TheMuppetShow
Flight of the Conchords co-creator to direct the Muppets
James Bobin has signed on to direct the new Muppet movie. Bobin co-created the television version of Flight of the Conchords (as opposed to the band itself, which was co-created by Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie).
So it's a writer who has predominantly worked in television who is directing a movie about a group of characters who became famous from a television show. The movie itself is co-written by Jason Segel, star of How I Met Your Mother, who is rumored to be a Muppet-maniac. I'm still waiting for his Broadway production of Dracula, the Puppet Musical.
As a Muppet fan myself, I'm happy about this piece of news. I have enjoyed Bobin's work on Da Ali G Show and Flight of the Conchords without being aware of his involvement. I just hope Bobin shows love and respect for the franchise and we don't end up with another Muppets' Wizard of Oz.
Dance your cares away, the Fraggle Rock movie's closer every day
I didn't have cable growing up, so I was only able to catch Fraggle Rock when I was catting around town at all the cool kids' houses. As a long time lover of anything Muppet, I was fascinated by these Fraggles and Doozers and Gorgs, and it all looked just so wonderful. My earliest memory is Junior, a giant Gorg, holding up one of the Fraggles and saying "I caught a Fwaggle!" I thought he was wanting to eat it the way Gargamel tormented the Smurfs.Way back in 2006, we told you a Fraggle Rock film was in the works. Now, Brian Henson tells MTV that a Fraggle Rock movie is inching closer. He also indicated that they're expanding the film "to be more accessible to a wider audience." I recently had the opportunity to watch Fraggle Rock, and while it did touch my nostalgia button, I can see where Henson's coming from here.
Jim Henson Company getting on the Dinosaur Train
The Henson Company, along with some other entertainment companies including Singapore's BIG Communications, is teaming with PBS to create a new show called Dinosaur Train, which is intended to spark an interest from the kiddies in science and paleontology. Considering that this is the same team-up that brought us Sesame Street, hopes are high.The series has one or two major detriments from the start. To begin, Jim Henson is long gone and it seemed that a lot of the magic died with him. All the efforts by the company since then have been a shadow of its former self. Second, the new series is CGI and not puppets. While I'm sure the kiddies pay more attention to CGI nowadays, it's still a little disappointing.
On the other hand, the Henson Company has worked with dinosaurs before. Plus, anything that gets the kids' attention that isn't owned and monopolized by Disney or Nickelodeon is fine by me.
Could The Muppet Show really return to TV?
Are Kermit, Fozzie and Miss Piggy poised for a comeback? Jason wrote about it in June, and now there's more news if you believe this item from the UK Telegraph. Citing an unnamed source, the newspaper reported that How I Met Your Mother's star Jason Segel has written a script that brings Jim Henson's Muppets to the big screen, setting up a return to television. It sounds like a great idea, but without confirmed sources, I'd take the whole thing with a grain of salt.Disney owns the rights to the Muppets and they would produce the picture. Segel's story picks up with the Muppets reuniting long after their TV show has ended. They agree to put on one big variety show to save the studio. Should this come off as planned and the film is a hit, the Muppets would then come back to series TV.
Giveaways reminder: 24, Muppets, Stargate, Drawn Together
A busy week for giveaways! If you haven't entered our latest ones yet, here's a reminder that they're ending today. You've got until 5PM Eastern today to enter to win:24 Season One Special Edition
The Muppet Show Season Three
Drawn Together Season Three
Stargate: Infinity - The Complete Series
Just head on over to the post links above, read through the rules, and make the applicable comment there (not here!). We'll notify the winners next week.
Good luck!
Giveaway Monday: The Muppet Show Season 3 - VIDEO
The giveaways continue... Now we've got five copies of The Muppet Show Season 3 on DVD for five lucky, random commenters. The DVD is available in stores starting tomorrow.To enter, simply leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Friday, May 23 telling us why you'd like to own this DVD set. As always, we'll randomly choose five winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:
- To enter, leave a confirmed comment below stating why you'd like to own the The Muppet Show Season 3 DVD.
- The comment must be left before May 23, 2008 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Five winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Five winners will receive a copy of The Muppet Show Season 3 DVD (valued at $39.90).
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
Muppet Show season two coming August 7
As the ranking #2 fan of The Muppets here at TV Squad (Adam definitely has me beat), I'm happy to announce that season two of The Muppet Show will be available on DVD on August 7th. It's been about 2 years since season one came out on DVD and fans have been not-so-patiently waiting for more.Season two is a 24-episode set with classic guest appearances by Bob Hope, George Burns, John Cleese, Milton Berle, Elton John, Bernadette Peters and Julie Andrews, just to name a few. The bonus material includes The Muppets Valentine Day Special, a pilot which aired two years before The Muppet Show came on air. It features Kermit and Mia Farrow, and is hosted by little-known Muppet 'Wally'.
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