Jason Segel's reboot The Muppets finds the goofy gang disbanded, with Kermit living in an empty mansion, Miss Piggy as a fashion editor in France, and Fozzie Bear playing in The Moopets, a Reno-based tribute act to the Henson-created characters.
While the musical/comedy is a frolicking, fun return to the troupe we know and love (nothing like Disney's '90s Muppet missteps that took them to space and treasure island), more than anything it made us want to revisit classic moments with Kermit and company.
So, here they are, our five favorite Muppet moments.
Piggy and Kermit Get Married... Sort of
Between the cameos from Gregory Hines, Joan Rivers, and Liza Minelli, the on-spot plot that brings the group to New York in hopes of making it big on Broadway, and the on-stage inter-species wedding of Piggy and Kermit (who was getting a little too cozy with that Jenny broad), Muppets Take Manhattan is, by far, our favorite Muppet movie.
Statler and Waldorf as Marley and Marley
Michael Caine's turn as Ebenezer Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol makes this holiday flick (the first Muppet film after the death of Jim Henson) a touching, sometimes dark venture, replete with touches of wit and smarts. With an element of spookiness, and their signature sarcasm, resident complainers Statler and Waldorf begin the night of visiting spirits with this foreboding number.
Pigs in Space
Make no mistake, The Muppet Show's nerdiness made for some of its best bits, including this gem that includes Piggy dementedly lusting for Luke Skywalker (and putting on her best Leia frock and buns), plus appearances from C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca. Oh yeah, and Dr. Strange Pork.
"Mahna Mahna"
Piero Umiliani's minor hit became an iconic Muppet moment when it was featured in the first episode of The Muppet Show. And the rest is stuck-in-your head history.
"The Rainbow Connection"
Try as you might to stifle those misty eyes all you want, by the time The Muppet Movie finale comes to the phrase, "Life's like a movie, make your own ending," all bets are off.
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