From: Brad Shur <mr_utamaro-AT-hotmail.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:33:55 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Muppet Special



I started to write my review and scrapped it, because it made me feel like a bitter old man.

But I like critique, it makes me think more sharply about my own work, so I'll post this anyway.

The most glaring thing about the new Muppet Christmas special was how watered down the lead characters had become. I've heard it said (maybe by Jim?) that each of the muppets were deeply flawed, and that it took all of them together to make one whole healthy person. This made them interesting, their stangeness and dysfunction, made them human.

Not in this special though. Almost any line spoken by Kermit, Fozzie or Gonzo could have been spoken by either of the others, with the same delivery. A lot of what they said was the most basic explication possible to move the plot ahead.

One thing it got me really thinking about (really on my mind a lot these days) is the difference between children's entertainment and family entertainment. I tend to really dislike most children's entertainment. It talks down to kids and is difficult for parents to sit through. It sort of lives on the assumption that it is there as a babysitting tool by not speaking to the parents who should be there in the room. Children's entertainment is targeted and marketed, (with product tie-in's from the start) It is meant to be interesting to a niche audience and so it is almost impossible for it to have any timelessness or depth. The original muppet movies were family entertainment. The stories had a broad appeal and the jokes worked on enough levels that as I grew up, I only enjoyed them more each time I watched them.

I think we're more and more dividing children and adults. Where at the beginning, television and a great deal of movies were meant for a broad age range, now we have so much work that focuses like a laser on specific age groups, and I think, makes it hard for children to be smarter than expected by not offering themcontent that could possibly go even a little over their heads.

On a side note, I have no idea why they brought out Scooter if they couldn't get close to the voice, Rowlf too.
And I can't remember if Pepe was always so inexpressive. It felt like just a lever pulled on each syllable, but I sort of remember that puppet being capable of more.

But then again, I'm just a bitter old man (or at least I have a few years to grow into it),

B. Shur




> From: bdr1020-AT-hotmail.com
> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:28:16 -0600
> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Muppet Special
> 
> 
> I loved the fact that the Muppets weren't playing other characters. It shouldn't be Kermit playing Bob Cratchet or the Scarecrow. Kermit should just be Kermit. 
>  
> I also liked seeing characters that haven't been around in a while. Someone new is playing Robin the Frog, Floyd, Scooter, Crazy Harry and several others. They sound really good. Sweetums has never been a major character, but he had several lines in this special. I had to tell my kids who he is. I think he's a great puppet. 
>  
> I'm not really a big Bill Baretta (sp?) fan. Pepe the Prawn has been featured in the recent specials. He's okay, I guess, but there are other characters that I like better. His Rowlf and Dr. Teeth kind of sound like they are from Brooklyn. 
>  
> Eric Jacobson amazes me though. Not only can he do any voice Frank Oz did, but he has all the mannerisms down pat. He understands their personalities. 
>  
> It's looking like the 2010, Jason Segal Muppet movie might actually happen. I hope it's like this special instead of the last few Muppet projects. 
>  
> Brett
>  
> Brett Roberts The Comedian for Kids http://kidscomedian.com/Brett's school and library shows http://learningwhilelaughing.com/Brett's Comedian for Kids Blog http://kidscomedian.blogspot.com/
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