D23 Expo: Muppet news and happenings

[Drtooth]

Its about time, i think everytime i go to one and ask they look at me like i have 2 heads

Well... I have a love hate relationship with the Disney store... it all goes back to 2000 or so when I was anxiously looking for any sort of Emperor's New Groove merchandise, and found nothing but Pooh, 102 Dalmatians, and Pooh dressed up as one of the 102 Dalmatians. Not to mention all that Dinobore... I mean Dinosnore... I mean Dinowhydidyoumakethisfilmatall merchandise. Frankly, I just miss the heck out of the Warner Bros store. But they have some pretty good stuff now... if you can find one. Looks like things are picking up for them. A lot of recently closed stores have opened back up, and they actually acknowledge movies they rereleased to DVD (got a Dodger and a Tito from Oliver and Company)... only problem I have is with the lack of any real Up merchandise, outside of plush of the other dogs, a snowglobe and a T-shirt. But I guess that's Pixar's option.

Last time I saw Muppet stuff there, they were only T-shirts, and they were basically trying to get rid of them... and that was a few years back.

 

[Frogpuppeteer]

Well... I have a love hate relationship with the Disney store... it all goes back to 2000 or so when I was anxiously looking for any sort of Emperor's New Groove merchandise, and found nothing but Pooh, 102 Dalmatians, and Pooh dressed up as one of the 102 Dalmatians. Not to mention all that Dinobore... I mean Dinosnore... I mean Dinowhydidyoumakethisfilmatall merchandise. Frankly, I just miss the heck out of the Warner Bros store. But they have some pretty good stuff now... if you can find one. Looks like things are picking up for them. A lot of recently closed stores have opened back up, and they actually acknowledge movies they rereleased to DVD (got a Dodger and a Tito from Oliver and Company)... only problem I have is with the lack of any real Up merchandise, outside of plush of the other dogs, a snowglobe and a T-shirt. But I guess that's Pixar's option.

Last time I saw Muppet stuff there, they were only T-shirts, and they were basically trying to get rid of them... and that was a few years back.

don't know what part of MA your from but yea i know what you mean, i think only Muppet thing i ever bought from a Disney store was a mug, the closest Disney store to me is mostly princess merchandise

 

[Kermieuk]

Interesting that all the ''Green and Loving It'' Kermit merchandise coming to Disney store is recycled from Disney Stores in the UK that was available here last July 2008, I guess it is really green as there recycling it!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/KERMIE1/Photo0011.jpg

Chris

 

[Reevz1977]

Interesting that all the ''Green and Loving It'' Kermit merchandise coming to Disney store is recycled from Disney Stores in the UK that was available here last July 2008, I guess it is really green as there recycling it!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/KERMIE1/Photo0011.jpg

Chris

Awww man, I'd given up on the Disney Store after years of have NOTHING even remotely Muppet related. From the looks of this photo, theres a number of items I'd have bought

 

[Kermieuk]

I got the pins, shoulder bag and plush. I wish I had got the mug as I like it but was in Cardiff seeing Madonna's concert at the time and was concerned about carrying it all day.

Chris

 

[Was Once Ernie]

As I recall, they didn't give a date for the Muppet*Vision rehab, but made it sound like they are working on it now.

And by the way, I also remembered they are sprucing up the pre-show line with new up-to-date Muppet parody movie posters. They showed us two or three but I can't remember any of them right now. Maybe someone else got pictures of them.

 

[theprawncracker]

And by the way, I also remembered they are sprucing up the pre-show line with new up-to-date Muppet parody movie posters. They showed us two or three but I can't remember any of them right now. Maybe someone else got pictures of them.

Oh that is SO cool! Did they use new Muppet posers? I really, really hope so... maybe we'll see those as part of a calendar or something soon.

 

[Drtooth]

don't know what part of MA your from but yea i know what you mean, i think only Muppet thing i ever bought from a Disney store was a mug, the closest Disney store to me is mostly princess merchandise

I know the Burlington mall and the Peabody Mall locations have reopened up (The Peabody one not having a Disney store for quite some time)... the only other one that was around was the Square One Mall location. Yeah, and they're still pushing Princesses... not as much... and thankfully, they've cut back the Jonas/Hanna Montana stuff sharply. SO far, I've only seen a large resurgence of Toy Story stuff to co-incide with the rerelease of both TS1 and 2 to theaters for a 3-D engagement... and of course, TS3 coming out next summer. But I was really shocked they actually have Mickey Goofy and Donald stuff... unfortunately because of that preschool CGI show... but that's HUGE!

 

[RockSTAR girl]

I have to say, I actually found the presentation to be a little underwhelming. Most of it was gloating about all the guest appearances that the Muppets have participated in throughout the last year. The first 10 minutes was just a montage of clips from all the late night shows, today show, the view etc. And a lot of their upcoming projects we're not discussed with any depth or given release dates.
Photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep002.jpg The screen while we poured into the Theater

After the montage they told us about "Cooking with Cat Cora" which will be online.

Studio DC live will be coming to DVD Summer 2010

Talked about YouTube, showed Ode to Joy and talked about how it won the Webby, then showed Beakers acceptance speech (which can be found on YouTube). Some of the new YouTube videos will include "Dust in the Wind", "Carve o'Matic", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Carol of the Bells" and 5 others.

Alot of talk about partnering with Macy's. How last year they had the lead balloon and Kermit sang. Tiffany Thornton from "Sonny with a Chance" will sing with Kermit at Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade this year.

"Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa" special will re-run this holiday on NBC, but at the end of this month it will be available for sale as an "extended version" on DVD and on iTunes.

David Foster Christmas Special will air on PBS. Kermit will sing Jingle Bells with Andrea Bocelli. Their duet will be available on the CD after airing.

Halloween Special in Production (for this they showed the picture from the old Muppet Monster Mayhem Playstation game)

The Muppets will be on NEXT WEEKS episode of Americas Got Talent

Also upcoming episodes of Extreme Home Makeover and Americas Funniest Home Videos.

Then they showed a clip of Pepe standing in front of Muppet Vision and saying that he believed there was a lack of Pepe in the parks.

They explained that the Muppet Mobile Lab is SO beloved at Disneyland Hong Kong that they cannot get it back, so they are developing an Electric Mayhem Version!

Muppet Vision is getting the Disney Digital 3D treatment, a new Preshow, and new posters that include one of Kermit as Jack Sparrow walking through the mist like the Pirates 3 poster, one of Miss Piggy as Hannah Montana like the Hannah Montana live poster, and one other that I can't recall.

They will be featured on the ABC Walt Disney World Christmas Parade.

Then the presenter said something along the lines of "and we have more secrets we just cant share with you, but will be revealed soon"

They discussed their partnership with Supreme skateboards and how all the skateboards sold out immediately in Japan (they are in fact VERY hard to come by) and raffled away a skateboard they had.

There will be a new book coming out called "Statler and Waldorf: From The Balcony", then they raffled away the 3 existing humor books (Kermit, Piggy, and Pepe)

Boom! Comics will be releasing a Muppets Peter Pan Comic, the artwork looked similar to the Muppets Robin Hood ones. Then they announced there will be a Pigs in Space Comic coming out, but did not show any cover art. They also showed us Muppet Mobile Comics, these are cool. They are the comics, on your phone, moving like a movie, and set to Muppety music. It was like a cartoon almost, for your phone.

iPhone apps in order of release: "Animals Drum Kit App" October 09, "Pepe's Love Meter" near Valentines Day, "Gonzo Grams" Summer 2010, " Statler and Waldorf Theater App" no date given.

Season 4 of the Muppet Show on DVD will feature Gonzo on the Cover and be Blue, no release date given.
Photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep004.jpg Now that I look at it more closely, I can see that they don't even have the side of the artwork done, it is still the side of the Piggy packaging from Season 2.

An album called "Muppets Revisited" will be released. Songs include "Mahna Mahna" by The Fray, "Rainbow Connection" by Weezer, "Halfway Down the Stairs" by Ami Lee, "Our World" by My Morning Jacket, and " It's Not Easy Being Green"
Photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep005.jpg

Muppet Costumes for Adults: Piggy, Animal, and Kermit
Muppet Costumes for Toddlers: Kermit, Fozzie
Muppet Masks: Fozzie, Statler, Gonzo, and Animal
Photos: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep009.jpg and http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep010.jpg

New Steiff Collector Plush
Photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep006.jpg

Myzos Bracelets will feature various characters, all in attendance received one of these, both my friend an I got Pepe. Here is my review of this. Take a plastic gemmed picture of Pepe, attach it to 2 small cheap rubber hair bands, and you have a Myzos. Also, any small band that cuts off circulation to your wrist will do.
These are available for $14 here: http://www.mymyzos.com/productdetail.cfm?charm_cat_code=DM

Muppet Whatnot Workshop. Coming to both California and Florida theme parks. New Costumes, Facial Hair, and Monsters (which look like Furry suits you put on a Whatnot in 2 pieces, one furry piece wraps around the head and may have horns, another piece goes on the body like a furry sweater).

Disney Store product line "Green and Lovin' it" and more Muppets
Photos: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep012.jpg and http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep013.jpg

Macy's sold a Holiday Muppet line last year that sold out, they raffled a scarf from this.
Photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep014.jpg

Muppet Whatnot Experience, AMAZING! At some point there will be a contest, if you win, you will design a Whatnot and it will star in YouTube videos with the MUPPETS! The point is you will get to Puppeteer along side the Muppet Performers.

New Tonner dolls were shown, the highlight being a Pigs in Space Piggy.
Photos: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep007.jpg and http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep008.jpg

They discussed how a ton of designers were trying to design clothes for Miss Piggy, and that she was all over the news when Marc Jacobs designed her dress for Macy's Glamorama last year. The entire outfit was incased out in the hallway, along with 3 pictures of Piggy wearing a Jeremy Scott Trench Coat, a Lela Rose dress, a Julien MacDonald outfit, and a Jason Wu Kimono dressed like a Geisha.
Photos: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep015.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep017.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep025.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep026.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep027.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep028.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep029.jpg and http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep030.jpg

Showed the logo for "The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made" with NO DETAILS.
Photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep019.jpg

Sam Eagle came out to the podium and was quickly upstaged by a video of Pepe discussing how Disney Magic is made, Fozzie entered the screen, then Gonzo deciphered that Magic came from "Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo". They sang the song and at the end turned into Chickens, but not regular chickens, Fozzie (with a hat), Gonzo (with a tie), and Pepe (with antennae) versions of the Chickens. Just when you thought the tape was over, Swedish Chef runs into frame after the chickens wielding a cleaver.
Blurry Photos (Sorry): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep020.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep023.jpg and http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep024.jpg

In the end, Kermit was at the VMA's and they announced that Fozzie, Gonzo, and Pepe would be outside for photos. By the time I got funneled out of that theater the line was 1.5 hours long. I love the Muppets, and normally would have waited but I had a friend who was starving, so we left without even seeing the 3 come out.
Line Photos: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep031.jpg and http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/korkstar/D23 09 Muppet Presentation/sep032.jpg

 

[theprawncracker]

GRRRRRRREAT post, RockSTAR Girl! You revealed a lot of stuff we didn't know about! Thanks SO much! Can't wait to see pictures!