The lovable and zany Muppets were honored today with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to coincide with the DVD and Blu-ray release of their newest film The Muppets. In appropriate Muppet humor, the press release referred to it as the Hollywood “Wocka Wocka” of Fame.
The President and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Leron Gubler emceed the event with guest speakers Rich Ross, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios and Lisa Henson, CEO, The Jim Henson Company (and daughter of the late and dearly missed Jim Henson).
The event was held at the Historic El Capitan Theatre, and several Muppets attended including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Animal, Pepe, Sweetums, and Walter, who made his debut in The Muppets, released today. Kermit and Miss Piggy were most recently seen together at the Academy Awards, where the nominated song from The Muppets, “Man or Muppet,” won in the Best Song Category.
“Thanks to creative genius Jim Henson and these extraordinary puppeteers, the Muppets are truly worldwide icons and Hollywood stars,” said Ross. “They are a treasured part of the Disney family, and we’re thrilled to see them join so many other luminaries on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
The Muppets’ star is the 2,466th on the Walk of Fame, where other famous names can be found, including Tinker Bell, Mickey Mouse, and Big Bird. Kermit the Frog received his own individual star in 2002 (the 2,208th), and Muppets creator Jim Henson received a star posthumously in 1991. A banner picturing Henson along the Walk is sponsored by the Jim Henson Company and can be seen during the dance number on Hollywood Boulevard in The Muppets.
I imagine that Miss Piggy will soon be demanding her very own star. In fact, I’m surprised she doesn’t have one already. I can see her now, telling anyone who will listen that she’s the real star of the Muppets and the only one who can truly act. That Miss Piggy. Such a diva!