Muppet Central News - Statler and Waldorf review films at Movies.com

Curmudgeons don't come much more lovable than Statler and Waldorf, the grumpy old men who offered unsolicited and witty comments on "The Muppet Show." Now the puppet duo is getting a regular spot on www.movies.com to share their inimitable reviews of upcoming films with online fans.

"Statler and Waldorf -- From the Balcony" kicked off Thursday with their remarks on Friday release "Bewitched" and "War of the Worlds," which opens next Wednesday.

Besides words, the puppets also have the "Snooze-O-Meter" for ranking a movie's interest level between nodding off during the opening credits to staying awake through the whole film.

Dan Sherlock, Movies.com VP, said Statler and Waldorf did a screen test of sorts during the Oscars. User traffic and feedback was so positive that a regular feature was created.

"It strikes a chord of nostalgia with our target audience, 18-34, who remember the Muppets very well," he said. "After all, who could forget Statler and Waldorf?"

Besides the titular stars, each biweekly episode will feature a different Muppet guest star, such as Pepe the King Prawn (who reviews DVDs in the premiere episode), Rowlf the Dog and other favorites.

"We have access to a variety of the Muppet characters, but obviously certain Muppets lend themselves better to this forum, so we'll be gearing it toward those," Sherlock said.

He added that the initiative is "very much a partnership" with the Muppets Holding Co., so that they work together on such things as scripts and characterizations.

Movies.com and the Muppets are operated by the Walt Disney Co.

Discuss this story

E-mail news alerts

MORE MUPPET NEWS

• New Muppets Teaser Trailer: "The Pig with the Froggy Tattoo"
• Jim Henson honored at Disney's D23 Expo
• "The Muppets" preview screening
• The Muppets tribute release "The Green Album" coming August 23
• Disney's New Muppets Logo
• Disney releases official plot synopsis for 2011 Muppet movie
• Disney moves Muppet movie to Thanksgiving 2011
• Jason Segel and the Muppets at the movie set

Search:
Keywords:

Fan site Muppet Central created by Phillip Chapman. Multimedia design by James V. Carroll. Updates by Muppet Central Staff. All Muppets, Bear characters and photos are copyright of The Muppets Studio. Sesame Street characters and photos are copyright of Sesame Workshop. Fraggle Rock, Creature Shop and similar likenesses are copyright of The Jim Henson Company.