing a few of the major characters including Summer from the new Muppet Babies, where you can see them in the parks, and encouraging people to become gold members of D23 to get an exclusive Muppet Movie pin. 

That's all well and good, but a closer look at the article makes this showcase a mishmash of info that's either completely wrong or at times misleading.

Let's take the opening to the article for example:

Notice anything odd? 

First, "The Muppets burst onto the small screen in 1976" that's a bit misleading. The Muppet Show introduced many of "The Muppets" we know today- and it's this family of characters that Disney owns - but The Muppets excited on TV screens for 20 years prior including Sam & Friends, Sesame Street, Saturday Night Live, appearances on talk shows, and commercials - more on that in a minute. 

Then they go into The Muppet Movie "which features everything from a 1951 Studebaker and The Happiness Hotel to Doc Hopper's Frog Leg Fast Food Franchise."  ugh. 

Anyone who's seen The Great Muppet Caper knows The Happiness Hotel is from The Muppets second feature, and not The Muppet Movie. 

Doc Hopper's Frog Legs as seen in The Muppet Movie and It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie

They didn't even get the name of Doc Hopper's Frog Legs restaurant correct, calling it "Doc Hopper's Frog Leg Fast Food Franchise" instead of simply "Doc Hopper's Frog Legs."

Remember how I mentioned The Muppets appeared in commercials prior to being on TV in 1976? Rowlf's write up mentions his start doing Canadian Purina Dog Chow commercials in 1962!

It's great that they are hyping the Muppets at the parks including Muppet Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo's, and Great Moments in American History. However, readers who've never been to park might be a bit surprised to find a Muppet Vision 3D that hasn't looked like the picture in the article for a couple years now. 

Muppet Vision 3D as it appears in the article vs today

The issue also features an image commemorating 10 years of D23.

if you look closely you can see....the swinetrek!

It's great to see Disney acknowledging, promoting, and even re-introducing The Muppets, but I'd wish they'd get their facts straight. It doesn't give the impression that they're truly invested in the characters when they can't get their history - even their modern history - correct.

On a related note, the issue also highlights Disney+, Disney's upcoming streaming service. There was no word about The Muppets in either the Disney+ article or the one featuring The Muppets.

The Disney+ article makes a point to note that both the original and recent reboot of DuckTales will be available on the service. They make a point to mention that having both versions will help parents relate and share the original with their kids who may be more familiar with the reboot. 

What a great idea! If only there were another set of characters Disney owned that they could apply the same idea too.....

The latest issue of D23 featuring a cover story about the upcoming "live action" Lady and The Tramp remake should be arrive to D23 members soon. If you're not already a member, you can sign up using this link.