Remember the days when "Sesame Street" used to be the best thing on TV? We were introduced to the many introverted, colourful and hilarious characters through creator Jim Henson's Muppets. Directed by James Bobin of "The Flight Of The Conchords" fame, the upcoming "Muppets" movie is set to bring the good ole' puppet comedy back, with Jason Segel ("How I Met Your Mother") and Amy Adams ("Enchanted"), along with just about every Muppet you can think of. As the franchises' 11th film and the first theatrical production after 12 years, the upcoming film follows Gary (Segel) and his brother Walter (a brand-new puppet created for the film) as they journey to Los Angeles to save the Muppet Theatre from devious oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper).
Unlike his role in "Sesame Street" as the chirpy investigative reporter who would brave a storm, tornado, or any sort of disaster to deliver a story, in this movie Kermit plays a depressed Frog who suffers a mid-life crisis. He lives a quiet life after years of not performing with The Muppets, and it's only when Walter seeks him out he reluctantly ignites his passion with the theatre and his flame, Miss Piggy.
Miss Piggy, the prima-donna pig of Kermit's undying affections, strives for stardom and lets nothing get in her way. When she's not showering her amphibian love with kisses, she gets into violent rage when insulted and gets into defensive Karate-chop mode. In "The Muppets", Miss Piggy has lost touch with Kermit and is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris.
"The Great Gonzo" as he's formerly known, is a daredevil that's part of the "The Muppets" troupe. Although he has a weird look about him that's not usually deemed cute as the other Muppets, Gonzo takes pride in whatever he does. Gonzo was created as an eccentric Muppet who performs terrible acts like eating a tire to the 'Flight Of The Bumble Bee' and considers them magnificent!
Animal is well, exactly as his name suggest; a crazy drummer on "The Muppets" who looks like a cross between a homeless person and an artistic hippie. As a musician, Animal only has three tones he is able to recognise; 'loud', 'louder', and 'deafening'. His unrestrained rebellious nature made him quite a hit when he first made his debut in the 1975 pilot episode "The Muppet Show: Sex And Violence". Apparently, Animal was inspired by Keith Moon, the drummer of English rock band, The Who.
If "Sesame Street" had the long eyelash-ed Snuffaluffagus, then "Muppets" had Fozzie the Bear. The grizzly and tattered looking Fozzie is a cuddly Muppet that loves to make people laugh and also Kermit's best friend. When Fozzie goes on a hiatus from being a stand-up comedian in "The Muppets", Walter and the gang seek him out along with the other Muppets.
Rowlf (dog for Ralph) aka. Rowlf Cameron Swayze, is a dog resembling Muppet, who is the resident pianist for "The Muppet Show" when it debuted. Quite the musical hound, Rowlf performs classical music, sings and even duets with the other Muppets. Creator Jim Henson's last public performance before his death was Rowlf as guest on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1990. For several years afterward, the character was retired out of deference to Henson's memory as he was, according to some sources, the character closest to Henson's personality.
Walter, a new Muppet created especially for the movie, is the biggest Muppets fan and also a devoted fan of Kermit the Frog. With his Kermit T-shirt, watch and his brother Gary, played by a very human Jason Segal (don't ask), they venture on a road trip to Los Angeles along with Mary played by Amy Adams to save the Muppets theatre. Based on his resemblance and character, we think Walter is more like an improved version of Ernie from "Sesame Street".