Hollywood
"Walk of Fame" awards star to The Muppets
Courtesy
of the Muppets Studio
March
20,
2012
The world-renowed
Muppets received a star on the Hollywood Walk ("Wocka Wocka") of Fame today from the Hollywood Chamber
of Commerce in celebration of the release
of Disney's "The
Muppets" on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD. The celebration was
emceed by Chamber President and CEO Leron Gubler, with special
guest speakers Rich Ross, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios and
Lisa Henson, CEO, The Jim Henson Company.
Several
Muppets were on hand to receive the star including Kermit the
Frog, Miss Piggy,
Fozzie, Gonzo, Animal, Pepe, Sweetums, and Walter, the newest
Muppet, who made his debut in Disney's 2011 film. The Muppets'
star is
the 2,466th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is located
in front of the historic El Capitan Theatre. "Thanks to creative genius Jim Henson and these extraordinary
puppeteers, the Muppets are truly worldwide icons and Hollywood
stars," said Ross. "They are a treasured part of the
Disney family, and we're thrilled to see them join so many other
luminaries on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."
Background
What
began with Kermit’s first TV appearance in 1955, has
lead to a global phenomenon that is still going strong more than
50 years later! Since “The
Muppet Show” began in 1976,
audiences worldwide have embraced the Muppets. With the success
of “The Muppet Show,” the Muppets branched out to the
big screen, releasing their first feature film, “The Muppet
Movie”, in 1979. The film starred a myriad of actors, including
Bob Hope, Cloris Leachman, Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, Richard Pryor
and Paul Williams. This impressive list of celebrity cast and cameos
became the hallmark of all Muppet films, six of which followed,
including “The Great Muppet Caper” (1981), “The
Muppets Take Manhattan” (1984), “The Muppet Christmas
Carol” (1992), “Muppet Treasure Island” (1996)
and “Muppets from Space” (1999).
The
latest film, “The Muppets” (2011) follows Walter,
the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel)
and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), from Smalltown,
USA, as they head to Los Angeles for vacation and discover the
nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze Muppet
Studios and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former
stomping grounds.
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The
real stars, the Muppet performers: Bill Barretta
(Pepe, Rowlf), David Rudman (Scooter, Janice), Peter Linz (Walter),
Dave Goelz (Gonzo, Bunsen), Bruce Lanoil (Various Muppets),
Eric Jacobson (Miss Piggy, Fozzie) and
Matt Vogel (Floyd, Uncle Deadley). Steve Whitmire (Kermit, Beaker)
was performing Kermit for publicity shots. |
All
seven films have signature soundtracks that received countless
awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Song
for “Rainbow Connection,” Best Original Score for “The
Muppet Movie” and winner of the 2012 “Best Original
Song” Academy Award® for “Man or Muppet,” from
the “The Muppets” (2011).
In
addition to feature films, Muppet mania continued long after “The
Muppet Show” ended its run. Many television specials and
documentaries featuring the classic Muppet characters have been
produced. Muppet Magazine was published from 1983-1988 and “The
Muppets” comic strip was syndicated in U.S. newspapers from
the early to mid 1980s. Museum exhibits (“The Art of The
Muppets,” “The World of Jim Henson: Muppets, Monsters & Magic,” “The
Vision of Jim Henson” and others) featuring Muppet characters
toured domestically and internationally from 1980-2001.
Multiple
record albums for “The Muppet Show,” “Muppet
Babies” and all of the Muppet movies have been released worldwide.
Hundreds of Muppet books have also been published around the world
since 1976.
Throughout
the years the Muppets have also produced numerous public service
announcements and have acted as spokespeople for many
causes both domestically and internationally, ranging from The
National Wildlife Federation, UNICEF and the American Film Institute,
to the University of Maryland, the American Library Association
and the Better World Society. Kermit regularly appears as a giant
balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York
City.
One
of the year’s best-loved family comedies and among the
best reviewed films of 2011, Disney’s “The Muppets,” starring
Jason Segel, Academy Award-nominee Amy Adams, and favorite
celebrity couple Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy -- debuts March
20 on Blu- ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand
formats. A must-own movie the entire family can enjoy, Disney’s “The
Muppets” in-home release includes the DVD and digital soundtrack
packaged together and also offered as the ultimate Muppets experience,
a ‘WockaWocka Value Pack,’ which contains the
movie on Blu-ray high definition, DVD and Digital Copy (three discs),
plus a download card which allows fans to own all the songs including
Bret McKenzie’s Oscar-winning “Man or Muppet,” from
the film’s hugely
popular soundtrack from Walt Disney Records.
MORE
MUPPET NEWS
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star in Toyota Super Bowl ad campaign
• Music
Video: "All I Need is Love" with CeeLo Green and The Muppets
• Muppets
on The Voice Tuesday November 27
• The
Muppets Take Disney Store Manhattan November 27
• The
Muppet Christmas Carol arrives on Blu-ray November 6
• Kermit
and Miss Piggy on "Best in TV" ABC special September 18
• "Kermit's Party" viral
videos from Bounty Paper Towels
• The
Electric Mayhem on Jimmy Kimmel March 21
• Miss Piggy
and Sharon Osbourne go head-to-head on The Talk
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