The Muppets is a franchise created by experimental-filmmaker and puppeteer Jim Henson (1936-1990) in the year 1955. The franchise revolves around, "The Muppets", a group of chaotic puppet-characters who traditionally perform absurdist and burlesque forms of sketch-comedy. Much of the franchise is presented via the framing-device of, "The Muppet Show", a vaudeville type revue show relayed onto television which features the Muppets, celebrity guest-stars and which is hosted by Kermit the Frog (himself a character actually originating from Henson's earlier project Sam and Friends).
Following The Muppet Movie (1979), Henson continued the successful film/television brand to obtain funds required for less lucrative passion-projects such as The Dark Crystal (1982), The Storyteller (1987-1988) and Fraggle Rock (1983-1987). In 1989, Henson entered talks with Michael Eisner to sell the Muppets franchise to the Walt Disney Company. Negotiations fell apart after Henson's death, but Disney ultimately ended up purchasing the Muppets in 2004.
Haunted Mansion property[]
Film/television[]
Muppets Haunted Mansion[]
Muppets Haunted Mansion is a Halloween special released on the streaming-service Disney+ in 2021. It is to be an installment of the Muppets franchise based on the Haunted Mansion. The story is stated to revolve around the Muppet daredevil Gonzo who accepts a challenge to spend Halloween night within the Haunted Mansion.
Web-media[]
- In 2015, the blog Oh My Disney released a video of Rowlf the Dog reciting Grim Grinning Ghosts alongside a ghost named Bernard.
- In 2021, Uncle Deadly hosted an interactive-tour series on the official Disney Parks YouTube channel which went over the history of the Haunted Mansion, Mystic Manor and Phantom Manor.
Merchandise[]
In 2012, pins were sold at the Disney Parks depicting several Muppets riding Doom Buggies alongside Haunted Mansion characters. Pins in this line included:
- Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy riding with Constance Hatchaway.
- Rowlf the Dog & Fozzie Bear riding with the Hatbox Ghost.
- Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band riding with Madame Leota.
- Statler and Waldorf riding with the Mummy and Father Time.
- Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker riding with Gus the Hitchhiking Ghost.
- Pepe the Prawn riding and flirting with Constance Hatchaway.
- Rizzo the Rat, Gonzo and Camilla the Chicken riding with Ezra.
- The Swedish Chef and Sam the Eagle riding with Phineas.
Other Disney Parks[]
- Muppet Courtyard/Grand Avenue: This is an area in Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World which is themed around being a sound-stage used by the Muppets in Hollywood, LA.
- Muppet*Vision 3D:
- PizzeRizzo:
- Stage 1 Company Store:
- Muppet Mobile Lab: This was a mobile-attraction used in the defunct Hollywood section of Disney's California Adventure, Future World in EPCOT, and both Tomorrowland and Main Street U.S.A. in Hong Kong Disneyland. This attraction was made up of two mobile audio-animatronics depicting Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker riding the Muppet Mobile Lab.
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue: This is a restaurant in the America Pavilion within the World Showcase area of EPCOT. The restaurant is themed around being a barbecue establishment run by the patriotic Muppet Sam the Eagle.
- Shows:
- Here Come the Muppets:
- Hollywood's Pretty Woman:
- Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses:
- The Muppets Present... Great Moments in American History: This is a show in the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square.
References[]