The Paley Center for Media, which has locations in both New York and LA, dedicates itself to the preservation of television and radio history. Inside their vast archives of more than 120,000 television shows, commercials, and radio programs, there are thousands of important and funny programs waiting to be rediscovered by comedy nerds like you and me. Each week, this column will highlight a new gem waiting for you at the Paley Library to quietly laugh at. (Seriously, it’s a library, so keep it down.)
When the late Jerry Nelson, the puppeteer who performed as Robin the frog, Sgt. Floyd Pepper of the Electric Mayhem, and Snuffleupagus, was asked a [...]
Last month, Inglorious Basterds' most charismatic Nazi, Christoph Waltz, was in talks to play the villain in the new Muppets movie, but those negotiations have broken down. Now, The Hollywood Reporter says that goofy Modern Family dad Ty Burrell will be taking over the role, that of an evil Interpol agent. Burrell is currently the only human star attached to the movie, but plenty of supporting roles and cameos have yet to be cast. James Bobin and Nick Stoller, who worked on the previous Muppets film, are returning to write the sequel, with Bobin directing this one too. This probably isn't the first time Ty Burrell and [...]
Jason Segel will not be in the next Muppet movie – no way – don't even think about – it won't happen – no chance – stop asking. In an interview promoting the soon-to-be-released Five-Year Engagement, he made it very clear he won't even cameo in a Muppets sequel. He explained to The Playlist:
"It was a very distinct choice on my part… My only goal was to bring back the Muppets that I loved. And I did that. I kinda don’t know what I have left to do in that regard. I like doing these R-rated comedies. I loved working on The Muppets but, you know, it [...]
We've missed you so much, Muppets parody trailers. We don't even mind that this time, you're only an ad for the March 20 DVD release of a movie we've all already seen. And we definitely don't mind that you're making us seriously consider what an all-Muppet Hunger Games would be like. I mean, Miss Piggy would be the clear sole survivor, but who would be her biggest competitor? Kermit is not cut out for violence; he'd be gone in a second unless he Peeta Mellark'd his way through on Miss Piggy's coattails. Animal's got the rage but not the cunning. My money's on Gonzo for second place – [...]
One of my favorite Not the Nine O'Clock News skits of all-time begins with the Not Team relaxing at home, reading their newspapers. One after another, they read something amazing in the paper — "El Salvador Is Going to Be a Second Vietnam," something about goats and artificial limbs and flamingos — but show little to no emotion. Finally one of them sees something in the paper that excites everyone: "Good Lord…there's someone I've heard of guesting on The Muppet Show."
The Muppet Show premiered in 1976, and 35 years later, many of its celebrity guest hosts have, like so many other millions from pop culture, been [...]
