Why television is great - The Muppets
In my line of work (whatever that is), I am often put in the position of defending the medium of television. There is a large section of the population who is convinced that television is inferior to film and all types of print media. These people love to use a host of specious arguments to prove their point. Some choose advertising, others go with reality TV, I once argued with a guy who said, “Two words…Jerry Springer” and walked away.
I’m not going to use this blog as a way to refute these arguments, instead I’d like to give specific examples to defend the medium that I have come to love.
Television is great because it is directly responsible for the creation of the Muppets.
Most everybody knows that Jim Henson started his career as a puppeteer at a local television show. While he was a freshman in college he created his own children’s show called Sam and Friends, a five minute program which featured puppets that anyone could recognize as early versions of Kermit the Frog and Rowlf the Dog.
What people don’t know is why Jim Henson became a puppeteer. It’s a very easy explanation. Henson’s childhood was a simple one and for his family, television was considered a luxury. So when a family friend got a television, naturally he was curious as to what it was all about. What he saw changed his life.
After spending an entire afternoon watching his friend’s TV, Henson was so determined to be on television himself, that the next day he ran down to the local television station and took whatever job he could get. The only job they had available for a young man with no experience was as a puppeteer on their local children’s show. From there, Henson went on to create one of the most beloved, creative and recognized franchises in the history of entertainment.
So whether it’s the TV shows, the films, the cartoons or the theme park rides, you have television to thank for the majesty that is the Muppets.
Lost Boys 2 DVD Cover Art
Warner Premiere has released the DVD cover art for Lost Boys: The Tribe, which will be released on DVD and Blu-ray this summer. I love how they put Corey Feldman way in the background, and his title credit actually lists him “COREY FELDMAN AS EDGAR FROG”.
Jason Segel talks New Muppet Movie
When we reported last week that Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nick Stoller and writer/star Jason Segel had signed on to develop the next Muppet movie, I speculated that these would be the guys to get it right (”The early Muppet films were absolutely genius, but the last few failed due to an attempt to dumb down the plot/jokes to appeal to young viewers”). Segel spoke with MTV, and his views seemed to mirror my early thoughts.
“I’ve just grown a little disappointed with ‘Muppets in the Old West,’ ‘Muppets Under Water,’ and all these weird concept movies. I just want to go take it back to the early 80’s, when it was about the Muppets trying to put on a show. That’s what I’m trying to bring back,” said Segel, who also wants to bring back the big name cameos of the earlier films. “All of our friends that I’ve brought it up to are pretty excited by the prospect of it. Everyone loves the Muppets; they’ve got a warm place in most people’s hearts. We want a lot of cameos. You look back at Charles Grodin, Charles Durning, there were just such great performances in those movies.” “We’ve got a great plot. I think if we can execute it right, it will be terrific. But I can’t tell you more - it’s top secret.”
When asked if he plans to star as the lead human role in the new film, Segel admitted “We haven’t figured that out yet. Right now, we’re just focused on trying to turn in an amazing script.” Segel would only say that the plot would focus on Kermit the Frog (duh). And if Segel has not yet convinced you that he might have the vision to make the next big muppet film, I think this next quote will:
“I remember thinking that Kermit was the original Tom Hanks - he was the everyman for a kid. I remember watching Kermit and thinking ‘That’s what I want to do when I grow up.’ I don’t think I realized he was a puppet.”
One of the fey factors of the original muppet movies was that the muppets were treated like normal people in the real world, and I think Jason gets that. The later films focused on Muppets being part of these magical fantasy worlds (be it Pirates, Oz, or Treasure Island).
Lost Boys 3?
Lost Boys 2: The Tribe hasn’t even been released yet, yet Corey Feldman is already talking about a possible third film.
“The stage is set,” Feldman said of the ending to The Tribe. “So it’s really up to you, the viewer, and you, the audience, to see that final chapter comes into fruition.” “Personally the way I would like to see it go, I would like to see Edgar finally become a vampire himself and have to battle his own inner demons. That’s where it should go in my mind. I think that part of the magic for the whole trilogy would be seeing those characters that you trust, that you love, turning to the dark side and figuring out if they could make their way back. For the guy who’s out there defending truth, justice, and the American way to be confronted with his own demons, and actually have to go down the path of the dark side - will he make it out? Or has he gone down so far that once he’s turned, there’s no hope, light? Who can save him? I mean, once Edgar Frog’s turned, anything’s possible.”
I think it’s a little too early to talk about a third film, especially based on the negative fan response to the released movie trailers for The Tribe. But maybe a third film would allow them to make another Lost Boys movie, the way it should have been done.
source: MTV