Do you like Disney owning the Muppets?

Oh, come now people!

All power to the grand Dutchy of Eisner!

Zeig Eisner! Zeig Eisner! Zeig Eisner!

(No, I don't really slaute Eisner. This whole thing in general just has pros and cons)

I looked into this, and Disney bought "Bear in the Big Blue House" and "Jim Henson's Muppets". The did not buy the name "Jim Henson", but they did buy "Jim Henson's Muppets" (meaning they can't put Jim Henson on anything they want, only things with the Muppets). Technically (and llegaly speaking) their is not "Muppets" only "Jim Henson's Muppets". "Jim Henson's " is part of the muppet's brand name (which was bought by disney, and they will still use). They may however add a Disney to the brand, but they can't remove parts of the brand so "Jim Henson's" will be part it still. But only when talking about the muppets. They can't say Jim Henson Presents, or Jim Henson Productions, or stick Jim Henson's on the title of another puppet show they create. They can only use it with The Muppets

Also most Muppet Products will not be under the Walt Disney unit, this is why they created The Muppet Holding Company, to keep them seperate. Disney and the Muppet will do things togeather, but Disney will not be slathered all over them. They remain a seperate branch, but now owned by the Disney coperation (like ABC, ESPN, ect). So Disney will control, maintain, and work with the Muppets but the Muppets are not a Walt Disney brand...yet, this could change, but to start out Disney has decided to keep the two slightly seperate. However being owned by Disney they will still be tied to them (so don't expect to see them on FOX, or doing commercials for SixFlags) and will work with through them (so expect them on ABC, at Disney world, or in the Disney Stores). They are Disney's, and since Disney is such a large entertainment corperation they will work internally to get things done effeciently and profitable for them. Their will most likly be a Disney somewhere on the Muppet items and products but no more than when they made Christmas Carol and Treasure Island with them. Just expect it on everything now, not just those two productions and it's merch.

Look on the bright side. At least Classic Media didn't get them. There may be concerns about the direction the Muppets are going, but at least they are going, rather than going away.

You said it. With the Classic Media/Sesame Workshop bid (reported only a day before the Hensons bought back JHC), yeah there would have been the symbolism of ALL the Muppets sitting under one roof, but so what? Classic Media owns stuff for the sake of owning them, with little exploitation. Yeah Disney may have its drawbacks, but if you want to see the Muppets back in the forefront, it is going to take more than a small rights-holding company to do that.

I complete agree. As you said Classic Media justs own stuff for the sake of owning it. If they had owned the company, it wouldn't have helped the Muppets anymore than where they were at the time. It is very hard for a small rights company to be able to get mainstream corporate exposure.

They're not Disney's muppets though! If Jim wanted the muppets to get bought by Disney, he would have invited Walt over for tea and crumpets and given him the frog faster than you can say "Mickey!" He didnt though, did he? However, they're keeping the same Puppeteers aren't they? And writers? If they are, then they will only be Disney's in name. If they're getting in new writers, puppeteers and even new MUPPETS then I think that this will be the world's biggest mistake ever! I think the only way we can ever criticise is on Muppets Wonderful Wizard of Oz. If it stinks like "Hunchback of Notre Dame 2" then we shall stage a protest outside of Mickey's lil cottage. If not, I shall visit and congratulate him on putting muppets back on top.

Either way "Disneys Muppets" arent going anywhere and there's not enough money in the world to make Disney give them back. I say, give them Sesame Steet for free, as it pains me to see them seperated!!

o o
O + = ???

I've begun to see how "Muppets"(not "Disney's Muppets") under the guise of the Muppets Holding Company(well, ok..Disney, but not by name) just may be exactly what we need to get our furry pals into the spotlight again in 2005.

Beaker thats funny how you sayed "Disney Muppets". Becouse when i explan the Muppet thing to my friends...like the other day in Hot Topic, they had a Fraggle Postcard and my friend goes "Stevie theres some Muppet Postcards" and i go "Yeah thos are the Fraggle Muppets Not the "Disney Muppets, remeber i ONLY collect Disney Muppets... Disney owns JUST Kermit, Piggy and the the muppet show and Bear gang, NOT fraggle or Sesame Street" then when when we where eating in the mall i told them the story why there all split up...

What an interesting visual picture. Especially when you consider Walt was dead by the time that "Sesame" had even begun.

In my first post, I will voice my conecrn...

I really must admit that I felt a little betrayed by the sale of the Muppets to The Walt Disney Comany.
However, I am trying to keep an open mind about the whole thing, just to see if they Disney-fy the Muppets. One of the things about the Muppets that I like is that fact that they do not over sweeten any situation, as Disney is notorious for. And in any title regarding the Muppets, in the future bearing "Disney's Muppets" will probably send me off in a rant, although it will be at home and not online. I could possibly never forgive them. Possibly.
The only thing that really keeps me from not accepting it totally is the fact that Jim Henson himself was in talks to sell it to them before he died.
But for the Henson family to sell the Muppets to Disney after buying it back from EMTV, I was shocked, outraged, and utterly disappointed.
In time I may very well be whistling a different tune. Just because I don't like the fact that Disney owns it, doesn't mean I won't watch as I hope the Muppets continue as something I may show my future children someday.
But like I said, I will wait until I see what they have in store for my all time favorite childhood memory and long time obsession. The first test being The Wizard of Oz. I am very excited to hear about having the Muppets come back in film, even if it is on Television. I ended up buying VMMCM on DVD as soon as it came available and I have to admit it has replaced "The Muppet Christmas Carol" as my favorite Christmas film, But can not replace A Muppet Family Christmas as the best Christmas special ever.
As this is my first post, having been a long time viewer of the site, but never registered to post until today, I am taking advantage of as much as I can. Including the smilies, I love em!
But being my first post, this would have to be what I would want as a first post. And I hope they never recast any of the original muppet characters voices until the performers just can't do it anymore. Frank Oz still has a ways to go I think. I can't imagine Fozzie or Animal without him.

I have to admit, i am not really on board with the Disney takeover. Yeah okay, Jim Henson was talking to them about a deal before he died, but he was also planning to be alive when the deal went through. And if being under the Disney banner is so fab, then why did they work so hard to get out of Disney control only to end up back again?
Yes, I realize Disney ownership also means seeing muppets more often, and I am looking forward The Wizard of Oz. Nevertheless, I still have misgivings. The muppets seem to be heading back to doing adaptations instead of original scripts and that makes me kinda sad. They are at their best when the stories are their own.

I think the jury is still out on the deal, but I agree that they have always been at their best when they do something original, i.e. "TMM."

OK, ignore my previous post. I have changed my mind entirely. I now love Disney owning the Muppets. I cant believe I just said that; but here's why...

1) I live in the UK, and we dont get a lot of Muppet coverage over here. The Disney Channel will probably start showing Muppet Movies

2) Already there are Piggys and Kermits at MGM Studios. I think that now they will stretch across all of the parks and they will possibly have Fozzies and Gonzos too

3) Last night I went to see Toy Story on ice and realise now that they're like a big family. Disney is the main family. Pixar is like the grandparents you always look forward to seeing purely because of the £5 you get afterwards. And Muppets are now the wacky cousins!

4) The Disney store now have Muppet Plushes! Wow! Its absolutely everyone...

Kermit
Piggy
Gonzo
Fozzie
Bunsen and Beaker
Statler and Waldorf
Sam Eagle
Swedish Chef
Rowlf
Animal

I honestly trust Disney on this one. But if they kill the Muppets.... Tutter will get mad!!!

Oh... I have a 5th point!

5) They dont show Sesame Street (aka The Elmo Show) over here anymore. If Disney buY SS they can show it on Playhouse Disney. And they might add them to Playhouse Disney Live!

Disney won't buy SS...The Sesame workshop is very happy to own them finally.

They would if they could, but they can't.

Yep

I don't want them to kill the Muppets either. But like I said, I will wait to see what they have in store for them. Maybe we can expect a new show? As was teased about before the sale.
I would much rather see a straight up Muppet story as well, the adaptations were funny, but did we need another Christmas Carol or Treasure Island?
If they use the Muppets to their potential without removing their soul, I will change my opinion on Disney.
But maybe now that the backing is there, having Disney on the Muppets side won't be so bad. Disney has the money and obviously knows how to promote. Maybe this is the 'umph' they need to make a comeback and stay that way!
Kermit is on the same iconic level as Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny, as long as I can remain patient I won't lose my mind over this. Michael Eisner better not mess with my childhood. LOL I think the man was obsessed. The Muppets were his 'holy grail' as it were.

Hmmm, I will think on that one.

This could be the biggest mistake ever or the final push to get the Muppets back on top of the media world. Either way, there is no happy medium with this one. I suppose we cant criticise yet, we'll have to let Wizard of Oz be our judge. If its as good as it's hyped up to be; this will be one of the greatest Muppet moves since Jim Henson stuck eyes on his green sock!!

I agree, until we see the finished product it will be hard to judge the movie.

When I saw this forum I was like wow.

But, It will NEVER saw Disney's Muppets. Disney did not buy the name Jim Henson. Also Disney dosen't want to take away Jim Henosn's Name.

So Muppet Fans Don't Worry about ever seeing Disney's Muppets. You Never will.

NO!

While I love Disney, I think it is trying to have a total monopoly on entertainment...I refuse to accept Mickey and Minnie encrouching on Bert, Oscar, Kermit and Elmo's Territory.....Heck, I was even a lil upset when I found out about the Sesame Street albums released on Walt Disney label back in the early 70s!!! GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY