I have been watching The Muppets "under" whatever else I've been doing on my computer for several months now--not every night, but just as the background noise of my life, and I have to make a couple of comments about things that I haven't mentioned before. The main thing I want to talk about is the next-to-last act in the telethon--Rainbow Connection.
I stand in awe of the job that Steve (and whoever else who helped) did with Kermit in the Rainbow Connection song. He has never been more deserving of my jaw-dropping praise. We've seen Kermit play the banjo before, but this was an amazing job. Kermit not only holds the banjo, but his hands are in the right position(s), and his right hand moves up and down the frets as it should. In the part of the song where Kermit "picks" the strings, the hand movement is exceptional. And throughout the song, Kermit is gently moving his foot, sometimes in time with the music. It is an amazing feat of puppetry to make him look so effortlessly perfect. And the wealth of emotion that is visible on their faces is so satisfying. When Kermit sings, "I've heard it too many times to ignore it," Piggy is just gazing at him in adoration, and he is looking at her with an expression that appears to my biased eye both sheepish and happy. When he asks her to stay, he is vocally and physically humble, beseeching her with his pollywog eyes. I also like the way that Kermit and Piggy handled their first on-screen kiss--it is affectionate and believable, with mouth movement in sync--and I like the way they BOTH make the "kissy" noise. Unlike many other screen kisses that we haven't quite gotten to see, this one is unmistakably mutual.
Scooter is completely charming as he sings with his hands clasped. Mr. I-don't-go-on-stage (oh--ha HA!) is out there singing his little heart out, and looking adorable and all-grown-up.
Floyd--another of my favorite red-heads--is hip and smooth and the cool as menthol when he gives Animal the drumsticks and ankles away. I always knew beneath that too-cool-to-care exterior that Floyd was a complete softie. How like him to know and understand exactly what Animal wanted and needed.
Lastly, Animal's almost, um, climactic surge into the music is about as feel-good as it gets, and his arm movement here is truly awesome. I could watch this one act all night (and have!)
Just wanted to share some stuff that made me smile.
Ru
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