Muppets Update: Segel Chats about the Script

Last week we learned that Jason Segel would be penning a new Muppet movie. I was quite excited about this. Who doesn’t love The Muppets? Segel recently chatted with MTV about the direction he plans to take with the film:
“I’ve just grown a little disappointed with ‘Muppets in the Old West,’ ‘Muppets Under Water,’ and all these weird concept movies. I just want to go take it back to the early 80’s, when it was about the Muppets trying to put on a show. That’s what I’m trying to bring back,” said Segel, who also wants to bring back the big name cameos of the earlier films. “All of our friends that I’ve brought it up to are pretty excited by the prospect of it. Everyone loves the Muppets; they’ve got a warm place in most people’s hearts. We want a lot of cameos. You look back at Charles Grodin, Charles Durning, there were just such great performances in those movies.” “We’ve got a great plot. I think if we can execute it right, it will be terrific. But I can’t tell you more – it’s top secret.”
Segel also weighed in on his opinion of Kermit the Frog:
“I remember thinking that Kermit was the original Tom Hanks – he was the everyman for a kid. I remember watching Kermit and thinking ‘That’s what I want to do when I grow up.’ I don’t think I realized he was a puppet.”
All this via Slash Film, who also have some excellent points on Segel and the script.
I still think that Segel’s the perfect writer for this movie. The key to what made the Muppets so cool was how they were written and geared for adults, rather than children. Do you have any favorite Muppet moments?
Neil Patrick Harris in Joss Whedon’s “Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”

That’s a title I never thought I’d write, although I’m quite excited to be sharing this with you. This again breaks my “three posts in one day” rule but I’m tired of Britney taking up my entire homepage so I bring it to you anyway.
Neil Patrick Harris will star as Dr. Horrible in Joss Whedon’s online musical mini-series “DOCTOR HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG”. What is it? Why is it happening? Who knows, but I bet it’s going to be awesome.
Whedon recently posted this on his fan site:
So…..The bag is catless.
During the strike I started writing a musical intended as a limited internet series, 3 episodes of approximately 10 minutes each. Writing with me was my brother Jed, his fiancee Maurissa, and my other brother Zack. To my shock and surprise, we finished it. To my greater shock and surprise, we managed (with the help of many people I’ll be praising at length soon) to drag it into preproduction (yes, just as DOLLHOUSE was given a start date two months away and all my comics were due.) And today, after a grueling week of writing everything ever while trying to be a producer, I got to start shooting. A musical.
This much I will say: It’s the story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he’s too shy to talk to. And I’m having the time of my life.
“DOCTOR HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG”
Neil Patrick Harris…..as Dr. Horrible
Nathan Fillion……….as Captain Hammer
Felicia Day………….as PennyAnd a cast of Dozens!
Coming soon.
This is kind of awesome. It’s like a fanboy (or girl)’s dream come true. I get a little reticent whenever a writer talks about what they were doing during the break but the works produced involving other HIMYM cast members were good, so I think this will be too. What do you think?
Jason Segel to Write New Muppet Movie
I don’t like to post thrice in one day but this was too good to pass up. I’ll keep it short.
The Muppets are back back back – and you’re not going to believe who’s behind their glorious big-screen revival.
For it’s only Nick Stoller and Jason Segel – the director, star and co-writers of the forthcoming Judd Apatow-produced comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
…when Segel was invited to a general meeting with Disney executive, Kristin Burr, he pitched his concept for a new Muppets movie, and was hired on the spot.
That explains the Muppet references on the ilovesarahmarshall.com blog. I’m really excited about this, who better to bring back the Muppets to their former glory?
Read the whole story here. Thanks to reader Liz for pointing this out to me. And no, I don’t think the story is serious about Segel leaving HIMYM. Those Apatow boys are busy beavers, I think he’ll take all this on in stride. Hell, he’s probably already got it written.
Peter Bretter Hates Sarah Marshall

Last week I mentioned the blog for Fogetting Sarah Marshall at ilovesarahmarshall.com. Well, the URL now redirects to ihatesarahmarshall.com and the focus of the blog has changed a bit:
F her. F the shit out of her. You know I’ve been thinking about it and it’s like five years! You’re just going to throw that away. I guess she is! So it’s all out on the table now. Struggling, insecure, low self-esteem, doesn’t know what she had TV actress Sarah Marshall dumped me last night. yes, the one on the stupid crime TV show with Daniel Baldwin. Or Adam or Billy or Pablo…who the F can keep ‘em straight? She probably screwing ‘em all anyway.
This is great. I really love this kind of marketing. Cheers to Segel for making all the videos. I bet he actually writes the blog posts too. I’m actually really excited to see the movie. It’s generating a lot of buzz online. Hopefully all that buzz, and any box office success the film has, will catapult Segel to more of a “star” status and in turn help the show.
It’s nice to see the actors popping up elsewhere. Maybe the movie Cobie Smulders is working on will also be good (don’t tell anyone: I doubt it will be) and will give her some more visibility as well.
Now Josh Radnor just needs a hit role. He should go on Entourage as himself, but expose some fictional, ludicrous lifestyle of banging chicks and breaking hearts. That’d be great. It worked for future-Ted Mosby:
NSFW language
Countdown to HIMYM 1: The Many Faces of Charlene Amoia

We all know and love her as Wendy the Waitress but as several readers pointed out, Charlene Amoia pops up in a lot of commercials and guest appearances on other shows. Here is a random smattering going from most recognizable to least-in-English. Enjoy. The pictures at the bottom are just for you as well.
Speed Reel
Here is a reel from Amoia’s agency. It has clips from My Boys, The Young and the Restless, How I Met Your Mother, and Joey. Also, her information is at the end in case anyone is looking to cast her in something.
Wal-Mart
This is the first time I noticed her outside of HIMYM. I love the old guy in this spot.
My Boys
Here’s the extended clip from My Boys where Charlene gets hit on by Mario and Luigi’s younger brother Esteban.
Joey
Charlene is in Joey’s book club. Extended clip from the speed reel.
McDonalds
This is a surprisingly sexy commercial for the golden arches. Check out how she purrs “I like it cold”. Who could argue with that?
DCU Commercial
OK, this is a stretch but she looks cute and is smart about managing her money!
Meetic Commercial
I have no idea what Meetic even is. Is it a product? A show? A movie? It seems like it might be French. Keep watching past the initial part, it kicks over into English and gets very, very funny. It also has the song “Too Drunk to F***” by Nouvelle Vague (listen here).
Wash Day
Looking cute yet again. This guy is worse than Barney. Goldters? Cabana in Maui? Is this what happens to hot girls whilst they do their laundry?
There’s a few more videos with Amoia that aren’t as entertaining.
For you RSS’ers, this post is chuck-a-block full of YouTube videos so do click through to view them all.

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