Midnight Ramblings

Some late night movie deal news:

Disney has bought the Muppets!

It was announced today by both the Walt Disney and Jim Henson companies that Disney has accquired ownership of The Muppets and The Bear in the Big Blue House. Disney is also purchasing the copyright on all past Muppet products. So, if they're ever going to do a 2-disc special edition DVD of The Muppets Take Manhattan or a boxed set of The Muppet Show: The Complete First Season, Disney will be the one putting it out.

The Jim Henson Company, however, will still retain ownership of most of their other properties, such as the Sesame Street characters, Fraggle Rock, and the sci-fi cult classic Farscape. This deal was just for Kermit and the gang (and the Bear, which is a hit kids show in the US.)

Lisa Henson, Jim Henson's daughter and one of the heads of the Jim Henson Company, pointed out how, before his death in 1990, Jim Henson was close to signing virtually the same deal with the Walt Disney Company, and that Jim Henson thought that Disney would be the perfect home for the Muppets. "This is the realization of my father's dream," said Lisa Henson.

Disney axed their deal with the Jim Henson Company way back in 1990 because, at the time, they didn't want to look like graverobbers. Disney has already announced several TV specials for the Muppets.

And in other news...for the past few weeks, I've always been baffled by this billboard I always drove by on my way home. It featured a chicken with a machine gun. Today, I finally got to read what is printed on this billboard. "If the cows don't get you, I WILL! It's mad to eat any kind of meat. This message brought to you by P.E.T.A."

Next Issue...Harvey Finebeck Will Return!