Ear on TV: Week of 12.21.09: The Muppets

For anyone that were weened on The Muppets variety series, the repeated appearances Jim Henson's legacy this past month has been a welcome surprise. In the past month, the lovable puppets have not only popped up on the tube, but also launched their own YouTube channel, generating several viral sensations in it's infancy. Their fine rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" alone has captured ten million views already, and the more recent (and festive) "Ringing of the Bells" is well on its way to everyone's inbox. In these clips, there's a bit of the magic that's been missing since Henson died back in 1990.

On Wednesday night, a few of Kermit's friends will make a very special appearance on The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon, which we can assume will be holiday oriented (ala "The Ringing of the Bells," embedded below). But there's also a recent history with the talk show, after Statler and Waldorf (the old hecklers from the opera boxes) interrupted Fallon and guest Jason Segel back in May. As long as Animal and Beaker are involved, their appearance will be must-see for the evening.



On the surface, the Sundance documentary Rufus Wainwright: Prima Donna (Monday,) is supposed to be about a pop star attempting to compose his first opera, but ends up being just as much a coming of age (and out of the closet) story. Between shots of Wainwright laboring over the project are home movies from his childhood and talking head interviews with famous dad Loudon Wainwright III along with soprano Renee Fleming and Rufus' boyfriend, Jorn Weisbrodt.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, December 21
FUEL: Check 1, 2: The Dodos
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Silversun Pickups
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Julian Casablancas
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Brett Dennen
SUNDANCE: Rufus Wainwright: Prima Donna: Rufus Wainwright
Tuesday, December 22
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Weezer (REPEAT)
IFC: Dinner With the Band: Kid Sister, Flosstradamus
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Kid Cudi
Wednesday, December 23
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Passion Pit (REPEAT)
NBC: The Jay Leno Show: Dan Finnerty and the Dan Band
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Muppets
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, Levon Helm
Thursday, December 24
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Wolfmother (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Entrance Band
Friday, December 25
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Band of Skulls (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Municipal Waste
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Doves
SUNDANCE: Monterey Pop: Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, Otis Redding