Studio DC: Almost Live

Studio DC: Almost Live! title card

Miley Cyrus and the Electric Mayhem sing "G.N.O. (Girls' Night Out)"

Kermit and Ashley Tisdale "Bop to the Top".

Studio DC: Almost Live! is a Disney Channel special which first aired on August 3, 2008.

Plot

Chaos reigns behind the scenes at the fictional variety show Studio DC: Almost Live! as hosts Dylan and Cole Sprouse attempt to cope with stage managers Rizzo the Rat and Pepe the King Prawn and other Disney Channel and Muppet stars as they prepare for their big show.

Rehearsal begins with Billy Ray Cyrus singing The Buffalo with his makeshift backup band. The expected band didn't arrive, but Billy is sure his daughter Miley Cyrus will love working with the veteran band who is replacing them: The Electric Mayhem. Miley and the band rehearse "G.N.O. (Girls' Night Out)" with the Snowths...and Miley ends up falling in love with Animal (or is it the other way around?).

Then, the cast of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody- Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Brenda Song, and Phill Lewis- join Gonzo backstage to rehearse a parody of their show entitled "The Swede Life of Zasha and Codfish." Although Brenda finds the sketch "supernultykroten," Phill has an issue with the sketch and takes it up with the writer- The Swedish Chef- and gives his own idea: as manager Mr. Moseby (Lewis) prepares to attend a handkerchief convention, Kermit the Frog takes over as manager of the Tipton Hotel. Zack and Cody cause their typical chaos, which is added to when they supervise maintanance man Arwin's replacement, Gonzo, in fixing the air conditioner. Poor Kermit is run ragged attending to the spoiled London Tipton (Song) and her new pal Miss Piggy. Kermit quits immediately, which doesn't surprise Mr. Moseby: "Finally, someone who realizes it's not that easy being me!" The Chef is less than impressed with Phill's rewrite and chases him out of the rehearsal room brandishing a rolling pin.

As Ashley Tisdale shows Kermit around the set, Kermit comments on how much he loved High School Musical, especially the song "Bop to the Top." Standing on the set for that song, Kermit can't help but duet with Tisdale. Unfortunately, Miss Piggy believed she was going to duet with Zac Efron, and ends up bopping Kermit out of the way to, um, hog the spotlight. The two dueling divas start complaining to each other- but then realize that's both what they have in common and leave Kermit behind.

As the Jonas Brothers rehearse their number, Miss Piggy believes she knows what the band needs to increase their fanbase: a Jonas Sister. "Joan S. Jonas" (Piggy) is the girl for the job- or so she thinks. The Brothers are unfased- after all, That's Just The Way We Roll.

Rehearsals end and the "show" begins filming. Despite all the chaos backstage, Kermit is sure the show will be a success: "Crazy is normal around here!" And the audience is entertained- well, most of it, anyway:

Statler: Oh, that was great! It was wonderful!
Waldorf: What, the show?
Statler: No, my nap!

Follow-ups

Portions of the special have subsequently aired on the Disney Channel as music videos running in-between other programming.

A second special is slated to air in October 2008. Stars who will appear include Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.

Muppets

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat, Pepe the King Prawn, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Animal, Janice, Zoot, Statler and Waldorf, the Swedish Chef, Snowths, Chickens, a blue Whatnot

in opening sequence only: Fozzie Bear, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Rowlf the Dog

Credits

• The Muppet Performers: Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Bill Barretta, David Barclay, Tim Blaney, BJ Guyer, Bruce Lanoil, Lara MacLean, David Rudman, Michelan Sisti, Matt Vogel
• Executive Producer: Martin G. Baker
• Producers: Jim Lewis, Kirk Thatcher
• Written by: Matt Leuthe, Steve Millunzi
• Directed by: Krash R. Davenport
• The Muppets Studio Workshop: Paul Andrejco, Lisa Davis, Stephan Rotondaro, Gretchen Crookes, Peter MacKennan
• Production Services: Santa Clarita Studios
• ©2008 Muppets Studio, LLC

Commercials

In July 2008 the Disney Channel aired four different commercials to promote the special:

• a 45 sec trailer with focus on the entire cast (YouTube)
• a 30 sec trailer with focus on Miley Cyrus (YouTube)
• a 30 sec trailer with focus on Ashley Tisdale (YouTube)
• a 30 sec trailer with focus on Jonas Brothers (YouTube)