It looks like ESPN’s added a few more faces to their vast lineup of NFL analysts, but these ones are a little unusual. In some Disney cross-network synergy, The Muppets will be appearing on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown this week ahead of their primetime relaunch on ABC Tuesday night. According to ESPN PR, they’ll be working with Frank Caliendo as he imitates other ESPN personalities. Here’s the video promoting the segment:
The ESPN release even includes a quote from Kermit The Frog:
“Being on ESPN and Sunday NFL Countdown is a dream come true. Working with Frank Caliendo is like meeting everyone at ESPN, all rolled into one person,” said Kermit the Frog. “Frank is so good at becoming Chris, Mel, Ditka and Jaws that some of us didn’t realize he wasn’t the real thing. Boy, is Miss Piggy going to be ticked off when she tries to sell his fake Chris Berman autograph online.”
And several comments from Caliendo about his love of the Muppets:
Do you have a favorite Muppet?
I would say my sentimental favorite Muppet is Kermit the Frog. I don’t know if he’s the funniest, but he has the most sincere feeling. I think that’s what makes him so lovable. He seems to have the largest range of emotions, and he feels almost human. However, I pretty much love all the Muppets, especially the offbeat characters like Sam Eagle, Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker and Lew Zealand and his boomerang fish.
How did the idea for this season-opening skit come about?
We decided to do the Muppet sketch for a couple of reasons. One, I was looking to do something with some pop culture guest stars and when I was told that the Muppets were available to do something, I jumped at the chance. Secondly, I knew I could pair my characters with them to create funny moments.
So, America, are you ready for some Muppets? Hey, they might prove to be better than other ESPN NFL analysts. Who wouldn’t rather hear Statler and Waldorf call a game instead of Berman and Dilfer? Or perhaps Animal, the most insightful of them all. Mahna mahna indeed.
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About Andrew Bucholtz
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.