#the muppets.

[ariel-seagull-wings]

JUST TO MAKE CLEAR: I DON'T HATE ABC'S THE MUPPETS. (2015)

@the-blue-fairie @themousefromfantasyland @princesssarisa @softlytowardthesun @thealmightyemprex @moonbeamelf @fragglesesamemuppetz2

I finished the show on Disney + recently (16 episodes).

It suffered from some conventions of a lot of sitcoms like dragging romantic relationship dramas and cheap quick jokes like "Ha ha ha ha, guy is pathetic because still lives with the mom" but it also presented a genuinelly fun time with the idea of the Muppets living everyday lives at the big city and highliting some side characters that previously only had quick appearances.

Here are the cons and pros.

Cons:

*Of the three original cast of proeminent women (Miss Piggy, Janice and Camilla), only Miss Piggy gets layers of personality, and even then she still suffers from flanderization of her diva behaviours and relationship drama with Kermit. Like: she forgets Fozzie's and other characters names, doesn't have friendships with other women (be they muppet or human), and only Kermit and Uncle Deadly are emotionally close to her;

*Floyd Pepper (besides the machismo in his relationship with Janice) is rewritten to be a conspiracy theorist;

*The idea of the uptight Sam having a crush on the free spirited Janice could have work in both a comedic and serious way if they tooked lessons from how Gonzo had to deal with unrequited crushes on the Muppet Show: it should had Janice know of the crush, reacting surprised and concerned, then calmly explaining to Sam that she couldn't have romantic feelings for him but they could be great friends, and Sam would suffer, but graciously accept and respect Janice's desires and boundaries, and it could result in a great friendship of two foiling personalities. But unfortunally it was handed in a way that Janice never learns of Sam's feelings and Sam acts so obsessed and self absorved that there is even a joke about implying he stalks her to her home, wich is just creepy;

*Fozzie suffering "racism for being a bear" (when dating the human girl Becky) from his father in law troughout the whole first episode, wich never gets developed on how it works in the rest of the show so probably shouldn’t have been used in the first place;

*Denise, a brunette pig with glasses who dates Kermit for a while, is provably the most boring character ever created in the Muppet franchise;

*Chip, the TI working Muppet who constantly hacks the computers and invades other characters privacy, is very off putting;

*Scooter being a character with unresolved problems with his mom and her boyfriend are frequently used for jokes that can be very grating and not as funny as when he mentioned his uncle in The Muppet Show;

Pros:

*Yolanda the Rat, God bless her! She is very street smart and snarky, but instead of just being a "pair for Rizzo", becomes her own character, competent, ambitious, inteligent and honest about what can go wrong in the backstages;

*Uncle Deadly, still ocasionally intimidating, but now a resilient and loyal friend with a great sense of fashion and a subtle sense of humour;

*Big Mean Carl (from Muppets Tonight) returns, and is still his hilarious savage self;

*Animal wasn't running around harassing women guests, wich is a great improvement;

*Bobo the Bear (who also started in Muppets Tonight) returns as a more competent no nonsense director, but still having a charming sense of naivete and kindness that made him so likable;

*The cunning and sarcastic duo of Rizzo and Pepe is comedic gold;

*Rowlf owns a bar called Rowlf's Tavern, receiving costumers by continuing to be his chill self, and I would love to have a milk-shake there;

*Robin the Frog's appearence in the later episodes is treated as a big event, and Kermit's nephew is still the sweet and innocent little frog that we know and love. Miss Piggy is shown to be a very caring friend to Robin, and he considers her to be his Aunt Piggy, wich is very touching and helps in the proccess of humanizing Miss Piggy.

*RuPaul is a guest;

I recomend it to fellow Muppet fans as an important way of learning how complicated to make a comedy show it is, and that sometimes things get trite and fail, but there are also things that really work to entertain in unexpexcted ways.

[chatosha]

Can Uncle Deadly be considered a DILF if he adopted a baby penguin Piggy kidnapped from Argentina

[crowdvscritic]

round up // APRIL 23

A selection of words capturing my April pop culture experiences:

Museum

Podcast

Amy Sherman-Palladino

Muppets

Vampire

Nike

American Girl dolls

Read on for everything that brought me joy this month!

April Crowd-Pleasers

1. Renfield (2023)

Did I write a review of Renfield, an ode to the two Nic(k)s, or analysis of the Great Resignation? Yes, yes, and yes. Read whatever, in fact, I wrote at ZekeFilm. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10

2. SNL Round Up

Whether they’re spoofing my childhood toys, my young adulthood wedding commitments, or my love for the Jonas Brothers, the crew in Studio 8H has been keeping me laughing this Spring.

“Southwest Airlines Announcement” (4811 with Michael B. Jordan) 

“The Big Hollywood Quiz” (4812 with Pedro Pascal) - A great example of how no one watches the same things anymore

“Waking Up” (4812)

“Protective Mom” (4812)

“Lisa From Temecula” (4812)

“American Girl Café” (4814 with Travis Kelce)

“Bridesmaid Cult Documentary” (4816 with Quinta Brunson) - I feel seen

"Weekend Update: Co-Worker Who's Extremely Busy Doing Seemingly Nothing on Returning to the Office” (4817 with Molly Shannon) - I feel attacked

“Sally O'Malley: Jonas Brothers” (4817)

“American Girl Doll Movie Trailer” (4818 with Ana de Armas)

3. Descanso Gardens

Because I can’t resist a botanical garden! Gardens are becoming a go-to attraction for me on vacations, and the Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles did not disappoint. The day we went was not too crowded but was impressive enough to earn a huge crowd—a hidden gem for LA tourists!

4. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Panel at PaleyFest

The gardens were lovely, but there were two other attractions that were the real reason for my visit to Los Angeles. The first was PaleyFest to see Amy Sherman-Palladino, Daniel Palladino, and the cast of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel! Just before the fifth and final season started on Amazon Prime, we heard Alex Borstein and Rachel Brosnahan share their mourning process for the show’s ending, Caroline Aaron and Michael Zegen reflect on what these roles have meant to them, and Tony Shalhoub crack up the crowd. (And who knew I would be so starstruck by him? When he came on stage I wanted to scream, “YOU WERE SO GOOD IN GALAXY QUEST!”) Check out SO IT’S A SHOW’s Instagram for more highlights from when my podcast co-host Kyla and I visited the Dolby Theatre (home of the Oscars!).

4. John Mulaney: Baby J (2023)

A full year ago I saw John Mulaney on his From Scratch tour, and now you can enjoy the set at home. His joke about not being interested in science “from magnets to ducks” did not make the cut (and alas now I can’t remember the setup for that punchline), but the other 90% of a show that made me laugh so hard I cried is preserved forever.

5. The Muppets. (2015-16)

Why did this gem only last 16 episodes? In this one-season single-cam sitcom, the Muppets are working on Late Night with Miss Piggy, a setting that could’ve produced comedy gold for years. With the frazzled Kermit producing, the Electric Mayhem as the in-studio band, and celebrity guests through the felt nose, I’m glad I checked out these 16 eps even though they ended on a cliffhanger. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like for Miss Piggy to date Josh Groban or to hold grudges against every blonde actress in Hollywood, you won’t want to miss it either.

7. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)

Special in the way that the best coming-of-age movies are. I suspect Margaret’s insecurities about boys, bras, and besties will feel relatable to Gens Z and Alpha if for no other reason than this movie’s depiction felt scarily accurate to my own experience in the mid-2000s. I promise I will never start a review with the story of my first period ever again! At least, probably—at the rate we're going, it will never be apropos again. Read the full review at ZekeFilm. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9/10

April Critic Picks

1. AIR (2023)

Is it controversial to say Matt and Ben’s collabs only get better? If we're playing Greatest/Best/Favorite, this might be my new ranking:

Greatest: Good Will Hunting

Best: The Last Duel

Favorite: AIR

Read my full review for ZekeFilm. Crowd: 9.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

2. The Academy Museum

The other reason I went out to Los Angeles: After years of pandemic-caused delays, I finally made it to the Academy Museum! Six floors of movie and Oscars history and memorabilia? You know I’m in my happy place, but casual movie fans will find something for them, too. Some of my favorite exhibits included the several-stories high Mount Rushmore backdrop used in North by Northwest, the gallery that used The Godfather to show each element of filmmaking, and the pianos from Casablanca. Fanny’s (named for Barbra Streisand’s character in Funny Girl) serves exceptional museum food, and I learned about deep cut filmmakers and movements I was only vaguely familiar with before I went. I’d give the Academy a gold statue for museum execution if I could!

3. Good Reads

A miscellaneous round up of good stuff I’ve read lately…

Final thoughts on 2022 Awards Season:

“How Avatar: The Way of Water Can Make $2 Billion and Still Feel Irrelevant,” Vox.com (2023)

“How Did We Let the Golden Globes Back In?” LATimes.com (2022)

Unexpected responses to Cocaine Bear:

“An Attempt to Define the ‘Good for Her’ Cinematic Universe,” Vulture.com (2023)

“The Case for Cocaine Bears,” Slate.com (2023)

Glitches in the Sports Industry Matrix:

“America’s Bad Bet on Expanding Legal Sports Gambling,” Vox.com (2023)

“Will Damar Hamlin’s Injury Change the NFL? Why a Safer Game Could Turn Away Fans,” LATimes.com (2023)

Watching trends that need to be fixed:

“Mumbling Actors, Bad Speakers or Lazy Listeners? Why Everyone is Watching TV With Subtitles On,” TheGuardian.com (2023)

“Television Is Going Exactly the Wrong Direction. I Know the Solution.” Slate.com (2023)

Explorations of our malaise at work:

“How to Care Less About Work,” TheAtlantic.com (2021)

“The Age of the Crisis of Work,” Harpers.org (2023)

All the ways—okay, just some of the way—social media is on the struggle bus right now:

“Why Every App Now Feels Like TikTok, but Worse,” NYMag.com (2023)

“How Elon Musk Turned the Blue Check Mark Into a Scarlet Letter,” Slate.com (2023)

“Commentary: If Twitter Finally Dies, Where Do We Find the Smart People?” LATimes.com (2023)

And even more miscellaneous good reads: 

“You’ll Feel Better if You Go Outside,” NewYorker.com (2021)

“The Oral History of Helm’s Deep,” Inverse.com (2022)

“I’ve Had It With Stunt Ice Cream Flavors,” Eater.com (2023)

“Clothes Make the Con Man,” NYTimes.com (2023)

“Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, and the Easter Egg-ification of the Hollywood Feud,” Vox.com (2023)

“Why Are TV Writers So Miserable?” NewYorker.com (2023)

4. Current Exhibits at the St. Louis Art Museum

My membership to the SLAM always pays off. In April I indulged in two special exhibits:

The Age of Armor, which showcases the history of armor and battle gear with an emphasis on suits of armor. The galleries did a great job explaining how the armor functioned and provided model pieces to try yourself, but you know my favorite part was the Black Panther and Star Wars costumes at the end!

Monet/Mitchell: Painting the French Landscape compares the work of Claude Monet and American expat Joan Mitchell, and it brought me back to my magical trip to Giverny last summer! 

5. The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)

Sumptous costumes and sets, Bette Davis doing the most acting, and Errol Flynn at his handsomest. This Queen Elizabeth I costume drama from Michael Curtiz is maximalist in aesthetic and romantic at its heart. Crowd: 7/10 // Critic: 9/10

6. Under the Umbrella: A Little Women Podcast (2023-)

Little Women superfans unite! Kate and Kelsey (friends and both teachers) are analyzing the book and film versions from every angle, and if you love the March sisters, Louisa May Alcott, or Greta Gerwig, they are going to be your new best friends. 

7. Just Like Us: The Tabloids That Changed America (2022)

Last spring the Ringer Dish podcast did a deep dive into the ‘00s tabloids and their obsession with Brangelina, Bennifer, and ‘90s child stars gone wild—so basically everything I obsessed over in middle school. Bottom line: They probably didn’t make our world better, but those mags (and emerging online blogs and reality TV) sure tapped into parts of our brains that made them addictive. This eight-episode series challenges any assumption we have about about celebrity gossip being harmless—or frivolous.

Until May’s Round Up…

In spite of the current state of things, I’m still tweeting in denial as @tblake24. Come join me until this platform burns to the ground!

If you want real-time updates on what I’m watching and loving, you can also find me as @tblake24 on Letterboxd. 

Photo credits: Good Reads, Under the Umbrella, Just Like Us. Descanso Gardens, PaleyFest, Academy Museum, and SLAM my own. All other IMDb.com. 

[thingsthatmakemefeelhappy]

This show was AMAZING.

the muppets, 1x01: “Pig Girls Don’t Cry.”

[edsrosetattoo]

This is the best idea in the history of film.

[celiavonhinten]

[cecenyss]

I wish I was a muppet so I could flail uncontrollably with no consequences. And for the scrunch

[jacobtheloofah]

never change, tumblr. never fucking change.

original post: X

[komakesthings]

I've slowly been chipping away at drawing scenes from that imaginary Muppet retelling of the Princess Bride, figured it was about time to share what I've drawn on Tumblr!

[bestoldmanyaoi]

Old Man Yaoi Semifinals

[grickle14]

Kermit discovers a frog in his kitchen.

[wildemoth]

Gender is a performance and it’s time to play the music it’s time to light the lights it’s time to meet the muppets on the muppets show tonight

[smoothjazzdigit]

Have you guys seen that clip

Go off Kermit

[fabcreature]

when gerard way sings "the broken, the beaten, and the damned" and when kermit the frog sings "the lovers, the dreamers, and me" they're talking about the same people btw

[themuppetmasterencyclopedia]

[daincrediblegg]

OK THIS IS NOT A FUCKING DRILL EVERYONE FUCKING REPEAT AFTER ME. THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL DO WHEN YOU WATCH MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL THIS YEAR:

You will navigate to the page on disney plus (and it has to be here. Unless someone has actually uploaded the REAL movie anywhere else you cannot get it elsewhere)

BUT YOU WILL NOT HIT PLAY. You won’t do it. Because it’s NOT THE REAL VERSION OF THE FILM AND DISNEY IS FUCKING LYING TO YOU AS IT ALWAYS DOES

You will scroll down HERE. To EXTRAS instead. You MUST GO HERE. This is non -negotiable

THEN YOU WILL SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EXTRAS AND YOU WILL THEN HIT PLAY ON THIS BAD BOY: THE FULL LENGTH VERSION

And you will watch it. And you will thank me for having been so blind and led astray by that stupid fucking mouse. You’re welcome.