Muppet Updates

Marissa GordonNews

The Muppets may not be returning to TV this fall, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on everyone’s favorite wacky puppets! Disney recently announced two new experiences coming to the theme parks featuring the Muppets like you’ve never seen them before. At the Magic Kingdom “Great Moments in American History…featuring the Muppets” is a new live show making its debut in Liberty Square this October. Everyone’s favorite patriot, Sam Eagle, will headline the show, and joining him will be old friends Kermit, Miss Pigggy, Gonzo and Fozzie. The show will also introduce a brand new character, James Jefferson, who plays the town crier of Liberty Square, along with a new song written just for the production . The show’s format will include the Muppets interpreting stories from American history, such as the midnight ride of Paul Revere and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, using their unique brand of humor. “Great Moments in American History…featuring the Muppets” will take place throughout the day outside of the Hall of Presidents, and while no specifics have been released about the staging of the show, recent installation of mechanically operated window shutters on the second floor of the Heritage House may provide a clue. There has also been no announcement yet about how often the show will run or how many different stories will be presented.

Photo of Heritage House with newly installed mechanical shutters, potential staging area for “Great Moments in American History…featuring the Muppets” photo credit easywdw.com

This new show looks like it will be a fun addition to Liberty Square and a great way to pass the time while waiting for board the Liberty Belle or while waiting on the next showing of the Hall of Presidents. Sam Eagle steals the show over at MuppetVision, and I’m sure his take on American History will be equally entertaining. It is always wonderful to see new additions to the entertainment line up-at the parks, and the combination of Muppets, humor, and history seems like a sure bet!

In other Muppet news, some new concept art was released for PizzeRizzo, the new Muppet-themed counter service restaurant coming to the Muppet Courtyard in Disney’s Hollywood studios this fall. The artwork is located on the construction walls surrounding the restaurant formerly known as Pizza Planet.

The concept art showcases the new signage for the building along with the ample outdoor seating.

There are also some visual puns, such as describing the pizza as “oven ‘fresh’” and the watertower advertising “Heckler tomato paste” with a photo of a tomato being thrown through the air.

This restaurant looks like a great addition to the muppet courtyard, and is certainly more thematically appropriate than Pizza Planet. It remains to be seen if the pizza quality will improve when the restaurant opens, but regardless it looks like a fun place to grab a quick bite at Hollywood studios.