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kottke.org posts about The Muppets

Rainbow Connection: A Benoit Blanc Mystery

posted by Jason Kottke   Feb 09, 2023

a group of Muppets standing with Benoit Blanc

From comments made by Knives Out and Glass Onion director Rian Johnson, it doesn't seem likely that a Benoit Blanc mystery movie with the Muppets or a Muppet movie with Benoit Blanc will ever happen. So, we'll have to settle for this mashup of Blanc and The Great Muppet Caper made by Nerdist:

I dunno Johnson, that works pretty well...

Coming Soon: Muppet Lego Minifigs

posted by Jason Kottke   Apr 18, 2022

Starting on May 1, Lego is introducing minifigs of The Muppets!

Kermit and Miss Piggy Lego figures

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker Lego figures

Statler and Waldorf Lego figures

The Muppets are such a sprawling concern that not all your favorites are here, but you've got Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Rowlf, Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Animal, Janice, The Swedish Chef, and Statler & Waldorf — that's a pretty good lineup.

Update: I love this Lego-ized version of The Muppet Show opening theme they did. So good.

Hamilton, But Sung By The Muppets

posted by Jason Kottke   Jul 14, 2020

This is a fan-made rendition of act 1 of the hit musical Hamilton sung by The Muppets.

The impressions of the Muppets aren't bad and the "casting" is about what you'd expect:

Alexander Hamilton - Kermit the Frog
Aaron Burr - The Great Gonzo
Eliza Schuyler - Miss Piggy
Marquis de LaFozette - Fozzie Bear
George Washington - Sam the Eagle

I don't know if listening to this all the way through is wise, but you should listen at least until Kermit/Hamilton makes his entrance at ~1:18. Oh, and skip ahead to 17:09 to hear The Swedish Chef do Samuel Seabury and to 19:01 to hear You'll Be Back performed by Animal. (via open culture)

Jim Henson documentary

posted by Jason Kottke   Aug 13, 2015

PBS is airing a documentary in September about Muppets creator Jim Henson called In Their Own Words: Jim Henson.

I had never really noticed before that Henson's natural speaking voice obviously sounds a lot like Kermit. (via @khoi)

The Muppets cover Hip Hop Hooray

posted by Jason Kottke   Dec 02, 2014

Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, and guests cover Naughty By Nature's 1993 classic Hip Hop Hooray.

See also The Muppets covering The Beastie Boys, Kanye, and M.O.P.

Muppets version of So What'cha Want by the Beastie Boys

posted by Jason Kottke   Aug 22, 2014

As far as these things go, this video of the Muppets singing So What'cha Want by the Beastie Boys is pretty near perfect.

See also The Muppets singing Kanye West's Monster and the Sesame Street gang doing the Beastie Boys' Sure Shot. Oh, and the classic Bert & Ernie Ante Up rap video:

(via subtraction)

The Muppets sing Kanye West's Monster

posted by Jason Kottke   Jan 05, 2011

This is surprisingly well done.

Continuing with the unexpected Kanye groove on kottke.org this morning.

30 Rock = The Muppet Show rebooted

posted by Jason Kottke   Jun 09, 2009

I've never seen 30 Rock (I KNOW, I KNOW) so I can't attest to the correctness of this, but supposedly the show is a rip-off of The Muppet Show.

EXHIBIT B: LIZ LEMON VS. KERMIT THE FROG
Both are the most normal characters on their respective shows. Both are unlucky at love. Both are neurotic worrywarts and type-a personalities who slow burn into a crazy breakdown once per episode. AND both have some kind of flirtation with the guest stars that ultimately goes nowhere. There is absolutely no difference between Liz Lemon and Kermit the Frog save for genitalia (Liz is a lady, Kermit has none).

Make up your mind, internet. Is Kermit Liz Lemon or Christian Bale?

Update: Sesame Street did a 30 Rock bit. Liz Lemon was played not by Kermit but by a lemon. (thx, elisabeth)

Star Wars on The Muppet Show in 1980

posted by Jason Kottke   Dec 17, 2008

Four months before the opening of The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca appeared as the special guest stars on The Muppet Show. Mark Hamill's first line as Skywalker is:

It seems we've landed on some sort of comedy variety show planet.

...and it goes downhill from there. The whole show is available on YouTube in three parts:

The appearance was probably orchestrated as a promotional crossover. Frank Oz voiced Yoda in Empire and was a lead puppeteer for The Muppet Show, performing Missy Piggy and Fozzie, among others.

Muppet chickens + 2001: A Space Odyssey

posted by Jason Kottke   Dec 16, 2008

After posting the video of the chickens from the Muppets clucking their way through the Blue Danube waltz, I couldn't resist putting it together with the most iconic use of that tune in contemporary culture. Here, then, is Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, the Chicken Cordon Bleu Danube cut.

The Muppets sing

posted by Jason Kottke   Dec 15, 2008

Beeker from The Muppets sings Ode to Joy.

Meep meep meep meep meep meep meep meep meep meep meep meep meep, meep meep...

Gonzo, Camilla, and the rest of the chickens sing The Blue Danube Waltz.

Bock bock bock bock, bock bock, bock bock. Bock bock bock bock, bock bock, bock bock...

Somewhat related: Beaker sings Yellow by Coldplay.

Sad Kermit

posted by Jason Kottke   May 09, 2008

A sad Kermit the Frog sings Elliot Smith's Needle in the Hay (complete with The Royal Tenenbaums parody), NIN's Hurt, and Radiohead's Creep (in which Kermit says "fucking"). (via buzzfeed)