The Muppets

[Greylock Crescent]

Which is all well and good ... I suppose. But that was never my point.

Having a conversation is not just about asserting your own point, it's about listening to other people's points. It's not that I didn't understand your point, it's that I had one of my own to express that was about something different.

I've talking about what has actually happened with CGI ... so far.

Yes, clearly. But I was talking about what might have happened if Jim Henson had lived. That's not contradicting or invalidating your point, it's simply broadening the range of the conversation.

Well, then your posts have clearly not responded to what I acknowledged a long ways back:

That isn't to say Henson wouldn't have kept innovating. Nor does it suggest that he couldn't have accomplished the feat. Nor does it suggest that CGI is inherently inferior to traditional puppets. But, as yet, I've not seen any digital creation that looked like it could have replaced traditional puppetry (in the style of the Muppets, since that's the topic of conversation here).

So yeah ... I acknowledge that it's possible that, in some "hypothetical alternate reality" there exists a CGI that seamlessly meshes with the puppetry of the Muppets, and I further acknowledge that I am open to that becoming a reality ... but my entire point is that this kind of "hypothetical alternate reality" has not yet happened (although it could and, if it did, I'd welcome it).

 

[Forbin]

I sure hope we can go back to talking about to show again soon.

 

[Awesome Possum]

The new episode was great, loved the subplot of Kermit at the spa with Jason Bateman.

 

[sojourner]

Dammit, why did they have to play the song? They know I get all misty-eyed everytime Kermit sings that.

And "booo" to the network for breaking to the commercial in the middle of a song. WTF?

 

[Mr Light]

Was that the first appearance of Rolf? Why isn't he part of the main cast?

 

[Christopher]

Was that the first appearance of Rolf? Why isn't he part of the main cast?

I remember seeing him in the second or third episode, at least. They recycled the joke from the presentation reel about Rowlf wearing a plastic collar so he wouldn't chew on his stitches.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Not a great episode but I enjoyed dickish Jason Bateman.

 

[intrinsical]

Great, now they're doing promotions for a cappella bands

 

[sojourner]

You say that like The Muppets has never had bands/actors come on and perform before. Which is patently silly.

 

[intrinsical]

To be fair, I watched it as a twelve year old. I only remember the muppets, not guest stars or who they were.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

There was a guest star in every episode of The Muppet Show, and every movie has featured famous stars in major roles and/or cameos.

I liked this week's episode. Very Piggy-lite, and the scenes she had were great. That elevator scene was brilliant.

Sam's crush on Janice is getting weird.

 

[Tosk]

I found the last scene to be just perfect. The snarky approach of "Learn a new song!" but the sweetness of still singing the song anyway. It's easy to forget about Jim Henson when watching the Muppets (as it should be) but it's impossible for me to hear Kermit sing that song without thinking about him.

 

[Random_Spock]

My problem is that it's just too mean-spirited, that the characters are jerks and neurotics with none of the endearing or redeeming qualities they had before. And it's just not funny.

Yeah, that's been my issue with it too. Just way too negative and narcissistic. Would have had less of an issue with it if they had balanced things out more. Just seemed that whatever good that would come out with something, they'd find some way to be negative.

I think it's good that they're understanding that mistakes were made. I hope the retooling gives Kermit the talk-show rather than Piggy. Mrs Piggy would work better in Kermit's current role, I think.

Bingo. Both of you hit the nail on the head. That's why I haven't bothered to give it a look. There's enough of that kind of entertainment on tv these days.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

I think one of the more effective subtle retools was The Critic. Its 2nd season on FOX was way better than its 1st season on ABC. Some of it was better writing but some of it was also just making Jay Sherman a little less abrasive. They gave him a likable girlfriend. And while he was still arrogant, it tended to be that when life kicked him around, it was due to unfortunate fate rather than creating problems through his own dickishness.

I'm also enjoying it but I feel it's not long for this world.

Its eventual cancellation may be the death knell for the Muppets as Disney seems to be at a loss as to how to make them work. This coupled with the fact that kids these days may just not be interested in puppets means we could be seeing their demise (The Muppets, not the kids, unfortunately!)

Shame that, especially since their last movie, Muppets Most Wanted, was my 2nd favorite out of all of the Muppet movies. (My #1 favorite is The Great Muppet Caper.)

I was thinking that they should do another movie, maybe a Western next time. Sort of a pastiche of a bunch of different Westerns using High Noon as the central basis. Kermit would fit perfectly in the Gary Cooper role as the marshal trying to recruit a bunch of uncooperative townsfolk into helping him fight a bunch of gunslingers.

 

[bigdaddy]

I think having another movie be a western would be perfect.

 

[publiusr]

I think Statler and Waldorf were on the Republican debates recently--as interviewed by Triumph, the Insult comic Dog.

Or was that PBS' Vicious?

 

[sojourner]

Hey, I was just thinking. It would be neat considering the conceit of the show, if they wrote in the "retooling" as an episode. Actually acknowledge it on the show.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Hey, I was just thinking. It would be neat considering the conciet of the show, if they wrote in the "retooling" as an episode. Actually acknowledge it on the show.

Agreed!

 

[Owain Taggart]

I was thinking that they should do another movie, maybe a Western next time. Sort of a pastiche of a bunch of different Westerns using High Noon as the central basis. Kermit would fit perfectly in the Gary Cooper role as the marshal trying to recruit a bunch of uncooperative townsfolk into helping him fight a bunch of gunslingers.

I'd love that! Great idea! With Fozzy as bartender and Gonzo as Kermit's deputy. The gunslingers could also be cattle rustlers. I'd laugh if they were led by Animal.

 

[Christopher]

I'd think Fozzie would be the deputy, because he's usually Kermit's sidekick. Or else Scooter would be the deputy. Gonzo would be the grizzled old prospector or something.