Muppets Hit the Comeback Trail

Channel called Muppets "anti-oil"

(NEWSER) - The Muppets are firing back at Fox News' claim their new movie is anti-oil . Asked about the accusation at a UK press conference, the Huffington Post reports that Kermit the Frog called the notion "categorically not true. If we had some problem with oil companies, why would we have spent the whole film driving around in a gas-guzzling Rolls Royce?" Added Miss Piggy: "It's almost as laughable as accusing Fox News of, you know, being news." More»

(NEWSER) - For once, the latest viral Internet sensation isn’t a crazy video—it’s a crazy theory: 30 Rock is a rip-off of The Muppet Show. Not crazy, blogger Brian Lynch contends, before marshalling “so many facts you HAVE to concede I'm absolutely right.” From Tina Fey/Liz Lemon as the Kermit figure to the show's own coded confession, he’s pretty convincing:

• “Jenna Maroney” vs. Miss Piggy: “NBC got really lazy on this one, as Jane Krakowski looks like the human version of the beloved Muppet.”

Eric Bolling lashes demonizing 'Tex Richman' in new movie

(NEWSER) - Say it ain't so, Kermit. Don't tell us you've gone all Commie and are launching class warfare. Fox TV says you have. "We're teaching our kids class warfare," groused Follow the Money host Eric Bolling about the new Muppets movie. "Where are we, communist China?" He's particularly irritated that the wealthy villain in the Muppets movie is named Tex Richman, who aims to tear down the Muppets theater so he can drill for oil. More»

He made his mark with funny—and violent—ads

(NEWSER) - For those whose view of Muppets creator Jim Henson is one of "mild nostalgia," Network Awesome has a must-see compilation of his innovative—and surprisingly violent—commercials and shorts from the 1950s and '60s. Prominent are Wilkins Coffee ads with characters Wilkin and Wontkin. In most of them, Wontkin meets his demise at the hands of Wilkin after he admits he doesn't drink the stuff. (Click the Network Awesome link to see the compilation; see the video in the gallery for a smaller sample of Wilkins ads.) More»

Selena Gomez stars in adaptation of Beverly Cleary classics

(NEWSER) - Ramona and Beezus plays fast and loose with its source material, the classic children's books by Beverly Cleary, but the family movie—Disney tween favorite Selena Gomez's film debut—generally has the critics on its side.

• Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer : "The overall tone of the film is sunny, with Ramona and Beezus resiliently turning life's lemons into lemonade." The flick also "boasts a daddy/daughter plotline that is very touching."