When I first heard that a new 'Muppets' movie was in the works, I cringed a little, I'll admit. I really like Jason Segel and I respected what he was trying to do: Introduce the beloved Jim Henson characters to a whole new generation and bring those of us 'raised on Muppets' back into the fold (as if we ever left...we didn't, we just got busy with life). I worried that this new 'Muppets' film would fail to live up to my (very) high expectations. Why I worried, I'll never know, because this movie is insanely fun and classic Muppets entertainment!
Having just seen 'The Muppets' yesterday, I'm still dancing and singing.

We opted to hit a matinee, hoping to avoid the crowds that usually turn out at theaters in droves on Thanksgiving day. Yeah, that didn't work: The place was packed at 4 p.m. on a Wednesday. Completely filled to the brim with parents and oodles of kiddos. I listened in on a conversation with a sweet little 4-year-old girl sitting beside us:

"Mom, is it time yet? Where are the Muppets?"
"It's almost time, dear."
"Are they real Mom?"
"They are to me, dear."

It almost seemed like Mom was more excited than daughter to see 'The Muppets.' I remembered being that age when I saw the original 'Muppets Movie' in the late 1970s. I fell in love with Kermit and the gang instantly. I wondered if this little girl would do the same. About halfway through the film, she was literally jumping out of her chair and wiggling along as the beloved, furry Muppets performed their musical numbers (which are, by the way, hysterically funny at times). She spilled her popcorn as she tried to clap. I'm not sure who wore the bigger grin, mother or daughter, but both were clearly delighted (as was I). As the movie ended, daughter immediately asked Mom, "Can we go again?!" She skipped and danced all the way out of the theater.

Dear Jason Segel: Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my mushy Muppets heart, for providing a much-needed boost of nostalgia, and for introducing Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and yes, even Statler and Waldorf, to a whole new group of young people.