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. 

The Muppet Movie at 40: Home Video Releases!

With celebration of The Muppet Movie's 40th anniversary, we look back at the variety of formats on which people have been able to watch the film at home. 

After it's massive theatrical debut in the summer in 1979, The Muppet Movie made its way to home video in 1980. 


Among it's first releases was this laserdisc released in 1980 by Magnetic Video:

Which was basically the same as their concurrent VHS release:

In addition to laserdisc, and VHS, Magnetic Video also released The Muppet Movie on another now long forgotten format, Beta:

RCA released the film on Selectivision 1981, 

and The Muppet Movie was major part of the company's ad campaign for their VideoDisc System. 

In the 80's through 90's The Muppet Movie was released and rereleased on VHS.

CBS/Fox Video released versions in 1982 and 1984. 

In 1993, Disney released The Muppet Movie on VHS with a free watch, 

as well as a laserdisc that would mark the first time the film was released in Widescreen.

Sony's dual format releases in 1999 marked two occasions, the first time The Muppet Movie was released on DVD and the last time it was released on VHS in the US.

The scant bonus features included director Jim Frawley's camera tests as well as Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Rizzo Muppetisms initially made for the Odessay network. 

Soon after acquiring The Muppets, Disney released The Muppet Movie: Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition in recognition of Kermit's 50th anniversary. 

The sole bonus feature was Pepe Profiles: Kermit. 

In 2011, Disney released the first ever Bluray of The Muppet Movie with their Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition.   

This release saw the return of Pepe’s Profiles: Kermit - A Frog's Life, an extended version of Jim Frawley's camera test, along with Doc Hopper's Commercial, Original Theatrical Trailers, Frog-E-Oke Sing-Along/ Disney Intermission, and a hidden easter egg of Kermit's bicycle outtakes

This was the film's first HD release, check out this comparison on the upgraded picture from the previously released DVD. 

The Muppet Movie has also been released on home video around the world, but two UK releases stand out among the rest, and for the exact opposite reason. 

This 1987 UK VHS release by Palace, Virgin/PVG is notable for having many differences from the US theatrical version. 

It runs a full 5 minutes longer and includes a slightly longer comedy club performance from Fozzie, a longer dance number with Kermit, a short opening and closing speech from Doc Hopper on his French Fried Frogs Legs commercial, a longer conversation between Doc Hopper and Max before they encountered Kermit and Fozzie in the rainbow-painted Studebaker, Dr. Teeth gives a more in-depth reading from the script over scenes from the film, an extra verse is added to "I Hope That Something Better Comes Along", a different instrumental track is used for "Never Before, Never Again", and the Muppets' conversations during the end credits can be heard.

You can watch Dr. Teeth's extended script reading and hear the alternate music during "Never Before, Never Again" below:

By far the most interesting release of The Muppet Movie though was its VERY first home video release in 1980 on Super 8 film. 

The home video market was just starting and no format (VHS, Beta, or laserdisc) had really taken hold yet, and therefore there weren't any real standard players. Super 8 film was popular for recording home movies and therefore many people already had the projectors in their homes.

The studios wanted to capitalize on this accessibility, so they released many popular films on the format including Star Wars. One of the problems though was how much content could fit on the small reel of film. The full length of feature films was too long for the reels so they needed to be edited in order to fit. 

The total run of this version is a scant 18 minutes. Most of the running gags, most second verses of songs were all cut. New sound effects and audio cues were created. All the guest stars appear, though some of their lines were cut, and except for the shot were Doc Hopper and Max get hit with the giant pie, they are neither seen nor mentioned. 

You can watch the entire Super 8 version below:

Remember, you can celebrate The Muppet Movie's 40th Anniversary not just at home, but at a theater near you too thanks to Fathom Events. 

And here's something you'll only see in the theater, the Universal logo. 

According to Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin, while ATV was the original distributor, and The Jim Henson Company owned the rights for a while, and though Disney owns the rights to film now, Universal owns the exclusive theatrical rights in perpetuity!

I hope you enjoyed this look back at the many sizes, shapes, and formats The Muppet Movie has been released. 

Who know what formats will be next, but someday we'll find it....until then, check out the alternate end credit sequence from the extended version where you can actually hear the Muppets dialogue during the credits. 

The Muppet Movie Turns 40!

Today The Muppet Movie, the Muppets first foray into feature films turns 40.

To celebrate, check out these classic trailers and TV spots! 

And don’t forget, if your in the NYC area this weekend The Museum of Moving Image is hosting two special screenings!  

D23 2019 Gold Member Exclusive Kermit Pin!

D23, Disney's fan official Fan club, is offering a special pin set for 2019 members and it included an exclusive Kermit pin!

From D23:

10 Fan-Tastic Milestones Pin Set

In 2019, D23 Gold Members will celebrate 10 years of the Official Disney Fan Club “that’s made for you and me” with this delightful pin set celebrating milestone Disney memories. From The Skeleton Dance to Up, celebrate D23’s 10th anniversary and 10 of 2019’s momentous Disney anniversaries with a collection of beautifully crafted pins, presented in an exclusive D23-embossed tin. 

Spanning 90 years of history, these glittering gold-tone finish pins were uniquely designed by Disney artist Ricky De Los Angeles exclusively for D23 Gold Members in 2019. Included in the set are highlights from across the Disney family—from Marvel Comics to Disneyland, from Indiana Jones to the Muppets! This limited-time set was made for the fan in all of us.

Pin 6 - The Muppet Movie (40 years)

The most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational movie the world had ever seen hit theaters in 1979, marking Jim Henson’s zany creations’ big-screen debut! The Muppets had been a smash hit on television, but were an unknown quantity on the big screen at that point, and the smash success of The Muppet Movie would lead to seven more theatrically released Muppet movies. The enduring legacy of Kermit’s road trip from the swamp to Hollywood can be encapsulated in the classic song “Rainbow Connection,” which remains one of the most iconic songs in Muppets—and film—history.
To get the pin set you need to buy a D23 Gold Membership which is $99.99/year.

Thanks to Brian Sullivan for the heads up.