“Muppets TV” is coming to France, courtesy of a licensing deal with Disney. Basically it’ll be an updated version of The Muppet Show for a French audience.
Thirty years after “The Muppet Show” took global television by storm, Kermit, Miss Piggy, et al., are poised to become TV stars a second time over — in France.
Mais non, Gallic commercial web TF1 isn’t talking reruns.
The channel has commissioned 10 episodes of “Muppets TV,” a new French-language show featuring the original Muppet characters, licensed from Disney, with new storylines and guest stars from the world of French showbiz.
The French stereotype in action:
“Sending scripts for validation is a bit tiresome. But I completely understand Disney’s rigor. The Muppets are a treasured brand, and I don’t blame them for wanting to make sure we respect the characters.”
I particularly like this last bit:
“Muppets TV” begins shooting next week at studios in La Plaine St. Denis, north of Paris. A new set of puppets –exact replicas made especially for the French show — have been placed “safely under lock and key, like the Crown jewels,” says Cauet.
[Via BWE]