D23 Expo

From Muppet Wiki

Kermit playing the banjo on top of the Mark Twain riverboat at the "Disney Movie Magic" presentation.

D23 Expo is a convention run by The Walt Disney Company, billed as "The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience". The first Expo was held in Anaheim, California, from September 10-13, 2009. The Muppets were scheduled to appear at a special presentation on Sunday, September 13th; they also made a surprise appearance during the "Disney Movie Magic" presentation on Friday the 11th. Displays on the show floor also offered glimpses of upcoming Muppet merchandise.

Johnny Depp, in full costume as Pirates of the Caribbean character Captain Jack Sparrow, appeared near the end of the presentations. Jack said that he'd like a snack, and asked where that nice frog was who'd been on stage earlier -- "he probably tastes like chicken." ^[1]

Disney Movie Magic

On September 11th, the Muppets appeared on the Mark Twain riverboat and announced that they were working on a new movie, The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made. No release date was announced.

Appearing on the riverboat Mark Twain Boat were Kermit the Frog, Fozzie, Pepe, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Animal, Janice, Floyd, Dr. Teeth, Zoot, Beaker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Scooter, Rizzo the Rat, Lew Zealand, Robin, Penguins, Chickens, with Sweetums standing beside the boat.

Statler and Waldorf appeared after the number shouting, "We want Grumpy!"

The Muppets Presentation

Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and Pepe meeting fans at D23.

Gonzo, Fozzie and Pepe, turned into chickens by Disney Magic.

There was also a special presentation by the Muppets Studio on September 13th. Sam Eagle, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Pepe the King Prawn, some chickens and the Swedish Chef appeared. The presentation, hosted by Lylle Breier, detailed some of the future plans for the Muppets.

Projects announced included ^[2]^[3]^[4]:

The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made!
A Muppet Halloween special for Halloween 2010
An online cooking show with Cat Cora for fall 2009
More viral Muppet videos for 2010
Updates to Muppet*Vision 3D and Muppet Mobile Lab, plus the creation of a mobile Electric Mayhem unit for the Disney parks
Expansion and updates to The Muppet Whatnot Workshop, including new Whatnot parts and workshops in the Disney parks
The Muppets Revisited album coming in 2010
The Muppet Show: Season 4 and Studio DC: Almost Live on DVD in 2010
A From the Balcony book by Statler and Waldorf
The "Green and Lovin' It" line of products at the Disney Store
Steiff plush dolls
Vinylmation figures
Pook-a-Looz dolls
Muppet Halloween costumes
New Muppet iPhone Apps and Mobile Comics
Television appearances on upcoming episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", "America's Funniest Home Videos", "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon", and ABC's "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade"
Kermit at the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Collaboration with Andrea Bocelli on Bocelli's Christmas album My Christmas, and on Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas

After the presentation, convention goers could wait in line to meet Fozzie, Gonzo, and Pepe, and have their pictures taken with them.

Around the D23 Expo

Muppet Mobile Lab display	Signed Muppet Mobile Lab portrait	BOOM! Studios booth
Vinylmation display	Jim Henson & The Muppets painting	Electric Mayhem giclées
Pook-a-Looz display	Macy's Glamorama display	eFX Inc. display