First, the Muppets got a movie. Then, they solved a great caper. But taking Manhattan? In this economy?! Well, that’s next in our Muppets mega-series. In 1984’s The Muppets Take Manhattan, Kermit and company aspire to become Broadway stars. And director Frank Oz brings as much heart and unforgettable songs as fans would expect from a Muppet movie.
The Vern from Cinema Recall joins the show to delve deep into the third theatrically released Muppet film. We’ll discuss how Oz’s film meddles even more with the Muppets’ already loose canon, which musical numbers tug at our heartstrings the most, and The Muppets Take Manhattan‘s standing as the final entry in the franchise featuring Muppets creator Jim Henson.
The Muppet Movie took Kermit the Frog and company from The Muppet Show all the way to Hollywood. But beyond the “approximate” story of how the Muppets got together, what does everyone’s favorite group of frogs, pigs, bears, and whatevers do with their “rich and famous contracts”? The Great Muppet Caper, that’s what.
Ryan Luis Rodriguez of The Coolness Chronicles and Reels of Justice joins our Muppets mega-series as we break down Jim Henson’s feature directorial debut. We’ll discuss how it pays tribute to classic Hollywood musicals, why Kermit isn’t actually the main character, and whether The Great Muppet Caper is superior to its predecessor.
It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights. It’s time to meet the Muppets on a brand-new Franchise Detours mega-series. For the next eight episodes, we’ll be covering every single theatrically released Muppet film, journeying through spanning 35 years of Muppets on the big screen. First up is the story of “approximately” how the Muppets came together.
On this episode, Stephen Fodor of Too Much Scrolling joins the show to talk in-depth about 1979’s The Muppet Movie. We’ll discuss how the movie works as an adaptation of The Muppet Show, break down Paul Williams’ and Kenneth Ascher’s Oscar-nominated music, and answer once and for all whether the film indeed has “socially redeeming value.”
