Every day, the Academy is announcing new presenters for the Oscars, and those press releases are worthless. No one cares if Ben Stiller will be reading nominees off a card. But today, the Academy has made a terrific-yet-maddening announcement regarding a duo of presenters. Kermit and Miss Piggy will present at this year's Academy Awards, and it will be the fifth time that Muppets have presented at the Oscars. While I'll be happy to see them, the announcement makes me even more frustrated with this year's ceremony. First, there won't be a performance of The Muppets nominated song, "Man or Muppet", which might have made sense due to set construction concerns. However, there was enough time and money to build a stage for Cirque du Soleil, who should be seen live (or at least in a movie theater) rather than your TV. And now that they're going to have Muppets on stage anyway, it feels like the Academy is saying, "Muppets, you're good enough to deliver a little banter and read names off a card, but no one wants to see you sing a song on live television." At least "Man or Muppet" will probably win the Oscar.
Hit the jump for the press release.
Here's the press release:
HOLLYWOOD’S “IT” COUPLE, KERMIT THE FROG AND MISS PIGGY, TO PRESENT AT THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS® ON OSCAR® SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 ON ABC
Hollywood icons Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will present at the 84th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today. This is the Muppets’ fifth appearance at the Academy Awards.
Fresh from their triumphant critical and box office success in Disney’s “The Muppets,” which is Oscar nominated for Best Song, “Man or Muppet,” superstars Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy are undeniably still one of the world’s most celebrated Hollywood power couples. Their place in motion picture and television history has been cemented for decades, as evidenced by their well-deserved invitation to be presenters at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy join a stellar list of previously announced Oscar presenters, including Halle Berry, Rose Byrne, Bradley Cooper, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, Ellie Kemper, Jennifer Lopez, Melissa McCarthy, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Ben Stiller, Emma Stone and Kristen Wiig.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.