Muppets Do Reality...seriously

*Raph's Girl* · 10-25-2005, 03:32 PM

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...6&cs=1&s=h&p=0

The Muppets are plotting a return to primetime while looking for their next great character.

ABC has ordered a script and five script outlines for "America's Next Muppet," a reality TV parody in which viewers may actually get a chance to pick Kermit and Miss Piggy's latest colleague.

ABC and Disney remain tight-lipped on the project, although word of the project first leaked last month to several Muppets fan Web sites. But it appears that the new Muppet project would borrow from shows like "American Idol" and "America's Next Top Model" as judges (Kermit? Statler and Waldorf? Animal?) comb through several new characters to select a major Muppet.

Since acquiring rights to the Muppet characters in 2004, Disney has been pursuing various ways to relaunch the popular brand as part of an overall corporate goal. Alphabet webAlphabet web last May aired telepictelepic "The Muppets Wizard of Oz," which performed solidly (7.8 million viewers), particularly with adults 18-34, teens and kids.

"America's Next Muppet" would reprep the first Muppets TV program since "Muppets Tonight," which briefly aired on ABC in 1996 (moving with additional episodes to the Disney Channel for one more year). That show also parodied the TV bizbiz, as the Muppets ran a variety show on "KMUP-TV."

The original "Muppet Show" ran in syndication for 120 episodes between 1976 and 1981

Raph's Girl note: Oh they just GOTTA have a Muppet version of Simon...they already have a muppet version of Randy Jackson in Clifford.

But seriously..only Disney would think this stuff up.

10-25-2005, 03:32 PM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Muppets Do Reality...seriously http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...6&cs=1&s=h&p=0 The Muppets are plotting a return to primetime while looking for their next great character. ABC has ordered a script and five script outlines for "America's Next Muppet," a reality TV parody in which viewers may actually get a chance to pick Kermit and Miss Piggy's latest colleague. ABC and Disney remain tight-lipped on the project, although word of the project first leaked last month to several Muppets fan Web sites. But it appears that the new Muppet project would borrow from shows like "American Idol" and "America's Next Top Model" as judges (Kermit? Statler and Waldorf? Animal?) comb through several new characters to select a major Muppet. Since acquiring rights to the Muppet characters in 2004, Disney has been pursuing various ways to relaunch the popular brand as part of an overall corporate goal. Alphabet webAlphabet web last May aired telepictelepic "The Muppets Wizard of Oz," which performed solidly (7.8 million viewers), particularly with adults 18-34, teens and kids. "America's Next Muppet" would reprep the first Muppets TV program since "Muppets Tonight," which briefly aired on ABC in 1996 (moving with additional episodes to the Disney Channel for one more year). That show also parodied the TV bizbiz, as the Muppets ran a variety show on "KMUP-TV." The original "Muppet Show" ran in syndication for 120 episodes between 1976 and 1981 Raph's Girl note: Oh they just GOTTA have a Muppet version of Simon...they already have a muppet version of Randy Jackson in Clifford. But seriously..only Disney would think this stuff up. __________________