GeekSugar

The Muppets' Music Man Bret McKenzie on His Oscar Nod and Taking a Silly Job Seriously

Lindsay Miller — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:50:41 PST

Bret McKenzie is up for an exceedingly rare honor this year, with his ballad "Man or Muppet" earning one of just two nominations in the Oscars' best song category. I caught up with The Muppets' musical supervisor today at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank to chat about the awards attention and the unique experience of penning music for Kermit and company. The New Zealand native talked about fighting the temptation to use the word "motherfrogger" in his songwriting and the roundabout way he came on board The Muppets project in the first place. Bret - who previously was best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords - also shared his hopes of bringing FOC to the big screen. Check out our conversation below:

PopSugar: It's got to be an honor to be nominated for an Oscar, but also in a year when the Academy only bothered to nominate two songs.
Bret McKenzie: They barely nominated anyone! When I found out, it sounded like there'd been a mistake, and yeah, it's a huge honor. It's great and it's really exciting, and I'm not complaining that there's only two nominees the year I'm nominated. I mean, this is the best chance I'll have of winning an Oscar, ever. It couldn't have been better, unless there was just one nomination, and then it would be a very dull ceremony . . . There's a lot of legendary musicians - tunesmiths - in that list of possible nominations. So it's all very surreal to think that I got in ahead of Elton John.

PS: And Madonna. Those two had a little rivalry going on.
BM: I know. I got nervous about what Elton John's husband was going to say about me. It's crazy, and it's great for The Muppets film, because we're all really proud of the film and it wasn't ever really going to get a best actor. Hey, Jason's good, that's not what I mean, but Kermit, Miss Piggy - they can't win these awards - and comedies don't generally get recognized at these awards ceremonies, so it's kind of cool. It's almost like the film as a whole is being recognized with this category.

For more from our chat with Bret, including what he says about his plans for a Flight of the Conchords film, coaching Jason Segel, and the pressure he felt on the project, just

read more! PS: What was the biggest unexpected challenge for you writing music for the film? I know you talked about one draft of a song where you referred to a Muppet as a piece of felt and were told you couldn't do that. BM: Yeah. Little piece of felt, and you couldn't say things like motherfrogger, even though it's very tempting. There were lots of hard parts to it. The Muppets can't sing certain notes. They can't sing too high or the voice changes and doesn't sound like the right character. There were so many weird things. I spent hours recording penguins and rats, and what's weird is that it's such a silly job, but you have to take it very seriously. So I would be in the studio for days, maybe a whole day recording penguins, and then I'm like, "I'm not happy with how the penguins are sounding! Where's penguin four?" You know, getting demanding. "We lost penguin track four! I can't hear the penguin!" PS: I was watching the movie again last night and watching Jason Segel's performance of "Man or Muppet." Did you coach him on any of his rockstar moves? Because he pretty much nailed it. BM: He nailed it. That's my favorite moment in the film. When he buckles down in the rain, that was one of my favorite shots. I was so proud of what James [Bobin, the director] and those guys achieved, because I wasn't there on set, I just saw them syncing the video, and I was like, "Wow, guys. You nailed it." What we did do in the studio, as Jason and I had a technique where I would sing a line, and he'd watch me through the window, and then he'd sing it back. So we did this thing where, I was really into the drama of it. So, I was like, "Am I a Muppppettt?" [balling his hands into fists] And he'd be like, OK, record. "Am I a Muppppettt!" So we kind of worked together to get that style. PS: Did it shatter some of your childhood illusions to have the guy that does Miss Piggy's voice come work with you [in the recording studio]? BM: Yeah. Well, it wasn't Frank Oz. The guy Eric, who does it now, yeah. That was strange. And the day that we recorded Kermit the Frog doing "Rainbow Connection" - I was sort of pinching myself, because that was probably one of the real moments for me where I realized that my world had really changed. That I'd come from New Zealand, I'd grown up with Kermit the Frog, and now I was in Hollywood in a studio recording Kermit the Frog. It felt like worlds had collided. PS: Was there pressure knowing there was already this great catalog of Muppet songs? To try to add to that or top it in some way? BM: I knew I wouldn't top "Rainbow Connection," but I was very intimidated, but the way I worked on the job was it actually started with me just writing one song, so I didn't feel the pressure of writing the whole movie. I think it would have been different if I'd been hired from the outset to do all the music. So I wrote one, then another, and gradually wrote more and more, so that helped. PS: What song did you write first? BM: The opening song. That's the one they needed, that's the one James asked me to write first. The script was probably on a second draft, and they were in preproduction, so I came in quite late. And the way they were doing it was, they got 100s of demos submitted from all sorts of songwriters, and surprisingly - even though they got some really great people to do demos - people weren't quite hitting the right tone. The Muppet tone. I'd just come off the Conchords tour and I had some time, and James asked if I was interested in doing that opening song, because he had a kind of specific thing he needed from that song. He needed it to be really Muppet-y, that song, and he had a great idea for the whole town joining in, it starting off small and becoming a big musical number, and that came together really well. PS: Is this experience maybe something you want to bring to a Flight of the Conchords movie? BM: Yeah, exactly. Having done this movie now, we're in a much better place to do a Conchords film, because James is more experienced - well, we're all more experienced. Not specifically, but James Bobin - well, we're all very keen to do another studio musical, because I really enjoyed being able to do comedy musical numbers on such a grand scale, and I think next time, I really think it will just get better and better. Because it's such a fun genre, and we've done like 50 songs for TV now, and now The Muppets movie, and I feel like we've accidentally sort of become musical comedy experts. PS: What do you imagine Bret and Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords are up to these days, in their universe? BM: In the Lower East Side? That's a good question. I reckon they probably got a regular gig now. Like, at a Chinese restaurant. Photo courtesy Disney

Whoopi Goldberg Gets Gassy With Dr. Oz

FitSugar — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:47:01 PDT

Dr. Oz couldn't leave The View today without dispensing some helpful diet tips. He talked about a fiber tablet that he thinks everyone should take before meals that will help to curtail the amount of food your body will want to eat during the meal. The only drawback to the pill is that it may leave a person feeling gassy. Whoopi had no problem with this side effect and let everyone in the studio know about it.

Link Time - Rachel Weisz Goes to Oz

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:58:18 PDT

Rachel Weisz is eying a role in Oz, the Great and Powerful - The Wrap
See which Jersey Shore cast member is getting a spin-off next - TV Squad
10 must-see anti-blockbusters of Summer 2011 - Pajiba
5 things you need to know about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Moviefone
Go behind the scenes of The Hobbit - Rotten Tomatoes
Kristen Stewart's prince has been cast for Snow White and The Huntsman - /Film
Kelly Preston will play John Travolta's wife in Gotti - PopWatch
Watch a trailer for the Fringe season finale - TV.com
Neil Patrick Harris will host the Tonys again - Vulture
There's a 3D Glee concert movie coming - TVLine
Hugh Jackman is in talks for a remake of Fantastic Voyage - Movieline

Link Time: Karl Lagerfeld Interviews Himself, Disney's Hipster Princesses, and More

FabSugar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:35:34 PST

Karl Lagerfeld interviews himself, throws an amazing party - Styleite
Rihanna is planning a fashion reality show for the UK - HuffPo Style
The CFDA releases model health guidelines for Fashion Week - The Cut
Dear Hollywood, ditch the boring gowns - Stylelist
Elizabeth Olsen talks about her wild college experiences - The Daily Beast
How to fall in love with belted coats - Lauren Conrad
10 fashionable things you still can't buy online - Lucky
Oz ascending: five Australian designers to know now - Style.com
PBS pulls "somewhat tasteless" Downton Abbey jewelry from its website - Racked
Margiela makes the most expensive grocery bag ever - Purse Blog
How Disney princesses would look if they shopped at Urban Outfitters - The Gloss

Truffle Mac and Cheese

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:55:45 PST

Winter's prime time for comfort foods, and what could be more reassuring on a bleak day than truffle mac and cheese? Cooking in Pajamas expounds.

You could go to a restaurant and pay $15 for a bowl of this decadent pasta, or simply make it at home for a fraction of the price. That's right. You can make this at home for a surprisingly reasonable price. The secret is truffle oil.

The use of truffle oil has become controversial in culinary circles. Ask any chef what they think of truffle oil, and they will most likely turn up their noses and declare it to be an unacceptable substitute to the real thing. One of the biggest reasons for this is that many truffle oils on the market do not contain any actual truffles. They use a synthetic ingredient to duplicate the aroma of the truffle, but their are a few brands that contain natural truffle to infuse the oil.

Keep reading for her truffle macaroni and cheese secrets.

Dr. Oz on How to Fight the Common Cold

Zelana Montminy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:31:18 PST

Cold and flu season is upon, but you can fight back with tips from Dr. Oz. The leading health expert shared his top tips for staying healthy this Winter and we've certainly put his advice into practice. Watch this video to get the low down on vitamin D for cold prevention, how sleep boosts your immune system, and if handshakes spread major germs.

In Praise of Zapp's Voodoo Chips

Susannah Chen — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:11:51 PST

From Cheerwine soda to Del's Lemonade, I'm a sucker for regional food products. For years now, I've been hearing about Zapp's Chips, the famous kettle-style chips that hail from Louisiana - and for years, they've eluded me.

That is, until yesterday, when I happened upon them at the bodega below our office. I stopped in to buy a pre-workout energy bar. There, amongst a sea of sallow yellow Lay's bags, was one single, lone package of Zapp's Chips - in the legendary Voodoo flavor, no less.

What is a bag of Voodoo chips, one might ask? Read on to find out.

3 Common Hair Dilemmas Solved

Guest Writer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 PST

Tabatha Coffey, the star of the much-loved series, Tabatha Takes Over, is known giving the most spot-on hair advice around. And over the next few months the talented hairstylist is sharing her top tips and tricks right here on BellaSugar. We're thrilled to present to you her first post! Take it away, Tabatha.

Hi everyone,
I got so many emails and questions on the below topics after I appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, I thought it would be great to write about them in my first blog. Here are some of my favorite products and tips for combating the hair-problem blues. See more when you keep reading.

Grillades and Grits: Get Your Brunch on!

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:00:06 PST

Grillades and grits are a trademark dish in New Orleans. If you can't make the trip to Nola, Food Orleans shows you how to recreate the experience in your own home.

If you've never had or heard of grillades and grits, then I apologize for not mentioning them earlier. They're one of the two most wonderful things to eat for brunch in New Orleans (shrimp and grits being the other). I've never been to anyplace in town for brunch that didn't offer one or both of these goodies. Grillades (gree'-awds) are made of beef, veal, or pork; I haven't encountered a rabbit version yet, but I won't be surprised when I do. The beef is a thin, flat cut of top round or chuck - something that can withstand a long, slow cooking. It simmers in a pot with the trinity (onion, celery, bell pepper), garlic, and a little jalapeno - not traditional, but I really like it - until the rich broth thickens and intensifies, so what you get is a powerfully flavored beef "stew" that is perfect over creamy cheese grits. This is a great Louisiana recipe to try if you're hankering for some thick, rich goodness but you don't feel up to stirring a roux, because you don't have to. The small amount of flour used in the browning of the beef will produce all the roux you need.

Read ahead for the grillades and grits recipe.

Link Time - Ke$ha and Dawson Join Forces

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:30:56 PST

Ke$ha enlists James Van Der Beek (and unicorns!) for her new video for "Blow" - Vulture
First listen: Glee's original songs! - TV Squad
Check out an exclusive clip of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's new movie - Moviefone
Is Supernatural getting too meta? - TV.com
Is this the actress who will play an older Renesmee in Breaking Dawn? - PopWatch
James Franco is locked in to play the Wizard of Oz - Flavorwire
James Franco and the Fighter to walk away with Oscars? Apparently it's in the stars - TrèsSugar
Community's Donald Glover raps about his junk - Movieline