NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- June 24, 2005 -- The Muppets' curmudgeonly critics, Statler and Waldorf, are up to their usual antics, only this time they're dishing them out online! Movies.com and The Muppets today announced the launch of "Statler and Waldorf - From the Balcony" on Movies.com, a new, exclusive bi-weekly online program (http://www.movies.com/balcony) that offers visitors access to vignettes from the cranky pair. The grumpy duo will entertain movie fans with witty commentary and provide their hilarious take on upcoming film and DVD releases.
"The Muppets have been a driving force in American pop culture for many years," said Dan Sherlock, vice president, Movies.com. "We are excited to incorporate the ingenuity of Statler and Waldorf to our online content and exclusive programming for movie fans everywhere."
"This is a great way to extend The Muppets brand and reach a broader audience," said David Spingarn, director, Creative & Business Development, The Muppets Holding Co., LLC. "Through Movies.com, we can bring the Muppets to life in a relevant, contemporary way, attracting both loyal and new crops of fans."
"Statler and Waldorf - From the Balcony" on Movies.com debuts today with the duo discussing upcoming films, "Bewitched" and "War of the Worlds." The previews are complete with rankings on the "Snooze-O-Meter" - which rates a movie between passing out in the opening titles to staying awake through the entire movie.
Movies.com will offer new episodes of "Statler and Waldorf - From the Balcony" every two weeks, each featuring a different Muppet guest star such as Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, and more.
About Movies.com
Launched in March 2000, Movies.com provides a broad array of news, original content and services, including show times and ticket sales, to help movie fans make the right choice on movie night. Operated by the Walt Disney Internet Group, its content encompasses films from throughout the film industry and follows them from production through video/DVD release. Movies.com is the home of such successful initiatives as The College Critics Association, The Oscar(R) Party Challenge, and the MovieSite Awards. It was named "Best Movie Site" in the 2003 WebAwards from the Web Marketing Association (WMA) and most recently received the 2004 EPpy award, presented by "Editor & Publisher" and "Mediaweek" magazines, for best overall design of an internet service with an audience in excess of one million monthly visitors.
About the Muppets
"Statler & Waldorf - From the Balcony" is the latest endeavor from The Muppets Holding Company (MHC), LLC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). The Muppets deliver smiles and laughter to the world through heartwarming characters and stories -- inspired by the art of puppetry. Led by Kermit the Frog, the Muppets are a broadly appealing global brand franchise built on 50 years of original, award-winning entertainment that includes 44 Emmy nominations, 6 feature films, and The Muppet Show which captured over 235 million weekly viewers world-wide. The Muppets are true celebrities, with Kermit the Frog having his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These original, comical, and heartwarming characters will continue to entertain audiences around the world through many new expressions in film, TV, music and beyond. Visit http://www.muppets.com for more news and information.
