Screen Squinty's "The Muppets Season 1, Ep. 8: To Hot To Handler”

Show: The Muppets.
Season: 1.
Episode: “To Hot To Handler.”
Story by: Margee Magee and Angeli Millan.
Released: 2015.
Running Time: 20 min.

In this week’s episode we see more relationships being exercised both romantically and friendship-wise as Scooter’s suave dorkiness is irresistible to Chelsea Handler and Kermit’s over protective instincts in regards to Fozzie cause him to interfere in his best friend’s latest romantic relationship.

Here we see another episode that has been utilizing the teaching-a-moral formula of a type like the kind normally found in children’s shows and actually applying this quite well towards adults with some success. Nowadays there is often little in the way of something both entertaining and trying to teach you something overtly that geared towards adults, yet the show has presented a few episodes now in which they do exactly that by presenting a moral story within the foil of The Muppets by using the adult contemporary humour and cinematic styles and mockumentary sitcom genre, worked through the filter of nostalgia of our favorite puppets, an inherent association for any adult that has ever watched TV growing up. Provided that it doesn’t venture into preachiness, this is something I support in a show.

As usual, any extended dialogue between Fozzie and Kermit is the highlight of any episode, especially when one of the two story arcs is centered on those two specifically. Their friendship dynamic is just so fascinating to watch, evidenced in there hash out with each other at the end of the episode which was funny, enlightening, good for character growth, and clever without degenerating into being syrupy hand hold kumbyah-ing.

Denise actually wasn’t bad this episode, which was somewhat refreshing, as there was some good growth for her as a character as well in this episode, and her scenes where she casually reveals her more sorted background of the variety Kermit was looking for in Becky was amusing to witness, and her no-nonsense way of dealing with Kermit actually worked in this episode, peaking her likability up a small notch.

Scooter’s arc was sort of sweet in his initial interactions with Handler and his crush, though that’s quickly lost as the show lays on his character trope a little thick. His conversation with Pepe and Rizzo was mildly amusing, but Scooter was not the strongest part of the show. His best portrayal was in the previous episode where he was boss for a while, utilizing his character trope and challenging and combining it in a situation outside of it; it’s a shame we didn’t see more of that this episode.

Overall, not a bad episode that had some decent Kermit and Fozzie, and Denise moments surprisingly enough, with some good jokes (Dudley and The Electric mayhem in the background), though it suffered from Scooter’s arc somewhat, so not a weak episode, it’s not the strongest one either.

Episode Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UsYL1Ve0v0
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Original post: https://screensquinty.wordpress.com/2015/11/21/the-muppets-to-hot-to-handler-a-review/
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Screen Squinty's "The Muppets Season 3: Bear Left, Then Bear Right” Review.

Show: The Muppets.
Season: 1.
Episode: 3, “Bear Left, Then Bear Right.”
Released: 2015.
Running Time: 21 min.

“Bear Left, Then Bear Right” is the third episode in the series The Muppets centering mainly around the friendship of Kermit and Fozzy, and Kermit having to be honest with Fozzy about the horribleness of his skit writing.

The episodes just keep getting better and better as this first season progresses, and has easily been one of the highlights of the fall season, and certainly one of the better shows to first premiere this season.

For this episode there was actually a pretty decent moral in this episode about friendship, honesty, and support worked through the best character duo for the job, Kermit and Fozzy, who’ve had the best of friendship pretty much throughout the entire Muppet franchise (even playing twin brothers in The Muppet Caper). The moral in no way felt forced, and the narrative to support it flowed well from both Kermit and Fozzy’s unique pre-established identities and relationship.

The two played off each other well, never deviating from their core character values, with great dialogue and dynamic that was both funny and engaging, easily the strongest part of the episode.

The use of two other side stories through Miss Piggy’s revenge on Christina Applegate and Gonzo’s dating woes were a bit undeveloped, but not bad given the time they had allotted. Chip the creepy IT guy was amusing as he lurks in the background-ish, that blinking of his, especially amongst a cast of non-blinkers, was a nice touch.

Overall this is yet another winner of an episode with its decent plot-progression keeping a good clip with the brevity. The character dynamic between Fozzy and Kermit was solid, and the side characters and even the guest stars were fun to watch, topping everything off with a well done moral that people of all ages can relate to.



Original post:  https://screensquinty.wordpress.com/2015/10/06/the-muppets-season-3-bear-left-then-bear-right-a-review/
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Screen Squinty's "The Muppets, Premiere" Review.

Show: The Muppets.
Episode: 1.
Season: 1.
Made by: ABC Studios and The Muppets Studio.
Running Time: 24 min.
Released: 2015.

The Muppets is the latest televised incarnation from The Muppets franchise created by Bill Prady and Bob Kushell. It is an American made sitcom based on the behind-the-scenes lives of the various casts and crew of a fictional talk show “Up Late with Ms. Piggy,” told in a mockumentary style format.

The documentary/mockumentary style of the show was actually one of the enjoyable parts about this episode, and they paid attention to detail in keeping with the style of one, such as the odd moment of shaky cam, and framing shots designed to look like someone trying to film in tight corners (peeking in on a conversation between Kermit and Ms. Piggy). The design of the puppets remains the standard of what is expected from a contemporary muppets production, with a few new background muppets that were adequately designed. Denise’s design was…awkwardly serviceable. There has been contention that she is depicted as a younger and skinnier replacement of Ms. Piggy, and I would agree there seems to be some truth to this, particularly with how her personality is portrayed so far. There is also similarities particularly to the earlier incarnations of Ms. Piggy from the original muppets from the 1980’s in her design, She does stand separate just enough visually from Ms. Piggy to be her own character.

The characters themselves were for the most part good. Kermit (Steve Whitmire) plays a decent aggrieved boss man just getting over a relationship with a co-worker, Ms. Piggy (Eric Jacobson), with some long suffering moments akin to said awkward post-breakup, but there is also care and dry humour in him that balances out the negative moments, he is definitely the star of this episode. Fozzie (also Eric Jacobson) was himself as the unfunny but optimistic bear, even in a romantic relationship (despite its awkwardness here and there), and that static nature of him was enjoyable to see, particularly as he balances out Kermit’s more serious inclinations.

Now for the, well, pig in the room, Denise.

Denise (Julianne Buescher) is…*deep sigh*. To begin with her voice was startling, and a little off putting, coming out of a muppet, though her walking innuendo tonality somewhat works with the type of character she plays, so after you get over that annoying factor you realize its reluctantly appropriate. Personality and story wise she seems to have nothing else going for her so far, nothing that makes her unique except to be there as Kermit’s girlfriend, the young sexy office relation trope variety. Hopefully she will improve with later episodes, but right now she is the least enjoyable.

The story for the show was actually really enjoyable. The plot flows well with the mockumentary style, the fact that this is very similar to The Office (2005-2013) is likely no surprise to anyone, but the use of the muppets working through the show’s premise with all the strong personalities (for the most part) and the wacky nostalgia that was the muppets wraps all together for an interesting viewing for the most part. The side arc of Fozzie and his relationship was the weakest of the plot, and felt a little forced, though was somewhat saved within the culmination of the arc in the conversation between Fozzie and his girlfriend, did illicit an amused snort.

Speaking of the humour, it is hit or miss, depending on the individual, with Kermit being the definite winner for the most amusement factor through his dead pan deliveries. The humour inherent in the set-up was adequately utilized with just the right amount of adult humour to remind you of why this show is prime-time. It is also the more adult themed humour and other content is likely to put some viewers up in arms, but to remind those that might have umbrage with it, the original Muppet Show from the 80’s was actually originally geared towards an adult audiences.

Overall the show had a rather interesting start to the show with some good use of parody and mockumentary, Kermit the frog and his character’s trials and his dry wit, and so on. A few things were forced here and there, and Denise was one dimensional, even for a puppet. Still what are wrong with it could be easily remedied further episodes in, so it’s well worth the watch.



Original post: https://screensquinty.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/the-muppets-premiere-a-review/
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