See Muppet Vehicles In The Walt Disney Archives!

D23 takes fans inside the Walt Disney Archives and shows off some of the legendary items including two Muppet vehicles. 

Have you ever wanted to go inside the Walt Disney Archives? To celebrate the Archives’ 55th anniversary, the D23 Inside Disney team takes us inside the warehouse for a special look at 23 must-see items in their collection.

You can see the Electric Mayhem 's van from The Muppets Mayhem and Le Maximum from Muppets Most Wanted at the 2:48 mark below.

More information about D23 can found on their website.

"Muppets Most Wanted" 10 Years Later!

Hard to believe, but The Muppets latest theatrical feature film, Muppets Most Wanted, premiered 10 years ago today.

Below is our review from a decade ago and our thoughts 10 years later. 

 

Having seen it twice, the first a week before officially opening, and the second on a Thursday preview night, with two VERY different audiences.

The first was obvious filled with Muppet fans, and families familiar with the Muppets, the second, was a small group of your average movie goers who seem to have a passing interest with the Muppets, but not a LOVE for them. Both groups seem to enjoy the film and a heard different people laughing a different parts, which is why Muppets Most Wanted works so well, it's got something for everyone.

At first I wasn't a fan of the songs as a whole. I loved "We're Doing a Sequel" from the moment Disney released a preview and the "Interrogation Song" and "I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu)" were standout in the film, but the others were just OK. Then I listened to the soundtrack a few times before seeing the film again and they all just come alive so much more with repeat viewings.

The movie is very funny too and I had a huge smile on my face throughout it , however, I have a few issues with the film that I think may be contributing to it's current hiccup at the box office. First off, it 's definitely a musical, and more "Broadway" then the last film, the jokes seem to more in the beginning of the movie, there's too much time spent with the gulag prisoners, Jermaine Clement, Ray Liota and Danny Trejo, and Hornswoggle may as well have gotten above then title billing they're featured so much, but my second biggest problem is the ending.

Spoiler Alert: The finale is set in the gulag while the Muppets are stuck (badly) to the wall and then pop off (badly) to sing an updated version of "Together Again." First, the produced already referenced this song twice in the previous film, and the "again" joke really only works if the movie kept it's original title "The Muppets Again." Disney marketing realized early on that it was a bad idea to market the film as a blatant attempt of doing the same things over again again. So why didn't someone at Disney stop them from doing this? Even if they sang it as a joke, and got heckled, much like Chris Copper does in the "Life's a Happy Song" encore, it could have worked, but they play it straight and it suffers accordingly. Again on the soundtrack it's fine, but in the movie it just feels very forced, and doesn't fit. They also decided to make a joke about Nadya having a solo in the song before it cut to "The End." The joke would have been funny if it were a running gag through the film. but as it stands Nadya has her own number in the pun filled "The Big House," so it doesn't really make sense, and ends the movie on a "huh?" note.

My problems with the ending don't end there, though. They producers thought it would be a good idea to showcase all the cameo performers again (BADLY) on the wall. They don't add anything and take a lot away. The awful CGI compositing overshadows all the good work done throughout the rest of the film. It may be over used during "I'm Number One", but it's used seamlessly in the roof top climax. Then after "The End" the credits appear over the London skyline (reminiscent of The Muppets take Manhattan), with CGI fireworks (like The Muppets), that turn into many of the most popular characters faces, similar to kaleidoscope ending from Muppets from Space. It's cute, but again the CGI is terrible and is very derivative. Too much "Again" not enough "Most Wanted," The end credit gags are thankfully a step in the right direction and there should have been more of that. Be sure to stay to the very end to see a tribute to Jane Henson and Jerry Nelson and a short Fozzie shout out similar to Animal's from The Muppet Movie.

If the ending is my second biggest problem, what's my first? Well, the first time I saw the film it was proceeded by The Muppets in a audience participation sing-a-long style screening. Even though I've seen The Muppets numerous times, it was during this screening that, thank to Bret McKenzie's cue cards, you could literally see how many "awww" moments there were. In Muppets Most Wanted there isn't a whole lot of them. In fact for all the funny moments, fantastic songs, and amazing production values (save for the CGI), there's very little heart. The move has a coldness that I kept hoping it would redeem at song point, but by the time "Together Again" happens it's too late and feel cheap.

Now, again most reiterate that I liked this movie. It's fun, funny, exciting, has some legit action sequences, amazing puppetry, great songs, and the Muppet performers are once at the top of their game.

If you haven't yet, go see Muppets Most Wanted if you have, go see it again. There's something for everyone, next time, more heart, less bad CGI.

Now our review - 10 years later.

Ten years later, "We're Doing a Sequel", the "Interrogation Song" and "I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu)" are all still standouts. 

And I still abhor the finale. The "together again, again" song, the characters on the gulag wall, and the truly terrible CGI fireworks were bad then and have not aged well.

There's still something missing (yes, that's a nod to The Muppets Take Manhattan) but the good news is it seemed like the producers/director agreed. So much so that when the film was released on home video, "The Unnecessarily Extended Edition" was included. 

While  "The Unnecessarily Extended Edition" doesn't fix the ending or terrible CGI, it does add more short moments from characters that otherwise get a little to no other screen time in the theatrical release, and scenes that add context and background to jokes. 

I much prefer the "The Unnecessarily Extended Edition" to the theatrical release. You can read about all the differences here and watch them below. 

Unfortunately, it's not available on Disney+ but you can order it from Amazon.
Note: we are an Amazon partner and funds help support the blog. 

So, if you plan to revisit the film for the anniversary, I highly recommend going the "Unnecessarily Extended" route.

Happy 10th Anniversary, Muppets Most Wanted. Hard to believe it's been 10 years already, but hopefully we won't have to wait another decade for another theatrically released Muppet film. 

Muppets Most Wanted – 10th Anniversary Screening!

Celebrate Muppets Most Wanted's 10th anniversary at the Museum of the Moving Image. 

This weekend the Museum of the Moving Image in NYC is hosting 10th anniversary screening's of the latest Muppet feature film - Muppet  Most Wanted with introductions by Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin.

The criminal mastermind Constantine, a Kermit the Frog look-alike, replaces Kermit as the Muppets go on a European tour. All part of an elaborate cover to steal jewels throughout Europe while Kermit is held in a Russian prison, in Constantine’s place. Filled with comedy, music and cameos this is a great Muppet adventure that has laughs for kids and adults.

The screening will be held:

Saturday, Mar 9 at 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, Mar 10 at 12:30 p.m.

Tickets and information at movingimage.org

RIP Tony Bennett (1926 - 2023)

Sad news, legendary crooner and frequent Muppet guest Tony Bennet has died. 

 

Bennet was discovered in 1950 by future Muppet Show guest Bob Hope, after Pearl Bailey another future Muppet Show guest, had asked him to open her show.

He was best known for his signature 1962 hit “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” and was one of the top pop performers in the ‘50s and early ‘60s. He saw his career surge anew in the ‘90s and in the new millennium.

He won 18 Grammy Awards (36 total nominations), was a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2001, two Emmy Awards,  a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2005, and a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2006.

In 1995 he began his frequent collaborations with the Muppets by signing about "Little Things" in Sesame Street. 

The following year he guest starred on Muppets Tonight. Where he song a duet of "Firefly" with Kermit. This led to Kermit appearing on Bennett's 1998 album, "The Playground."

 On Muppets Tonight he also appeared on Jonny Fiama's Talk Show

 

Bennet of course being Jonny Fiama's idol: 

In 1997, he returned to Sesame Street to help "Slimey to the Moon."

Bennett also performed appeared at the first Sesame Workshop Benefit in 2003,

cameoed during "We're Doing a Sequel" in 2014's Muppets Most Wanted.

and sang a duet of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with Miss Piggy at the 2016 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Tony Bennet was 96.

RIP Ray Liotta (1954 - 2022)

Sad news to report as Hollywood tough guy and frequent Muppet guest star Ray Liottahas died. 

While Liotta was perhaps best known for starring in the Martin Scorsese crime classic Godfellas and Field of Dreams, he also made a cameo appearance in Muppets From Space, playing a C.O.V,N.E.T. security guard and in Muppets Most Wanted as Big Papa a prisoner in Gulag 38B. 

Watch Liotta talk about filming Muppets Most Wanted below:

And his part in the "Big House" musical number:

Ray Liotta was 67.

Constantine, The World's Most Dangerous (Armless) Puppet!

Kidrobot not only has a "Rainbow Connection Kermit plush" from The Muppets, they're going full sequel and releasing a Muppets Most Wanted Constantine plush hand puppet as well.

As you can see Constantine comes with his signature hooded robe and mole but seems to be missing something else...

See if you can put your "finger" on it?

They're really keeping him at "arms" length...

It's probably on the "tip" of your tongue...

"Thumbs" up if you realized this Constantine hand puppet has no hands or arms of his own! Which means you won't be able to recreate any of Constantine's fun gestures, like the one's below... Yeesh. 

Below is the official description:

Make your own Muppet Magic with this Constantine Plush Hand Puppet from Kidrobot!

Celebrating the fantastic world of The Muppets, Kidrobot is releasing a plush hand puppet of the "world's #1 criminal" and evil doppelganger of Kermit the Frog, who first debuted in Muppets Most Wanted. Hatch your own plans for sinister (or silly) deeds with this soft and functional hand puppet, which measures 12-inches tall.

Kidrobot's Constantine plush hand puppet will be out early next year and is available for pre-order now through Big Bad Toy Store and Entertainment Earth. 

Celebrate Muppet Stuff's 7th Birthday with Muppet Cakes!

Today is our little blog's birthday. To celebrate we take a look at some Henson themed birthday cakes. 

Our first cake became a viral sensation earlier this year when Carrie Underwood shared it on social Media. 

Underwood's son Isaiah is apparently a huge Muppets Most Wanted fan and for his 4th birthday she had a Constantine topped cake made for him. 

Add a zero, and for Janine Good's 40th, she received this Fraggle Rock inspired cake:

Also recently turning 40, was Luke Tonkin who had this Muppet Show cake made for his birthday celebration. 

This next cake features the Muppet Babies toys from new Disney reboot:

 And while not birthday specific cakes, once we saw these Dark Crystal and Labyrinth wedding cakes by Little Cherry Cake Company, we had to include them. 

Finally, some lucky 10 year old got a cake of Animal popping out of a drum!

Today we're not 4, not 40, nor 10, but 7.

We hope you've enjoyed reading Muppet Stuff as much as we've enjoyed writing it.

So here's to 7 years of Muppet Stuff and many more to come!

"We’re Doing A Best Of The Muppets" Album Coming Soon!

As if UK fans didn't have enough to look forward to next month with the Muppets live performance coming and all, now they're getting a new album too! 

Well, technically it's not a new album, but a new "best of" compilation.

"We’re Doing A Best Of The Muppets" features classic Muppet tunes mixed with newer entries from the past two movies and more. 

The track list: 
1. The Muppet Show Theme Joanna Newsom, The Muppets The Muppets
2. Movin' Right Along Fozzie, Kermit The Muppet Movie
3. Mah Na Mah Na Mahna Mahna and The Two Snowths The Muppets
4. Happy Feet Kermit the Frog Best of the Muppets
5. Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix) Miss Piggy, The Flamingos Muppets Most Wanted
6. Moves Like Jagger Scooter, The Penguins Muppets Most Wanted
7. Rainbow Connection The Muppets The Muppets
8. Can You Picture That? Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem The Muppet Movie
9. Man Or Muppet Jason Segel, Walter The Muppets
10. America Fozzie The Muppet Movie
11. Smells Like Teen Spirit The Muppet Barbershop Quartet The Muppets
12. Popcorn The Muppets Popcorn Single
13. What Now My Love? Miss Piggy Best of the Muppets
14. (It's Not Easy) Bein' Green Kermit the Frog Best of the Muppets
15. Tenderly Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem Band Best of the Muppets
16. Halfway Down the Stairs Kermit the Frog and Robin Best of the Muppets
17. Rainbow Connection The Moopets The Muppets
18. Life's A Happy Song Finale Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Jason Segel, The Muppets
The Muppets

There are a few surprises to be sure.

For one, they're using the version of the The Muppet Show Theme from the 2011's The Muppets instead of one from the original series. It also appears that Mah Na Mah Na is from The Muppets, and not the original as well. 

Other interesting choices include Muppets Most Wanted's Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix), and Moves Like Jagger, which was cut from the original release of the movie, 

Popcorn, which was previously only available as a digital single, and the Life's A Happy Song Finale from The Muppets. And really, The Moopets version of Rainbow Connection? Wow. 

By far, the biggest surprises though are what's NOT included. With a title like "We’re Doing A Best Of The Muppets" you would think, "We're Doing a Sequel" would be there. Not even "I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu)" made the cut? Nor any of the new Electric Mayhem songs from the viral videos, or even Bohemian Rhapsody??

You can tell by the way they reference the songs in the track list that they simply took 2005's "Best of the Muppets featuring The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" removed the Oz tracks, added a few more from The Muppet Movie, then filled in the rest from The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted. The Muppet Show isn't even mentioned as where the classic tracks came from, look at "Happy Feet Kermit the Frog Best of the Muppets" for example.

Nothing from The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan (which still has yet to be released on CD or digitally), The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, or even Muppets from Space.

I'm glad they're releasing a new compilation, but this seems like another missed opportunity. When someone says Best of the Muppets Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix), and Moves Like Jagger certainly aren't songs that even the most casual of fans would list.

As of now this UK only album, will be released July 6th.

Thanks to Christopher O' Conner for the heads up!

Adorkable Rachel's Muppets Most Wanted Conspiracy Theory!

Our friend Rachel is back with a very intriguing conspiracy theory about Muppets Most Wanted.

Check her VERY compelling argument below:

If that was actually a part of the movie, Muppets Most Wanted would have been all the better for it!

Happy World Puppetry Day!

Check out these excellent behind the scenes video from Muppets Most Wanted! 

Happy World Puppetry Day!

The Muppet performers from 2011's The Muppets

TBS Streaming Muppet Movies!

TBS recently started airing both 2011's The Muppets and its 2014 sequel Muppets Most Wanted. They have also added both to their streaming app and website!

The Muppets

Muppets Most Wanted

You can watch both at the links above, but hurry as they expire October 6th!

Please note these are the same edits used for the television presentations.

Muppets "Most Wanted" Scrapbook Puzzle!

Muppets Most Wanted was released two years ago this month and as we all know, the movie wasn't quite box office gold. As such some merchandise scheduled to tie into  the movie was either not produced, released, or was rebranded. 

The later seems to be this case with this new puzzle by Mega puzzles.  

It's style is similar to the other puzzles in Mega's scrapbook line and, as far as I can tell, it was released late last year. 

As you can see, the images and theme are obviously tied to Muppets Most Wanted. However, the puzzle itself has been branded as simply a Muppet puzzle. No mention of Muppets Most Wanted anywhere on the box.

You can get it from Amazon with free prime shipping here. 

Muppets Most Wanted Bookmark

Even though Muppets Most Wanted came out over a year ago Disney is still releasing items related the film.

If you look closely at the bookmark rack at your local Barnes and Nobel, you may find this Muppets Most Wanted bookmark. 

It has with a jeweled tassel and comes in a plastic slip case for safe keeping.

Most Wanted Easter Egg Kit!

For those that celebrate Easter, or for anyone that likes decorating eggs, Dudley's has a Muppets Most Wanted Easter Egg decorating kit.

The box contains 6 coloring tablets, 3 egg wrappers, 6 egg stands, 36 stickers, 1 egg dipper, and instructors. 

According to Dudley's website  these can be found at the following locations:

Unfortunately, what they don't  tell you is that this list referrers to all of Dudley's offerings 
and that a certain store/location may not have the Muppet kit. 

More unfortunately, I went to many of the retailers listed and not only did I NOT find the Muppet kit, but found that many didn't carry Dudley's, but their rival PAAS instead.