New 'edgy' "Muppets" series at Fox...

[Vin]

"The Muppets may be coming back to television, and if they do, it’ll be with an edge.

Fox and Jim Henson Television are teaming up on a new Muppets series that will feature a whole new batch of characters and some of the old favorites.

Kermit, Miss Piggy and other Muppet favorites will still be involved, but Fox executives are looking to create a new take on the classic The Muppet Show.

Fox executives said the project is still in the earliest stages of development and it could be ready in 2003."

-TV Insite (http://www.tvinsite.com)

I don't know if I should be excited, or worried.

[Calhoun07]

It depends, I guess. What "edge" are they taking?

[Joe Tully]

I am definitely intrigued. I know that Jim Henson got really tired of doing the more cutesy stuff (hence projects like Dark Crystal). It'll be interesting to see what they come up with fi theis comes to be.

I think that they pretty much have to change things around in order to succeed. Their last couple of attempts at redoing the Muppet Show didn't work very well. The last one flopped terribly, only airing a few episodes on network TV.

[The Penguin]

I'm not ashamed to say I love the Muppets, but I might be once Fox gets their filthy hands on them. :mad:

We'll have to wait and see what the home of The Glutton Bowl, Who Wants To Marry a Multi-Millionare, and Celebrity Boxing :rolleyes: will do to/with Jim Henson's wonderful creations.

He may have wanted to do things a little less cute, but I find it hard to believe he would want Fozzie to be alcoholic or anything like that. Which is what I would expect from the "fine" people at Fox when they promise something will have an "edge." :eek:

[James]

I'm going to wait until I hear a little more.

Any excuse to have the Muppets return is worth attempting and a fresh angle may bring a whole new era to the characters...

Then again....

Fingers crossed!

[The Dork Knight]

I hope this will be "good".....

For some reason I can imagine Fozzie drunk.....

"I love you Kermit.... I really REALLY love you........"

- Foley Is Good:D

[Killtacular]

So I guess Greg the Bunny doesn't really have much of a future, eh?

[Elven Moon]

Didn't they already create another take on The Muppet Show on ABC? It was pretty short lived, I think it was called Muppets Tonight or something.

This has me a little worried. I don't think I'm ready to see a drunk Fozzie or a kleptomaniac Rizzo :eek: I still look at them with childlike rosed-colored glasses (yes, I'm such a kid). And if this is FOX, that may just be what I'll be seeing. I'm scared... hold me!

[nerium_oleander]

All right this is the best! As long as FOX doesn't botch it, and Yes it was Muppets Tonight and it was funny as hell! Some great next generation characters came out of it, Clifford, and Johnny Fiama! and SAL! Johnny Fiama and Sal are the best, and Pepe! Pepe the King Prawn, oh my GOD, one line from MUPPETS FROM SPACE sums it all up, "Shut up, or I will hit you very hard like a bad bad donkey, okay?" I'm just diggin the Long John Silvers Commercial strictly because of Pepe. Muppets tonight was just so underrated and if it'd been treated right it could have done so cool stuff, the Episode with Don Rickles is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

I recommend if you like Muppets to check out Henson.com and look at the outtakes, they are so funny and capture the maniac brilliance of all things Muppets. I'm still peeved about Futurama, but if Fox gives the Muppets the shot they deserve then by god I'll forgive them.

-n

[Captain Caps]

whether I should be happy or fearful.

As a life-long Muppet fan, I gladly welcome any opportunity to get them on TV...but this is Fox, and I am a little afraid. Fox isn't exactly known for subtlety and sensitivity.

I'll give this a few shots, and I hope it's good.

Sincerely,

John "Captain Caps" Kilduff

P.S,

As much as I like the 80s, I sort of stopped watching "That 80s Show".

[Vin]

Originally posted by Matt Wilson
So I guess Greg the Bunny doesn't really have much of a future, eh?

Actually Matt, I read that FOX became interested in the new series BECAUSE they are hoping "Greg the Bunny" does well. Why order another puppet series, when you think the other would fail?

[Evil Dr. Reef]

I'd be insanely happy if they'd just show the OLD episodes of the Muppet Show (from the 70's) again. I loved that show...

[Zorakfan]

My favorite part was when the muppets exploded. All hail Svedish Shef!

[DR. BELCH]

The Penguin:
...I find it hard to believe [Jim Henson] would want Fozzie to be alcoholic or anything like that.
Not Fonzie. Though Gonzo always looked to me like the kind of guy who'd take a drink.
Maybe we'd finally see Kermit and Piggy's strange bi-species, possibly illegitimate, chidren--green bug-eyed flippered pigphibians....

[The Polisher]

I like the idea of a new Muppets show. It'll be an appreciated nostalgia trip, much like the one I'm on now. I'm a little, aprehensive, about new characters, though, but I'll take what I can get.


Originally posted by Zorakfan
My favorite part was when the muppets exploded. All hail Svedish Shef!
They need to give the Swedish Chef his own show!!!!

[The Mad Hatter]

Yes! This makes me darn happy. I'm not too worried about the new characters... remember, the glorious Pepe was a new character once, and look at him now! I wouldn't worry too much about the "edge..." Muppets have always had a hidden edge, with a zinger or two hidden in there for adults. I remember on the funny and underrated ABC Muppets Tonight a "Seinfeld Babies" segment that made reference to "the contest..." i.e., masterbation. And the original Muppet Show had occasional bits like that as well. I'll be waiting!

[Killtacular]

I just don't think it would make sense to air Greg the Bunny and the Muppets Show at the same time.. Greg looks to be a bastardization of all that is puppetry.. and Muppets Show would blow it out of the water.. so technically, it's competition, unless both were run on the same night.

[Vin]

Originally posted by Matt Wilson
I just don't think it would make sense to air Greg the Bunny and the Muppets Show at the same time.. Greg looks to be a bastardization of all that is puppetry.. and Muppets Show would blow it out of the water.. so technically, it's competition, unless both were run on the same night.

Well, the new "Muppets" show is planned for 2003. That's quite a while.

[nerium_oleander]

Originally posted by The Mad Hatter
... remember, the glorious Pepe was a new character once, and look at him now!


PEPE!!!
YAY!



"Pepe...
He's a Sexy King Prawn!
Shut yo' Mouth!
I'm just talking bout Pep!"



-n

[Mad Monkey 7]

The Muppets are still for sale so that could affect the out come of the show. EM.TV will sell the Jim Henson Company this year and guess who the leader of the bids is?

Hint: M.I.C.K.E.Y M.O.U.S.E

[James]

This story has been exposed thoroughly in the UK tabloids today. Reports have been than Kermit will be wearing a tux and Piggy with an Aniston haircut..

If this is as far as the new version extends. I'll be happy... although I'm betting more revelations are in the works!

[batboy2001]

Hmmm, like everyone else, I think this can be very good, or very bad. Godd because we get new muppets ( :D ), bad, because what do they mean by edge???? And the network.... Hope theu don't kill this...

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Okay, I'm wondering.

The muppets, even with the hidden jokes, were still a clean and funny show for all ages. An 'edge' is DEFINANTLY going to be something to wonder about...didn't "Muppets Tonight?" do something like that? It's making me nervous to think of an adult Muppets show. A Fozzie acting like Jerry Seinfeld *my own thoughts on him in this show * just doesn't seem right...

I'll be tuning in since I love the Muppets, but I'll be wary of it...

...and for the record, a drunk Gonzo still very well may not be much different from his usual self. Words may be a bit more slurred, but nothing big. ;)

[Chris Sanders MSX]

I STILL Miss the Muppet Babies...The absolute BEST animated television ever.

I'm a fan of the older muppets Series but The muppet Babies freaking own all that is television.

[Vin]

Originally posted by Chris Sanders MSX
I STILL Miss the Muppet Babies...The absolute BEST animated television ever.

I'm a fan of the older muppets Series but The muppet Babies freaking own all that is television.

I loved "Muppet Babies." That was such a great series. Memories....

[nerium_oleander]

Originally posted by Mad Monkey 7
The Muppets are still for sale so that could affect the out come of the show. EM.TV will sell the Jim Henson Company this year and guess who the leader of the bids is?

Hint: M.I.C.K.E.Y M.O.U.S.E

They've had their shot before and from what I recall didn't do much more than make a theme park ride out of them. Though I don't remember the time frame, and now that I think of it more, Treasure Island came out under Disney, hmmmm, maybe it would be a good thing, atleast they'd have access to a larger budget. Who was in charge when Muppets Tonight hit the air? It was ABC, so I'm thinking Disney. Of the two alternatives, Disney and AOL/T-W, I guess Disney is the lesser of the Two evils. I just wish I could buy the company and help it stand alone.



-n

[James]

Good lord, Disney again! Won't be long before we will have to give them their own forum! Disney seem to be taken some major board heat at the moment! Good!

(Bet FOX is glad of the breathing space!)

I hope this never happens. The Muppets, to me, have always stood for everything that isn't Disney! This would be a crime if Disney got even a whisker close... (actually the ties to MGM do bring the muppets close to the big D... Kermit, I'd start sweating if I was you...)

[Chris Sanders MSX]

I loved "Muppet Babies." That was such a great series. Memories....

Yeah I know.. It was funny, entertaining and ACTUALLY edjucational. When I was younger I used to try and use my imagination just because the muppet babies did it. Gonzo was my favorite character and the stuff I learned from the show I used all the way up until my Sophmore year of High school.

I'm sure I could still use it if I could find out what time and network it's on. I remember seeing the series on the hallmark network really early in the morning with fat Albert and The Cosby kids BUT that was a while ago so I'm not sure any more.