Save the Muppets

[That Announcer]

If there are other performers for the characters, who is to say the original performers won't be tossed aside for cheaper labor? It's a slippery slope.

The original performers won't be "tossed aside" as you say they may be. These new performers are most likely being hired for- as Kimp said- cruise ship appearances and such, especially for times when the original Muppeteers can't make it. Another possibility: theme park appearances. The current thing to do with theme park appearances is to stick some guy out in a walkaround suit. If there's a sub performer hired specifically for the purpose of the theme park, it's a plus over the walkarounds, because then you get a voice and a level of performance impossible to achieve with a walkaround. So, what would you rather have: a lifeless "drone" Kermit, or a good Kermit that just doesn't happen to be performed by Steve Whitmire?

 

[a_Mickey_Muppet]

I've read Kynan’s website. I see what he's saying. But none of us know what Disney is truly planning... and neither does Kynan for us to support his cause.

As a Muppet forum group, once we see the final results of Disney's actions, then as a group we can complain about it or compliment Disney on the results of it.

Once we see what Disney has created, then we can complain or praise Disney's actions.

Many of you have seen Disney shows live and I would say you came away from the experience feeling better for it. So I say, let’s give Disney a chance to prove themselves.

I understand Kynan's point of view, I truly do. But there are such big problems in this world from problems like Katrina, drugs, loneliness, to abuse (and personal problems in our own families) that to make this a problem or a cause seems so insignificant when one sees the world’s problems.

Even if one is picked to be an occasional Muppeteer, that occasional Muppeteer cannot deny his joy of saying that they made a child smile and for that brief moment in time, that occasional Muppeteer proved his worth.

I’m not saying Kynan is neither right nor wrong. I’m just saying let’s see the final results of Disney’s actions before anyone starts a letter campaign. It’s only fair.

Peace.

Yeah I dont know about anyone else here but I'm kindda gettin offended by this Kynan kid. Telling us that One Voice stuff this and that and to the ones who wana audition, like me, he's practickly saying "dont audition", wich kinda gets me steamed
(steamed shrimp. oh pass that cocktail - statler and waldorf, IVMMCM) I'm NOT saying I hate tha kid but this "One Voice" stuff is just gettin to me and I know some ones gonna say "well dont read it", but ya really cant help it... its ALL OVER most of the threads! sorry to vent like this but its just getting.......... old. 1 hes HAS NO idea what Disney plans on doing and 2nd He (by the looks of his post) is from the other side of the world, so he wont be seeing these "wana be" Muppets. and Fozz man, my buddy ol pal, I know EVERY one here is aloud to voice what they think, oh and GOOD luck to you and HOPE you get the "Main Part" (Fozzie Lion) - - Yes! lol that WAS a pun 4 you! hehe.

 

[MWoO]

The original performers won't be "tossed aside" as you say they may be. These new performers are most likely being hired for- as Kimp said- cruise ship appearances and such, especially for times when the original Muppeteers can't make it. Another possibility: theme park appearances. The current thing to do with theme park appearances is to stick some guy out in a walkaround suit. If there's a sub performer hired specifically for the purpose of the theme park, it's a plus over the walkarounds, because then you get a voice and a level of performance impossible to achieve with a walkaround. So, what would you rather have: a lifeless "drone" Kermit, or a good Kermit that just doesn't happen to be performed by Steve Whitmire?

Why are my choices a guy in a suit or a fake kermit? Why not have a wonderful animatronic puppet voiced by Steve, or perhaps a live show with a sound track done by the real performers it works for other shows.

 

[That Announcer]

Why are my choices a guy in a suit or a fake kermit? Why not have a wonderful animatronic puppet voiced by Steve, or perhaps a live show with a sound track done by the real performers it works for other shows.

Because you can't have an animatronic roaming the park or a puppet set to a pre-recorded track talking to kids, can you?

 

[MWoO]

Why would you need soemthng like that? There really isn't a reason to have that. A kid will ike an animatronic Kermit as much as a puppet. Heck a kid would like a giant suit as much as a puppet. I just don't like the idea of fake Kermits being presented to the oublic like this and let's say they decide to cut Steves pay and he protests and then they threaten to bring in any mumber of other Kermits. It's just not an idea I like and it could very well happen.

 

[GelflingWaldo]

removed by request.

 

[Craig Crane]

I very much doubt that Martin Baker would allow this to happen, as per the article..... Its more than likley so that some one can puppeteer a Kermit in a theme park or cruise ship.... OR, with certain Muppeteers no getting older, they may just be wanting to cover their ***'s... OR, said Muppet performers may be so peed at having to work for the mouse that they want out. OR, it may just be a storm in a teacup, and amount to nothing...... either way, I very much doubt that Martin Baker, a Muppet cohort for many many years would allow the muppets tobe diluted in such a manner. I know I have some pretty strong views on the muppets and the way they have been run as of late, but this smacks of nothing more than a cruise ship/theme park filling exercise....

Besides, after all the sell offs and near miss's, the Disney buyout and the creation of the Muppets holding Company, dont ya think its a little too late to save the muppets?

 

[MWoO]

Very well said. I agree 100%. these "fake" muppets would be like seeing a celeb impersonator, only imagine if celeb impersonators started showing up places and actually saying they were the real celeb. What if Deniro had an army of "fake" Deniros. He sent one to do a cruise and say he was the real one, one to do a talk show to say he was the real one, and one to do some little movie and act like he is the real Deniro. Now, once all these fake Deniros get out there and people see them, why would they care which is the real Deniro after while? Eventually they would become interchangable. That is what will happen here.

Having a Kermit on a cruise or at a theme park is not worth destroying the muppets with many fake characters switching on and off. I mean, why would you care if you met a fake Kermit anyway? All you're doing is meeting a puppet, not KErmit. Kermit was Jm Henson and then Steve Whitemire. Kermit is not a puppet, he's the performer that gives life to the puppet. And there can only be one Kermit at a time, otherwise he loses that life.

 

[MWoO]

I very much doubt that Martin Baker would allow this to happen, as per the article..... Its more than likley so that some one can puppeteer a Kermit in a theme park or cruise ship.... OR, with certain Muppeteers no getting older, they may just be wanting to cover their ***'s... OR, said Muppet performers may be so peed at having to work for the mouse that they want out. OR, it may just be a storm in a teacup, and amount to nothing...... either way, I very much doubt that Martin Baker, a Muppet cohort for many many years would allow the muppets tobe diluted in such a manner. I know I have some pretty strong views on the muppets and the way they have been run as of late, but this smacks of nothing more than a cruise ship/theme park filling exercise....

Besides, after all the sell offs and near miss's, the Disney buyout and the creation of the Muppets holding Company, dont ya think its a little too late to save the muppets?

Even with the changing of compnaies, they muppets were still the muppets. They were still the personalities. This plan will change that. And who is to say Baker won't decide it is easier to use performer A who lives in L.A. for something rather than Steve? He is a business man first. If performer A is closer and cheaper and can do a talk show spot, then why not use performer A as a business man in charge of a franchise? Heck, it would make him look great to the big boss I bet.

 

[Craig Crane]

He may be a business man, but he's Old School Hensons. Only if he was a complete shallow hack would he allow something like that to happen.... and I dont beleive that is the case..... If I am wrong, then I am wrong, and my foretellings on what I have said about JHC were even more correct than I would have beleived....

Honestly... think about it....... be resonable and use the knowledge you have aquirred over the years about the Muppeteers.... do you think THEY would allow this to happen?

You think Goelz and co would sit quiet as they see MHC give it to them from behind? You think anyone with even a modicom of respect for Jims legacy would allow Fake Muppeteers to be used as a cost saving exercise.....

Im telling ya, its a theme park / cruise ship recruitment drive that will amount to nothing otherthan a few people being able to say they were Kermit the from for the summer of 06 at some rinky dink little theme park in Nowheresville. And with that, they will probably end up lip syncing to a pre recorded track of the original performers in a very "by the book" manner. Worst case scenario, it will be for press junkets, but seeing as they have nothing to really push at a press junket, I cant see that happening..... but its plausible.

Your first port of call would be to write to MHC and get them to either confirm or deny the report, only then will you know whethjer to sink your energies into this.