C'est Les Muppets Showue!

[Drtooth]

None of the french puppeteers are Muppeteers, there for (in my opinion) this is not now or ever will be a Muppet show.

I would agree, but I don't see how that's too much different from them making different co-productions of Sesame Street. Besides, if they're trianed Puppeteers, they could theoretically be good. It's just that... well... it would be great to make them use the original Muppeteers trying to speak parrot French, like (as I've said before) Monty Python's unsellable 1970 German Language episode.

>>Sadly, Disney has relegated the "muppets" as nothing more than empty puppets to be handed out to whomever(cruiselines and this france show are just the beginning) the point where we wont even know when something is a REAL Muppet production, since it'll be so cheapened and watered down...meanwhile there seems to be ZERO real Muppet productions in the works.

Anyways, just seems strange they are going to all this work for the small niche France audience, but not make this universal...the MAGIC of the Muppets appeals on a universal level.<<

I'm more upset that this is a French TV thing. Basically the only thing we can look forward to are probable DVD releases of old stuff and crap like stage shows an not aired on American TV crap like that. It's still not as bad as the McDonalds ad in which Kermit was made out of a hollowed out doll. Remember how they had to do that because they weren;t going to send the puppet over to amatures, but they couldn't fly Steve out too?
(BTW, if anyone has that ad and the UK ad with Steve as the REAL Kermit, please put it on Youtube)

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I wish Diz/MHC would let me play with their Muppets, too!! I mean, so we could get somethign going here in the States!

WE need a new show.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

You said it Fozzie!

 

[Cherrymoon]

I am not sure how bad this might be. It might be quite good. The french don't make that bad shows. There just so french. The problem is one does not know how they translated the original series. Jokes don't always translate so you have to change them to fit the culture. The basis I read seem to be the right idea.

 

[Blinky_Fish]

It kinda makes sense... French... Frogs... Kermit is a frog - No communication issues at all! although Kemie really is Cajun-esque being from Mississsipi - like speaking the Queens English as opposed to Brooklyn English... Might do well. Maybe it will keep those Frogs out of World politics if they have real entertainment.


What are the odds it will translate to us?

Anyone know how the Muppeteers feel about other hands on they're character's?

 

[CensoredAlso]

I don't mind the idea too much. I mean, we tend to get everything in the U.S., it's a bit unbalanced. If they want to try it in France, that's fine. We'll see how it goes.

"We've tried to modernize the show," says Cauet. "But you have to be careful because you are playing with people's memories."

Amen! Someone realizes that!

 

[Vic Romano]

Whether it will be good or bad is still up in the air, that's not my issue here, I have several:
1. Why the **** does France get a brand new original show? beaker made a good point about not ever remembering seeing any French members here on the boards. I'm willing to admit that the Muppets seem to be notably more popular in the UK then here in the States, but if we're talking original characters here, well; these aren't one time movie stars like Mike & Sully from "Monsters Inc." who can appear randomly in Japanese car commercials or stuff like that. Let's be reasonable here.

2. Assuming this is a good idea, for the longest time I was a defender of Disney stating that if the Muppets weren't like they used to be, then that's the Muppets problem, not Disneys. However, after reading this article, Disney's presence around the set comes off more like the mafia then protectors of cherished characters. Understanding they don't want a shoddy product like the rest of us, this director makes Disney sound possesive with dollar signs flashing in their eyes.

3. Knowing the American/French relationship (especially as of late) isn't a stellar one, I feel a little uneasy that clearly American characters will be used to make fun of American culture. That just feels like turning our own children against us. Just my opinion.

 

[Drtooth]

Knowing the American/French relationship (especially as of late) isn't a stellar one, I feel a little uneasy that clearly American characters will be used to make fun of American culture. That just feels like turning our own children against us. Just my opinion.

Oddly, since Sam was created as a send up of overly patriotic censorship worshippers.

I still hate the fact we weren't considered first... or even second after the UK.

 

[MWoO]

It was asked what the difference between this and the different sesame productions is. Well the difference is that the seame productions for the most part use original characters and dub over other bits. I think Elmo isu sed in a few different shows and I believe China or Japan has their own Big Bird, but other than that they are mostly new productions. This is different. From the sound of it they are just using all the muppet show characters to make new shows, which is not the same as having a French version of the muppets show with it's own characters and maybe one or two carry overs. Not to mention most of us here won't be able to see the show, and even if we do most won't understand it. And that isj ust wrong.

The muppets are diffrerent than puppets. They have had consistant performers for a long time. When Gonzo was on UK tv they didn't just send the puppet over. They sent Gonzo. Dave is Gonzo, until he decides to hand the hcaracter over to someone else. There was no handing over with this. Disney decided to hand over the characters for them.

Frankl;y i don't see why the show oculdn't be done for the UK audience and then dubbed for the french. You'll get a lot more of an audience with an English show you can syndicate than a french show that has to be dubbed. There are just more English speaking countries.

 

[Marky]

Whether it will be good or bad is still up in the air, that's not my issue here, I have several:
1. Why the **** does France get a brand new original show? beaker made a good point about not ever remembering seeing any French members here on the boards. I'm willing to admit that the Muppets seem to be notably more popular in the UK then here in the States, but if we're talking original characters here, well; these aren't one time movie stars like Mike & Sully from "Monsters Inc." who can appear randomly in Japanese car commercials or stuff like that. Let's be reasonable here.

2. Assuming this is a good idea, for the longest time I was a defender of Disney stating that if the Muppets weren't like they used to be, then that's the Muppets problem, not Disneys. However, after reading this article, Disney's presence around the set comes off more like the mafia then protectors of cherished characters. Understanding they don't want a shoddy product like the rest of us, this director makes Disney sound possesive with dollar signs flashing in their eyes.

3. Knowing the American/French relationship (especially as of late) isn't a stellar one, I feel a little uneasy that clearly American characters will be used to make fun of American culture. That just feels like turning our own children against us. Just my opinion.

Perhaps you should look into the roots of the Muppet humor (particularily its strong British ones).

The existence of Sam the Eagle says it all. It had spent years lampooning American culture while celebrating British culture. Henson saw himself not as much as an American citizen than a citizen of Planet Earth. This obviously allowed more open mind and a more intelligent, universal imagination which the rest of the world appreciates.