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Category Archives: Muppets
Muppets Co-Creator Jane Henson Passes Away at 78
Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, passed away at seventy-eight years old. Jane had been battling cancer and sadly lost that battle on Tuesday. According to the Jim Henson Company, Jane died in her home in Connecticut.
Jane met Jim Henson in the 1950′s in a puppetry class at the University of Maryland. The pair then became business partners through the creation, development, and marketing of the Muppets. Jim Henson began performing on a TV show called “Sam and Friends” with his creations in Washington, D.C. He asked Jane to join him on the show as a performer and puppet designer, and she became his creative and business partner in the endeavor that produced Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the “Sesame Street” characters Big Bird, Ernie and the Cooke Monster. Jane continued her involvement in her husband’s company and together, they launched “The Muppet Show” and a series of Muppets movies beginning in the 1970′s.
First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
I was delighted to see the logo for Star Wars Weekends 2013 as shared by author Gary Buchanan. He said the artwork gives a nod to the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.” I vividly recall seeing the film in theaters with my parents in May 1983. I was completely obsessed with Star Wars at the time, so I love this poster as it reminds me of my childhood. Disney Design Group artist Tyler Dumas said they had some different poster concepts, like Mickey Mouse in the Rancor pit, before selecting an iconic scene from the Battle of Endor.
Here is a look at some new items with this year’s logo coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 17, 2013.
“First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Including a Disney Pin, a Coffee Mug, a Photo Frame and More”First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Fourth Season of “Good Luck Charlie” Premieres With a Special Performance by The Muppets
Season four of Disney Channel’s hit family comedy “Good Luck Charlie” premieres SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (7:30-8:00 p.m., ET/PT) with a special performance by Disney’s “The Muppets”. Guest stars Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Animal join series stars Bridgit Mendler and Leigh-Allyn Baker to perform a show-stopping, Muppet-ational original song.
In the premiere episode, the Duncan Family decides to build their dream house after the family home is devastated by termites. Everyone, with the exception of Charlie, is excited at the prospect of a new and larger home. However, Teddy has a change of heart after a dream in which Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Animal convince her that the old family home is really the house of her dreams. The episode’s original song “Dream House” is written by Grammy and Emmy-award winning Adam Schlesinger (“That Thing You Do,” “Fountains of Wayne,” “Tony Awards”) and produced by Schlesinger and Steven M. Gold (“Saturday Night Live,” “The Colbert Report”).
Disney’s “The Muppets are back again!” Production to begin in London
The filmmaking team behind 2011’s celebrated film “The Muppets” reunites as Disney’s “The Muppets … Again!” kicked off production last week in London. The all-new global Muppets adventure welcomes Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell and Tina Fey to the mayhem, along with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Walter and rest of the Muppets. The film is directed by James Bobin (“Flight of the Conchords,” “Da Ali G Show”), who was just nominated for a BAFTA for “The Muppets” (Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer), and produced by the Academy Award®-nominated team of David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman (“The Fighter,” “The Proposal”). With a screenplay by Bobin and Nicholas Stoller (“The Five-Year Engagement”), who is also executive producer with John Scotti, “The Muppets … Again!” will feature music from Academy Award®-winning songwriter Bret McKenzie (“Flight of the Conchords”), who won an Oscar® for best original song for “The Muppets” (“Man or Muppet”). The new film will hit the big screen March 21, 2014.
“It’s great to be back working with the Muppets,” said Bobin, “some of them even remember my name occasionally now. As for the movie, it’s a tip of the hat to the old-school crime capers of the ’60s, but featuring a frog, a pig, a bear and a dog—no panthers, even pink ones—along with the usual Muppet-y mix of mayhem, music and laughs.”
Walt Disney Studios Sets Release Dates For ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5′, ‘The Muppets 2′, and More
Walt Disney Studios has just announced a slew of new release dates for their upcoming slate of films, as well as 3D announcements for two of the upcoming Marvel Studios films, and a cancellation of one 3D re-release.
‘The Muppets 2′, which is rumored to be titled ‘The Muppets…Again’, will be released March 21, 2014.
‘Maleficent’, the new Angelina Jolie starring take on the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ story has been moved to July 2, 2014.
‘!952′, Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof’s mystery science fiction film, will be released December 19, 2014.
‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5′ will set sail July 10, 2015.
Both ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ will be released in 3D. Both films are still set for April 4, 2014 and August 1, 2014, respectively.
As for the re-release of ‘The Little Mermaid 3D’, it has now been pulled from the schedule altogether, and looks like it could have possibly been cancelled.
Which of the films on the new slate are you currently looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below, only here at Chip and Company!
Related articles
- The Walt Disney Studios Release Schedule Update for 2014 and beyond (chipandco.com)
- Disney Hires ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Screenwriter for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5′ (chipandco.com)
