Muppets to Open MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL 8-8-05

[Kimp the Shrimp]

ABC-TV 9pm Mon Aug 8th, 2005

Puppetry in motion ABC seems to be steering clear of controversy with its first ''MNF" opening feature tomorrow night, with The Muppets (Miss Piggy, Kermit The Frog & Co.) analyzing this year's Hall of Fame class, welcoming viewers to another season, and finishing with the now-traditional: ''Are you ready for some football?" . . . Fantasy football leagues are having an increasing influence on how the networks cover the NFL. CBS has real-time updates on stats in its on-screen StatTrak and GameTrax, and it will do an hourlong fantasy football show Aug. 20 at 1 p.m., with announcers Randy Cross and Gus Johnson plus CBS SportsLine fantasy guru Michael Fabiano. CBS studio analyst Boomer Esiason and editorial consultant (information guy) Pat Kirwan had a lengthy discussion last week about ways to present the detailed salary cap information that hardcore fans want without losing the casual fan . . . Sirius Radio again is carrying all NFL games, offering both teams' home broadcasts and the Westwood One national feed Monday nights . . . CBS is bringing back Thurston Long, the cartoon commentator who provides humorous and often scathing commentary on league matters in his pregame ''The NFL Today" segments. And he'll have animated company on the network in the form of The Pixel People -- pixilated characters voiced by Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer (among others) -- in a promotional campaign for ''The NFL Today."

 

[Xerus]

I saw that football scene last night. Waldorf and Statler were in a movie theater wearing sports hats and commentaring on films of some of the greatest Hall of Famers. Then Kermit and Piggy come in and sit right in front of them. The old men make a joke about a pigskin. Piggy tells Kermit, "Excuse me." Kermit gets out of the way knowing what was gonna happen next and Piggy karate chops the two old guys.

 

[jeffkjoe]

Seems like an odd marriage of two franchises.