Ask Ken at Palisades

[Luke]

Hey Jamie

Thats fine if the whole packaging and 'Muppet Show' range does change to generic 'Muppets', then he'd be fine to seamlessly intergrate in, but i really feel him coming in the current packaging that would say 'Relive the classic action of the Muppet Show Yada Yada Yada' would be totally wrong, and it doesn't say THAT on the Nascar cars.

So yeah if it changes and becomes less specific then fine cool, i do believe he would be a big gun and sell well.

 

[frogboy4]

I agree that that packaging should reflect Pepe properly. I'm still a bit dismayed that the purists out there haven't mentioned anything about the cars. It doesn't bother me, but I did notice it and he does appear with the logo of a program he had no part in. That's kind of why it wouldn't bother me if they didn't change the packaging...they probably would though. I wonder if he'd be presented in widescreen.

 

[Kedrick]

Perhaps I missed it, but is the new Muppet project from FOX going to be called "The Muppet Show"? If that is the case, then perhaps Pepe will fit right in with the line.

Clint

 

[beaker]

fox show, nascar

Hey frogboy, youre right! Those NAscars do have a 25th annv logo. ITs really awesome they have a Pepe, and Beaker.
The reason I brought up the Pepe figure thing again, was in light of Ken's news that Henson really wanted one done. While I can see the argument of waiting til the year long 25th annv 'packaging' is over(Im assuming from the insanely crazy sell outs nationwide the Muppet Show line will morph into a all encompassing 'Muppets!' line next year) but Pepe has proven to be one of the BIG main guns int he last few years, and to this day there is zilcho Pepe merchandise out there.

As for the Fox show, its pretty much a lock Pepe will have a big part of it. I dont think they'll call it 'the Muppet Show'(the last 2 incarnations, 'muppet central'/jhh and muppets tonight! were called something different)

///beaker///

 

[frogboy4]

We would be waiting until the aniversary is over seeing that series 1-5 are pretty much locked-ip (everything's tentative though).

Ken suggested that Pepe was possible for series 6 - over a year from now. That was shelved, but it seems that anything could happen. There is no possibility that he's be released during the aniversary year so that's a non-issue.

I'm for Pepe in 2003!

 

[GWGumby]

Comments on Series 1

Hip-hip-huzzah! I just got my set at a local EB in Fort Worth. They look absolutely wonderful! I feel like the end of first Lord of the Rings movie, realizing I just witnessed the beginning of something magnificent and overtaken with anxiousness for the next part of the series to arrive!

I have a few comments/questions about the series to throw out to Ken or anyone else who cares to read and respond.

Kermit: Obvious choice to include in the first series. Sculpture and paint look great. I'm a little confused at the inclusion of the camera as an accessory. Is that meant to be reminiscent of the recent Henson film logo? I'm curious why this choice rather than a director's chair, or back-stage desk/table.

Piggy: I didn't notice this until I got home, but the molding on her upper left arm is cracked. I haven't opened her up yet to see if it's a problem. Otherwise, looks great, though I'm looking forward to the EB Exclusive one over the main one.

Honeydew: I was so excited to learn he would be a part of the first series. Usually secondary players tend to be held off until the primary players get their turn. Can't wait for the Muppet Labs set to arrive to include with him. I was a bit surprised that the character was painted in a light green hue rather than the tan or orange I had expected. He didn't quite match his picture in the logo. Also, as one who hasn't seen Muppet Show episodes in a long time, can someone explain the Robot Rabbit accessory?

Dr. Teeth: Again, I was excited and surprised to learn he would be a part of the first series. He's definitely the best looking of the bunch. There's so much crazy detail, I still feel like I haven't noticed everything on him. I love the keyboard and all it's details, but am I mistaken in remembering Dr. Teeth regularly playing a circular keyboard? Somewhat akin to what Zorak plays on "Space Ghost Coast 2 Coast." Was that ever considered, or am I mis-remembering?

Once again, let me say that this line is absolutely outstanding. I'm sure with this first series as an indicator, it will only get better. Thank you so much!

GWGumby

 

[Luke]

As for the cars, it doesn't bother me THAT much but i don't particularly think its the right thing to do. It is just a picture but it kind of puts another nail in the coffin of the ol'chestnut that is 'the muppets aint what they used to be'.

In Jim's day, and probably shortly after, i think the company was such a traditional family thing that they would have never put an unrelated character in somewhere just because it sells or is popular (you saw how sparingly people saw Muppets alongside Fraggles) - they could have had Kermit present Muppets Tonight but they didn't because they wanted to mark the transition and that it was a seperate show, and TMS was such a great institution. Putting Pepe anywhere near a 25th anniversary logo is just another wrong move by Rivkin and the Henson management team. It shows (at least to me) that just because they had a character who has had a mildly succesful ad campaign and who seems to be becoming fairly popular, they'll use him to promote the brand even though it makes the 'Muppet Show' focus a bit wonky.

I don't see in this one year why they can't just be happy promoting the classic show and characters in a nostalgic way. There is so much more opportunity to do new charcater focused stuff once the movie and TV show debut.

Don't get me wrong, Pepe is one of my absolute most favourite characters and i would dearly love to see Pepe merchandise but i think there is plenty of time for it once we have finished remembering the classic show.

Cory :-

Regarding the figures, 'insanely crazy sell outs nationwide' is a little strong when small shipments of the figures have sold out from the first shops that got them. I'm sure they'll be really popular but the real reaction we need to wait for is once they are totally all over the shelves in shops like TRU, EB and FAO. Thats gonna be the litmus test when we find out if Kids will pick these up off the shelves or not. I KNOW the hardcore adult collectors are gonna love them but it's gonna need all round support from the real intended age groups to really make them a success and ensure the line has a good future. Lets hope so anyway !

 

[Link Hogthrob]

Maybe I'm Wrong, but...

Actually, Luke, I imagine that adult fans and hardcore collectors are the intended groups.

The nature of the item as a 25th anniversary item denotes that kids aren't really the target and besides, how many of today's kids even know what The Muppet Show is? I'm sure that some kids will buy Kermit or Miss Piggy, but my guess is that Henson and all powers involved intended this to be more of an "adult toy".

Yikes! Don't think I'm condoning Muppet themed adult toys!!
I guess that goes back to the Kermit/Miss Piggy/Denny's/Kermit's sausage discussion!!

Jim

 

[Link Hogthrob]

one more thing...

Consider the latest Simpson craze....

I would wager that most of the people who are buying the games, shot glasses, figures, cards, etc. are adults, not kids. Of course, I'm sure that some kids are buying, but not as much as their adult counterparts!

Jim

 

[gorry]

hey, i'm 11 and watched every muppet show and muppets video i could find.my mom never missed an episode when she was a kid.i know who dr.teeth,janice, rowlf,beuguard,and statler and waldorf are.but you said very few kids collect muppet stuff,i'm one of the very few.