So, this is the script I wrote about in my column. Thanks for checking it out. A few things to note, most importantly: This was written in 2002 and was intended to be very pop culture/in the moment kind of stuff. Some of it holds up, but there are definitely some very dated references here. Among the requirements were short transitions between sketches, referencing the Fox Network, using every main Muppet (we had to have a Piggy sketch, a Gonzo sketch, a Fozzie sketch, etc) and using celebrity guest stars. Also, they wanted what's called a "cold open" - a sketch before the opening credits ala Saturday Night Live. "What's our 'Live from New York?" they asked. Also, they did NOT want to do any backstage things like the old Muppet Show - so that was off the table.
Keep in mind what may seem obvious and simple in hindsight was hard to see when tasked with the ultimate question: How do you re-invent the Muppets? So many weird ideas thrown out (the answer, of course, is that you don't re-invent them.. They don't need that. Trust what you love) that it was sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees. Like, they didn't even want the old theme song, which we felt was classic. We talked them out of that with a twist
The ultimate goal: Remain true to the Muppetsso that kids and adult alike can enjoy in a sketch show format while making them more modern and a little edgier for the Fox audience.
As I mentioned in the article, we wrote this in about two weeks. Enjoy.
So, this is the script I wrote about in my column. Thanks for checking it out. A few things to note, most importantly: This was written in 2002 and was intended to be very pop culture/in the moment kind of stuff. Some of it holds up, but there are definitely some very dated references here. Among the requirements were short transitions between sketches, referencing the Fox Network, using every main Muppet (we had to have a Piggy sketch, a Gonzo sketch, a Fozzie sketch, etc) and using celebrity guest stars. Also, they wanted what's called a "cold open" - a sketch before the opening credits ala Saturday Night Live. "What's our 'Live from New York?" they asked. Also, they did NOT want to do any backstage things like the old Muppet Show - so that was off the table.
Keep in mind what may seem obvious and simple in hindsight was hard to see when tasked with the ultimate question: How do you re-invent the Muppets? So many weird ideas thrown out (the answer, of course, is that you don't re-invent them.. They don't need that. Trust what you love) that it was sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees. Like, they didn't even want the old theme song, which we felt was classic. We talked them out of that with a twist
The ultimate goal: Remain true to the Muppetsso that kids and adult alike can enjoy in a sketch show format while making them more modern and a little edgier for the Fox audience.
As I mentioned in the article, we wrote this in about two weeks. Enjoy.
So, this is the script I wrote about in my column. Thanks for checking it out. A few things to note, most importantly: This was written in 2002 and was intended to be very pop culture/in the moment kind of stuff. Some of it holds up, but there are definitely some very dated references here. Among the requirements were short transitions between sketches, referencing the Fox Network, using every main Muppet (we had to have a Piggy sketch, a Gonzo sketch, a Fozzie sketch, etc) and using celebrity guest stars. Also, they wanted what's called a "cold open" - a sketch before the opening credits ala Saturday Night Live. "What's our 'Live from New York?" they asked. Also, they did NOT want to do any backstage things like the old Muppet Show - so that was off the table.
Keep in mind what may seem obvious and simple in hindsight was hard to see when tasked with the ultimate question: How do you re-invent the Muppets? So many weird ideas thrown out (the answer, of course, is that you don't re-invent them.. They don't need that. Trust what you love) that it was sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees. Like, they didn't even want the old theme song, which we felt was classic. We talked them out of that with a twist
The ultimate goal: Remain true to the Muppetsso that kids and adult alike can enjoy in a sketch show format while making them more modern and a little edgier for the Fox audience.
As I mentioned in the article, we wrote this in about two weeks. Enjoy.
So, this is the script I wrote about in my column. Thanks for checking it out. A few things to note, most importantly: This was written in 2002 and was intended to be very pop culture/in the moment kind of stuff. Some of it holds up, but there are definitely some very dated references here. Among the requirements were short transitions between sketches, referencing the Fox Network, using every main Muppet (we had to have a Piggy sketch, a Gonzo sketch, a Fozzie sketch, etc) and using celebrity guest stars. Also, they wanted what's called a "cold open" - a sketch before the opening credits ala Saturday Night Live. "What's our 'Live from New York?" they asked. Also, they did NOT want to do any backstage things like the old Muppet Show - so that was off the table.
Keep in mind what may seem obvious and simple in hindsight was hard to see when tasked with the ultimate question: How do you re-invent the Muppets? So many weird ideas thrown out (the answer, of course, is that you don't re-invent them.. They don't need that. Trust what you love) that it was sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees. Like, they didn't even want the old theme song, which we felt was classic. We talked them out of that with a twist
The ultimate goal: Remain true to the Muppetsso that kids and adult alike can enjoy in a sketch show format while making them more modern and a little edgier for the Fox audience.
As I mentioned in the article, we wrote this in about two weeks. Enjoy.