The Fraggles are back! This past weekend, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock returned to Apple TV+ for its second season. Red, Mokey, Gobo, Wembley, Boober, and all the wonderful little – and not-so-little – creatures have returned to entertain the young and old. Fraggles have long since been a part of many a fan’s lives. And with the new series, delightfully cheery creatures are brought back for some music and magic. As an old-school fan, seeing that the Fraggles have returned to bring joy to a new generation’s hearts is fantastic.
For this fan, I had the privilege of speaking to “Mokey” and “Red” and meeting a few of these adorable creatures in person. First, I had a fun little conversation with Mokey (puppeteered by Donna Kimbal) and Red (puppeteered by Karen Prell). Sometimes, an “interview” can be a lot of fun. And chatting with Fraggles is about as enjoyable as you can get.
For this fan, I had the privilege of speaking to “Mokey” and “Red” and meeting a few of these adorable creatures in person. First, I had a fun little conversation with Mokey (puppeteered by Donna Kimbal) and Red (puppeteered by Karen Prell). Sometimes, an “interview” can be a lot of fun. And chatting with Fraggles is about as enjoyable as you can get.
- 4/2/2024
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
Apple TV+ has revealed the trailer for the highly anticipated new season of ‘Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock’.
Jim Henson’s fun-loving and musical Fraggles – Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Travelling Matt, appearing alongside new Fraggles and Doozers voiced by special guest stars including Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Emmy Award winner Brett Goldstein, Emmy Award winner Catherine O’Hara, Tony and Grammy Award winner, Emmy Award nominee Daveed Diggs, Grammy nominee Adam Lambert and K-pop group aespa – are back with more epic, fun and zany adventures, this time with big changes affecting the Rock. The Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs will be forced to confront their past and celebrate their interdependence as they move through challenges together with hope, silliness, and brand-new songs, all while dancing their cares away…down at Fraggle Rock.
The series is executive produced by The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford,...
Jim Henson’s fun-loving and musical Fraggles – Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Travelling Matt, appearing alongside new Fraggles and Doozers voiced by special guest stars including Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Emmy Award winner Brett Goldstein, Emmy Award winner Catherine O’Hara, Tony and Grammy Award winner, Emmy Award nominee Daveed Diggs, Grammy nominee Adam Lambert and K-pop group aespa – are back with more epic, fun and zany adventures, this time with big changes affecting the Rock. The Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs will be forced to confront their past and celebrate their interdependence as they move through challenges together with hope, silliness, and brand-new songs, all while dancing their cares away…down at Fraggle Rock.
The series is executive produced by The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
As one door opens, another one closes, and although Hulu will be adding plenty of titles to keep you busy through October, once the month wraps up, the streamer will be eliminating over 100 series and movies from the platform.
If you’re planning on doing your Halloween binge-watching via Huluween, don’t expect to extend your holiday: many of the horror titles Hulu will be adding for October will be removed from the platform on October 31. All the more reason to celebrate Halloween all month long.
Check out The Streamable’s can’t-miss list of what’s leaving and cross them off your watchlist by the end of the month!
30-Day Free Trial $7.99+ / month hulu.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Hulu in October 2023? “Evil Dead” | Tuesday, Oct. 31
What’s lost in camp is made up for in horror and gore in 2013’s entry into the “Evil Dead” franchise.
If you’re planning on doing your Halloween binge-watching via Huluween, don’t expect to extend your holiday: many of the horror titles Hulu will be adding for October will be removed from the platform on October 31. All the more reason to celebrate Halloween all month long.
Check out The Streamable’s can’t-miss list of what’s leaving and cross them off your watchlist by the end of the month!
30-Day Free Trial $7.99+ / month hulu.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Hulu in October 2023? “Evil Dead” | Tuesday, Oct. 31
What’s lost in camp is made up for in horror and gore in 2013’s entry into the “Evil Dead” franchise.
- 9/29/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Emmy Award-winning series “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” the reboot of Jim Henson’s beloved classic “Fraggle Rock,” has been renewed for a second season on Apple TV+ and has begun production in Calgary, Canada. Tony and Grammy Award winner, and Emmy Award nominee Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) returns for season two alongside Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose (“Schmigadoon!”), Emmy Award winner Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”) and Emmy Award winner Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”) in guest star roles.
“Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” currently holds a 100 critics rating score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised as “a loving, worthy reminder that there is joy to be found in everyday life, even when things seem hard” (Collider), “a delightful experience, no matter your age” (San Jose Mercury News) and “genuinely funny, visually engaging, and entirely heartwarming” (Paste). The series was also recently recognized by the Sentinel Awards for outstanding Children’s Programming,...
“Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” currently holds a 100 critics rating score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised as “a loving, worthy reminder that there is joy to be found in everyday life, even when things seem hard” (Collider), “a delightful experience, no matter your age” (San Jose Mercury News) and “genuinely funny, visually engaging, and entirely heartwarming” (Paste). The series was also recently recognized by the Sentinel Awards for outstanding Children’s Programming,...
- 12/12/2022
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
HBO has released the teaser trailer for the five-episode limited series “White House Plumbers,” starring Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux.
The series revolves around Nixon’s political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E. Howard Hunt (Harrelson) and G. Gordon Liddy (Theroux), who wound up helping to topple the presidency.
The cast includes Lena Headey, Judy Greer, Domhnall Gleeson, Toby Huss, Ike Barinholtz, Kathleen Turner, Kim Coates, Yul Vazquez, Alexia Valdés, Nelson Ascencio, Tony Plana, Zoe Levin, Liam James, Kiernan Shipka, Tre Ryder, David Krumholtz, F. Murray Abraham, Rich Sommer and John Carroll Lynch.
“White House Plumbers” is created, written and produced by Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck, with David Mandel directing and executive producing. Frank Rich, David Bernard, Gregg Fienberg, Theroux, Harrelson, Len Amato and Ruben Fleischer serve as executive producers. The series is co-produced by HBO and executive producers Paul Lee, Mark Roybal and Nne Ebong for Wiip.
“White House Plumbers...
The series revolves around Nixon’s political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E. Howard Hunt (Harrelson) and G. Gordon Liddy (Theroux), who wound up helping to topple the presidency.
The cast includes Lena Headey, Judy Greer, Domhnall Gleeson, Toby Huss, Ike Barinholtz, Kathleen Turner, Kim Coates, Yul Vazquez, Alexia Valdés, Nelson Ascencio, Tony Plana, Zoe Levin, Liam James, Kiernan Shipka, Tre Ryder, David Krumholtz, F. Murray Abraham, Rich Sommer and John Carroll Lynch.
“White House Plumbers” is created, written and produced by Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck, with David Mandel directing and executive producing. Frank Rich, David Bernard, Gregg Fienberg, Theroux, Harrelson, Len Amato and Ruben Fleischer serve as executive producers. The series is co-produced by HBO and executive producers Paul Lee, Mark Roybal and Nne Ebong for Wiip.
“White House Plumbers...
- 12/12/2022
- by Michaela Zee and EJ Panaligan
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Fraggle Rock: Back To The Rock will be back for another go-round. Apple TV+ has renewed the Emmy-winning series for a second season, with Daveed Diggs (Hamilton), who appeared in the Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Night of the Lights holiday special, set to return, along with Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!), Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) and Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek) in guest-starring roles. Production on Season 2 of the reboot of Jim Henson’s beloved classic Fraggle Rock is underway in Calgary, Canada.
In Season 2, big changes affecting the Rock, the Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs will force them to confront their past and celebrate their interdependence, as they move through challenges together with hope, silliness, and brand new songs, all while dancing their cares away…down at Fraggle Rock.
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock was recently recognized by the Sentinel Awards for outstanding Children’s Programming and is...
In Season 2, big changes affecting the Rock, the Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs will force them to confront their past and celebrate their interdependence, as they move through challenges together with hope, silliness, and brand new songs, all while dancing their cares away…down at Fraggle Rock.
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock was recently recognized by the Sentinel Awards for outstanding Children’s Programming and is...
- 12/12/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Jim Henson’s fun-loving, musical Fraggles are back! Join Gobo, Red, Wembley, Mokey, Boober, and new Fraggle friends on hilarious, epic adventures about the magic that happens when we celebrate and care for our interconnected world. “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” is executive produced by The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford, and longtime Henson collaborator John Tartaglia. Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson, who serve as showrunners, also executive produce as well as New Regency’s Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer. Co-executive producers are Dave Goelz and Karen Prell, and executive music producer is Harvey Mason Jr. The series is produced by Ritamarie Peruggi. Apple TV+ today unearthed the teaser trailer for the highly anticipated reboot of the beloved classic series “Fraggle Rock,” titled “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock.” Debuting on Apple TV+ on Friday January 21, 2022, the new 13-episode Apple Original series from The Jim Henson Company...
- 12/5/2021
- by Stephen Nepa
- Age of the Nerd
Apple TV+ has launched the teaser trailer for the highly-anticipated reboot of the beloved classic series ‘Fraggle Rock,’ titled ‘Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock.’
The new 13-episode Apple Original series sees Jim Henson’s fun-loving, musical Fraggles return! Join Gobo, Red, Wembley, Mokey, Boober, and new Fraggle friends on hilarious, epic adventures about the magic that happens when we celebrate and care for our interconnected world.
“Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” is executive produced by The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford, and longtime Henson collaborator John Tartaglia. Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson, who serve as showrunners, also executive produce as well as New Regency’s Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer. Co-executive producers are Dave Goelz and Karen Prell, and executive music producer is Harvey Mason Jr. The series is produced by Ritamarie Peruggi.
Also in trailers – ‘The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild’ teaser...
The new 13-episode Apple Original series sees Jim Henson’s fun-loving, musical Fraggles return! Join Gobo, Red, Wembley, Mokey, Boober, and new Fraggle friends on hilarious, epic adventures about the magic that happens when we celebrate and care for our interconnected world.
“Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” is executive produced by The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford, and longtime Henson collaborator John Tartaglia. Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson, who serve as showrunners, also executive produce as well as New Regency’s Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer. Co-executive producers are Dave Goelz and Karen Prell, and executive music producer is Harvey Mason Jr. The series is produced by Ritamarie Peruggi.
Also in trailers – ‘The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild’ teaser...
- 11/16/2021
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Hulu announced that “The D’Amelio Show” has been renewed for a second season.
The unscripted series follows social media stars Dixie and Charli D’Amelio and their parents Marc and Heidi as the family navigates the transition from a normal life into overnight celebrity status. Season 1, which debuted Sept. 3, saw the family settle into life in Los Angeles after moving to the city to further their careers after Charli, at 16, and Dixie, at 20, became two of the biggest names on TikTok for their dancing and singing, respectively.
“The D’Amelio Show” is executive produced by Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman on behalf of The Intellectual Property Corporation, as well as showrunner Sara Reddy.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
First Looks
Amazon Prime Video debuted a first look at Season 4 of “The Marvelous Ms. Maisel.” The series follows Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a Jewish housewife in 1950s New York City...
The unscripted series follows social media stars Dixie and Charli D’Amelio and their parents Marc and Heidi as the family navigates the transition from a normal life into overnight celebrity status. Season 1, which debuted Sept. 3, saw the family settle into life in Los Angeles after moving to the city to further their careers after Charli, at 16, and Dixie, at 20, became two of the biggest names on TikTok for their dancing and singing, respectively.
“The D’Amelio Show” is executive produced by Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman on behalf of The Intellectual Property Corporation, as well as showrunner Sara Reddy.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
First Looks
Amazon Prime Video debuted a first look at Season 4 of “The Marvelous Ms. Maisel.” The series follows Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a Jewish housewife in 1950s New York City...
- 11/15/2021
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Get ready to head back to Fraggle Rock! Apple TV+ has ordered a reboot of the classic series. The original episodes are also now available on the streaming service after being available on , per Vulture.
Classic characters Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Traveling Matt will all return, as will original series puppeteers Dave Goelz and Karen Prell. Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson will serve as showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford will also be executive producers, alongside veteran Henson collaborator John Tartaglia (who will also puppeteer on the series).
Read More…...
Classic characters Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Traveling Matt will all return, as will original series puppeteers Dave Goelz and Karen Prell. Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson will serve as showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford will also be executive producers, alongside veteran Henson collaborator John Tartaglia (who will also puppeteer on the series).
Read More…...
- 5/27/2020
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
A new version of Emmy-winning Fraggle Rock is heading to Apple. The company has partnered the The Jim Henson Company to reboot the classic series, which will be part of Apple Originals’ lineup for kids and families. It will join Fraggle Rock: Rock On! shorts, which recently debuted on Apple TV+, Parents Choice Award-winning Helpsters from Sesame Workshop and Annie Award-winning Snoopy in Space from Peanuts.
Produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with New Regency, the new Fraggle Rock series will reunite the original stars – Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Travelling Matt – for new songs and adventures, with the same spirit as the classic, according to Apple.
Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford will executive produce for The Jim Henson Company. Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer of New Regency and long-time Henson collaborator John Tartaglia are also executive producing. Showrunners...
Produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with New Regency, the new Fraggle Rock series will reunite the original stars – Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Travelling Matt – for new songs and adventures, with the same spirit as the classic, according to Apple.
Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford will executive produce for The Jim Henson Company. Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer of New Regency and long-time Henson collaborator John Tartaglia are also executive producing. Showrunners...
- 5/26/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
A month after announcing that a bunch of new mini-episodes of “Fraggle Rock” would be coming to Apple TV+, the streaming service is setting plans in motion for a proper reboot of the classic children’s series.
The reboot is part of a deal between Apple and the Jim Henson Company to make new, full-length episodes, and to relocate all of the original 1983-87 live-action episodes of “Fraggle Rock” to Apple from their previous home at HBO.
The original episodes will be available to stream starting May 27. The mini-episodes, called “Fraggle Rock: Rock On,” were shot in isolation on iPhone 11s and debuted on the streamer April 21.
Also Read: Apple to Reopen More Than 100 Stores in The Us This Week
The reboot was given a straight to series order, and will feature original puppet characters Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Traveling Matt.
Jim Henson Company produces in association with New Regency.
The reboot is part of a deal between Apple and the Jim Henson Company to make new, full-length episodes, and to relocate all of the original 1983-87 live-action episodes of “Fraggle Rock” to Apple from their previous home at HBO.
The original episodes will be available to stream starting May 27. The mini-episodes, called “Fraggle Rock: Rock On,” were shot in isolation on iPhone 11s and debuted on the streamer April 21.
Also Read: Apple to Reopen More Than 100 Stores in The Us This Week
The reboot was given a straight to series order, and will feature original puppet characters Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Traveling Matt.
Jim Henson Company produces in association with New Regency.
- 5/26/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
John Tartaglia is the first to admit that he’s a big fan of “Fraggle Rock.”
Like a really big fan.
The puppeteer was getting ready to go leave his Jim Henson Co. office to start working from home due to the coronavirus outbreak when he called the company’s president of television Halle Stanford.
“I had been keeping the Fraggles in my office and I called her and said, ‘Should I take the Fraggles home with me?’” Tartaglia tells Variety. “I know this sounds silly, but I just felt we should bring them home because I couldn’t stand the thought of these incredibly loved characters sitting alone in the office for so long.”
Little did anyone know that two weeks later, as the Henson team was brainstorming new projects that could address the pandemic, Stanford would receive a call to reboot the series.
“[Apple’s children’s creative development head Tara Sorensen] said,...
Like a really big fan.
The puppeteer was getting ready to go leave his Jim Henson Co. office to start working from home due to the coronavirus outbreak when he called the company’s president of television Halle Stanford.
“I had been keeping the Fraggles in my office and I called her and said, ‘Should I take the Fraggles home with me?’” Tartaglia tells Variety. “I know this sounds silly, but I just felt we should bring them home because I couldn’t stand the thought of these incredibly loved characters sitting alone in the office for so long.”
Little did anyone know that two weeks later, as the Henson team was brainstorming new projects that could address the pandemic, Stanford would receive a call to reboot the series.
“[Apple’s children’s creative development head Tara Sorensen] said,...
- 5/26/2020
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
The third week of September has a lot of fantastic horror and sci-fi home entertainment offerings coming our way, including an incredible pair of Criterion Blu-ray releases—Cat People (1942) and Blood Simple—as well as the 30th Anniversary Edition of Labyrinth and the Special Edition of Brian Trenchard-Smith’s Dead End Drive-In. Other notable titles being released on September 20th include the horror doc The Blackout Experiments (which premiered earlier this year at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival), Sacrifice, The Rift (1990), Beware! The Blob, and a Blu-ray set featuring all kinds of Twin Peaks goodness.
Beware! The Blob (Kino Lorber, Blu-ray & DVD)
Newly Re-mastered in HD! The Blob returns... more outrageous than ever in this 1972 sequel to the popular sci-fi classic! Plenty of familiar faces, including Robert Walker Jr. (Ensign Pulver), Larry Hagman (Dallas), Sid Haig (Busting), Burgess Meredith (Rocky), Dick Van Patten (Eight is Enough), Godfrey Cambridge...
Beware! The Blob (Kino Lorber, Blu-ray & DVD)
Newly Re-mastered in HD! The Blob returns... more outrageous than ever in this 1972 sequel to the popular sci-fi classic! Plenty of familiar faces, including Robert Walker Jr. (Ensign Pulver), Larry Hagman (Dallas), Sid Haig (Busting), Burgess Meredith (Rocky), Dick Van Patten (Eight is Enough), Godfrey Cambridge...
- 9/20/2016
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
In some ways, the days of Fraggle Rock seem like such a thing of the past. It's been more than twenty years since the original Jim Henson series ended its run on HBO. Still, the happy little creatures have remained very popular in the Us as well as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2006, it was announced that the characters were being revived for an all-new feature film. That's still in the works and now, a new spin-off is making its way to television.
Fraggle Rock is the 1983 brainchild of innovative genius Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets. In a world filled with lots of color and music, the Fraggles are happy creatures that live in an endless maze of underground caves. The series showcases the talents of Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Hans Helmut Dickow, Gerard Parkes, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, and Henson.
The...
Fraggle Rock is the 1983 brainchild of innovative genius Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets. In a world filled with lots of color and music, the Fraggles are happy creatures that live in an endless maze of underground caves. The series showcases the talents of Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Hans Helmut Dickow, Gerard Parkes, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, and Henson.
The...
- 4/8/2009
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
In ''The Muppet Christmas Carol, '' Michael Caine and a few other humans join the cast of TV's ''The Muppet Show, '' as well as some new fabric-and-foam creations, for a half-serious, half-joking musical adaptation of Dickens' seasonal warhorse.
The fit between sentiment and satire is not always a comfortable one and the more dedicated fans of either the story or the Muppets may leave theaters dissatisfied. However, the film's overt appeal to both the season and the furry creatures' adult and juvenile fans should make this a steady performer at least for December. Its real fortunes, however, probably lie ahead in video.
Familiar Muppets ''play'' various characters, starting with the long-nosed Great Gonzo as Charles Dickens. Joined by wisecracking Rizzo the Rat, Gonzo's Dickens offers an explanatory narrative as he skulks around and about the story proper. The tale itself is centered around Caine's straightforward depiction of miserly Scrooge, a solid performance that is at its best during the more poignant moments with the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Yet to Come.
Those two spirits, along with their mate, Present, are the highpoint of the new creations. Past is a floating mass of veils headed by a porcelain face; Present an otherwise unexceptional rotund fellow who, delightfully, shrinks or grows to fit the available space; while Yet to Come is a statuesque, cowled fright.
Other characterizations by familiar Muppet personalities are more problematic: Kermit the Frog merges pretty well into Bob Cratchit, but Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit is weirdly show biz.
All the Muppets, however, are very well-animated, and the sense of individualized personality extends through a large cast of supporting ''players'' and ''extras.'' The picturesque production design by Val Strazovec is extremely evocative and does an excellent job of accommodating both human and Muppet proportions, often simultaneously. The time travel effects are also top-notch.
The musical sequences are not standouts, what with the obvious limitations on dancing, but songs by Paul Williams do the trick of emphasizing mood.
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL
Buena Vista
Walt Disney Pictures presents from Jim Henson Prods.
Director Brian Henson
Producer Brian Henson, Martin G. Baker
Screenplay Jerry Juhl
Based on ''A Christmas Carol'' by Charles Dickens
Executive producer Frank Oz
Co-producer Jerry Juhl
Editor Michael Jablow, A.C.E.
Director of photography John Fenner
Production designer Val Strazovec
Score Miles Goodman
Songs Paul Williams
Color/Dolby
Cast:
Scrooge ... Michael Caine
Muppet Cast ... Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, David Rudman, Donald Austen, Rob Tygner, Karen Prell, William Todd Jones, Jessica Fox
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
The fit between sentiment and satire is not always a comfortable one and the more dedicated fans of either the story or the Muppets may leave theaters dissatisfied. However, the film's overt appeal to both the season and the furry creatures' adult and juvenile fans should make this a steady performer at least for December. Its real fortunes, however, probably lie ahead in video.
Familiar Muppets ''play'' various characters, starting with the long-nosed Great Gonzo as Charles Dickens. Joined by wisecracking Rizzo the Rat, Gonzo's Dickens offers an explanatory narrative as he skulks around and about the story proper. The tale itself is centered around Caine's straightforward depiction of miserly Scrooge, a solid performance that is at its best during the more poignant moments with the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Yet to Come.
Those two spirits, along with their mate, Present, are the highpoint of the new creations. Past is a floating mass of veils headed by a porcelain face; Present an otherwise unexceptional rotund fellow who, delightfully, shrinks or grows to fit the available space; while Yet to Come is a statuesque, cowled fright.
Other characterizations by familiar Muppet personalities are more problematic: Kermit the Frog merges pretty well into Bob Cratchit, but Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit is weirdly show biz.
All the Muppets, however, are very well-animated, and the sense of individualized personality extends through a large cast of supporting ''players'' and ''extras.'' The picturesque production design by Val Strazovec is extremely evocative and does an excellent job of accommodating both human and Muppet proportions, often simultaneously. The time travel effects are also top-notch.
The musical sequences are not standouts, what with the obvious limitations on dancing, but songs by Paul Williams do the trick of emphasizing mood.
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL
Buena Vista
Walt Disney Pictures presents from Jim Henson Prods.
Director Brian Henson
Producer Brian Henson, Martin G. Baker
Screenplay Jerry Juhl
Based on ''A Christmas Carol'' by Charles Dickens
Executive producer Frank Oz
Co-producer Jerry Juhl
Editor Michael Jablow, A.C.E.
Director of photography John Fenner
Production designer Val Strazovec
Score Miles Goodman
Songs Paul Williams
Color/Dolby
Cast:
Scrooge ... Michael Caine
Muppet Cast ... Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, David Rudman, Donald Austen, Rob Tygner, Karen Prell, William Todd Jones, Jessica Fox
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 12/11/1992
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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