Hahaha. Yeah, I really think that the academy ruled changed a few years back and we're seeing the strange fall-out. I too think that Life's a Happy Song should have gotten some recognition along with Menken's Capt. America tune. It really is fantastic and would make for a great Oscar stage performance. Also the Pooh tune was just so adorable and hit just the right note of sweetness. This whole category from nomination to the lack of performances will leave a sour taste with everybody unless it at least ends with a Muppet win.
I loved the Backson song. I almost got the entire soundtrack just for that. I'm stewing that there isn't any Backson merchandise yet. That little bit at the end was my favorite part of the movie.
I've been saying, the best way to get a Muppet fix is to have them award the nominees for best animated feature, but they'll do that thing that was cute at first, and now just lazy where they animate the characters in the audience... seriously... cute first... now it's just lame.
Who can forget this great sequence with Bugs and Daffy handing out awards?
They had the Toy Story characters hand out an award once, then there was the time where Edna Mode from Incredibles was giving away the award for best costume design. There's no room for fun additions of fictitious characters anymore. And the best thing about the Muppets... they don't have to animate them, and they can award things LIVE. There was no doubt in my mind that they wouldn't let the Muppets host (above reasons... sad, sad awards... it wouldn't fit, even though comedians host all the time).
Something tells me, they're not going to give a crap and toss the thing over to Rio (I haven't seen it yet, so I can't judge) anyway... so... we don't even get to hear Man or Muppet either.