New Muppet tv special this Sunday!

[Raph's Girl]

Well now I know what that whole Piggy and the Jonas Brothers thing was that I saw on her myspace page...

http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2008/072208.shtml

The Muppets have teamed up with the Disney Channel stars for an all-new variety show special. "Studio DC: Almost Live!", originally slated for a July premiere, has since been rescheduled and is now set to make its big debut on Sunday, August 3, 2008 at 8:00 pm eastern, 7 pm central.

The half-hour variety show will feature special appearances by Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale, Dylan & Cole Sprouse, Jonas Brothers, and the Muppets. The special will include singing and dancing, comedy sketches and the backstage antics of the original Disney Channel variety show.

Highlights of the program include Miley Cyrus performing her hit song "GNO" with the help of the Electric Mayhem; Kermit the Frog and Ashley Tisdale performing "Bop to the Top" (from High School Musical); Miss Piggy's failing attempts to join Nick, Joe and Kevin for a musical number (posing as a long-lost Jonas Sister); and Kermit and Gonzo join the cast of "The Suite Life" for a comedic skit; plus much more.

You won't want to miss this all-new musical extravaganza, as a second "Studio DC" special featuring the Muppets is already planned to air on Disney Channel sometime this fall.

The project was developed to order to introduce a new generation of fans to the Muppets – while keeping the classic feeling and tone that the Muppets are known for.

Muppets named and pictured in press materials and commercials include: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, The Snowths, The Electric Mayhem, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Rizzo the Rat, The Swedish Chef and Pepe the King Prawn.

You can see the promo ads at the bottom of the link provided. As I generally avoid Disney channel I hadn't seen any of these before. But sweet that Disney's finally doing something with the Muppets!

[VaughnMichael]

As I said on Muppet Central, I'm not happy about this but whatever this special isn't for me it's for tweenagers who will just ignore the Muppets and watch because of Hannah Montana, the hotel show with ham acting, and whatever other disney kid star you can think of.
If any of you don't like those types I'd avoid this if I was you.:dead:

[Drtooth]

If they're going to use the Muppets to hock Disney shows, why not have them host an ABC preview special? I'd LOVE to see them interact with the stars of Pushing Daisies.

But I really wouldn't care to see this. Dr. Teeth or no Dr. Teeth.

[The Stryker]

I'll watch for Ashley Tisdale.

Muppets? What are those? Seriously, when was the last time the damn muppets were relevant? 1992?

[VaughnMichael]

I'll watch for Ashley Tisdale.

Muppets? What are those? Seriously, when was the last time the damn muppets were relevant? 1992?
What does it matter if they are or aren't?
Things can come and go at any time especially cartoons and properties like this.
The Ninja Turtles have done it a few times now and we may be in the midst of it happening to the comics again soon, hell even the cartoon if they don't get their act together.

Disney is right now trying differnt things to try and bring the old Muppets many of us grew up with back and while this special isn't my cup of tea I have to admit it will get allot of attention but I wonder if kids will care.

The Muppets own website and youtube videos have been the best things I've seen anyone do with the Muppets since the Jim Henson Hour.

[Drtooth]

Muppets? What are those? Seriously, when was the last time the damn muppets were relevant? 1992?

Yeah. Sesame Street isn't the longest running kid's show, and it doesn't currently air world wide.

[Jester]

I'll watch for Ashley Tisdale.

Muppets? What are those? Seriously, when was the last time the damn muppets were relevant? 1992?
I have lost all respect for you my friend. Ashley Tisdale is an agent of the anti-christ.

[Drtooth]

Ashley Tisdale is an agent of the anti-christ.

Anyone ever have the unpleasantry of actually looking at Ashley Tinsdale's Barbie type dolls? They are the scariest thing I ever seen. I really wish I didn't even look at them... But Newburry Comics had them right next to the TMNT figure box set (or something from Japan that I would have liked, I forget) and I almost passed out.

[Raph's Girl]

I have lost all respect for you my friend. Ashley Tisdale is an agent of the anti-christ.

I guess I should be glad that I have no clue who Ashley Tisdale is....altho I'll probably have a clue on Sunday. I cannae pass up the Muppets in any form. I just know I'll be cringing at the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus stuff....that show about the motel is somewhat tolerable.

[Drtooth]

I wanna say Ashlee is from HSM.... Is that correct?

[VaughnMichael]

I don't know who she is either but she was on that zach and codey show on disney the other night so I'm guessing she's on that or something.
To me she looks like some sort of genetic reject of Paris Hilton as if Peris isn't wonky enough looking.

[The Stryker]

I have lost all respect for you my friend. Ashley Tisdale is an agent of the anti-christ.


Sorry, I'll just lust after a cartoon character like the rest of ya'll to fit in I guess.

[VaughnMichael]

Sorry, I'll just lust after a cartoon character like the rest of ya'll to fit in I guess.
lol not me I go after realist people in my life not movie stars I could never have or cartoons that don't exist, being grounded in reality is a nice thing.

[Cure]

I'm with Stryker, Tisdale is pretty hot.

[Raph's Girl]

I don't know who she is either but she was on that zach and codey show on disney the other night so I'm guessing she's on that or something.


Ok yeah... just looked her up. She started on Suit Life of Zach and Cody but got real famous playing Poodle er I mean Sharpay (who the frak names their kid after a wrinkled dog???) in the High School Musical junk. Never seen HSM and I don't ever plan on even THINK about seeing it. :/

I found a music vid on youtube of her cover of "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid. Jodie Benson should punch her lights out.

But hey! If it wasn't for her grandfather we wouldn't have those super awsome Ginsu Knives....so yeah.... :P

[The Stryker]

I still don't know what people have against High School Musical. It's no worse than other musicals.

[Drtooth]

I found a music vid on youtube of her cover of "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid. Jodie Benson should punch her lights out.



Samuel Wright, actually. He was the voice of the Crab... and the Crab sang that one.

She's another in a long line of pre-fabricated Disney TV stars that appeal to both 12 year old girls, 10 year old boys that are starting to feel... that way..., and 50 year old perverts.

I'm sorry. Call me old school, but for a prefabricated band with a campy TV series, I'm going with The Monkees. At least they could act. Mickey Dolenz especially. Really loved him as the voice of Arthur, first season of the Tick.

[Ninjinister]

(Slowly backs out of this thread due to the focus being lost on the important things - Muppets - and the random throwing around of unfamiliar names).

[Raph's Girl]

Call me old school, but for a prefabricated band with a campy TV series, I'm going with The Monkees. At least they could act. Mickey Dolenz especially. Really loved him as the voice of Arthur, first season of the Tick.

The Monkees rock!!! Oh man... I just LOVE Mickey Dolenz' cover of Somewhere Out There and Ease On Down The Road. I could just listen to his stuff all day long...his voice is so soothing...*sighs*

They're all also nice guys... met em once after one of their concerts. Well I haven't met Nesmith....dunno if I ever will.

But back to the subject at hand....If this Muppet special gets overly annoying I'll probably just end up changing the channel. Or I'll just mute it when the Jonas brothers and Miley come on....

[Mandi-chan]

Too much of Disney's homebrewed superstars and not enough Muppets from the sounds of it.

I don't watch any of those shows (although, if I gave it a chance, I think I would like Suite Life...I think it looks funny.) so none of the celebs starring with the Muppets will be familiar to me (aside from Hannah Montana).

I'll check it out, but I'm afraid my lack of awareness regarding the celebs will bore me.

[Raph's Girl]

I'll check it out, but I'm afraid my lack of awareness regarding the celebs will bore me.

Studio DC Almost Live appears to be a kiddiefied version of Saturday Night Live meets The Muppet Show in that it's a behind the scenes thing of a SNL type show....with muppets and other Disney folks. It was only 30 min but slightly amusing.

Trivia: Ashley Tisdale is a furry....she's got the majors for Fozzie. :lol:

Highlights:
Swedish Chef changing the script of Suite Life to Sweet Life and then getting a bit pissed when the actors didn't like his script rewrite. :lol:
Billy Ray Cyrus (who sang a bit from one of my fave songs of his) not being too thrilled at Miley dating Animal.
Statler and Waldorf waking up after falling asleep thru the entire show...and then getting the attention of these pretty girls....

I only wish that Fozzie had been there...but alas it was just Kermit, Piggy, Swedish Chef, Gonzo, the chickens, the band, Pepe, Statler, and Waldorf.

[VaughnMichael]

*Statler & Waldorf voices: You know what was the best part of that show? The End Dooohh! hahahh!

So yeah it was ok, to much pimping of Disney movies and shows but it was half enjoyable thanks to the Muppets.
Swedish Chef was a bit of a surprise didn't know he was to be on this it was pretty cute but he seems so out of place outside of the Kitchen, but I have to give them credit for trying to do something different with him.
The only thing they did that made me go eh was when he spoke almost a full English sentance.

It seemed like a nice idea that was sort of just thrown together in a hurry to be honest.

I think I laughed once or twice but honestly can't remember at what, maybe Gonzo.

I think the Muppet Performers did a really good job, I think this is the best I've seen Steve as Kermit for some time btw.

I loved seeing the Electric Mayhem back in action in the show and Zoot talking surprised me even more than Dr. Teeth speaking very cool.

I think the lowest points for me where not Hannah Montana that was actually cute in the end, but it was that Ashley girl and Kermit and Piggy and The Jonas Brothers, but maybe that's because I don't like that type of stuff I like real musicals and real music written by the people who perform it.
Kermit was performed very well in the skit with Ashley though I must say so I am giving credit to where it is due with Steve.

I don't remember what the owner of the hotels daughters name was but she is annoying, I totally felt as if I was piggy sitting there with the dim bulb.

If I had to grade this program I'd give it a C while it's not the best thing I've ever seen anyone do with the Muppets it's not the worst, it's sort of some place in the middle but that's better than I thought it would be.

They are going in the right direction but they need better writers, this sort of reminded me of a sketch off of Muppets Tonight.

I did enjoy the very end with Statler and Waldorf but all the Disney throw back comments made me a bit nauseated, even though it is understandable since Disney owns all of them now.

It's a bit sad but you know what I liked best? The new Muppets logo at the end!

I'll say it one last time this thing was way to short and should have been at least 1 hour long.

[Raph's Girl]

I loved seeing the Electric Mayhem back in action in the show and Zoot talking surprised me even more than Dr. Teeth speaking very cool.


I believe the last time I saw Zoot speak was in Muppets Take Manhattan.

[Drtooth]

I believe the last time I saw Zoot speak was in Muppets Take Manhattan.

Zoot spoke a full sentence in Muppet Treasure Island... I believe it was "Are we with the good guys or the pirates?" or something to that extent.

Anyway, I think I should just be glad I don't have cable and couldn't watch this last night. It was, as Vaugn said (and the general consensus among fans) that it was basically another commercial for the shows they air 24/7 anyway.

Seriously, does Disney even have anything besides these guys and Pixar anymore? They didn't even pimp Pooh out this much. And they aren't even trying with a cartoon series anymore. Lemme just say, they were MAD not to make a Pirates of the Carribean animated series. They even released toys based on their supposed animated designs.

[odupianist]

Okay so since it was the EM, I had to at least try and find that clip, and that I did. It was nice to see the EM again, BUT I think they should have at least spent some money to redo the song so it looked and sounded like an EM version of the song. I was sad that Zoot did not played during the entire song and decided to dance. His dancing was very out of character IMO. Did Rowlf the Dog show up? Raph's Girl said he would, but I thought he was retired and only made appearances, no speaking parts.

[Spike Spiegel]

She's [Tisdale] another in a long line of pre-fabricated Disney TV stars that appeal to...10 year old boys that are starting to feel... that way.

Hey, I was ten when I first saw Raven Symone, and, even more than six years later, I still "feel that way."

I found a music vid on youtube of her cover of "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid. Jodie Benson should punch her lights out.


I saw that stupid cover as a special feature on the exhaustive DVD that was recently released of the Little Mermaid, with concept art, storyboards, and everything you could ever want to know about the movie. That was the only part of that DVD that I hated. I cringe to think that such a wonderful song/scene from such a wonderful animated film is reduced to that. It was nauseating, even if the said singer is slightly attractive.

[Raph's Girl]

Did Rowlf the Dog show up? Raph's Girl said he would, but I thought he was retired and only made appearances, no speaking parts.

Nope. Rowlf was a no show. Perhaps if the special had been longer than 30 min he would have appeared. No clue. And I didn't say he would...the article I posted said he'd be in it.

The only Muppets in the special were Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, Pepe, Rizzo (oops forgot him in my earlier review), Swedish Chef, the chickens, Statler, Waldorf, and Electric Mayhem.

[Drtooth]

Hey, I was ten when I first saw Raven Symone, and, even more than six years later, I still "feel that way."

Raven is one of the few I think that has any talent. I mean, the girl was working on the Cosby show when she was 4 or 5 or something. The only other one I liked was that LeBeuf kid. Even Stevens was actually quite enjoyable, and the dude has been steadily employed since. And he was great in Indian Jones 4.

The others will soon be forgotten though.

[The Stryker]

Too much of Disney's homebrewed superstars and not enough Muppets from the sounds of it.

What do you expect? Disney Channel is mostly watched by kids, those kids don't give a crap about the muppets. They want to see Hannah Montana and the rest of 'em.

They're attempting "Come for the Tisdale, Stay for the Kermit" type thing.

[Drtooth]

What do you expect? Disney Channel is mostly watched by kids, those kids don't give a crap about the muppets. They want to see Hannah Montana and the rest of 'em.

They're attempting "Come for the Tisdale, Stay for the Kermit" type thing.

Which is sadly true. Kids don't care about anything classic, or that has any staying power of any kind. No wonder they grow up to be shallow and 2 dimensional.

[odupianist]

Drtooth, they will no be forgotten because they will be the Britneys in future years

[Drtooth]

Drtooth, they will no be forgotten because they will be the Britneys in future years

Well, Miley, provided she manages her money wisely, and Billy Ray keeps his hands off of it (something that happens to a lot of child stars? their greedy parents take their money), would never have to work another day in her life.

But Zach and Cody... once their manhood happens we'll see them soon opening strip malls in Podunk. Friggin' twin poor man's Dennis the Menace.

[The Stryker]

Which is sadly true. Kids don't care about anything classic, or that has any staying power of any kind. No wonder they grow up to be shallow and 2 dimensional.

Wow, seriously?

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean these shows aren't classic to these kids.

These kids are fond memories for this generation to have when they're older and posting on message boards complaining about how crappy everything is now.

[ZariusTwo]

Drtooth, they will no be forgotten because they will be the Britneys in future years

You mean contemptable skinhead psychos?

[Drtooth]

These kids are fond memories for this generation to have when they're older and posting on message boards complaining about how crappy everything is now.


Fond memeories of warmed over "saved by the Bell" type knockoffs? I'm sorry... things are crappy now because NO ONE wants to put forth a decent effort. I have unfortunately seen some of these shows, and it's the same dull family sitcom over and over again. I got sick of that sort of thing in the 90's. And face it, even Full House was wittier. I miss Even Stevens. That was watchable. And the star of that actually had a career outside that show.

And the cartoons of recent years aren't too much better. They're disposable tripe like My Gym Partner's a Monkey and Skunk Fu.

[Buslady]

So unbalanced, a ton of bad acting Disney "stars" and not enough Muppets.

[comixfan]

I got the chance to watch this when it aired this past Sunday. It was really entertaining. Nice to see the Muppets getting back to something more original. My only complaints were that Fozzie Bear was missing from the special (as well as Selena Gomez, *whistles*, but I've heard she's going to be in the next one). Also, it was kind of weird hearing the Swedish Chef speak nearly perfect English--maybe it's Disney's way of telling us that it's time for him to be Americanized, after spending so many years in the U.S.? *shrugs*

Anyways, I can't wait for the second special to air in October.:D

[Raph's Girl]

maybe it's Disney's way of telling us that it's time for him to be Americanized, after spending so many years in the U.S.? *shrugs*

Well that could explain why he was in Sam the Eagle's 4th of July sketch after Sam was all like "WORLD wide web?! Couldn't they just show this on the AMERICAN part?!" And then a Swede, a Penguin (the only penguins in America are in Zoos!), Animal, and Lew Zealand (who I always kinda assumed was from New Zealand or Australia) did the National Anthem. WTF?

Now it's gonna be interesting in the new movie when the Muppets travel the world. I hope they visit Swedish Chef's hometown. :lol: