Audio Commentaries

Audio commentary menu screen from the 2002 Muppet Treasure Island DVD.

Muppet Treasure Island commentary introduction

Gonzo and Rizzo introduce the commentary on the 2002 Muppet Treasure Island DVD.

Silhouettes of Rizzo, Tim Hill and Gonzo on the Muppets from Space DVD.

Sonia Manzano recording commentary in June 2012.

Audio commentaries are located on separate audio tracks on a laserdisc, DVD, or Blu-ray. A single DVD can have several separate audio tracks that can be selected by the viewer from the main menu of the DVD or by pressing a designated button on the remote. Several Muppet DVDs contain optional audio commentary tracks on the film or feature.

The bonus track consists of comments or insights by one or more speakers, who talk about the movie as it progresses. Depending on the nature of the feature, and the speaker, the track can provide the listener with an added wealth of behind the scenes informative, production insights or just added entertainment.

Audio commentaries were parodied by the Muppets with the online video "Bohemian Rhapsody [Kermit's Commentary]" which featured audio commentary by Kermit the Frog along with Gonzo, Camilla, Ethel, and Stephanie, Animal, Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Beaker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Rizzo the Rat, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, the Swedish Chef, and Zoot providing audio commentary on the 5-minute music video from inside a phone booth. (YouTube)

Muppets from Space

Director Tim Hill, Kermit, Gonzo and Rizzo gave full length video commentary on the initial DVD release of the film. Through the use of the subtitle track the commentators can be seen in silhouette at the bottom of the frame giving completely false behind the scenes comments on the film (similar to Mystery Science Theater 3000). Kermit only appears at the beginning of the film, and doesn't show up again till the credits because he was waiting to get popcorn, but the line was so long that he accidentally wandered into the wrong DVD, and spent about about an half-hour talking about The Phantom Menace. The audio was recorded in 1999. Many of the Muppets' comments throughout the track were written by Jim Lewis.

Kermit's Swamp Years

Kermit and Horace D' Fly provided scene specific audio commentary on the film for the DVD release, popping in occasionally with a short quip or comment.

Muppet Treasure Island

"Hidden Treasure" commentary with Brian Henson (director), Gonzo, and Rizzo was featured on the 2002 DVD release of Muppet Treasure Island (the audio was recorded in 2001). Clips of Gonzo and Rizzo were recorded and inserted to the track separate from Henson's recording as transitions to "Hidden Treasure" video clips, to fill Henson's silences, or make jokes. The track starts with an introduction video by Gonzo and Rizzo explaining how the commentary will work. It was not carried over to the 2005 DVD, but was included in the 2013 Blu-ray without the "hidden treasure" video clips.

Hidden Treasure video clips:

• Dangerous Moments: Brian Henson discusses what it's like filming a Muppet movie where the sets are built several feet off the floor.
• Parking Lot Pirates: Filming the Figurehead of the Hispaniola.
• Making Muppet Music: Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil are interviewed and perform "Sailing for Adventure".
• Tim's Grandfather: Tim Curry discusses his grandfather as the inspiration for Long John Silver's accent.
• Tim and Him: Curry and his Muppet likeness rib each other.
• Silver Sings: Brian Henson describes the process of recording Curry singing live on set vs in studio.
• The Elephant Story: Filming Lucy the Elephant.
• Jim and Frank: The dynamic between Jim Henson and Frank Oz while performing The Swedish Chef is likened to the way Blind Pew was conceived.
• The Pig and the Pirate: Bad Polly, Brian Henson, Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, Rizzo, Tim Curry, and Polly Smith talk about Miss Piggy.
• How It Was Done: B-roll footage of Brian Henson directing background Pirates.
• The Fighting Frog: Filming the sword fight between Captain Smollet and Long John (Kevin Clash performs Piggy).

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Recorded in 2001 for the DVD release of The Muppet Christmas Carol, director Brian Henson gave a full-length audio commentary on the film. The commentary from the 2001 DVD was reused on the 2005 re-release 50th anniversary edition (but only available on the full-screen extended version) and was included on the 2012 20th anniversary Blu-ray.

The 2012 "20th anniversary" Blu-ray also includes a newly produced character commentary featuring Kermit, Gonzo and Rizzo. Charles Dickens (voiced by Dave Goelz) and Statler and Waldorf also make brief appearances.

Dinosaurs

The Dinosaurs: The Complete Third and Fourth Seasons DVD set includes audio commentaries on two select episodes - "Nature Calls" and "Into the Woods". Commentators that participated in the tracks are Brian Henson, Kirk Thatcher, Kevin Clash and Bill Barretta.

The Dark Crystal

In February 2007, Brian Froud recorded full-length audio commentary for inclusion on the 2-disc "25th anniversary edition" DVD and Blu-ray releases of The Dark Crystal.

Labyrinth

In February 2007, Brian Froud recorded full-length audio commentary for inclusion on the 2-disc "anniversary edition" DVD and Blu-ray releases of Labyrinth.

The Muppets

An audio commentary track featuring James Bobin, Jason Segel, and Nick Stoller is available on the Blu-ray releases of The Muppets. The audio was recorded in 2011, just prior to the film's theatrical release.

Sesame Street

Sonia Manzano recorded a commentary track for the season 11 premiere episode for Old School: Volume 3 released in 2012.

See also

• Muppet Morsels, on-screen text commentary for The Muppet Show season one.