Well, here's hopin'. It'd be nice if Disney could put the Muppets to good use in something that will attract an audience, as opposed to just using Kermit and Co. as spokes-Muppets. Maybe Disney should turn to some of the original Muppet creators and puppeteers like Frank Oz and see what they could come up with, or maybe dust off a few of the concepts folks came up with from when Michael was courting Jim Henson and see what still sounds like it might work.

Somewhat off-topic aside: A couple of years ago at the NFFC Convention, Disney brought in Chris Curtin and several Muppets to tell the crowd what Disney would be doing with them (the Kermit anniversary tour and the couture items that Jim mentioned in his article). Every time Chris mentioned he was head of the Muppet Holding Company, the Muppet nearest to him would lean on him and say "Hold me!". I haven't been able to see the name "Muppet Holding Company" since without thinking of that gag, so the change of the group controlling the use of the Muppets having changed is a slight disappointment to me...

Honestly, to me, the person who could give some clout to this whole "Save the Muppets" initiative is Lasseter.  I don't know if he's a fan, but given Pixar's mix of nostalgia, parody, young humor, old humor, and heart, I suspect so.  Plus, given the look of Monster's Inc., the link seems to be a natural.  I hope he's aware of this plan.  Maybe a couple kick-a$$ Muppet shorts before some upcoming Pixar films might do more than any pizza or Ford commercials.

I hope the new management team can do some great things with the muppets.  Does DL/DCA not have a MuppetVision 3D attraction?  If not, that could be why many people were unfamiliar with Bunson & Beaker.  I personally grew up with the Muppets, so I'd like to see some great things done with them.  I saw some of "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" when it originally aired- I fell asleep.  Part of that may have been due to sleepiness, but it wasn't as good as it could have been.  Pepe the King Prawn, I feel, was a bad choice for Toto- he just doesn't seem as Muppet-like as the others (he seems to have more adult humor than many of the other Muppets).  Anyhoo, I think that the Living Character Initiative is a swell idea, and I hope that the shorts will be great when they come out.

Put it on broadcast TV and kids will watch it.  There is not a whole lot on ABC for kids.  It could go either Saturday or Sunday at 7:00pm.  Make it like the same variety show that it was and stay away from any actor/musician wanting to use the show to promote their next project.

AND NO NIPPLE REFERENCES!!!!!!  I still won't let my kids watch the Muppets "Wizard of Oz."

Would be nice to see them at something bigger than Michigan State University's homecoming parade (http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2006/100106.shtml).  BTW, the Chemistry students made up float with Dr. Honeydew and Beaker, and no one had a problem recognizing them...

Here's a novel idea. How about getting the rest of The Muppet Show season box sets on the market. We have been waiting almost 2 years for season 2.

I hope that Breier can bring the Muppets back to their former popularity. In my opinion Disney hasn't tried hard enough in the past to revive their popularity, they just thought of it as yet another acquired asset to exploit. Let's hope Breier is who you say she is, and that she really loves them and is passionate about a revival.

craigdvc said:

"AND NO NIPPLE REFERENCES!!!!!!  I still won't let my kids watch the Muppets Wizard of Oz."

Uhmn, why not? It's not like it was a NC17-rated broadcast.. I loved it, my nieces/nephews loved it, etc. Don't know anybody who didn't love it, even though the acting was mwah.

They should just put "Muppet Babies" back on the air. That show rocked.

"Take -- for example -- one of the original creators of "The Simpsons" (And -- no -- I can't tell you his name) who actively campaigned to become the creator of the next Muppet TV series."

Well, I can.  It was Sam Simon.

The best Muppet show I'd seen in ages was the "It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie"  That show almost had all the charm and humor of the Muppets I'd loved as a kid. The funniest scene being Fozzie's run through the burning laser beam security system only to realize he forgot the money to save the theater.  He had to run back through the lasers to get the money and then scamper through the lasers a third time... Joan Cusack's  expressions watching it all on the security cameras was priceless.  I feel the secret to the Muppets is to put them right back in their old theater with the red curtains and backstage area and let them do their thing.  A half hour show every Sunday night could bring back their popularity.

I say put all of the muppets in a box and light a match . . . R.I.P.

I hope (and it does sound like) Breier has the talent and know-how to steer the Muppets in the right direction.  The Muppet Show characters absolutely can be just as popular in today's world as they were 30 years ago.  But the operative word there, of course, is "can".  Although Mr. Lasseter would also be a tremendous guiding personality for the Muppets, he has his plate full with other endeavors.  It does get a little tiresome over the years, reading the various postings on different sites and thinking to myself, "*This* might be it!  This might be the thing that launches a new resurgence in popularity!" only to be disappointed by ideas being drastically changed or even dropped altogether.  But I always have high hopes, and I always believe anything can happen.  After all, isn't that what we all learned from Kermit and the gang all those years ago?

I hope they can pull it through, but let's face it.  Without Jim Henson, the Muppets will never be what they were.  They can't.  He was the heart and soul of his operation (to a greater extent than even Disney was) and no one can ever replace him or replicate what he accomplished. The best we can hope for is product that does not disgrace the memory of Henson and at least tries to carry on his vision.

That being said, if Disney really wants kids to know who the Muppets are, just put them on television.  The original show (and even, to a much lesser extent, Muppets Tonight) have a charm that kids of all ages spark to immediately.  If you show it, they will come.

I'm glad you enjoyed it  but The Muppet Wizard of Oz was not enjoyed by everyone.  Check Amazon-http://www.amazon.com/Muppets-Wizard-Oz-Ashanti-II/dp/B00005JO4H/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2466318-9435029?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1177954705&sr=8-1

Rubbing Gonzo's nipples is not something one would expect to hear/see in any Muppet-related vehicle. Same with the Girls Gone Wild reference.

Even though it was PG or "not rated" one has a certain expectation of what a Muppet movie would/should be like.  The Muppets are a G rated product.

I'm suprised in the bonus features Quentin Tarintino (who I like) didn't tell the joke, "What's green and smells like Miss Piggy."

On Amazon most of them say they didn't enjoy it, because they always compare it to the past. That is not the way you should look at new content. Of course it's not going to be like the Muppets when Jim Henson was still with us!! Face it, move on. Disney will never be what it was when Walt and Roy were in charge. That's obvious, duh. Move on, and learn to look forward instead of looking always back to what things were.

(And I'm certainly not conservative, so maybe I just don't even see why it was TV-PG?)

"(Schumacher supposedly had visions of returning the Muppets to popularity by having them appear in a brand-new Broadway show that then would have attempted to replicate the look and feel of the original "Muppet Show")"

More emphasis on "supposedly," since what you report is sheer falsehood. Schumacher began his career in Theatre as a kid when he was--a puppeteer. I think of anyone at the Disney Company, Schumacher would be the one to call OFF the notion of a theatrical endeavor, since puppets don't "read" from the audience (see "Avenue Q"), especially when that audience is used to seeing them up-close on TV.

If you make them big enough to see in the theatre, you've got an Arena show, or walk-around characters.

A little research and a little critical thinking could only help what constitutes "reporting" here.

The world needs the Muppets back, IMHO.

As to the 'nipple' controversy... I add myself to the list of those who think it was HIGHLY inappropriate. Blue humor and the Muppets just don't go together. I would no more want to see Barney cuss than I would want Lisa Lampanelli to tell my kid a bedtime story. Both are awesome at what they do... but they shouldn't try to cross-over. Why are people so afraid to "just" be what they are nowadays?

I think the biggest question Disney needs to ask is more fundamental than "how can we make them appear hip and edgy" or "how can we exploit the brand", but rather, "What was it that made the Muppets so popular back in the 70s?"

My answer would be that the Muppets (and Sesame Street before them) never stood on their own, but only functioned as a corny parody on the pop culture of the 70s and 80s.  Because the entertainment of the 70s and early 80s were run by the "three channels", the broadcast networks were required by necessity to produce family entertainment.  It is as a foil to that whole entertainment paradigm that the Muppets could serve as a parody without going raunchy.

With the advent of cable and the internet, entertainment is no longer dominated by a handful of broadcasters, so the content has to get increasingly edgier and more base in order to compete.  Consequently, the only shows that can get away with the same kind of satire, at the same level that the Muppets used to enjoy, are shows that are not appropriate for children, like SNL, MadTV, The Simpsons, and South Park.

So there are really only two directions that the Muppets can go:  

1) regain their satirical roots and "go dirty" like South Park (not an option), or:

2) find whatever squeaky-clean, egotistical institutions are left in the entertainment industry to serve as foil to their traditional schtick (good luck).

I love the Muppets, but you can file their acquisition behind "The Family Channel" as a case where Disney bought a product at its peak without properly gauging growth potential.

Yeah, I really really want the Muppets to make a comeback. And I'm only 14. So... yeah maybe I'm weird but I couldn't believe that the crowd (Which I'm sure contained people over 30) didn't at least know who Beaker was. I'm not sure if the Disney Channel shorts will really go - the Muppets really don't fit in with what the Disney Channel is today. Disney Channel today is just a little too unreal and sometimes too crass for the Muppets to really fit in. And selling cars isn't really an option either. 'Cause on that site, Kermit sounded really dumb. Like a guy who has just stuck his foot in your door and has started trying to sell you some socks that you really don't need. Not that the world doesn't need electric+gas cars. Just that Kermit sounded like a travelling salesman. I agree with BWSmith on that there isn't much that is appropriate in today's culture that the Muppets could mess with. <- And that's why the Muppets can't really be who they are anymore, captainhook91. What BWSmith said. They're the epitamy of kid-appropriate satire. And today, there really isn't much of that. What I think that the Muppets need is mass advertising. And yes, a (uh-oh.) TV Show. America's Next Top Muppet - nah. We don't need a rehash of the original variety show Muppet Show either. We need something completely new - somethings smart and funny, where all of the characters can shine. And if there is a new movie, it can't tie into the TV series at all. That worked for Davy Crockett, but this isn't the 50's anymore. It doesn't work as well today (ex. Lilo&Stitch). Oh, and if there IS a TV show? It needs to be on ABC, not Disney Channel. At least not until Disney Channel gets some newer, less-crass shows that appeal to everyone, not just 11-year-olds who have no value systems and put off their homework. So...

^_^ Well I guess that seems all bunched up and incomplete, but that's pretty much how I feel. I love the Muppets, and want to see them come back. But I want to see them come back the right way. And seeing as how Disney, when it really thinks about something, can make something brilliant, the Muppets may just come back.

Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I fail to understand why the Muppets can't be themselves and still be up-to-date with relevant,intelligent, and witty comedy. To me, to say their success is simply because they are 'corny parodies' of times past shows a complete lack of understanding of the Muppets. And to say that current satire has to be blue in order to work is just untrue.

And I don't think any of us want a rehashing of the old show and the old jokes (although I too am chomping at the bit for more seasons to be released on DVD!!).

Give the Muppets and the creative minds behind them (the ones who GET the Muppet brand of humor - not someone who wants to make a quick buck or make them the new South Park) a break! and a chance.

I want the DVDs!!!

Really, the reason we can't have satire about today's issuses anymore is 'cause everybody's all messed up about the Iraq war and if anybody touches on that, they're dead. At the same time, for some reason, it's the only thing that people can think about. There. I said it.

Oh, and because the minds of today's children have been messed up, for some reason, nobody seems to GET anything but what is essentially potty humor. Or is that blue humor? I'm not sure... @_@

//I think of anyone at the Disney Company, Schumacher would be the one to call OFF the notion of a theatrical endeavor, since puppets don't "read" from the audience (see "Avenue Q")//

Avenue Q?  The popular Tony winning musical?

I finally had a chance to see the show a little over a week ago, and it was quite the fun experience.  It reached a point where the eye went straight to the puppet instead of the performer.  So...yeah.  If you're trying to use that show as an example for why puppets can't work on stage...well, I heartily disagree.

"The Muppets are a G rated product."

Heh.  Go watch the original "Sex and Violence" pilot extra on the first season DVD set and see if you can still claim that.  Henson clearly didn't feel that the Muppets were incompatible with the Seven Deadly Sins, including Lust.  Or actually watch for the undertones in some of the episodes (Alice Cooper, anyone?) instead of relying on impressions.  (For those who think that the material on "The Muppet Show" was all based on squeaky-clean '30s music-hall, note that they also performed material from decidedly non-kid-friendly contemporary musicals such as "Chicago" and "Cabaret.")

I also want to add that the Muppets have a distinct advantage over animation in their ability to perform in real time (even on live TV), and that advantage disappears when they go to the big screen.

As such, the Muppets should only be used in feature films in such a manner that complements their primary usage in the TV and stage media.

I just got done skimming through the customer reviews of MWOZ on Amazon.com. Holy crap, I can't remember seeing so many negative reviews of ANY other movie on that site! And the reviews were more entertaining than the movie, frankly. It was abysmal. But I'm sick of Muppet fans blaming Disney for the debacle. You think Disney put in all the dopey "edgy" jokes and the lousy one-liners and the Bimbo of Oz? Hah! That was all the Muppet people doing that - the current crew, that is. I mean, what is Disney supposed to do? They trusted the gang behind the Muppets to do a decent job, and they flopped. And of course it was inevitable - the Mup fans who are determined to diss Disney - the Muppets' savior - blame Disney for what the Muppets did. Then they complain that Disney isn't throwing MORE money at a dated property Eisner shouldn't have bought in the first place. Disney can't win. Anyway, I don't see what Disney could do to revive the franchise. All you have to do is sit through one of the current Kermit's Piggy-slamming diatribes to realize that  no amount of Disney dollars can fix anything. The charm is gone. Plus there is a lot more competition for kids' attention now than there was when the Muppets were hot. Frankly I think Disney should sell them off and use the cash to upgrade the parks. That would be a far better use of all that dough.

I doubt property sales go right into park mantainence.

What about adapting the Next Muppet contest to youtube entries and disqualify things like Emo Kemit singing Nine Inch Nails.

" Salvati said:

"The Muppets are a G rated product."

Heh.  Go watch the original "Sex and Violence" pilot extra on the first season DVD set and see if you can still claim that.  Henson clearly didn't feel that the Muppets were incompatible with the Seven Deadly Sins, including Lust."

Very true... as were your other points I didn't quote.

However, the reality of what they BECAME & ARE NOW is totally different than what was originally invisioned and shot in the pilot. So much so that I would say that while the pilot is very entertaining and adult... it is nothing more than an interesting footnote in Muppet history. A 'moving' storyboard, if you will, that shows one idea/version of the Muppets that was later retooled almost entirely. That version of the Muppets pretty much died after birth.

Henson saw the Muppets as more adult oriented... kinda like the guys who designed the Titanic and saw that ship as unsinkable.

PS- Just because something is 'G' rated doesn't mean it can't be funny, topical, and entertaining to adults. I think anyone can curse (which I'm not against mind you) and somebody will laugh... but you have to be smart to make a clean adult joke. And since being smart requires thought, patience, and a bit of time... it gets passed over in favor of the quick and easy fart joke.

Regarding the debate about the Muppets being G rated... that all depends on what production you're watching. The Muppet Show, while unrated for TV at the time, could be argued for Parental Guidance suggested. There's quite a bit of sexual innuendo, violence and risque behaviour going on in many of those episodes.

Take a gander around Muppet Wiki and you'll see that their target was always meant for mixed audiences.

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Muppet_Wiki

Since when were "nipples" a curse word? Since when were nipples ON BOYS (or...I guess in this case tin-male muppets) so shocking or adult-oriented? I'm pretty sure every kid who's been to a public pool has seen nipples on men, and so I don't think it's as big a deal as so many people make it.

Nipples is not a curse word.  It is something you wouldn't expect to hear in a Muppets product though.  Same with the Girls Gone Wild reference.

I know, maybe for their next production they can mention that Lew Zealand had an unexpected meeting with Chris Hansen.

when will these disney channel films start airing?