Christmas special and Kermit's World Tour canceled

[Fozzie Bear]

I unstickied this thread since this project isn't happening any longer.

 

[Kimp the Shrimp]

it will sink into the abyss like the muppets on disneys roster

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Well, let's give the Diz a little time here, though. Even "I" was concerned about what they'd do with the characters and they ended up doing a lot. Maybe they'll have something big planned--like a theatrical release??

 

[Luke]

I agree but then again, The stuff they've been coming out with in the past year has been very substantial. Lets face it, before then I don't remember seeing any re-releases that were even worth looking at, and there weren't much to look at at that!
I think the line of merchandise that's coming out now is definately quality and hope that it continues to release in the numbers it has been.

Yeah, this is the thing. All the "Big Things" they have done have been merchandise related (other than From The Balcony). There have been a few publicity appearances but Henson would have done them anyway. The Muppet Holding Company is part of Disney Consumer Products, not any of the main Disney production departments and it does seem they have bought the Muppets mainly to sell merchandise and to re-release stuff from the library onto DVD as part of Buena Vista. I think with the old management they did have an urge to build the franchsie and get things into production but it does seem like the new managements plan (and what Disney had in mind all along if new projects weren't financially viable) is just to stick the Muppets in theme parks, re-release stuff and hock plenty of merchandise at the Disney Stores. I guess if we're lucky we might get the occasional TV project to promote the other stuff even more but it won't be the main concern. With Henson and what is vital to bringing the Muppets back to anywhere near what they once were is for the characters to be most important and for the merchandising to come second but just them being part of DCP makes it obvious that's not what's gonna happen with them.

 

[spcglider]

The whole switch-out at MHC was quite a revelation to me, but then again I probably should have known it was coming. I knew Eisner was packing his bags and what else does a new CEO do besides fire eveyone who was loyal under the last CEO?

Its a territory thing.

It was a solid 1-2 punch as it happened the day after I returned from the LA auditions (which I maintain were mis-represented) and extremely close in temporal proximity to the passing of Jerry Juhl.

That having been said, I have nothing but good hopes for the Muppets under the Disney umbrella. I may be proven wrong in that faith, but I prefer a positive attitude over a gloomy one.

The "missing christmas special" will eventually surface if it was produced. If it was only half-finished, it will become one of those "hunt it down" video items that we all love searching for so much.

-Gordon

 

[Beauregard]

Ouch, Luke, that is a very painfull (but with a definate ring of truth to it somehow) thing to say....

Merchandice...we like it, but not just it!

A tv special to create/promote merchandice.

Eech, are these Muppets or Elmo?

*shivers*

It does not sound good...I can only hope you are (no ofence) wrong Luke...

 

[GelflingWaldo]

Don't take this as Disney's personal attack on the Muppet fans. This happens all the time - something is planned or announced but never comes to be. It has happened so many times in Muppet history - from the Jim Henson days all the way up to the Disney days. It is always sad when something doesn't happen, but the 2005 Christmas special was lost in the shuffle of Disney changing.

Look, here are just a few of the news stories Muppet Central has reported that never came to be...

http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/1998/060598.shtml - New Muppet Movies
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/1998/013098.shtml - The Tim Curry Show
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/1998/011198.shtml - Neverwhere
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/1999/102799.shtml - Astro Boy
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/1999/100699.shtml - Dark Crystal Prequel
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2000/030600.shtml - New Muppet Show
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2000/020100.shtml - The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2002/030702.shtml - FOX's Muppet Show
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2002/010802.shtml - Jim Henson's Frog School
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2003/102703.shtml - Fun-4-All Sesame Toys
http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2005/091705.shtml - Kermit's Christmas Capers

This is nothing new - in the Muppet world, or in the entertainment world...things just change sometimes.

 

[beaker]

I'm with Frogboy4, I don't think the loss of Where in the World is Kermit or a quick on the fly xmas special was neccesarily a bad thin. The corporate shuffle on the Muppet Holding Company is troubling, and shows the extent of the post Eisner house cleaning Iger is willing to do.

As for just using the Muppets to hawk merchandise...I noticed not one Muppet thing has been for sale at any Disney or Disney related store. Heck even Bear in the Big Blue House, which they still put out merch for; says "Disney's Bear".

A part of me sees happening what we feared after the Disney buyout: keeping the Muppets almost soleley for milking the retro merchandise factor, corporate house cleaning that wipes clean most Muppet projects, bowing to completely typical faire(the reality tv angle), looking toward a revolving door of performers for any character, and not announcing that much news to be excited about.

On the bright side, I can see how the reality tv show; as Luke says, is what sells and what could be the Diz' best shot at gettingem back into the puppet eye. America is dumbfounded by anything relating to "reality tv", so go for it I say. As long as the show isnt about human performers auuditioning to be replacement muppeteers for the main muppets.

Now, if you're like me and love all the "Muppet" franchises(legal company seperation be darned) from the Muppets, Sesame, Fraggle Rock, and Bear; then this is good. As it allows for JHC/HIT to focus on getting Fraggle Rock back into being with a movie, possible new show and lot's of merchandise...Sesame WS to focus on Sesame, and Disney to focus on the Muppets and Bear, then it's good. Again, I point to the fact Fraggle Rock the movie and Dark Crystal 2 would never be happening if the buyout hasn't happened. So all I myself can do is look toward a silver foam and fleece filled lining.

 

[Luke]

Don't take this as Disney's personal attack on the Muppet fans. This happens all the time - something is planned or announced but never comes to be. It has happened so many times in Muppet history - from the Jim Henson days all the way up to the Disney days. It is always sad when something doesn't happen, but the 2005 Christmas special was lost in the shuffle of Disney changing.

It's not about them cancelling just the Xmas show. It goes deeper than that - it's about them cancelling more or less everything because the new management see's the Muppet franchise differently, and the style of the people they now have in place. Them now being in charge, what they've done immediately and just the fact the Muppets were put under Disney Consumer Products kinda gives us a few clues as to why Disney have bought the Muppets and what the new management want out of them. Sure new projects are cancelled all the time, but this has a lot more significance.

It's not all doom and gloom - streamlining things and just milking one project and really hyping it may be just whats needed if something like "Next Muppet" is successful but i think it will probably mean the Muppets really have to "work" for Disney straight off - wheras the old management and also Henson seemed much keener to try lots of things. I think Wizard Of Oz kinda raised alarm bells at Disney and it's probably partly why they aren't keen to splash their cash on loads of other Muppet things that might not work either.

 

[frogboy4]

Regarding the Muppets' current popularity - the Muppet Show DVD was a hit on its debut according to Amazon (#1 its first week I believe).

I think this new development over at Disney really is much more about ego and personal agenda. That's the way of showbiz, but if there's anything the Muppets understand - it's perseverance in the face of adversity.

By the way - if there is any reason that Kermit's 50 destination journey wouldn't be noticed, I believe it would be that Good Morning America is a far distant 2nd place in the morning show ratings. Disney brass should consider cleaning house there first. Ouch! Harsh, I know, but Disney really needs to make certain the Muppets get a healthy amount of exposure on NBC and CBS.

The Today Show and the Muppets have always been a perfect fit - even if it is problematic to Diz.