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Page 2c— Creston News Advertiser — Friday, September 18, 2015

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The Muppets take ABC as new backstage series begins By Jay Bobbin © Zap2it

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If you’ve ever wondered about the backstage lives of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, you’re in luck. The late Jim Henson’s beloved characters are returning to television on a regular basis, but in a slightly different way than before ... in a series that shows them away from performing, allowing their trademark sly humor to be put to new use. ABC debuts “The Muppets” Tuesday, Sept. 22, and the gang’s all here — albeit with a possibly distressing twist that became known during the summer: Kermit and Piggy are a couple no more. And allegedly, Kermit already has moved on, to an ABC marketing executive named Denise. “It’s an interesting thing that’s going on here,” explains Kermit ... seriously (with his voice supplied by Steve Whitmire). “Actually, the Muppets are doing a late-night chat show with Miss Piggy called ‘Up Late with Miss Piggy.’ And Bill and Bob (executive producers Prady and Kushell) came along with this wonderful idea to shoot behind the scenes, and they are producing that (backstage) show. It’s interesting and scary at the same time, because you get to see things that we wouldn’t normally, necessarily want you to see.” Miss Piggy concurs with that, though she maintains (via the voice of Eric Jacobson) that she isn’t “afraid of any pitfalls that come with stardom. I invite the pitfalls, you know. As long as I’m not the one who falls into them.

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(Ratings for each film begin with a “star” rating — one star meaning “poor,” four meaning “excellent” — followed by the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and then by a family-viewing guide, the key for which appears below.)

SATURDAY DAYTIME 9 AM 9:30

3 (WGN-A) Walker, Texas Ranger Å Sea Rescue Å The Wildlife 5 (5-ABC) (DVS) Docs ’ (EI) Paid Program Paid Program 6 (17-FOX) 8 (8-CBS) 9 (23-CW) 10 (39-i) 11 (11-PBS) 13 (13-NBC) 23 (TBS) 24 (NICK) 25 (USA) 27 (FX) 28 (SPIKE) 29 (LIFE) 32 (FAM) 35 (ESPN) 35 (ESPN2) 38 (WE) 39 (DISN) 40 (FSMW) 42 (AMC) 43 (TRUTV) 46 (DSC) 47 (TNT) 58 (A&E) 62 (ANPL) 66 (HALL) 71 (SYFY) 72 (BRAVO) 78 (PLEX) 276 (TCM) 301 (HBO)

Miss Piggy “stars” in “The Muppets,” premiering Tuesday on ABC. “sitting all my life thinking my job is to get the Muppets onto the American Broadcasting Company,” but he adds, “We fell in love with ‘The Muppets’ because it was a new take ... because the idea of making fun of documentaries where you once made fun of variety shows seems incredibly fresh.”

the view From the CouCh

By Jay Bobbin © Zap2it

STARTING THIS WEEK (New releases): “PITCH PERFECT 2”: The Bellas sing again in this enjoyable sequel directed by returning costar Elizabeth Banks, also a producer of both this and the original.

Any kind of attention is good publicity, so sure, I’m proud we’re broken up.” For any Muppet tension accompanying the end of that great romance, scheduled guest stars including Reese Witherspoon, Josh Groban, Elizabeth Banks, Jay Leno, Laurence Fishburne, Liam Hemsworth, Lea Thompson, Tom Bergeron and music’s Imagine Dragons may help allay it. In that sense, the new series emulates the structure of the classic, syndicated “Muppet Show” (1976-81), but Prady — who started his career with Henson and the Muppets, and has enjoyed success as co-creator and executive producer (with Chuck Lorre) of CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” — is quick to note the modern differences. “If you look at ‘The Muppet Show,’ ” he says, “it mocks variety shows because that was the dominant form of television at the time. And it struck me that if the Muppets were on television now, it would be ... I don’t know if ‘parody’ is the correct word, but it would look at the way television is done now and say, ‘Well, what’s the Muppet version of that?’ ” Indeed, “The Muppets” is that world’s take on the reality-show boom, complete with cinemaverite-type shots. Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, the Swedish Chef and Rowlf the Dog (who has a history with ABC, having been a regular on “The Jimmy Dean Show” some 50 years ago) are among other familiar characters participating. ABC Entertainment president Paul Lee notes he hasn’t been

Rebel Wilson of “Perfect Pitch 2” Humiliated on a major scale during a presidential performance, the a cappella group seeks fresh glory in a global competition, but some intense rivals won’t make that easy.

Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Alexis Knapp and Skylar Astin are joined by cast newcomer Hailee Steinfeld (“True Grit”). John Michael Higgins also is back as Banks’ partner in commenting on the contest. DVD extras: “making-of” documentary; outtakes; deleted, extended and alternate scenes. ››› (PG-13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “THE FLASH: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON”: Tried earlier as a television series, the DC Comics franchise has had much more success the second time around with the CW show starring Grant Gustin as Barry

Allen, who acquires super-speed through a lab accident. His efforts to keep Central City safe also involve colleague Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker), policeman Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) and the ultimately duplicitous Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh). Crossover stories with the fellow DC/CW series “Arrow” are involved; Candice Patton, Carlos Valdes and Rick Cosnett also star, with John Wesley Shipp — who was television’s first “Flash” — recurring as Barry’s father. ››› (Not rated: P, V) (Also on Blu-ray) “THE LAST MAN ON EARTH: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON”: Also the

show’s creator, “Saturday Night Live” alum Will Forte has the title part in this frequently clever Fox sitcom, which puts spins on a concept treated seriously in such movies as “I Am Legend” and “The Omega Man.” In the year 2020, Phil Miller (Forte) apparently is the sole survivor of a virus — and just as he’s convinced no one else is alive, he gets a surprise. Suffice it to say Kristin Schaal and January Jones (“Mad Men”) eventually turn up as costars, with Mary Steenburgen in a guest role. DVD extras: two “making-of” documentaries; deleted scenes; audio commentary on selected episodes; outtakes;

As for how he’ll cope with the new style, Kermit believes, “You’re going to learn, whatever happens. You know, it’s a dayby-day, moment-by-moment process.” And as for having to share it with his now-former flame? “it can be tough to work with your ex,” he reasons. “Especially when your ex is a pig.”

question-and-answer panel. ››› (Not rated: AS, P) “MODERN FAMILY: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON”: Technology plays a major role in certain stories in this round of the much-honored ABC sitcom, as both Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell) have to rely on it to stay in touch with the family while traveling. Also, Haley (Sarah Hyland) has a memorable 21st birthday, and the clan celebrates Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day and Alex’s (Ariel Winter) highschool graduation. Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson also star. ››› (Not rated: AS, P)

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