'The Muppets' co-writer Nick Stoller discusses the Kermit-Piggy relationship and more
'The Muppets' co-writer Nick Stoller on why he thinks Beaker is the funniest Muppet and how the movie blends American and British humor
"The Muppets set the stage for a kind of comedy that is prevalent now, be it ‘The Simpsons’ or Pixar," says 'Muppets' co-writer Nick Stoller.
Scott Garfield/HONS/Disney Enterprises/AP
There is something about the unabashed enthusiasm of the Muppets that in turn inspires exuberance, and for most of us a lighthearted, positive response. The same can be said of the creators behind the project. We spoke with The Muppets co-writer Nick Stoller at the close of three very long press days, and when we asked if he was all “Muppeted out” he replied, “Never! It’s impossible to get Muppeted out.” And we believe he sincerely means that.
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Of course, we all know that The Muppets was a passion project for Stoller’s writing partner/star of the film Jason Segel, but Stoller himself has a passion for the felty friends, who he refers to as, “The gateway drug of comedy.”
Stoller and Segel met on Judd Apatow’s short lived television series Undeclared (where Segel was an actor and Stoller was a writer) and formed a lasting and fruitful working relationship. Stoller went on to direct Segel in the hilarious and oddly relatable Forgetting Sarah Marshall (the sans Segel spin-off Get Him To The Greek) and the upcoming Five Year Engagement.
For those who have not yet had the chance to see The Muppets, pause, go catch a showing and head back this way, for Stoller and I do touch upon some specifics from the film in our chat.
Screen Rant: If you had to pick, who is your favorite Muppet?
Nick Stoller: “I love all the Muppets! Fozzie is pretty dear to my heart because he’s always telling jokes and failing which is my great fear. You have your favorite Muppet who fills your heart with bittersweet joy and for me that’s Fozzie. My superficially favorite Muppet, the one that I think is the funniest is Beaker. When I was a kid whenever Beaker was on screen I was both delighted and terrified. I had a bit in the script that involved Beaker but there wasn’t enough real estate in the movie.”
Reader, as you probably know, the correct answer to the question who is your favorite Muppet? is always, always Animal.
In my interview with director James Bobin he mentioned that he felt that The Muppets has a particularly British sensibility. Do you find that to be true?
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