Monday Mouse Watch : Is Disney really getting ready to use the Muppets to help teach kids about technology ... or does that not compute ?

Technology?  That's really random and abstract.  (That would be interesting for maybe 2 1/2 episodes?  Who wants to watch Gonzo and Pepe talking about using a CD-ROM drive?)

The first thing that Disney needs to realize is that in the 17 years since the death of Jim Henson, the Muppets as a property have been completely botched and mishandled, thriving more on the nostalgia of their glory days than blazing any new trails for the medium.

Essentially, the Muppets have become just like the Fox Family channel.  The Mouse House blew a lot of cash on a big-name property without any idea what they would do with it.

If the Muppets have any viability whatsoever as a future Disney property, they need to spend a season getting back to their TV roots with a new generation, where THEY are the focus rather than the medium.  The Sesame Street characters (and also Bear in the Big Blue House) were explicitly designed for education, and I view the Muppets as going in the opposite direction - entertainment purposes only.

Unfortunately, when the Muppets were at their best, they were doing things that would be inappropriate for Playhouse Disney today, like having Crazy Harry blow up things or giant scary monsters eating small animals or Beaker getting sucked into a machine.

Therein lies the dilemma.  The Muppets come from a different era where the clean but violent humor of Looney Tunes and the Three Stooges was standard fare.  But if you were to broadcast the Muppet Show today, it would be too politically incorrect for Playhouse Disney, and too corny or lame for Primetime TV.

The Muppets as a set of characters certainly have past, present and future fans if a TV executive has the vision to understand how and why they work.  Unfortunately, the TV environments for children and adults have become so polarized in their approaches to what constitutes "good" or "acceptable" programming that the Muppets will have a difficult time getting on the air without being (1) dumbed down for children or (2) raunched up for adults...

I agree BWSmith,

Although I love Disney, I am not pleased with what has happened to the Muppets franchise after their Disneyfication.

The anarchic and irreverent humour that defined the Muppets of the 70's and 80's simply disappeared once the Mouse got hold of them.

I thought that A Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, and The Muppet's Wizard of Oz were huge missteps. It was as if Disney didn't feel that the wonderfully vibrant personalities of the Muppets were strong enough to carry a movie. Instead, they felt the need to shoehorn them into a family-friendly classic tale (complete with subpar songs).

I wish that Disney would just let Kermit and the gang be themselves, NOT some repertory theater company  (or a kindergarten-approved teaching tool)    

I partly agree with above statements, but I think Disney is trying hard to fit them into the right genre, and make them relevant and fresh again. You must not forget that is isn't easy to put some 70s content in a relevant status that will attract huge audiences now. The latest Muppets content hasn't worked, and I think they get that. But they will never be as they were back in the day, that's impossible. Not the same people behind it, not the same visionary directions, etc.

badlactose and BWSmith took the words right out of my mouth. The Muppets had a very similar feel and theme to the old Looney Tunes cartoons and there's a reason why those haven't translated into today's marketplace. Ever watched a "sanitized" Bugs Bunny cartoon?? It makes absolutely no sense.

What's the differentiator between the "new" Muppets educational program and Sesame Street? They teach literacy and we teach about technology? It's too narrow a separation.

While I love the Muppets as much as the next guy, I do think Disney (*cough* EISNER!! *cough* *cough*) made a real boo-boo buying them with no clue what to do with them. Disney may need to take a hard look at that property and realize they may have gone the way of the smiley face and pet rock.

The original show is selling well enough on DVD that it is proof positive that there is still a viable interest in the Muppets.  It is going to be an invetible uphill battle though because a lot of the original Muppet writers and puppeteers are no longer involved with the Muppets.  Make two shows.  One for kids with the educational aspects, and then one for prime time with the more adult jokes, very much in the same line as the original show.  The original show, while corny (and it truly is, but it revels in that corniness.That is what makes the show so great) could easily get away with the more adult bits while appealing to the younger set.  For my money, that would be the only way that these much beloved characters would have any chance of survival.  Besides, more Muppet shows is a good thing...

Ah, here we go with the "Blame Disney First" chorus. It's amusing to me because if Disney hadn't bought the Muppets, they'd be gone altogether. It's not Disney's fault if the Muppets have no appeal anymore. They had their day and that day is now over. Actually, it's been over for at least a decade. Remember "The Jim Henson Hour"? It was a failure, and Jim Henson himself was alive and still running the show then. I still don't get Eisner's obsession with the Muppets and why he wasted big bucks buying them. He compared Kermit with Mickey and Pooh, say he's an "evergreen". What rot. Kids know something of Kermit because of Sesame Street, but he's not their favorite and the only other thing the frog is good for is nostalgia, and even then that appeal is hardly on a par with Mickey Mouse.

IMO Disney should sell the Muppets lock stock and barrell, and devote its energies on worthier pursuits.

I wouldn't compare the original Muppet Show to the Loony Tunes.... it was more like a "Saturday Night Live", type sketch comedy / variety show.

And that's exactly what they need it to be today. In my opinion ... this is what the muppets do. It was always about current events and pop culture. Bring in the guests, bring in the music, bring in the skits. Imagine in an election year how funny it could have been... thats a season of guests and material right there.

There is SO much going on today that could be made fun of. Plus, it would create a prime time outlet for musical guests... something we haven't had on TV for ages. With the comeback of the prime time game show and the rise of reality TV....(all things that are open to parody) ... America would be ready for a new Muppet show.

Granted ... it would take amazing talent (IE: writters) to pull it off week after week .... but it's worth a try.

I agree that it would be a bad idea... and a terrible waste to just have them do daytime educational stuff.  

IMO, the cartoons "Animaniacs" and then "Pinky and the Brain"  really struck the same balance that the original Muppet show had, and really appealed to both kids and adults.  I watched those cartoons in the early 90s, and loved the anvils and pies in the face.  Today, in the glorious day of DVD, I've gotten to see those same shows through adult eyes, and now I see why my parents encouraged me to watch those cartoons.  They loved them as much as I did.  So many of the jokes, particularly the verbal ones, were far above my head back then.  The show is (was for its time) politically relevent, corny, and appropriate for both kids and adults.

I realize that these cartoons are more than a decade old now, but I think they show that this kind of comedy can always be done. The Muppets did it in the 70s, and the Warner Brothers (AND the Warner Sister)  did it in the 90s.  Whose to say that its not the Muppets turn to bring this kind of comedy to the digital age?  

In short, I think the Disney execs have given up.  They've already decided, without ever trying, that these characters and their brand of comedy could never succeed in prime time.  I realize that this survey probably isn't really indicative of what Disney plans to do with these characters, but it seems as though they  have already dismissed the idea of a new Muppet Show.  And I think that that passing up a real opportunity.

One thing will add to this ... with the incredible prevalance of miserable T.V. shows these days, what could it hurt?

Throw it into your prime time schedule and see what happens. I can virtually guarantee it has a better shot at success as compared to a show about the Geico cavemen!

I think this is a good idea to do a Playhouse Disney show. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has been a HUGE hit and is helping to bring Mickey and gang back to prominence again (especially with the younger set).

This could work, but it might be better to use Muppet Babies so as not to confuse the puppets that are more geared toward adults than for children. It would create a REAL buzz (not the fake buzz that Disney marketing has been trying to create), that would go a long way in reviving the franchise.

And just because it is on Playhouse Disney, don't kind yourself. The parents of preschoolers watch the shows too. I have a 4 and 1 year old and have seen most episodes of Tigger and Pooh and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (at least in part).

I love the Muppets - anytime you can watch a puppet without having the puppeteer standing right beside them trying to upstage their own puppet, I'm all for it.

Here's what concerns me: taking a survey so you can use those results as evidence to show that's what should be done with the characters. All these creative people within the company and you're gonna try and force a decision based on a survey. Not that this is new within the Disney Co. If you've ever taken a survey once you pass through the gates at the park, you know they are designed to elicit certain responses to back up what's already happened or already been decided on.

Can you imagine a Walt-era survey? "We've just gotten the rights to these Pooh characters. Should we make a feature cartoon, a short, or a TV episode?"    "Would you be offended if Mickey listened to rock-n-roll music?"     I can't either.       Walt's era listened to the public's reaction, but didn't get the public to do the planning for them.

Here's what the general public knows:

They are familiar with the Muppets and would like to see them in future productions - IF those productions are GOOD.

They like new rides at the park - IF those rides are GOOD.

They like Disney merchandise - IF that merchandise is GOOD.

Now then, should the Muppets be in an educational TV show, or a nighttime send-up of a talkshow aimed at adults, or in a new movie? Well, the average card-carrying member of the general public doesn't know. They do know if it's good - they will watch.

Someone somewhere within the Disney Co has enough creativity to figure out what to do with the Muppets without a survey. Theoretically, part of the CEO's job is to place those creative people in charge of these types of "problems." Once something's completed or in a presentable rough stage, then you can focus group it within an inch of its life if you want.

Unfortunately,when your company hasn't had a creative CEO for over two decades, and all decisions the CEO makes are "should we go with plan A, plan B, or plan C - and plan B is tracking the best," it's not surprising that production by surveys and spreadsheets is the norm.

"I thought that A Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, and The Muppet's Wizard of Oz were huge missteps. It was as if Disney didn't feel that the wonderfully vibrant personalities of the Muppets were strong enough to carry a movie. "

You can't blame disney for the first two, they were made years before disney bought the characters.

I don't think it would make sense to make two different shows aimed at kids and adults - to avoid confusing audiences, you'd have to split them into two different sets of characters or something else.  Best to either just go for kids or try for something that appeals to all ages like the original show did.

My wife and I were at DisneyWorld last week and stopped by Disney-MGM Studios for our annual visit to MuppetVision 3D and there was hardly any Muppet Merchandise in the store next to the attraction, the cast member there said Disney didnt have any in the pipeline at the moment either- not to mention another cast member said that Kermit & Co couldnt come out for a picture because they've been replaced with the Toy Story characters (Pizza Planet is next door).  The attraction's manager said Disney owns the Muppets but not the rights to have the characters walk around the park? I know that *was* the deal 10 years ago... but if Disney owns them, then I doubt thats the case.

I think Disney's going about this the wrong way.  The Mupets need exposure- why aren't the Muppet Babies on Playhouse Disney?  That would be a start.  Why aren't the Muppets in the theme parks (ok besides the Muppet Mobile Labs & MuppetVision).

As for me, I'm not sure a show just based on technology is the way to go.  Disney really screwed things up with Muppets Wizard of Oz... the Muppets need to stop playing second fiddle to everyone else and start being treated like a first-class property like Mickey Mouse.  Lets be realistic- television programming sucks right now- which explains the drop in viewership across the board.  The Muppets, if handled the right way could be fresh once again in primetime.  If people are willing to go along with all of these wacky and oftentimes flast out stupid reality tv shows, I'm more than certain they'd welcome back The Muppets.

Dustin

Little late for a comment but....Muppets are a underutilized product. I think a program talking about technology and science is not a bad idea, but shouln't be the main outlet for the Muppets. Our country is behind others when it comes to scientists and an educational program featuring Muppets might help stimulate kids to wonder about the things that type of show would generate.

However, the Muppets are not just for a younger audience. They are for adults as well. Aardman Studios now has "Creature Comforts" on CBS - how about a show with the Muppets spoofing on pop culture or even reviving the old "The Muppet Show" format for a new age. It could even be on Disney Channel or ABC Family. if they are hesitant to put it on ABC primetime. Shilling Pizza and 'green' cars is not filling the void.

Disney spent a lot of effort obtaining the usage of the Muppets and have so far done very little - I am waiting for a Muppet Explosion!  

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  *No one* is going to be able to properly revive the Muppets.  It's easy to blame Disney for not knowing what to do with the vast potential that the Muppets represent.  But, then again, Brian Henson & Co. didn't know how to tap the potential, either.  The fact is, without Jim Henson, they will *never* be what they were.  The only hope is that Disney treats the original material with respect (that means getting the shows out on DVD faster) and at the very least creates new material that does not denigrate the characters.  This potential show would probably not be a big deal, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.  And the lower level of expectations would be easier to meet compared with re-creating the magic of "The Muppet Show".