Five Favorite Films with Kermit the Frog (and Miss Piggy Too!)
The Muppet legends talk about their new movie and share crazy stories from their lengthy showbiz careers.
Miss Piggy, what are your favorite movies?
Miss Piggy: I was going to say The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and The Muppet Christmas Carol, and this movie. I also love Casablanca. It's romantic, it's the golden age of Hollywood. It's where I truly belong. Don't you think?
Yes, you look great.
I'm truly one of those faces that they don't make any more.
That's true. You've been able to maintain a pretty good pig look for a long time. What's your secret?
Well, the truth is, pigs don't really get wrinkles, and the reason they don't is because, you know that stuff they inject into your face? To plump it up? That stuff comes from my people. Some people donate blood; my people donate dermal filler.
I was also wondering, how did you learn to be such an expert martial artist?
I was born doing a karate kick. That's how I got out. But then I also studied at Master Chang's Finishing School and Karate Dojo. I didn't have a lot of money early on in my career, so I figured, "Why not? I'll just spend it here and get two for one."
What was your journalistic philosophy when you were editing the magazine in France?
You do realize that this is a movie we're talking about. I wasn't really an editor; I just played one in the movie. Just like I wasn't really in Paris; that was a Hollywood backlot. Do you know how movies are made?
No, I guess not. So you're just putting on a performance?
Yes, it is called "acting." I understand I am such a brilliant actress, that...
...you made me think you were in France.
Yes, I made you think I was in France, that I was actually an editor of a fashion magazine.
You are a brilliant actress, but are you afraid of being typecast as Miss Piggy?
I'm not afraid that that's going to happen. I'm very pleased that it has happened. I'm sure there are many other actresses who would love to be typecast as moi, but it ain't gonna happen because they're not me.
That's true. So, when you started working on this movie, how did you get contacted? Did they call your agent? Did they call you directly?
No, they sent a script to my people, and my people gave it to me. I read it -- well, actually, I just thumbed through it and counted my lines -- and when I saw how many lines I had, I said, "This is a part for moi. This is a part I was born to play." The fact that the character's name was Miss Piggy helped, too. I don't really like to have to memorize another name to respond to on set; it's just confusing to me. I don't really like memorizing lines either, so that's why I don't actually read the script. I just make up my lines.
So you do a lot of improvising? Did you study acting, or is this just how you've always been?
I studied with...
...with Master Chang?
Yes, well, he also had an acting class that I took. Then I also studied with "Stan Slavski." You know Stan?
The method acting guy, right?
There must be a different Stan Slavski.
So, Miss Piggy, are you ready to be a big star again?
Well, moi has always been a big star. I'm really shooting for the solar system with this movie, actually. The world is just not big enough.
I work for a movie review site. Do you ever read what critics say about you? Do you ever listen to them at all?
If it's good, yes. Are you about to say something nice about my performance?
I thought you were excellent.
Aww, that's so sweet. But you're just telling the truth. (pause) Is that it? Is that all the questions you got? You ran out of questions, huh?
I'm just so dazzled by your amazingness.
I'm so glad to sit here and talk with you, and I do hope you liked moi's movie. Did you have a favorite part?
It's tough to say. I mean, with you? The part where all the Muppets showed up in your office in disguise as one giant Muppet, and you were appalled by your gullibility.
Yeah, that was me exposing my vulnerability. I think that any good actress has to do that. They have to bare it all! That's what I told Kermit early on, and he took it quite literally, and just never wore any clothes. It's not what I meant, but hey, it works for me.
How have you managed to maintain your working relationship, despite having very different personalities?
We love each other very much, but things can get kind of tense on a set. We were not always seeing eye to eye, but it just made it all the better when we made up at the end of the day.
The Muppets arrives in theaters this week.
Noah Kinsey
So I know this was totally a fluff piece for The Muppets, but I have to say I wasn't expecting Vanilla Sky. Despite a BUNCH of people I know hating it, it's probably one of my favorite movies. There, I said it. Can't wait for the slew of snark about to come my way in 3...2...1...
Nov 21 - 04:44 PM
Christopher Runyon
I wouldn't call it great by any means, but I do love Vanilla Sky a lot. I dunno why. Despite its flaws, there's just this je ne sais quoi that it has over me. I just love any movie that deals with metaphysics, even as subtly as done in Vanilla Sky.
Good list, Kermit.
Nov 21 - 04:50 PM
Delon Lier
Munch munch...
Nov 21 - 04:51 PM
Poochy Tiedemann
Never heard of it before...
Nov 21 - 04:52 PM
Gordon Terry
and I forgot Vanilla Sky even existed . . . there must be a way to promote a famous actors lesser-known and revered films. Another Tome Cruise Movie I tend to forget is All the Right Moves.
Nov 22 - 08:09 AM
Delon Lier
I wounldn't have guessed any of these, well mabye TWOO (the wizard of oz). the whole time I read this in my heard with kemits voice. Quite satysfing, they should do more of these.
Nov 21 - 04:53 PM
Colton Rice
Why did you abbreviate wizard of oz if you were gonna spell it out right afterwards
Nov 21 - 05:21 PM
Sean Pak
haha, at first I thought he was saying he recognized two of them, INCLUDING Wizard of Oz. Then I noticed what he actually did and was confused as well.
Nov 21 - 11:06 PM
Peter Winters
Yeah WTF (what the fuck) is up with that?
Nov 23 - 10:14 AM
Janson Jinnistan
I'd recommend "Open Your Eyes" instead, but I'll assume you know about that. I can't back you up, but I won't call you out either. To find something nice to say...It's very brave to have a sex scene that uses The Monkee's "Porpoise Song".
Nov 21 - 05:52 PM
Irina Tjahjana
"Open My Eyes" is really good I'm pretty sure it's way better than Vanilla Sky, because the former is the original movie.
Nov 21 - 06:11 PM
Noah Kinsey
I own Abre Los Ojos and enjoy it, but Vanilla Sky has this story with undertones of sadness with a twinge of hope. I can easily overlook the minor flaws in this movie due to how well this was put together. Probably one of the most perfect soundtracks ever - I can listen to any of the songs and be taken to that specific scene and tone.
Nov 22 - 12:57 PM
karl anderson
great list Kermie, but cmon no Cronenberg ?? ... is that because your up against his film this weekend....... at last that ugly green monster rears its head at last..... or is that Oscar Im thinking of ???
Nov 21 - 08:36 PM
Kriss Kringle
If you haven't seen Abre los ojos, then do yourself a favor and see it.I watched Vanilla sky the next day after Abre los ojos and it's an unnecessary remake without improving on the original with anything.It's just your typical american remake.I also didn't feel the music was on the same note with the scenes.I do like Cameron Crowe as a director but Vanilla sky is just one of his worst in my opinion.
Nov 22 - 11:50 AM
Unbreakable Samurai
Actually I fucking love that movie, one of my all time favorites.
Jan 12 - 02:55 PM