The Muppets 2015 Presentation Pilot

the muppets.
Writer	Bill Prady and Bob Kushell
Director	Randall Einhorn
Guests	Elizabeth Banks and Topher Grace
Production	The week of April 12, 2015
Premiere	July 11, 2015 (Comic-Con) July 21, 2015 (YouTube)

ABC's first official photo released.

In Spring 2015 it was first reported that ABC was developing a pilot presentation for a new television series featuring the Muppets under the working-title "Muppets 2015". Descriptions of the pilot presentation stated that "The Muppets excitedly gather at ABC for a meeting about the new Muppet Show. However, the show will not move forward unless Miss Piggy signs on." Early sources say the concept for the presentation pilot also features turmoil in Piggy and Kermit's relationship and includes plans for celebrity cameos — including Miss Piggy's current co-star and Fozzie's girlfriend and her parents. It has also been reported that the project is a "more adult Muppet show, for kids of all ages."

According to an early project description from ABC:

Subverting the expectations of reality TV, this mockumentary looks at the day to day lives of the Muppets and the mayhem that ensues as they try to get a new network series up and running. Mixing the Muppets’ signature brand of nonsense with the hilarity of shows like The Comeback and Curb Your Enthusiasm, this series finally answers the question, "What happens when the Muppets go home?"

On April 2, 2015 the news broke that Randall Einhorn would direct the pilot which was written by Bill Prady and Bob Kushell. Prady had produced a similar 'mockumentary' pilot presentation with the Muppets in 2007 which was not picked up.

The presentation pilot filmed the week of April 12, 2015 on the Disney lot in Burbank, CA, and featured celebrity cameos from Elizabeth Banks and Topher Grace (which were removed from the iTunes version).

The pilot presentation reportedly received a standing ovation when it screened for ABC executives in May 2015. It was also screened at San Diego Comic-Con on July 11, 2015.

On July 21, 2015, the entirety of the pilot presentation was posted on YouTube. It was removed from YouTube after the series premiered.

Cast

Humans

Elizabeth Banks as herself

Topher Grace as himself

Margo Harshman as Becky

Jere Burns as Carl, Becky's father

Meagen Fay as Holly, Becky's mother

Joel Steingold as director

Muppets

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Rowlf the Dog, Sam the Eagle, Scooter, Denise, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Janice, Animal, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, The Swedish Chef, Chip, Uncle Deadly, Statler and Waldorf, The Newsman, Pepe the King Prawn

Background Muppets

Walter, penguins, Crazy Harry, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Big Mean Carl, Behemoth, Sweetums, Zoot, Pops, Beautiful Day Monster, Cynthia Rose, Rizzo the Rat, Thingy-Thing, Wayne and Wanda, Angel Marie, Vegetables, Bobo the Bear, Robin the Frog, Beauregard

Gallery

Recycled jokes

Many of the jokes and one-liners from the presentation pilot were later re-used in actual the series itself:

• The gag with Bunsen tasering Beaker to get everyone's attention (and saying it's safe because he's wearing protective gloves) was recycled in "Pig Girls Don't Cry."

• Gonzo's aside about hating/loving the one-on-one interviews was reused in "Pig Girls Don't Cry."

• After introducing his relationship to Denise in "Pig Girls Don't Cry.", Kermit reuses the line "What can I say? I'm attracted to pigs."

• Kermit's line his life is "a bacon-wrapped hell on earth" was reused in "Pig Girls Don't Cry." Sam Eagle walks by and comments that he "can't say hell."

• Fozzie's response that bears pooping in the woods is "is an offensive stereotype!" is recycled in "Pig Girls Don't Cry."

• Kermit's original joke about the band being happy "legally" now was recycled and said by Scooter in "Hostile Makeover."

• The gag with Rowlf's post-surgical cone to prevent him from biting the stitches off was used upon his introduction in "Bear Left Then Bear Write."

• The Swedish Chef's "Swedish Sushi" was re-used in "Pig Out."

Behind the Scenes

Collage of on set photos from the pilot presentation posted on Instagram by Adeline Ramage Rooney.

See also

• The Muppets 2002 Presentation Pilot
• The Muppets 2005 Presentation Pilot
• The Muppets 2006 Presentation Pilot
• The Muppets 2007 Presentation Pilot