It’s been too long since we last saw the Muppets on the big screen. No, the television movies from the past decade don’t count, mainly because a lot of us didn’t really watch them. Ever since the 1999 “Muppets in Space” we’ve been wanting to wash the strange taste of Gonzo’s origins out of our mouths and refresh our palettes with a fresh new chapter on our favorite group of optimistic felt characters. So now, once again, it’s time to play the music and it’s time to light the lights…
The latest adventure with the Muppets centers on Gary (Jason Segel), his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) and super fan Walter who take a trip to Los Angeles only to find out that an evil oil baron (Chris Cooper) is looking to tear down the Muppet theater in order to drill for oil. The three of them wrangle up all of the Muppets as they host a fundraiser in order to get the money they need so they can buy back the theater.
We got the amazing opportunity to talk with not only Jason Segel and Amy Adams but Walter, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy herself. They talk about being back in the spotlight, how Amy was persuaded to be in the movie, Miss Piggy’s relationship with Kermit and the possibility of bringing back “The Muppet Show.”
ShockYa: Amy, is this return since Enchanted to Disney singing and dancing and music? And if so, how did this come about? And this song that you and Miss Piggy sang, you don’t get to do it as a duet the way Jason does with his song. You’re on split screen. Was this because of someone’s Diva demands?
Amy Adams: Not mine. I always defer to Piggy first if she wants to say anything.
Miss Piggy: No, I mean you have to understand the song is called “Me Party” (“Party Of One”). Okay, you can’t really make a duet out of that. But it is also true that I didn’t do any of the movie with any of these fine actors here. I did all my stuff.
Kermit the Frog: Separately.
Miss Piggy: Separately and I was keyed in later. It’s a special effect. Uh-huh.
Amy Adams: But to answer the first part, yeah, it’s my first return. Sorry, I didn’t mean to not…
Miss Piggy: What’s wrong with you?
Amy Adams: It is a return to singing and dancing. It was a lot of fun and I got involved because Jason and Kermit sent me a DVD…
Jason Segel: Pandering.
Kermit the Frog: Yeah.
Amy Adams: …singing to me and asking me to be in the film, and I started crying and I think I knew I’d blown the deal. Like I was definitely doing the movie.
ShockYa: Of course the tears were different by the end of the film for a different reason.
ShockYa: Miss Piggy, how does it feel to be back together with Kermie? I mean, what is your relationship status? I think all of our readers would really like to know that.
Kermit the Frog: I’m sorry, could I …
Amy Adams: You don’t have to answer that? Just a single comment.
Kermit the Frog: [Overlapping] I was wondering if I could have a rebuttal after she’s done.
Miss Piggy: Well, you don’t know what I’m going to say.
Kermit the Frog: I know. Well, do it.
Miss Piggy: I was going to say how happy I am to be here seeing Kermie today because I haven’t seen him in such a long time.
Kermit the Frog: That’s true.
Miss Piggy: We’ve been so busy on the road promoting this movie.
Kermit the Frog: Yeah, that’s true.
Miss Piggy: And I was just going to say how much I love him.
Kermit the Frog: Yeah.
Miss Piggy: That is what I was going to say.
Kermit the Frog: That’s wonderful and I …
Miss Piggy: You want to rebut that?
Kermit the Frog: No, I just want to add my own little comments, and I just want to say that I’m thrilled always to perform with Miss Piggy. I think we make a great duo. And it’s wonderful to be together here today, and pretty much any time we’re together and that’s all I’m going to say.
ShockYa: Truly amazing. But for Walter, how does it feel to be so embraced and welcomed by the Muppets?
Walter: Well, how else could it feel? It’s unbelievable. You know, I keep pinching myself. I have bruises to prove it. This sort of thing doesn’t happen everyday and certainly not to me. It’s just been overwhelming and a real dream come true. We’re a pretty easy bunch to come into, you know. We’re pretty accepting.
Jason Segel: Yeah, really, really.
Miss Piggy: Pretty accepting.
Jason Segel: Relatively most of the time. Mostly accepting.
Miss Piggy: Not much at all.
ShockYa: For Walter, what was it like working just with the Muppets in general being on the stage, the Muppet Show. And for Mr. The Frog or Kermit, however you …
Kermit the Frog: Kermit, yeah.
ShockYa: Kermie.
Miss Piggy: [Upset] Kermiiit.
Kermit the Frog: I’m being naked in front of you. You can call me what you like figuratively and literally.
ShockYa: Since the fundraiser is done with, are you inspired to do more of the Muppet Show in the future?
Kermit the Frog: You go first.
Walter: Well, I guess you’re asking about the Muppet Show in the movie?
ShockYa: Yes.
Walter: Yeah. Oh, my gosh. What an experience that was. You know, they recreated the whole Muppet Theater and it was kind of mind blowing really. You know, it brought tears to my eyes in the first day seeing the set. It was just remarkable.
Jason Segel: And I believe that that Muppet Show theme song was the first time it had been recorded in 30 years or something like that?
Walter: Oh, probably, yeah.
Jason Segel: So it was really kind of inspiring for all of us. I think everyone got choked up.
Walter: Yeah, some because of the quality of that set I think they were choking up. We had a wonderful time and it certainly feels like … Well, we should probably put the question to all of you if you think it’s a reasonable time for something like the Muppet Show to come back.
ShockYa: Yeah!
Walter: I mean that would fun. That would be fun after all these years, you know. But I hope if it happens we really do it with our little red curtains and our little theater. Well, you know, that all depends on what you write about the movie.
Jason Segel: So be kind.
Walter: Be nice. Yes.
ShockYa: I very much enjoyed your photo spread in In Style Magazine, and I wonder if you’re going to do more of that. And how did you enjoy couture wardrobe in this film?
Miss Piggy: Well, I just want to say I am sorry. I am sorry about that spread in In Style. I am sorry to all the ladies who have lost their beaus, their husbands to moi. Because people just instantly fall in love with moi when they see me in that spread. And I just want to apologize. But the couture that I wore in the movie I loved it all. You know, I had a wonderful Zac Posen dress that I wore at the end. Yes. No, I’m not kidding. I’m not kidding. I had just a wonderful wardrobe.
“The Muppets” comes out in theaters everywhere on November 23rd.