The Muppets News

Jim Henson's Fantastic World will be on view at Museum of the Moving Image for only one more week-closing on Sunday, March 4. The final weekend of the show, Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, 2012, features several special programs to mark the close of the successful national tour of this Smithsonian traveling exhibition, organized in partnership with The Jim Henson Legacy. On these two days, the Museum will give away a free limited-edition commemorative bookmark to ALL visitors (while supplies last).

Billy Crystal was nine for nine with his stupendous hosting - particularly thanks to his superlative musical material courtesy of Tony-winning tunesmith Marc Shaiman - yet, the 2012 Oscars were all about the awards, for once, with a heavy helping of superstars and surprises. A glamorous and generally genial broadcast, more than many in recent years this years, last night's top entertainment honors came across as a class act on the elegantly produced and impressively rendered broadcast, from beginning to end - unscripted screenwriters' Angelina impressions aside. Crytal's hilarious opening montage allowed the Oscar host extraordinaire the opportunity to enact his oh-so-idiosyncratic take on the year's top nominated films - including a kiss with George Clooney ala THE DESCENDANTS and a Justin Bieber/Sammy Davis, Jr. skit inspired by Woody Allen's MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, both of which went on to win the Best Screenplay categories - and remind us why he is tops. The portrait of the winner of Best Picture may have been painted long before last night for THE ARTIST, yet the 2012 Academy Awards show was packed with a plethora of surprises in technical and even some major categories, with Martin Scorsese's HUGO also scoring big and Meryl Streep winning her third statuette, this time for her Best Actress turn in THE IRON LADY, uncanny in her portrayal of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Additionally, THE ARTIST's Jean Judarjin took home Best Actor - over Hollywood titan George Clooney, no less - for his superb performance as a Gene Kelly-esque silent film star (save a few words at the very meta finale). The supporting categories showed some love to expected winners Octavia Spencer - for the audience hit, THE HELP - as well as veteran actor Christopher Plummer - for the indie release, BEGINNERS. Cirque Du Soleil afforded us some spectacle in the form of a 3D aerial classic film homage as only they could create and present, but Crystal's inimitable opening sequence - film sequence and crisply amusing song acting as the ideal entree into the awards season's show of shows - were the night's undeniable highlights. So, too, on the performance front did the In Memoriam sequence shine thanks to a soulful rendering of "What A Wonderful World" by Esperanza Spalding. Many of the major categories may have went the way we have all predicted, yet important categories also went to a surprisingly large smattering of the year's other fine filmatic achievements, as well, making it an entertaining and overall quite pleasing broadcast when considering the conservative slate of films nominated this season.

The 84th Annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011, hosted by Billy Crystal were presented on February 26, 2012 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation was televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide. Check out photos below of the winners in the press room!

En esta noche de cine, la edición número 84 de los Premios de la Academia, 'The Artist' y 'Hugo' se han alzado con cinco Oscars cada uno, en una gala presentada por Billy Crystal en la que se ha vuelto a un estilo más clásico de ceremonia lleno de fantasía y entretenimiento que en anteriores ediciones.

GLEE's Darren Criss and Kermit the Frog performed a duet for E! Online. They sang 'Rainbow Connection' at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for E!'s live Oscar countdown. Their duet is in honor of the Oscar-nominated song 'Man or Muppet' from 'The Muppet Movie.' Check out their performance below!

E! Online posted a sneak peek of GLEE's Darren Criss performing a duet with Kermit the Frog. They will be performing on E!'s Oscar Countdown in honor of the Oscar-nominated song 'Man or Muppet' from The Muppet Movie. See the photos below!

The 84th Annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011, hosted by Billy Crystal were presented on February 26, 2012 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation was televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Hollywood icons Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will present at the 84th Academy Awards(R), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today. This is the Muppets' fifth appearance at the Academy Awards.

Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis will present at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today. Ferrell and Galifianakis recently wrapped shooting for 'The Campaign.'

ABC News GOOD MORNING AMERICA has caught Oscar fever as it prepares to head to Hollywood for the 84th Academy Awards. All month, 'Good Morning America' has been featuring its 'Countdown to the Academy Awards' series, as Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Lara Spencer, Josh Elliott and Sam Champion bring viewers daily segments on entertainment news, red carpet fashion trends, and interviews with the nominees.

Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis will present at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today. Ferrell and Galifianakis recently wrapped shooting for 'The Campaign.'

At last night's ceremony of the 59th Annual Motion Picture Sound Editor's Golden Reel Awards, the sound editing teams of Hugo, The Muppets, Super 8, The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse were among the honorees at the prestigious event held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.

Sharon Michaels in association with the Macha Theatre presents SIDETRACKED, a world premiere whodunit set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, directed by Ray A. Rochelle.

Hollywood icons Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will present at the 84th Academy Awards(R), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today. This is the Muppets' fifth appearance at the Academy Awards.

EPIX (www.epixhd.com), the multi-screen, multi-platform premium entertainment service, announced that it will be the exclusive U.S. broadcaster of Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball, to be held at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, Sunday March 4, 2012 at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Nickelodeon announced today the nominees for the milestone 25th ANNUAL KIDS' CHOICE AWARDS, helmed by international superstar Will Smith and airing live from USC's Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 31, at 8 p.m. (ET/tape delayed for West Coast).

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Don Gregory, has announced the full company for the new Broadway production of Mary Chase's Harvey starring Jim Parsons (Elwood P. Dowd), Jessica Hecht (Veta Louise Simmons), Charles Kimbrough (William R. Chumley, M.D.), Larry Bryggman (Judge Omar Gaffney), Carol Kane (Betty Chumley), Peter Benson (E.J. Lofgren), Tracee Chimo (Myrtle Mae Simmons), Holley Fain (Ruth Kelly, R.N.), Angela Paton (Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet), Rich Sommer (Duane Wilson), Morgan Spector (Lyman Sanderson, M.D.) and directed by Scott Ellis.

Stars of both stage and screen are set to join the celebration when the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Vineyard Theatre honors Tony Award-winner Linda Lavin at the Off-Broadway company's annual Gala on Monday, March 12 beginning at 6:00pm at the Hudson Theater. Ms. Lavin made her Vineyard Theatre debut earlier this season in the critically acclaimed production of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, actress Amy Adams will be starring in an upcoming film adaptation of Steve Martin's best-selling novel OBJECT OF BEAUTY.

Stern Grove Festival, the longest running admission-free outdoor music festival in the country, celebrates its 75th anniversary season June 24 - August 26, 2012.