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The Jim Henson Company sold off the Muppets to Disney in 2004 for a cool $75 million, but not everyone thought it was a good deal. According to Frank Oz, one of the pioneering puppeteers who had worked with the felt characters since 1963, the transaction changed everything.

While he didn’t want to sound like “a purist and a dinosaur,” Oz believes the Muppets fundamentally changed after they were acquired by the House of Mouse. “They’re not the Muppets that Jim had intended,” he said in a 2013 interview. “The characters are done by the same people, and my dear, dear friends, and they do a great job. But they’re very sweet now.”

So what’s wrong with sweet? “Their job is to be rebellious,” Oz insisted. “Their job is to say ‘Screw Disney.’”

Oz said he has nothing against cute. Cute little bunny rabbits? Oz is a fan. But “I don’t like pejorative cute,...

Robert Eggers addresses how SpongeBob Squarepants provided an unexpected introduction to the influential cinematic vampire for many young viewers ahead of his Nosferatu big screen reimagining releasing in theaters. The director's horror passion project tells the story of a bloodthirsty count who descends upon a sleepy town and inflicts terror on its citizens. Nosferatu stars Bill Skarsgard as the leading vampire alongside Lily Rose-Depp, Nicholas Holt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, and Ralph Ineson as the feature's cast of fearful mortals.

During the red carpet event for Nosferatu's premiere, Eggers was asked by The Hollywood Reporter whether he was aware that many viewers had their first exposure to the original 1922 version of the vampire through a quick gag in a SpongeBob Squarepants episode.

Director Robert Eggers thanks SpongeBob for introducing younger people to #Nosferatu pic.twitter.com/HQgmQ4WEMR— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 13, 2024

Confirming that he was well-aware of the episode,...

Bet you never thought one of the most acclaimed directors of our time would be giving props to a certain yellow sponge for making audiences connect with his latest film. That's exactly what happened at the Los Angeles premiere of horror director Robert Eggers' upcoming film Nosferatu. On the carpet, The Hollywood Reporter asked Eggers if he knew of SpongeBob SquarePants' references to Count Orlok that introduced the iconic vampire to many kids.

In one particularly hilarious episode of the famous Nickelodeon cartoon titled "Graveyard Shift," SpongeBob is spooked by a ghost story told by his coworker Squidward after their boss Mr. Krabs decides to keep the Krusty Krab open for 24 hours. By the end of the episode, SpongeBob realizes that every spooky detail of the story he thought was coming true had a practical explanation, except for the flickering lights.

The punchline of the episode is that they find Count Orlok,...

Director Robert Eggers is shouting out an unlikely figure ahead of the release of his horror film Nosferatu — SpongeBob SquarePants.

At the Los Angeles premiere of the film on Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter asked Eggers if he knew that the Nickelodeon cartoon introduced many kids to the iconic vampire. Nosferatu (also known as Count Orlok) made several appearances on the show.

The filmmaker confirmed he was familiar with the SpongeBob element and explained, “There was a show called Muppet Babies when I was a kid that would play little clips of Lon Chaney’s Phantom of the Opera and early versions of Cyrano de Bergerac and stuff; that weird cartoon gave me exposure to a lot of movies that I watched when I was a little older with memories from Muppet Babies. So, thanks SpongeBob.”

Director Robert Eggers thanks SpongeBob for introducing younger people to #Nosferatu pic.twitter.com/HQgmQ...

In a favorable decision, Bob's Burgers replaced the voice actor for Jimmy Pesto, and the new voice, Eric Bauza, seamlessly continues the character's storylines. The firing of Jay Johnston, former voice actor for Jimmy Pesto, was due to his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riots. Bob's Burgers demonstrates its ability to adapt and evolve by recasting characters, such as Jimmy Pesto, with little disruption to the show's flow and dynamics.

Bob's Burgers continues to dominate in the adult animation space, and while a recent actor replacement for a key character could have proved detrimental to its success, it ended up being a favorable decision that bolstered viewers' excitement about what’s to come. While currently in its 14th season, Bob's Burgers is already confirmed for season 15 due to its continued popularity. One of its lasting commendable traits is that it goes against the grain of its genre by steering...

Hank Durand Saroyan, animation director and producer who won an Emmy for “Muppet Babies,” died Sept. 23 from complications of multiple myeloma cancer. He was 75.

He was born in Alameda, Calif. to Dorothy Saroyan and Henry Saroyan, brother of author William Saroyan. Hank Saroyan graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a veterinary degree and began his career as a stunt writer on the “Anniversary Game,” broadcast from Kgo/ABC in San Francisco.

He moved on to writing and producing at Dick Clark Productions before going into animation, where he worked for Hanna Barbera and Marvel Productions. As story editor, he was part of the Emmy-winning “Muppet Babies” team. In addition to writing 17 episodes of the Jim Henson series, he composed music and served as executive in charge of production.

He also won a directing Emmy for “The Parsley Garden,” a short story by his uncle William Saroyan that he adapted for ABC.

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Series: "Freakazoid!"

Where You Can Stream It: Tubi

The Pitch: Back in 1990, Terry Semel, the president of Warner Bros., felt that the company's cartoon department was running low on energy, and aimed to solve the issue by ordering a new series — à la the successful 1984 series "Muppet Babies" — that would star youthful counterparts to recognizable Looney Tunes stars. At the same time, Steven Spielberg had been shopping around an idea to produce his own...

The post The Daily Stream: Freakazoid! Will Give Your Brain a Chocolate Coating appeared first on /Film.

Disney+ has given an official green light to The Muppets Mayhem, a comedy series headlined by several Muppet stars and Lilly Singh (A Little Late with Lilly Singh).

Developed and written by The Goldbergs creator Adam F. Goldberg, Muppets veteran Bill Barretta and Jeff Yorkes, the series will follow The Electric Mayhem Band as they go on an epic musical journey to finally record their first studio album. Singh will play the (human) lead role of Nora, a driven junior A&r executive tasked with managing and wrangling the mayhem that is The Electric Mayhem Band. With the help of Nora, the old-school Muppet band comes face to face with the current-day music scene as they try to finally go platinum.

The Electric Mayhem Band consists of Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on vocals and bass, Janice on vocals and lead guitar, Zoot on saxophone and Lips on trumpet.

It’s been a grueling three months since Marvel fans had a hit of the MCU in the form of Spider-Man: No Way Home and even longer since the last Marvel Disney+ series (Hawkeye). Thankfully that unbearable drought will be coming to an end with Disney+’s list of new releases for March 2022.

This month is highlighted by the arrival of Moon Knight on March 30. Oscar Isaac stars as the latest Marvel hero, a man with a fracturing personality and awesome power imbued by the Egyptian god Khonshu. Tonally, this seems like a really divergent take from the studio and the trailers promise some compelling mystery and bone-shattering punches if nothing else.

Read more TV Marvel’s Moon Knight Identities Explained By Gavin Jasper TV Marvel Fans Confused and Intrigued as Moon Knight Trailer Reveals Arthur Harrow By Kirsten Howard

The big cinematic release this month is Turning Red on...

Sony Pictures Television has named kids programming vet Joe D’Ambrosia has been named EVP & General Manager of its Silvergate Media subsidiary.

Starting on April 1, D’Ambrosia will be based at the Sony lot in Culver City, CA and also spend time with Silvergate’s teams in New York and London. Sony acquired Silvergate in 2019.

Reporting to Ravi Ahuja, Chairman Global Television Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment Corporate Development, D’Ambrosia will take over for Silvergate CEO Waheed Alli, who will step down this summer. Alli, a co-creator of Survivor, is an established figure in the worlds of media and politics is a member of the House of Lords in the UK.

Prior to Silvergate, D’Ambrosia spent a decade at Disney, most recently at Disney Junior, where he was SVP of original programming and general manager. He oversaw all extensions of the Disney Junior brand, on-and-off screen, plus development and...

Joe D’Ambrosia has been named executive vice president and general manager of Silvergate Media, Sony Pictures Television said Friday.

In his new role, D’Ambrosia will be the creative and strategic business leader, overseeing day-to-day operations of the company, which develops, produces and licenses top children’s programming.

He will step into his new position April 1, taking over for Silvergate CEO Waheed Alli, who will be stepping down this summer.

“I am thrilled to be joining Sony Pictures Television and Silvergate at such an exciting and pivotal time in kids’ entertainment,” D’Ambrosia said in a statement. “In my 10 years at Disney Junior, I have had the good fortune of working alongside one of the best teams in the business. This is the ideal next step to be collaborating with Ravi and the incredibly innovative and creative teams at Sony and Silvergate to produce world-class storytelling for kids and families around the globe.

Disney Junior exec Joe D’Ambrosia has been hired as executive vice president and general manager of Sony Pictures Television’s Silvergate Media. D’Ambrosia will be taking over for Silvergate founder Waheed Alli, who is stepping down from his post as CEO this summer.

In his new role at the Sony-owned children’s programming producer, D’Ambrosia will serve as Silvergate’s creative and strategic business leader, overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. He will work closely with the Silvergate team to drive continued growth and maximize opportunities to expand the company’s position in the market.

D’Ambrosia will report to Ravi Ahuja, chairman of global television studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment corporate development. He will begin at Silvergate Media on April 1 and be based in Spt’s Culver City, California headquarters, while also spending time with the company’s teams in New York and London.

Alli founded...

Disney Television Animation has promoted longtime Disney exec Sarah Finn to SVP, Production, from her most recent VP role.

Finn will now be responsible for leading all of the physical production for the Disney Television Animation studio’s content for Disney+, Disney Junior and Disney Channel. She reports to Meredith Roberts, SVP/general manager, Television Animation, Disney Branded Television.

Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television, said, “Sarah has a comprehensive knowledge of animation production, keen attention to artistic and practical details and strong people management skills. Now, as Meredith’s second-in-command, our entire team gets the benefit of their talent and dedication to upholding the most revered animation legacy in the world.”

Series under Finn’s new remit include the upcoming Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, Pupstruction and Firebuds, as well as current titles Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends, Puppy Dog Pals, Minnie’s Bow-Toons,...

Netflix’s investment in animation has paid off in a big way, as the streamer picked up a whopping 52 nominations at the 49th Annie Awards. Following behind is Disney, which received 29 bids between its film and TV projects.

Taking place on Feb. 26, 2022 at UCLA’s Royce Hall and presented by the Los Angeles branch of the International Animated Film Association, the Annie Awards recognize excellence in cinema and television.

Netflix picked up nine nominations for “Arcane,” its series based on Riot Games’ online multiplayer game “League of Legends.” The hit film from Sony Pictures Animation “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” earned eight nods, and Netflix’s own limited series “Maya and the Three,” directed by Jorge Gutierrez, has seven.

While Disney lagged behind Netflix for total nominations, the studio’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” led all content with 10 nominations, followed by its studio sibling “Encanto,” which picked up nine.

It’s almost December and you know what that means: it’s Star Wars time. Yes, forget all the arguments about Die Hard being a Christmas movie because the Star Wars franchise has been shockingly consistent with its holiday release schedule. With its list of new releases for December 2021, Disney+ has the latest Star Wars project to drop on or around Christmas.

The Book of Boba Fett is set to premiere on Dec. 29. This spinoff of The Mandalorian will feature Temuera Morrison reprising his role as the galaxy’s most enigmatic bounty hunter, Boba Fett. Following the events of The Mandalorian season 2, Boba and his partner Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) now have a major stake in the galaxy’s criminal underworld, and will do whatever it takes to keep it.

Read more TV How The Book of Boba Fett Changes the Bounty Hunter’s Original Star Wars Story By John Saavedra...

For decades, The Muppets have entertained fans all around the world with their wholesome messages, hilarious humor, and incredible musical numbers. In 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan, fans first glimpsed versions of these lovable characters as infants, and at that moment, history was made. A 2D series Muppet Babies aired from 1984 to 1991, before being rebooted with CGI animation in 2018.

Related: 5 Things That Worked in Muppets Now (& 5 That Definitely Didn't)

The Disney-produced reboot follows the same core group of baby Muppets as the original series, but adds in many new characters along the way. The characters still have the same heart, still make the same kind of jokes, and still teach children and adult viewers alike important life lessons. But which of these adorable babies ranks the very best of them all?...

Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Travis Braun signed a new overall deal with Disney to develop and produce both animated and live-action content across linear and streaming platforms for Disney Branded Television.

The partnership also includes a first look at any of his projects for other Disney-owned platforms, including additional streaming and theatrical releases.

“I’m thrilled to continue to call Disney my home and bring imaginative, new worlds to life under the thoughtful leadership of Peter Rice, Gary Marsh, Joe D’Ambrosia, Ayo Davis, and their teams, Braun said in a statement.

“We share a passion for telling rich stories that matter to audiences around the world in the way that Disney’s content always has. It is truly a privilege to help write this next chapter of the magic that I grew up on.”

It was also revealed that Braun’s new preschool series Pupstruction has been greenlit for...

Which Ted Lasso twosome are about to reunite? Will real life detour Seal Team? What’s ahead for that S.W.A.T. couple’s Ust? Read on for answers to those questions plus teases from other shows. (Email any brand-new Qs to InsideLine@tvline.com.)

Any scoop for the second season of Ted Lasso? –Ana

This Friday’s episode puts Nick Mohammed’s Nate at the forefront, as the kit man-turned-coach gets a lesson in how to be assertive — from Keeley and Rebecca. Roy, meanwhile, must interact with Ted for the first time since retiring from AFC Richmond. And for those who...

Exclusive: Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Luka Jones (Shrill), and Julian Gant (Call Me Kat) will star in Bar Fight, a comedy from writer/director Jim Mahoney (Klaus), which wrapped production this week in Los Angeles.

Bar Fight follows exes Nina (Fumero) and Allen (Jones), who split everything in their lives 50/50 after their break-up to avoid any drama—everything, that is, except for their favorite local bar. Nina and Allen must compete in a ridiculous, tavern-style custody battle for their prized watering hole, in which lines will be drawn, sides will be chosen, and beers will be drunken.

The film is presented by Particular Crowd and Ingenious Media. Sarah Gabriel and Mark Goldberg of Signature Films produced with James Harris and Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions. Particular Crowd’s Tomás Yankelevich, Peter Bevan, and Mariana Sanjurjo exec produced, alongside Simon Williams and Jamie Jessop of Ingenious Media.

If I were a character on Drag Tots, I’d call myself Negative Nancy — because I have nothing good to say about this week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.

Let’s start with the mini challenge, which was basically Snatch Game without the costumes and the impressions and the fun. The five remaining queens were put in a classroom setting and asked to vote on superlatives ranging from “prettiest queen” to “most likely to steal your boyfriend.”

More from TVLineDrag Race Recap: Was the Right All Star Snatched From the Competition?South Park Gets 4-Season Renewal at Comedy Central -- Plus,...

Mark Hamill and Lupita Nyong’o were among the winners on Saturday night as the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced the winners of the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the children’s and animation categories. The show represented the second of three Daytime Emmy ceremonies this year; the third will be live streamed on Sunday.

Nyong’o won the limited performance in a children’s program Emmy for playing the Storyteller, in Netflix’s “Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. Hammil was named outstanding performer in a preschool animated program for Disney Channel’s “Elena of Avalor.”

This represented the first year that all children’s programming, regardless of timeslot, shifted to the Daytime Emmys, under a new agreement between New York-based NATAS and L.A.-based Television Academy.

The children’s and animation Daytime Emmy winners were announced via NATAS’ Emmy Ott platform, featuring more than 30 categories. Daytime...

As famous as Mark Hamill is for playing Luke Skywalker in the “Star Wars” franchise (he’s even a Primetime Emmy contender this year for playing him in “The Mandalorian”), he’s just as accomplished as a voice actor. This year he’s nominated for Best Performer in a Preschool Animated Program at the Daytime Emmys for his work in “Elena of Avalor.” This is only his third nomination to date. Can he finally win?

SEE2021 Daytime Emmy nominations, round 2! Full list of nominees for children’s, animation, lifestyle and more

“Elena of Avalor” is a Disney Channel animated series that follows the title princess as she learns how to rule her fairy tale kingdom. It ended its run last August after three seasons, and Hamill is nominated for guest starring in the series finale episode, “Coronation Day,” as the villainous Vuli, one of the Four Shades of Awesome who threaten Avalor.

TV shows go through many pairs of eyeballs before they make it to air. Some of the final ones are those of network and studio executives and Standards and Practices, yielding those infamous notes. Some are bad, some are hysterical, some are hysterically bad, and others are so unbelievable, you never want to think about it again.

“For the sake of my mental well-being, I can’t remember the network notes over the years,” Chuck Lorre (“The Kominsky Method”) tells Gold Derby during our Meet the Experts: Showrunners panel (watch the group chat above) with Russell T Davies (“It’s a Sin“), Dave Andron (“Snowfall”), Bill Lawrence (“Ted Lasso”), Little Marvin (“Them”) and Austin Winsberg (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist“). “I’ve washed them out. It was maddening. The things that made network television [was] almost crazy-making.” Click on each person’s name to view individual webchats with each producer.

Lorre does recall one...

A federal judge in California on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Jeffrey Scott, a TV screenwriter who targeted Disney’s reboot of Muppet Babies. The reason why Scott lost the case is a pretty rare one. While Scott alleged that the new version infringed elements of the original Muppet Babies production bible he created in the 1980s, the judge rules he has no standing to bring the case since he never disclosed the production bible in a long-ago personal bankruptcy.

Scott’s lawsuit was filed last October and seemed primed to address the scope of protection afforded production bibles as well as whether the plaintiff — who had ...

A federal judge in California on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Jeffrey Scott, a TV screenwriter who targeted Disney’s reboot of Muppet Babies. The reason why Scott lost the case is a pretty rare one. While Scott alleged that the new version infringed elements of the original Muppet Babies production bible he created in the 1980s, the judge rules he has no standing to bring the case since he never disclosed the production bible in a long-ago personal bankruptcy.

Scott’s lawsuit was filed last October and seemed primed to address the scope of protection afforded production bibles as well as whether the plaintiff — who had ...

Here’s a pitch for you: Furious Babies. It’s like Muppet Babies, but with the Fast and Furious crew. If no one wants to take me up on that idea I guess I’ll have to be content with F9, which is going to feature a mini-Dom Toretto played by Vin Diesel‘s son Vincent Sinclair. F9 is exploring Dom’s backstory even further […]

The post ‘F9’ Cast Will Feature Vin Diesel’s Son as Young Dominic Toretto appeared first on /Film.

The 48th Annie Awards are going to be held in a little over a month on April 16th, virtually, of course. However, today we have their nominations, which were led by the duo of Soul and Wolfwalkers. The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature has long seemed to be a battle between those two films, so that makes sense. Will one get a boost here next month and have an Oscar advantage? Stay tuned to find out… Here are the Annie Award nominees: Best Feature Onward, Pixar Animation Studios Soul, Pixar Animation Studios The Croods: A New Age, DreamWorks Animation The Willoughbys, Netflix Presents A Bron Animation Production in association with Creative Wealth Media Trolls World Tour, DreamWorks Animation Best Indie Feature A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Studiocanal and Aardman present in association with Anton Capital Entertainment, an Aardman Production for Netflix Calamity Jane, Maybe Movies On-Gaku: Our Sound,...

“Soul” and “Wolfwalkers” led all films in nominations for the 48th annual Annie Awards, the most comprehensive awards show devoted solely to animation. The two films each received 10 nominations, with “Onward” receiving seven and “The Croods: A New Age,” “The Willoughbys” and “Over the Moon” receiving six.

“Soul,” “Onward,” “The Croods: A New Age,” “The Willoughbys” and “Trolls World Tour” were nominated in the Best Feature category. In the Best Indie Feature category, which was created in 2015, the nominees were “Wolfwalkers,” “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” “Calamity Jane,” “On-Gaku: Our Sound” and “Ride Your Wave.”

Netflix led all companies with 40 nominations, with Disney/Pixar receiving 29 and DreamWorks Animation receiving 20. In the film categories, the two Pixar movies, “Soul” and “Onward,” received 17 nominations to 15 for the Netflix-distributed “The Willoughbys,” “Shaun the Sheep” and “Over the Moon,” and 10 for Dwa’s “The Croods” and “Trolls.”

Since the Annies split the two categories,...

Pixar’s “Soul” and Apple/Gkids’s “Wolfwalkers” may have topped the Annie Award nominations with 10 each, but it was Netflix that walked away with the most nominations overall, picking up 40 across an array of projects.

Netflix scored six nominations each for its features “The Willoughbys” and “Over the Moon,” and three for “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.” Other Netflix projects receiving nominations include “Hilda,” “The Midnight Gospel,” “Bojack Horseman,” “Big Mouth,” “Alien Xmas,” “Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy,” “The Christmas Chronicles 2,” “The Umbrella Academy,” “Bna,” “The Great Pretender,” “Blood of Zeus,” “Trash Truck,” “Buddi,” “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power,” “Fast & Furious: Spy Racers,” “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous,” “Tales of Arcadia: Wizards,” “Dragons Rescue Riders,” “Cops and Robbers” and “If Anything Happens I Love You.”

The next biggest studio tallies were Pixar and DreamWorks Animation with 20 nominations each, followed by Apple/Gkids with 10, Disney with nine,...

Two very different animated features lead the way as the 48th annual Annie Awards nominations were announced today. Disney/Pixar’s Soul and Cartoon Saloon’s Wolfwalkers scored 10 noms apiece ahead of the virtual trophy show on April 16. Read the full list of nominees in 31 categories below.

Wolfwalkers, a “relatively small European movie,” as the filmmakers described it — is rooted in the history of 1650s Ireland, while Soul follows a middle school music teacher’s journey to “the Great Beyond” via “the Great Before.”

Soul will vie for the marquee Best Feature prize at the Annies, going up against another Pixar pic — Onward, which scooped seven noms — along with Netflix’s The Willoughbys and a pair of DreamWorks Animation sequels: The Croods: A New Age and Trolls World Tour. Willoughbys and Croods picked up six noms each today, and Trolls rocked away with four.

Wolfwalkers is up for the Best...

Pixar’s ethereal “Soul” and Cartoon Saloon’s exquisitely hand-drawn “Wolfwalkers” — the two animated Oscar frontrunners — both grabbed 10 nominations each at Asifa-Hollywood’s 48th Annie Awards (to be streamed live on April 16). Pixar collected another seven nominations from “Onward” to dominate the feature competition.

“Soul” and “Wolfwalkers” are both expected to come away with the top prize from their respective best feature and best indie feature categories, but they compete head to head for direction (Pete Docter and Kemp Powers vs. Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart), FX, character animation, character design, production design, score, storyboarding, and writing. “Soul” was additionally nominated for editorial, and “Wolfwalkers” for voice acting. But Jamie Foxx, who voiced “Soul’s” jazz pianist, Joe Gardner, was surprisingly overlooked.

Scoring six nominations were Netflix’s “Over the Moon” (directed by Disney legend Glen Keane) and “The Willoughbys,” and DreamWorks’ “Croods: A New Age.” But Keane’s gorgeous...

It's time to play the music and light the lights as you can stream all five seasons of The Muppet Show on Disney+ tonight. Last month, it was announced that every episode of the classic series would be coming to the streaming service. The moment has finally arrived for those who've been counting down the days, as The Muppets announced on Twitter that the entire series has officially begun streaming.

It's #TheMuppetShow, with our very special guest star... You! Now you can be part of the Muppet mayhem and stream all five seasons of our classic television series right now, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/FKYauz3jil

— The Muppets (@TheMuppets) February 19, 2021

"It's #TheMuppetShow, with our very special guest star... You!" the tweet reads. "Now you can be part of the Muppet mayhem and stream all five seasons of our classic television series right now, only on @DisneyPlus."

The episodes...

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and so, too, is a very special birthday for Disney Junior, the Mouse House’s home for content targeting younger children: It’s turning 10.

Disney Junior first came to be on Feb. 14, 2011, as a programming block on Disney Channel, anchored by the premiere of “Jake and the Neverland Pirates.” A year later, it became its own 24-hour channel, home to such hits as “Pirates,” “Doc McStuffins,” “Sofia the First,” “Elena of Avalor,” “The Lion Guard,” “Muppet Babies,” “T.O.T.S.,” “Puppy Dog Pals” and “Mira, Royal Detective.”

“Disney Junior has always been about embracing emotional, character-driven storytelling featuring age-appropriate lessons for preschoolers, combined with a touch of Disney magic that the whole family can enjoy together. We’re proud of the diverse series and characters that we’ve built over the last 10 years, including the groundbreaking ‘Doc McStuffins,’ introducing Disney’s first Latina princess...

Disney says the idea for Muppet Babies was first shown in a 1983 dream sequence and the alleged copyrights of a screenwriter who sued over the 2018 reboot are equally imaginary.

Jeffrey Scott in October sued Disney because its reboot of the series allegedly misappropriates elements of the original series production bible that he created, including the show’s nursery setting and the child versions of the characters, and because he pitched a reboot to the company in 2016.

In a motion to dismiss filed Wednesday, Disney argues the California federal court where he filed the complaint lacks jurisdiction and Scott lacks standing and failed ...

Disney says the idea for Muppet Babies was first shown in a 1983 dream sequence and the alleged copyrights of a screenwriter who sued over the 2018 reboot are equally imaginary.

Jeffrey Scott in October sued Disney because its reboot of the series allegedly misappropriates elements of the original series production bible that he created, including the show’s nursery setting and the child versions of the characters, and because he pitched a reboot to the company in 2016.

In a motion to dismiss filed Wednesday, Disney argues the California federal court where he filed the complaint lacks jurisdiction and Scott lacks standing and failed ...

Fozzie Bear is getting a sister.

Disney Junior is introducing Rozzie, the newly adopted sister of Fozzie, in season three of Muppet Babies, which debuts at 5 p.m. Et on Monday, Jan. 4 on Disney Junior and on DisneyNOW.

In the season three premiere, Fozzie shares the news that his family is adopting a little sister, and he’s worried that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a big brother. Fozzie’s friends use their imaginations to enroll him into “Rizzo’s Big Bruddah School.”

Rozzie is voiced by Charlie Townsend (T.O.T....

Fozzie Bear is getting a sister.

Disney Junior is introducing Rozzie, the newly adopted sister of Fozzie, in season three of Muppet Babies, which debuts at 5 p.m. Et on Monday, Jan. 4 on Disney Junior and on DisneyNOW.

In the season three premiere, Fozzie shares the news that his family is adopting a little sister, and he’s worried that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a big brother. Fozzie’s friends use their imaginations to enroll him into “Rizzo’s Big Bruddah School.”

Rozzie is voiced by Charlie Townsend (T.O.T....

Halloween is nearly upon us, and that means you’re probably looking for some spooky movies and shows to watch to get you in the spirit of the holiday. Of course, it’s easy to find a good slasher flick or psychological horror on various services, but trying to locate such content that’s family-friendly can sometimes be tough. The good news is, though, that you don’t have to look very far at all if you’re a Disney Plus subscriber, as the platform is filled to the brim with plenty of great Halloween stuff for viewers of all ages.

One option you’re certain to be happy to hear about is the 1993 comedy horror Hocus Pocus, which ranks as one of the most timeless Halloween classics of all time – proven further by its huge haul during its theatrical rerelease this year. This tale of a trio of evil...

Jeffrey Scott, a TV screenwriter who wrote for many ’80s children’s shows including Spider-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling, has filed a lawsuit targeting Disney’s reboot of Muppet Babies. Scott alleges the new Kermit and Piggy starrer has misappropriated elements of the original Muppet Babies production bible he created and says he owns.

The suit against Disney seems primed to address multiple areas of intrigue from a TV writer’s retention of intellectual property to the scope of protection afforded production bibles.

According to the complaint filed in California federal court, Scott extended his services in 1983 for the ...

Jeffrey Scott, a TV screenwriter who co-created many ’80s children’s shows including Spider-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling, has filed a lawsuit targeting Disney’s reboot of Muppet Babies. Scott alleges the new Kermit and Piggy starrer has misappropriated elements of the original Muppet Babies production bible he created and says he owns.

The suit against Disney seems primed to address multiple areas of intrigue from a TV writer’s retention of intellectual property to the scope of protection afforded production bibles.

According to the complaint filed in California federal court, Scott extended his services in 1983 for the Muppet ...

If you don’t have any plans for this weekend, you’re about to be given plenty. And even if you do have a jam-packed next couple of days coming up, what you’re going to read here might make you want to reconsider doing anything other than curling up on the couch with some popcorn.

Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of everything dropping on Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime through the dates of September 25th to the 27th, and suffice it to say, there’s quite a lot to dig into.

September 25th

Netflix

A Perfect Crime — Netflix Documentary

Country-Ish — Netflix Original

Nasty C

The School Nurse Files — Netflix Original

Sneakerheads — Netflix Original

Disney+

Fancy Nancy: Fancy it Yourself (s2)

The Giant Robber Crab

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (s2)

Muppet Babies (s2)

Oceans

Port Protection: Alaska (s3)

Sydney to the Max (s2)

Wild Central...

It’s a good day to be a Disney Plus subscriber! The relatively new streaming service has failed to disappoint fans as of yet and is looking to continue its streak of excellent content with today’s latest batch of releases.

The list of new material includes:

Fancy Nancy: Fancy it Yourself (S2) – A show based off of the best-selling book series that follows the adventures of the eponymous six-year-old as she explores the world around her and learns about both herself and others. The Giant Robber Crab – There’s no description listed anywhere about this title, but it certainly sounds interesting! Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (S2) – The infamous celebrity chef travels around the world to introduce viewers to different foods and lifestyles from indigenous cultures. Muppet Babies (S2) – The reboot of the beloved animated classic features toddler versions of Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and the rest of the gang. Oceans...

Friday delivered a ton of new titles to Disney Plus, but let’s look ahead at what’s due to drop this coming week on the Mouse House’s streaming service. The final haul of September is another hefty one, bringing with it various new National Geographic series, some new TV episodes and the latest D+ original movie.

The TV highlight of the haul has to be the premiere of Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a new wildlife documentary series narrated by Disney favorite Josh Gad. Expect new episodes of that to release weekly for the next couple of months. Meanwhile, you may also want to check out season 2 of the Muppet Babies reboot.

For more, see below for the full list of what’s coming to D+ on September 25th:

Fancy Nancy: Fancy it Yourself (S2)

The Giant Robber Crab

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (S2)

Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom...

Despite competition from the likes of Prime and Hulu, Netflix met arguably its biggest match yet last November when Disney Plus launched. The Mouse House has been coming for the streaming giant’s crown ever since, amassing more and more content over time. This September 1st, though, Netflix managed to get one up on D+ by snatching away two popular movies that were previously available on the rival service.

The two films are 2011’s The Muppets and 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted, the last two theatrical outings for Jim Henson’s beloved puppet troupe. The duology have been up to stream on Disney Plus for months, but as of this Tuesday, they’re now to be found on Netflix. It’s not unusual for movies to flit between the different streaming services, of course, but so far, D+’s methodology has been to collate as many of Disney’s productions as...

Disney+ is out with its list of everything new coming in September, and the list includes new episodes of “Muppets Now” and “One Day at Disney.”

Also, Disney+ subscribers can pay an additional $29.99 for early Premiere Access to the new live-action “Mulan” movie several months before its wide release.

Library titles being added next month include “Bend It Like Beckham” starring Keira Knightly and Season 2 of “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted.”

See the full list below.

Sept. 4

New Library Titles

Ancient China from Above (s1)

D2: The Mighty Ducks

D3: The Mighty Ducks

Never Been Kissed

Strange Magic

Trick or Treat

The Wolverine

Mulan (with Premiere Access)

Disney+ Originals

Earth to Ned (Series Premiere)

One Day At Disney: Episode 140 – “Alice Taylor: Studiolab”

Muppets Now: Episode 106 – “Socialized” (Season Finale)

Pixar In Real Life: Episode 111 – “Coco: Abuelita Says No Music” (Season Finale)

Weird But True: Episode 304 – “Germs”

Sept. 11

Christopher Robin...

After successfully bringing movie theater fare like Artemis Fowl and Hamilton to the smaller screen, Disney+ is going to attempt its most ambitious movie streaming experiment yet in September.

Disney+’s list of new releases for September 2020 is highlighted by the inclusion of Mulan. Originally scheduled to premiere in March, the live-action adaptation of the classic Disney animated movie was one of the first coronavirus scheduling casualties. Now, after a long wait, Disney is making the movie available (for $29.99) to Disney+ subscribers.

In addition to that big swing, Disney+ is has some other intriguing originals set for September. Alien talk show series Earth to Ned premieres on September 4 and the LeBron James-produced reality series Becoming arrives on September 18.

Disney+ is also set to pad out its library titles. The big movies of note here include two Mighty Ducks sequels, The Wolverine, and Bend it Like Beckham. Season 2 of Gordon Ramsay...

The full line-up of everything that’s coming to Disney Plus next month has been revealed. September will prove to be a hugely important one for the streaming service, too, thanks to the release of Mulan. Dropping on the first Friday of the month, the live-action remake of the classic animated movie is breaking the mold by going up on D+ alongside a limited theatrical release. As you probably know, though, you’ll have to fork out an additional $30 to watch it, as part of a new Premier Access level to the site.

Mulan is the most headline-grabbing addition to the service next month, then, but there’s plenty more besides that coming to D+ in September. Including a few classic Disney movies, a bunch of others inherited from Fox, various National Geographic documentaries and much more.

Check out the full list below:

Released September 4

Ancient China From Above

D...

Unto most every TV-watching generation, a new Muppets show is born. The original “Muppet Show,” which ran from 1976 to 1981, had Jim Henson’s felt puppets take over a vaudeville theater to perform songs, slapstick sketches and more unabashedly cheesy puns than its bewildered guests could count. The “Muppets Tonight” reboot, which ran a single season from 1997 to 1998, swapped the theater for a television studio, where the Muppets frantically threw together a variety show while letting the audience in on all the drama happening in the control booth. A sour 2015 follow-up (“The Muppets.”) tried for a “30 Rock” meets “The Office” vibe, imagining a world in which Miss Piggy had a late-night show and the rest had midlife crises. Whether tap dancing with rat puppets, trading quips with celebrities or exploring TV’s most enduring on-and-off relationship between Miss Piggy and Kermit, every iteration of “The Muppet Show” tries to mix...

The Daytime Emmys completed its third and final pandemic-delayed ceremony on Sunday night, with Amazon Prime Video, HBO and Netflix all landing six wins in the various children’s, lifestyle and animation awards handed out, while Disney Channel and sister network Disney Junior combined for a total of nine wins.

Among the top winners were Disney Junior’s “Elena of Avalor,” Disney Channel’s “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure,” and HBO’s “Sesame Street” and “Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration,” all of which each won three awards.

Among individual wins, Mike Rowe (“Returning the Favor” was named outstanding host for a daytime program; Giada De Laurentiis (“Giada Entertains”) was named outstanding culinary host; and Tamron Hall (“Tamron Hall”) was selected as outstanding informative talk show host.

Then there’s the case of Alan Menken, who won the outstanding original song in a children’s, young adult or animated program Emmy for...

Another round of winners for the 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were unveiled Sunday night as the ceremony handed out trophies honoring Children’s, Lifestyle, and Animation programming. The ceremony also paid tribute to Regis Philbin, who passed away this weekend, by sharing his acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award he received at the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2008.

Hosted by Loni Love, the virtual ceremony follows last week’s event which honored the best in Digital Dramas with Amazon’s The Bay, After Forever and Studio City walking away as big winners. During the livestream, winners accepted their Emmys from the comfort of their own homes — or wherever they are in quarantine.

Presenters included Izabella Alvarez (Nickelodeon’s The Loud House and The Casagrandes), actress and social media star Tabitha Brown (Actress and Vegan Foodie), Josh Dela Cruz (Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues & You!), Quintessa Swindell (Netflix...