The Muppets at YouTube Space LA

The Muppets at YouTube Space LA is a series of projects that were shot in late-March 2015 at the YouTube Space LA facilities in Los Angeles, California.

YouTube talent including Lindsey Stirling, Crash Course, VSauce3, Mike Tompkins, Barely Political and Mental Floss collaborated with the Muppets to shoot videos at YouTube Space LA. The Muppets at YouTube Space LA collaboration videos went live from April through June 2015.^[1]

In addition to the collaborations with YouTube stars, the Muppets also released a slate of original music and comedic videos created exclusively for the Muppets’ YouTube channel throughout the rest of the year.^[1]

Collaboration Videos[]

VSauce3 - Gonzo, Rizzo, Constantine and Beaker appeared in the video "What if Quicksilver Ran Past You?," posted to the Vsauce3 channel on April 4, 2015. (YouTube)

Barely Political - Statler and Waldorf appeared in a video posted on April 24, 2015. The two Muppet curmudgeons teach Mark Douglas and Todd Womack about the art of heckling. (YouTube)

Mental Floss - Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker to help answer science-related questions in a video posted on May 4, 2015. (YouTube)

Mike Tompkins - The Muppets appear in an A cappella video performing Echosmith’s “Cool Kids” with Tompkins posted on May 4, 2015. (YouTube)

Mental Floss - Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and others appear in a special Muppet edition of “The List Show” posted on May 6, 2015 to present "20 Facts about the Muppets." (YouTube)

Lindsey Stirling - Stirling performs “Pure Imagination” with the Muppet gang and a special guest in a video posted on May 7, 2015. (YouTube)

Crash Course - John and Hank Green get interrupted by a classroom full of rowdy Muppets in a video that was slated to be posted on June 3, 2015, but was delayed until July 8.^[1] (YouTube)

Muppet Videos[]

Kermit and Walter at YouTube Space L.A. The Muppets

Miss Piggy Arrives to YouTube Space L.A. The Muppets

Pepe Takes Charge at YouTube Space L.A. The Muppets

Happy Fourth of July From The Muppets! The Muppets

Jungle Boogie Muppets Music Video The Muppets

Flowers On The Wall with Bunsen and Beaker Muppets Music Video The Muppets

Kodachrome Muppets Music Video The Muppets

Production[]

The videos, many produced under the working title "Muppets YouTube",^[2] were partially directed by Kirk Thatcher.^[3]^[4] Tom Bergeron tweeted photos from the YouTube project set, although his exact role or involvement (if any) in the final product is currently unknown.^[5] Pictures of musician Moby acting alongside Kermit the Frog were also tweeted from the set.^[6]

Based on photos shared on social media, known Muppet characters featured in the project include Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Sam Eagle, Walter, and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem (Dr. Teeth, Floyd, Janice, Zoot, Lips, and Animal). Known Muppet performers (also based on on-set photographs) include Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Matt Vogel, David Rudman, Peter Linz, and Dave Goelz. Christopher Alender (president of Soapbox Films, the company who produced the Muppet viral videos from 2008 to 2010) and Craig Kief (director of photography for OK Go's "The Muppet Show Theme" music video and the Moi by Miss Piggy commercial) were also connected to the project.^[7]

Pictures from the set showed the Electric Mayhem performing in a jungle setting and on a concert stage; Kermit, Miss Piggy, Walter, Sam Eagle, and Moby in a board room setting; and other pictures show portions of The Swinetrek set for a series of Pigs in Space sketches;^[8] at the 2015 D23 Expo, Steve Whitmire stated that "We just shot four or five 'Pigs in Space' videos."^[9]