The Muppets are on a mission with their new Fan-a-Thon: to get “a bazillion” (or even “gazillion”) likes on Facebook.
I’m fully on board with this mission, because if there is one thing I really and truly want it’s for there to be more awesome Muppet movies in my future. Admittedly, the Muppets hit a bit of a slump at the end of the 90’s, but I’m confident that this new movie will bring them back to us in exceptional fashion. Jason Segel and a fantastic creative team have taken up the mighty task of bringing the Muppets back, and I can’t help but root for them every step of the way. Mostly because I feel that the Muppets have become so much more than the characters themselves- in many ways they are symbols of hope, inspiring creativity, and friendship that deserve to be remembered and, in my opinion, carried on into the future.
“My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here.” – Jim Henson
Jim Henson’s 75th birthday would have been September 24th, 2011 – and the Muppet Mindset Blog posted a lot of great articles for the occasion. One article in particular, “Jim Henson’s 75th Birthday: The Effect on the World,” is especially heartfelt and a must-read. The following quote from the post really spoke to me as someone who has adored the Muppets my whole life:
“James V. Carrol (Muppet Fan Artist): At five years old, my parents took me to see the theatrical debut of The Muppet Movie and it greatly impacted my life. I remember everything about that day. The illusion was so real that I actually believed the Swedish Chef broke the projector in the middle of the movie. Most people mistake becoming rich and famous as the goal of the film, but it’s about sharing your journey with other likeminded individuals who may be very different in every other aspect of their lives. That kind of positivity, no matter what the challenge, is how I always think of Jim Henson and is only a fraction of what his work continues to mean in my life.”
Head over to their site and give the article a read.
Passing the Muppets on to another generation is a huge deal, and it’s even bigger if this movie is as much the achievement I hope it will be. If you haven’t seen the latest trailer, “The Pig With the Froggy Tattoo,” watch it here and then head over to facebook to give the Muppets as many “likes” as you can.
And if you love Muppets music, check out the new “Green Album” featuring covers by OK GO, The Fray, Andrew Bird, Rachael Yamagata, Weezer and Hayley Williams, My Morning Jacket, Alkaline Trio and more. You can preview some of the tracks from the Album here.
Finally, the ultimate question to you, the readers. Who is your favorite Muppet and why? My favorite Muppet has always been Kermit – for his ability to bring the “whole gang” together, every time, no matter what the obstacles may be.