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Picture yourself as you are driving in your car. A song by Queen hits the airwaves and you bang along to the beat on the steering wheel ... with your head. You've already guessed the name of that tune in two notes -- Bohemian Rhapsody. And if you've been around since 1992, you've either seen the movie or at least watched the MTV video of Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey in their pivotal roles as Wayne and Garth from the film Wayne's World.
For 15 years, Wayne and Garth have been credited for keeping Freddie Mercury's rock opera playing on in the minds of many. It's been quite a lucrative arrangement -- the film -- garnering an MTV Video Award along the way and the remaining members of Queen receiving royalties they so richly deserve. There's been no foul in that.
But now, look! There is fowl in THAT. Or more specifically THIS:
And Disney is behind it. No way!
Way!
Disney purchased the majority of The Muppets back in 2004 and has recently launched The Muppet Studio channel on YouTube. Now parents across the globe can rock out with their kids to the musical stylings of Queen, Animal and Gonzo. Even meep along with Beaker to "Dust In The Wind" only now it's being billed as "Beaker's Ballad."
Hit the subscribe button and The Muppets will perform live in your living room ... NOT. Okay, so maybe it's more of a virtual thing; you can play the music videos, friend them on Facebook and follow The Muppets on Twitter, too. Seems like a fairly smart move for Disney to go where the people are, which is no longer limited to being parked in front of the boob tube in the family room. These days you can see little eyes affixed on the screen of a smartphone, laptop or iPod, so it only makes sense that Disney to capitalize on making The Muppets into social media machines.
But why now? Easy. It's been a decade since The Muppets hit the big screen, and there is a new Muppet movie in the works. Even if some parents consider Disney to be an Evil Empire, it is striking back by bringing The Muppets back into the limelight.
Regardless of who is behind it, this is clever as hell. And really, isn't clever in the way we have long described The Muppets? Truth be told, there isn't a produce department in the world in which I don't saunter along humming "Captain Vegetable." Capitalizing on nostalgia is what Disney has done for years, only this is different.
Excellent.
The Muppets, unlike Minnie, Mickey and Donald, are sophisticated and erudite, just like PBS and Sesame Workshop -- who still own Elmo and Big Bird. Who knows, maybe Gonzo and Camilla will be the new Wayne and Garth to this next generation of digital natives -- which may be exactly what Disney is banking on. Schwing!
