Muppets tonight aired on ABC, and Disney has distributed the films since the 90's, but that was years before Disney owned the characters. (The original deal fell apart because they wanted the Sesame Street characters too, and that was a deal breaker for Jim.) The Henson library is so split up now, Kermit has been edited out of vintage tv specials Disney didn't get in the deal. The Jim Henson Hour may never see a video release in it's original aired form, because Disney doesn't own the Storyteller series that comprised the second half of the show. That's how messed up things have become thanks to Disney.
Henson's non Disney puppet projects in the past few years do not use the Muppet name at all, even though the style of the puppets is unmistakeable.
I used to follow the Muppet fandom more closely, and Disney's handling of the characters did not sit well with many. The plan to hire and train multiple groups of performers for Kermit and the gang to entertain on the Disney cruise ships was regarded as cheapening the characters. It also went against the tradition of one performer for a character in all appearances no matter the venue. Muppeteers usually aren't replaced unless they retire or have passed away.
The Muppet film that came out a couple years back seems to be a step in the right direction though.
Where were you in '77?
Here's a dumb question, is Star Wars making enough money? The movies will be huge naturally, but is the ancillary stuff in trouble? I recently heard that the merchandising from Episode I 3D last year was the biggest retail disaster in the history of star wars merchandise (and the clone wars toys and ratings took a major hit even before that). Maybe disney is just taking a hard look at the numbers of everything that isn't a movie.
Someone seriously overestimated the demand for new Ric Olie action figures. A lot of Episode One stuff was pegwarming for years after 1999, and they clearly forgot that. On the flip side of the coin, Darth Maul stuff flew off the shelves.
There's also only so many variants of a clonetrooper or other characters even die hard collectors are going to buy. There seems to be plenty of high end collectibles coming out for us old coots though.
Star Wars also has to do battle in the toy aisles with GI Joe, Marvel Superheroes and the latest incarnation of the Ninja Turtles these days.
Where were you in '77?
Baronlando said:
Here's a dumb question, is Star Wars making enough money? The movies will be huge naturally, but is the ancillary stuff in trouble? I recently heard that the merchandising from Episode I 3D last year was the biggest retail disaster in the history of star wars merchandise (and the clone wars toys and ratings took a major hit even before that). Maybe disney is just taking a hard look at the numbers of everything that isn't a movie.
I really hope that Disney is taking a fresh look at what the general public think of what is Star Wars,....it's not the Clone Wars or Jedi & Sith....what everyone knows as Star Wars is the OT.
Focus on that....Rebels, Scoundrels, Empire & Bounty hunters=$ & £
Lucas has been sanctioning the prequel era stuff, I think Disney realises theres bigger money to be made elsewhere
J
darth_ender said:
I know it will take place at some untouched timeframe, but what does that mean? The only virgin Star Wars times are what, at least 150 years post ROTJ?
They said in a time not yet covered by film or television. Which is why I think it'll be a tie-in series to the new trilogy.
Jaitea said:
I really hope that Disney is taking a fresh look at what the general public think of what is Star Wars,....it's not the Clone Wars or Jedi & Sith....what everyone knows as Star Wars is the OT.
Focus on that....Rebels, Scoundrels, Empire & Bounty hunters=$ & £
Lucas has been sanctioning the prequel era stuff, I think Disney realises theres bigger money to be made elsewhere
J
Let's be honest, the prequels were bad (from our perspective) but they still made astronomical amount of money. It is quite naive to assume that today's general public and kids are after qualities of OT. Disney sure isn't after satisfying a few of us "old timers" with good taste in films. They are after money and they will make the films in a way to follow the today's trends and to appeal for the wider audience.
真実
imperialscum said:
Let's be honest, the prequels were bad (from our perspective) but they still made astronomical amount of money. It is quite naive to assume that today's general public and kids are after qualities of OT. Disney sure isn't after satisfying a few of us "old timers" with good taste in films. They are after money and they will make the films in a way to follow the today's trends and to appeal for the wider audience.
Yep, I agree, they made a lot of money, but Star Wars has got itself into a niche market, it's not mainstream anymore, I've got 2 kids one 13 and one 6, the 13year old had a lot of the figures & ships at the time, but they're in the attic....the 6year old is into Pixar Cars, Toy Story...all the current stuff....Star Wars doesn't come into it, I've tried the Clone Wars cartoon, but that doesn't hold his attention....it's too boring & nerdy.....his words
Disney wants the gold
J
Jaitea said:
imperialscum said:
Let's be honest, the prequels were bad (from our perspective) but they still made astronomical amount of money. It is quite naive to assume that today's general public and kids are after qualities of OT. Disney sure isn't after satisfying a few of us "old timers" with good taste in films. They are after money and they will make the films in a way to follow the today's trends and to appeal for the wider audience.
Yep, I agree, they made a lot of money, but Star Wars has got itself into a niche market, it's not mainstream anymore, I've got 2 kids one 13 and one 6, the 13year old had a lot of the figures & ships at the time, but they're in the attic....the 6year old is into Pixar Cars, Toy Story...all the current stuff....Star Wars doesn't come into it, I've tried the Clone Wars cartoon, but that doesn't hold his attention....it's too boring & nerdy.....his words
Disney wants the gold
J
Exactly. Now if the kids find even the prequels and CW cartoons boring then OT would be like taking them to the theatre to watch Shakespeare's play.
真実
Fortunately the OT has a story & characters that Disney wants to expand on.
They've realised that the Prequel & Clone Wars era stuff is a dead end
J
Ending the show before it's scripted conclusion, with a vague promise of some "bonus" stuff down the line, is not the best way to build goodwill with nervous fans. Believe it or not, Disney isn't always universally beloved as a company.
And if they're only after the kids, they've blown four billion bucks for nothing.
Where were you in '77?
That's why I'm saying that I think Disney wants to put the Star Wars Franchise back in the mainstream arena, not just for kids...or diehard fans...think of the Marvel Films & the success of those movies.
At the minute the only Star Wars productions are being made for a specific audience, it is unfortunate and wrong to abruptly end the series, but I think Disney feels that it could spend its money on something that would attract a bigger audience
J
SilverWook said:
Ending the show before it's scripted conclusion, with a vague promise of some "bonus" stuff down the line, is not the best way to build goodwill with nervous fans. Believe it or not, Disney isn't always universally beloved as a company.
And if they're only after the kids, they've blown four billion bucks for nothing.
A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em
They have to attract the biggest audience in movie history for this to pay off. Episode 7 has got to beat Avatar's box office, and then some. A moderately successful film will be perceived as a failure in the eyes of the stockholders even if it turns a profit. The expectations on this will be larger than even Episode One.
It's a daunting task any way you look at it...
Where were you in '77?
Jaitea said:
That's why I'm saying that I think Disney wants to put the Star Wars Franchise back in the mainstream arena, not just for kids...or diehard fans...think of the Marvel Films & the success of those movies.
At the minute the only Star Wars productions are being made for a specific audience, it is unfortunate and wrong to abruptly end the series, but I think Disney feels that it could spend its money on something that would attract a bigger audience
J
I have to disagree with that. The prequels were in the current mainstream and that is why they were so successful. They were made to appeal for as wide audience as possible. It is the OT that does not fit in today's mainstream.
真実
imperialscum said:
I have to disagree with that. The prequels were in the current mainstream and that is why they were so successful. They were made to appeal for as wide audience as possible. It is the OT that does not fit in today's mainstream.
This is a wind up.....you got me for a minute there
J
Tobar said:
darth_ender said:
I know it will take place at some untouched timeframe, but what does that mean? The only virgin Star Wars times are what, at least 150 years post ROTJ?
They said in a time not yet covered by film or television. Which is why I think it'll be a tie-in series to the new trilogy.
Good point. You're probably right. Gosh, it frustrates me to no end that they wouldn't do something to tie up that series in a nice package. To me it's the best product from the prequel era...everything they could have been. I hate that they "solved" the Sifo-Dyas plot hole with a comic, and I'd hate for them to do the same sort of thing with The Clone Wars. :(
The latest episode of the Rebel Force Radio podcast has an interesting interview with Dave Filoni, in which he says he is currently working on the preliminary stages of a new SW animated show. Check it out.
Spoiler free for the ST
Finally some news on TCW! And I read that more news is forthcoming on the semi-official Star Wars holiday, May the Fourth.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/04/30/star-wars-the-clone-wars-animation/2122763/
At least things are not quite as depressing as they were before.
Some information on the cancelled 6th season. Seems legitimate to me.
http://www.starwarsunderworld.com/2013/06/clone-wars-writer-gives-details-about.html
Rumor is that they are now working on around 10 episodes, which could possibly, though not necessarily, mean that other episodes are already complete. But the fact that we'll get at least 10 is somewhat encouraging.
http://www.starwarsunderworld.com/2013/06/rumor-ten-episodes-soundtrack-coming.html
I wish Disney would be a little more specific about what they have in mind for what's left of TCW. "Bonus content" doesn't really mean anything. These shows were in the pipeline well before the deal was struck.
Just run the unaired episodes in the fall, followed by a video release, and stop blowing blue smoke up the fandom's collective exhaust port already!
Where were you in '77?
New episodes confirmed to premiere in Early 2014!
This is certainly a nice bow on the Disney deal. I think we can all agree that Star Wars was either dead or dying, and now the future is as bright as it's ever been.
emanswfan said:
New episodes confirmed to premiere in Early 2014!
New episodes of the Clone Wars in early 2014, premiere of Rebels in the fall of that year.