One of the mainstays of the Muppet world is their love of music and over the years they have put their Muppet “spin” on a number of popular songs. The soundtrack for the newest film (The Muppets) continues this trend with Camilla and the Chicken’s version of CeeLo’s “Forget You” and the Muppet Barbershop Quartet taking on Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The Muppets never just cover these songs; they incorporate their crazy antics and sometimes even change up the lyrics making the song their own. Although the Muppets have their own band (shout out to Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem) it never stops the rest of the crew from getting in on the musical action.

“But I don’t want to hunt worms. I want Snuffy to come and visit. And if he can’t come and visit, I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to go home!” If you asked a million Muppets fans why they love The Muppets, you would likely get a million different answers, but most of those reasons would probably be rooted in the caring world created by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, a world of family and friendship, of acceptance and education. And while Muppet flicks like The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper embody all those traits (and are much more likely to be the feature titles viewers think of when they think “Muppet movie”), my favorite Muppet flick that has always best exemplified all those traits is the very first Sesame Street film – Follow That Bird.

After cutting his puppetry teeth on short films and episodes of Sesame Street in the late 60s and early 70s, legendary puppeteer Jim Henson finally got a chance to give his felt faced creations a spotlight show of their own in the mid 70s. That show was The Muppet Show, and it was awesome. So awesome that it eventually spawned a series of feature films. While there’s always room for conflicting opinions, some consensuses (consensii?) about these movies have popped up over the years. It seems that all Muppets are not created equal. Generally everyone agrees that the original film, The Muppet Movie, was the best. And it’s also largely agreed that the first three movies, the ones that still had Jim Henson involvement, are better than the ones that came after. While there’s some general truthiness to these beliefs, I can’t say that I think those divisions hold up as absolute truths. Thank God, this column would have been a wreck otherwise.

There’s always been something inherently brilliant about the world of The Muppets. In their world, one in which felt-skinned frogs live in real life swamps and sing songs and a bear’s natural habitat is a Studebaker, there’s no limit to what can be accomplished if you follow your dreams. It’s a world very much like our own, only a lot more optimistic. There’s also always been something to the way the world of The Muppets seamlessly works alongside reality. They don’t feel like fictional characters, but characters we could very well meet on the street someday. Or so we should hope. It’s this no-wall approach that allows the folks behind The Muppets to make them nonfiction and fiction all at the same time. It allows them to deliver both a new movie and some silly marketing fun that comments on other movies all at the same time. And as we’ve come to expect, these parodies of Twilight and Green Lantern and the like aren’t made with cynicism. They’re made with the unbridled optimism and fun-loving spirit that has been a part of The Muppets all along. To celebrate this lovely campaign of marketing mastery, we’ve assembled all the parody trailers into one place (right here) and posted them below for your viewing enjoyment. It’s just another part of our joyous week of celebration through our Guide to The Muppets. 

Why Watch? It’s a class full of Muppets. Teaching you how to make Muppets. Then Jim Henson is surrounded by them while they all sing “Frère Jacques.” Why wouldn’t you watch it? What does it cost? Just 6 minutes of your time. Check out Making Muppets for yourself:

When picking a director for the first feature film starring The Muppets since 1999′s Muppets from Space, it’s essential that the chosen helmer has not only the skill to pull off the production, but an affection and respect for the material that fans of the felted ones will be able to see and feel. The Muppets hit the jackpot with director James Bobin, a Muppets super-fan who also has a background in song, dance, comedy, and all that jazz. Who else would understand the essential element of The Muppets – believing that it’s all real? The Muppets is Bobin’s first feature film, but the British director has earned his stripes with some seminal television series – writing and directing Da Ali G Show and creating (along with writing, directing, and producing) Flight of the Conchords. He’s also been nominated for a BAFTA and a Writers Guild of America Award, along with notching no less than eleven Emmy nominations for his work. I sat down with the very excited and very genuine director to talk about The Muppets, starring an all-new Muppet (Walter) and centering on his journey to something close to Bobin’s heart – becoming a part of the, ahem, fabric that is the Muppets. After the break, Bobin discusses how his television background helped him launch a full-scale Muppet movie, his favorite Muppets to work with, treating the material with the utmost respect, and how to build that believable world from five feet off the ground.

It seems appropriate that Jim Henson’s legendary creation, the Muppets, got their start on children’s programming and public television because they have a lot to teach the world. Not only did they spearhead the low-rent show Sam and Friends on WRC-TV in Washington DC, they were also instrumental in making Sesame Street a primary education powerhouse. But even when the Muppets branched out from their roots to land in their variety show and later major motion pictures, they still had a lot to teach us. Like many folks out there, I grew up with the Muppets, and these are some of the most important lessons I have taken away over the years.

This week, modern TV stars meet with nostalgic puppets in the new film The Muppets. And while we don’t condone sneaking booze into a theater filled with families and kids, there’s always the option to watch some of the original Muppet content on DVD, VHS, Netflix Instant and various other On Demand platforms. This game works for any of the Muppet movies, though we suggest starting with The Muppet Movie from 1979 before checking out the later films (like The Muppet Wizard of Oz). In theory, it’s also compatible with The Muppet Show, though Dr. Bunsen Honeydew is currently conducting experiments with Beaker to be sure. Poor Beaker.

What is Movie News After Dark? It has been happening (just about) every weeknight since the beginning of the year. One would hope that you have an idea about what it is by now. For those who still haven’t caught on, it’s about movie news… and it happens after dark. We begin tonight with the story of the wee hours of yesterday, in which Empire’s latest issue began shipping with two covers from The Dark Knight Rises, including the limited edition Bane cover seen above. Some of the folks around the web with camera have sent pictures in to Coming Soon, but more importantly, they’ve included details from the set visit piece within Empire. Especially notable is the part about The Dark Knight Rises being set 8 years in the future.

Asking someone to choose his or her favorite Muppet is tough. It may not be as tough as asking a parent to choose his or her favorite child; it’s maybe more akin to asking someone to choose his or her favorite ice cream flavor. Sure, there are some you like more than others, but can you rally make the defining choice between Baskin-Robbins mint chocolate chip and rocky road? But if you watch some of the old episodes of The Muppet Show or spin through the multiple Muppet movies, you’ll find that there are at least one or two characters who rise to the top…

While others may turn to The Muppet Christmas Carol this time of year, my Muppet holiday movie of choice has always been A Muppet Family Christmas. Yes – it was a made-for-TV movie, but it is pure entertainment from beginning to end. I remember watching with my younger brother back when you would watch TV when it aired and sit through the commercials (remember those days?) and we laughed and laughed at those Muppets’ crazy antics. I have always been a fan of “things spinning out of control” humor – the first scene in “The Injury” episode of The Office killed me and any Griswold movie leaves me in stitches – and A Muppet Family Christmas delivers this in droves when the entire Muppet gang unexpectedly descends on Mama Fozzie Bear’s farm for Christmas, much to the dismay of Doc (of Fraggle Rock fame) and his dog Sprocket who rented the farm for a “nice, quiet Christmas.” Unfortunately for Doc, the arrival for the Muppets sends that wish right out the window and luckily for us, it is a hilarious romp as more and more of our felt friends show up to celebrate the season.

Editor’s Note: As part of our week-long Guide to The Muppets, Gwen Reyes takes a look at one of the funniest, most intimate and lovely scenes from the 1979 classic. Setting the Scene: 1979 was a pivotal year for cinema. Not only did modern classics like Alien, Apocalypse Now, and Caligula (!!) make their way into local movieplexes, but in the summer a little green frog and his lovable band of merry men (and pig) leaped from American homes to the big screen. Thanks entirely to the popularity of The Muppet Show Jim Henson’s iconic Muppets were in high demand. Considering how Hollywood obsessed Kermit and company were on their TV series, it only made sense the first film in a long line of Muppet features would be about the crew’s showbiz aspirations. Intentionally self-aware, the film begins with Kermit (voiced by Henson) introducing the final cut of The Muppet Movie in a private studio screening room for all the Muppets we know in love. The camera bounces around from face to face, stopping at everyone from Fozzie Bear (voice by Frank Oz) to Miss Piggy (Oz). Kermit explains to his nephew Robin (voiced by Jerry Nelson) that the film is a loose adaptation of how the Muppets met and made their way to Hollywood—read: meta moment if we ever saw one. And just as Hare Krishna jokes become a running gag anytime says they are looking for direction, The Muppet Movie’s self-consciousness allows the audience to feel as if

As we begin our celebration of The Muppets, you’ll notice that we’ve got plenty to cover. Not only are we looking back at the history of Kermit and friends, we’re also celebrating their return in the Disney film, directed by James Bobin, that we’ve already said is a fun return to form for these beloved characters. So it’s only right that we begin with a look at the colorful imagery released by Disney in anticipation of the film. From bus shelter posters to character one-sheets to shots from within and behind the scenes of the film, we’ve assembled all the available shots from in and around this exciting new movie in a feature we call The Ultimate ‘Muppets’ Photo Gallery. To see all the photos, simply head over to The Ultimate Muppets Photo Gallery by clicking here or click on the image above. For more of our week-long celebration, be sure to bookmark our Muppets Guide homepage.

It’s time to start the music. It’s time to light the lights. It’s time to get things started on this epic Thanksgiving weekend, in which we will all once again meet The Muppets. The affair between Miss Piggy and Kermit The Frog rages on, the shenanigans of Gonzo and his poultry posse continue, and the likes of Scooter, Rowlf, the Swedish Chef and even Electric Mayhem are all here and ready to party. Yes, on Wednesday, November 23, Disney’s latest entry into the franchise featuring some of Jim Henson’s most beloved creations will hit theaters, and The Muppets will look to connect with generations of happy moviegoers, young and old. In celebration of The Muppets, and because we simply love those little puppets, the Film School Rejects team will be presenting our Official Guide to the Muppets. Within said guide, you will find a number of fascinating articles, everything from our review of The Muppets to our looks back at Muppet movies of old, to features about the music of The Muppets, a guide to the characters, things we’ve learned from The Muppets over the years and yes, even a Muppets drinking game. There’s something here for everyone. So stay tuned as we spend this entire week celebrating our old friends, The Muppets. To keep tabs on all of our Muppet-related goodness this week, you may want to head over to (and bookmark) our Muppets Guide homepage.

Why Watch? There’s something simple and raw about this footage. In it, Jim Henson takes a group full of puppeteers and Muppets through some numbers (including a musical one). It’s a window into the way the master worked. At least, it’s a view to how he taught, and those methods are all part of the magic that we never got to see because it stayed backstage while the magic took the stage. What does it cost? Just 6 minutes of your time. Check out Muppets Counting for yourself:

What is Movie News After Dark? It’s a nightly movie news column that is currently incensed with its own author, as it has determined that he is a giant wuss. Seriously? You almost let a little stomach bug get in the way of doing the news?! Pansy. Now, on with the good stuff. The shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Oscar has been released. Among the contenders listed in notes from Jeff Wells is Bullhead, a recent pickup of Drafthouse Films and standout film of this year’s Fantastic Fest line-up. Our own Luke Mullen called it “damn near a masterpiece.” That’s high praise, if I’ve ever seen it.

What is Movie News After Dark? It’s a nightly movie news column that doesn’t want to hurt anyone, but it will if it doesn’t get exactly what it wants. All it wants, however, is to bring you the news every weeknight and to consume a few cheeseburgers here and there. Nothing much, just links and beef and cheddar. Mmm… cheddar. “Sure, we said that we weren’t going to do any more parody trailers. But we didn’t say anything about parody posters!” Oh Disney, you scoundrels. We begin tonight with a shot of WereRowlf, a character from The Muppet Saga, a parody play from Disney’s The Muppets that came in a package of three posters. If it wasn’t so silly, it would be completely stupid. But it’s the Muppets, so I can’t help but giggle.

While I am not entirely sure that fans of animation and puppets and joy and wonder and childhood dreams need yet another reason to check out The Muppets when it opens over Thanksgiving weekend, Disney and Pixar are not taking any chances, loading up the fleecy feel-good film of the holidays with an extra gift – a new Pixar short. But it’s not just any new Pixar short, it’s a Toy Story short. Small Fry returns us to a post-Toy Story 3 world, with (spoiler alert if for some horrific reason you’ve yet to see the third film, you cold-hearted bastard) all the toys happily living out a play-filled existence with wee lass Bonnie. Ever equal when it comes to said play time, Small Fry opens with Bonnie and her mom going on a fast food-outing, accompanied by both Buzz and Rex. But a tiny little tyrant capitalizes on some ball-room confusion, usurping Buzz’s place in Bonnie’s backpack and leaving ol’ Lightyear to fend for himself. Happy Meal toys will never look the same after you see Small Fry. Angus MacLane (who previously contributed to the Burn-E short) directs the film, which features voice work from Pixar director Teddy Newton as the bite-sized Buzz and Jane Lynch as newcomer Neptuna, along with the whole rest of the recognizable Toy Story gang, including Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, John Ratzenberger, and Joan Cusack. After the break, sate your appetite for delicious new Toy Story fare and check out larger versions of two new

What is Movie News After Dark? It’s a nightly movie news column that isn’t holding out hope that it will be chosen to host the 84th Academy Awards. It has never had a good working relationship with Brian Grazer. Earlier today the entire film world was talking about Brett Ratner’s departure as producer of the Oscars because of a whole bunch of controversy over some comments he made that offended fans of rehearsals. Everyone wanted him out, and they got it. The also got the bonus of Eddie Murphy jumping ship as host, two-for-one discount style. And now they’re getting something else, which might be seen as a bonus. The Academy confirmed this evening via a press release that Brian Grazer will produce the 84th Academy Awards telecast. The odds on Tom Hanks hosting just went through the roof.

The world first learned about Jason Segel’s love of puppetry when he performed an all-puppet Dracula musical during the climactic moments of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Segel then parlayed the success of that film into the fulfillment of a lifelong dream when he got handed the reins of Jim Henson’s iconic stable of puppet characters The Muppets for his upcoming film…The Muppets. Though all pre-release indicators point to the fact that Segel has gotten the voice of The Muppets just right and had a great time making not only the movie, but also the neverending tidal wave of ancillary marketing stuff, it still doesn’t seem like he’s gotten his fill of working with puppets just yet. As a matter of fact, this may be only the beginning. When talking to The Playlist about what he plans on doing next, Segel told an anecdote about reacquiring the first film he ever sold, “I actually just got back into possession my first script I ever sold when I was 21-years-old. It sat on a shelf and they didn’t know that it was the same Jason Segel. I came to them because the contract was up and I went to buy it up and they were like, ‘No, wait, that was you? That was your script?’ And I was like, ‘Yep, sorry dudes.’ So I now own it and I want to make it. It’s a kids adventure movie in the style of Goonies or Labyrinth or something like that. I think that’s the next